— Remembrance: Earl K. Ziegler, 97, of Brethren Village, Lititz, Pa., a former Annual Conference moderator and district executive as well as a longtime pastor in the Church of the Brethren, passed away on May 29.
Born on March 4, 1929, in Sheridan, Pa., to Abraham Hoffman Ziegler and Rhoda Keller Ziegler, he grew up on a farm in Lebanon County, Pa. At age 19 he was licensed to the ministry in 1948, and was ordained in 1950. He was a graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, earned a master of divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He served as a pastor for 55 years in a wide range of congregations.
From 1983 to 1989, he was district executive minister for Atlantic Northeast District, and also served terms as district moderator for Atlantic Northeast, Middle Pennsylvania, and Southern Pennsylvania Districts.
In 1994 he served as moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference held in Wichita, Kan. In additional service on the denominational level, he was on the former General Board of the Church of the Brethren from 1975-1980 during which time he chaired the Parish Ministries Commission from 1979-1980; served on the Annual Conference Committee on Divorce and Remarriage in 1964 and the Annual Conference Structure Committee in 1989-1991; served two terms on the Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference; was appointed to the Commission on Marriage and Family of the National Council of Churches for a period of three years; and served on the board of Elizabethtown College for 25 years. He served on the short-lived Annual Conference Council and was chair of that body.
His life was marked by a passion for mission. He served as treasurer for Brethren World Mission, led 23 work teams to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and helped to sponsor numerous refugee families from Vietnam and Myanmar (Burma), and went on numerous mission trips. He had a special place in his heart for the church in the Dominican Republic, and was keynote speaker for the 20th annual Asamblea of Iglesia des los Hermanos in the DR. He and his wife, Vivian, led numerous family camps and marriage enrichment retreats. His leadership of tour groups took him to all parts of the world as well as close to home in Lancaster County’s Amish Country.
He was known for his singing and directed several church choirs and a Community Men’s Chorus while serving in the pastorate at Black Rock, and was part of the choir at Brethren Village.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Vivian Snyder Ziegler. He is survived by children Karen Ziegler Ungemach, Randall Ziegler (Linda Neese Ziegler), Doreen Ziegler Creighton (Kenneth Creighton), Michael Ziegler (Mary Conahan Ziegler), Konnae Ziegler Chandler (James Chandler), SuLien Nicodemus Markley (Grant Markley); grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Friday, June 26, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The family will greet friends and family following the service. Interment will be private. Memorial gifts are received to Brethren World Mission and Brethren Village Good Samaritan Fund.
Find a full obituary at https://spencefuneralservices.com/tribute/details/1429/Rev-Dr-Earl-Ziegler/obituary.html
— Remembrance: Dale Eugene Minnich, 87, of Moundridge, Kan., a former associate general secretary and interim general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, as well as former denominational executive and board chair, passed away on June 3.
He was born on Sept. 6, 1938, in Union, Ohio, the youngest of three children of Carrie E. (Hoke) Minnich and Samuel H. Minnich. He was raised in Salem Church of the Brethren in Englewood, Ohio, and remained active in the Church of the Brethren all of his life. He graduated from Randolph High School in Englewood, Ohio, and from Wilmington College in Ohio, earning a degree in Philosophy and Religion. He went on to Ohio State University where he earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics. He also did additional study at Bethany Theological Seminary and at United Theological Seminary.
His lengthy service with the Church of the Brethren denomination began when he worked with Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) as a conscientious objector at an agricultural and community development project in Jantetelco, Morelos, Mexico, from 1959-1961. It was during BVS orientation that he met his late wife, Beverly Laird Minnich, and they were married on June 16, 1962.
For three years, beginning in 1966, the couple were mission workers in Ecuador where he was executive secretary of the Brethren Foundation, later to become the United-Brethren Foundation (FBU).
After Ecuador, he spent 10 years as a college vice president working in institutional relations, development, and public relations, first at Jamestown (N.D.) College, 1969-1975, and then at the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minn., 1975-1979.
The Church of the Brethren’s online giving pages have been updated and redesigned, with leadership from Mission Advancement associate Lucas Keller and web staff Russ Otto. Find helpful information about the denomination’s ministry areas and links that send prospective donors to individual giving pages with additional specific information for each area and suggestions for various giving options. Go to www.brethren.org/give
Calls to prayer:
The Church of the Brethren Deportation Defense Response has shared prayer requests “for the wellbeing of all who have been detained, deported, and those who suffered the trauma of detention and have thankfully been released… [and] for their families as well,” “for the safety and wellbeing of all whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is at risk of termination, for all who are working to obtain legal status, and for all who are impacted by restrictive and unjust immigration policies that put them at risk of detention and deportation,” “for a reopening of the U.S. refugee resettlement program and that relocation/deportation to the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo] and other third countries be stopped for all Afghan refugees and other migrants,” “for a unified resistance to all injustice against immigrants, including the end to ICE detention expansion,” “for the Holy Spirit to transform the hearts of government officials, business leaders, and all who hold positions of power,” and “for the wellbeing of all pastors, faith leaders, legal professionals, organizers, teachers, social workers, and community leaders supporting immigrants.” In prayers of praise: The spouse of a DDR team member recently became a US citizen, more than 100 grants have been given through the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund, and prayers of praise “for all who are organizing to support and advocate for immigrants. “We are so very encouraged to witness the work being done across the country,” said the DDR call for prayer.
Listed for specific prayers are Church of the Brethren members affected by deportation and detention:
Currently Detained:
D from Lehigh Acres, Fla., Atlantic Southeast District
E from Lehigh Acres, Fla., Atlantic Southeast District
I from Lehigh Acres, Fla., Atlantic Southeast District
JB from Lehigh Acres, Fla., Atlantic Southeast District
L from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Atlantic Southeast District
J from Cabool, Mo., Missouri and Arkansas District
M from Los Banos, Calif., Pacific Southwest District
H from Dayton, Ohio, Southern Ohio & Kentucky District
Deported:
J from Lancaster, Pa., Atlantic Northeast District
A from Tipp City, Ohio, Southern Ohio & Kentucky District
M from Tipp City, Ohio, Southern Ohio & Kentucky District
A from San Diego, Calif., Pacific Southwest District
I from Las Vegas, Nev., Pacific Southwest District
M from Las Vegas, Nev., Pacific Southwest District
E from Bassett, Va., Virlina District
D from Bassett, Va., Virlina District
J from Bassett, Va., Virlina District
Three sisters from Christiansburg, Va., Virlina District
Released:
A from San Diego, Calif., Pacific Southwest District
C from San Diego, Calif., Pacific Southwest District
J from Las Vegas, Nev., Pacific Southwest District
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Poicy, has issued a call to prayer following the recent alarming arrest and detention of four Palestinian university students by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. “According to local reports, Israeli forces raided homes in Birzeit and Beitunia before detaining students Natalie Abu Diya, Joulan Abu Awwad, Sama Safi, and Laila Khalil. These arrests are part of a broader and deeply troubling pattern of arbitrary detention and escalating military raids throughout the occupied West Bank,” said a release. CMEP calls its supporters to pray in particular for Natalie Abu Dayyeh, a 20-year-old Christian-Palestinian university student who was arrested by Israeli forces on June 1. “The family and lawyer have not been allowed direct access to her, nor have they been informed about why she has been arrested. Natalie is being held under administrative detention, which allows Israel to hold Palestinians indefinitely without charge or trial. We ask that you keep Natalie in your prayers as we hope and pray for her release. CMEP calls on our supporters to take action by contacting their members of Congress and urging them to advocate for the release of Natalie and other Palestinians held without charge or trial. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your representatives and senators. After making your call, please email info@cmep.org to let us know that you took action and to help us track advocacy efforts.” The CMEP community joins in prayer every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern time), see https://cmep.org/cmep-events/wednesday-prayers-for-peace
His nearly 20-year term on the Church of the Brethren denominational staff, from 1979 to 1997, began Aug. 1, 1979, as stewardship staff for congregational support and national coordinator for Adventure in Mission. On Oct. 3, 1988, he began as associate general secretary and executive of the General Services Commission, overseeing the work of Brethren Press, communications, stewardship, the Brethren Historical Library and Archives, and IT. One of his top priorities was implementation of the Goals for the ’90s.
After his employment with the denomination ended on July 18, 1997, when his position was concluded as part of a General Board redesign, he went to work for McPherson (Kan.) College beginning Sept. 1, 1997, as director of Planned Giving. He went on to become chief financial officer for the college. While there, he led at least one student group on a disaster response trip to the Dominican Republic.
He was on the Church of the Brethren denominational board in the early 2000s and chaired the board from 2009-2011. He was chair during a key transition when the General Board and the former Association of Brethren Caregivers board merged to form the Mission and Ministry Board.
His service to the denomination included participation in several international delegations including a visit to Angola with Roy Winter of Brethren Disaster Ministries and, while serving on the Mission Advisory Committee, a delegation to the Dominican Republic to attend the 25th annual Asamblea and visit refugee camps on the border with Haiti.
He was called back to the denominational staff in 2016, when he served as interim general secretary.
In retirement, he was an instrumental volunteer and fundraiser for the Haiti Medical Project, supporting the work of his son Dr. Paul Ullom-Minnich. He worked with Global Mission staff to help organize the first Haiti Service Ministry Consultation in Nov. 2015. More recently, he helped reconnect the Church of the Brethren with FBU in Ecuador, traveling there at least two times for trips exploring re-engagement through the Global Food Initiative.
On the district level, he played a key role in helping to envision and organize the Gathering in Western Plains District.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Beverly Arlene (Laird) Minnich. He is survived by three children: David W. Minnich (Lynette) of Hendersonville, N.C.; Susan I. Williams (Mark) of Hutchinson, Kan.; and Paul D. Ullom-Minnich (Marla) of Moundridge, Kan.; and five granddaughters. Memorial gifts are received to the Haiti Medical Project. Memorial service information to come.
— Remembrance: Kenneth Lee Gibble, 84, of Lititz, Pa., a Church of the Brethren minister, writer, and poet whose work was published by Brethren Press and appeared in Messenger magazine, passed away on May 13 at his home.
He was born on Nov. 18, 1941, in Lancaster, Pa., to Ralph Z. and Anna Ober Gibble. He earned a bachelor’s from Millersville State College, did graduate study at the University of Pennsylvania, and earned a master of divinity and doctorate of ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary. He was an ordained minister and his longterm service as a pastor, at times as co-pastor with his wife, Ann, included congregations in Pennsylvania and Virginia. Most recently he was a member of Akron Mennonite Church. Early in his career he taught high school English at public schools in Lititz, Pa., and Chicago, Ill.
On the denominational level, he worked for a time as promotion consultant for Messenger, the Church of the Brethren magazine, nurturing and maintaining a network of Messenger representatives in congregations across the country. He wrote many books and plays and his most recent book published by Brethren Press, A Poetry of the Soul (2018), is a collection of poetry based on his experiences as a pastor present in the lives of his parishioners. He wrote the Brethren Press Advent devotional for 2008, titled With Heart and Soul and Voice. He was a frequent contributor to religious magazines and other periodicals and his articles, poetry and media reviews frequently appeared in the pages of Messenger.
His poem “Entry Room,” a Christmas poem that appeared in the December 2010 Messenger, won an Award of Excellence (first place) from the Associated Church Press. Lines from his poem “To Be a Tree,” published in the November 2020 issue, connect also with his identity as a master gardener. Citing Jeremiah 17:8, he wrote:
“I would be that tree, ‘sending
out roots by the stream.
This indeed is a drought time
–lethargy, fatigue, no sense of purpose.
‘Expect a long, slow recuperation,’ they warned.
My expectations have been sadly exceeded.
And yet my roots go wide and deep.
Seven decades of living, learning, loving…”
Ken Gibble was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Ann Earhart Gibble. He and his wife, Sue Wooley, married on July 14, 2001, and she survives him. He also is survived by daughter Katie Gibble (Jason Smith), stepson Dane Christensen, and a granddaughter. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 13, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) at Ridgeway Community Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa. Visitation begins at 12 noon. Interment will be private.
Find a full obituary at www.snyderfuneralhome.com/obituaries/kenneth-gibble
— Remembrance: David S. Young, 81, founder of the Springs of Living Water church renewal initiative, passed away on May 19 in hospice care at Zerbe Retirement Community in Narvon, Pa. He lived in Ephrata, Pa.
He was born on Nov. 3, 1944, in Cumberland County, Pa., to Edwin Young and Martha Wolf Young. He was a graduate of South Western High School in Hanover, Pa., and held a degree from Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. He earned a master of divinity and a doctor of ministry from Bethany Theological Seminary, specializing in church renewal, his lifelong passion.
As an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, he was the founder of Springs of Living Water as a transformative program designed to breathe new life into congregations seeking renewal with a focus on servant leadership. The work, in which his wife, Joan, was an active participant, included partnering with several church districts and hosting seminars for pastors and other church leaders. He wrote books for the Springs of Living Water initiative and also wrote articles for Messenger. He was a member of the board for Lighthouse Ministries.
His family was central to his life. He is survived by his wife, Joan Elizabeth (Reznar) Young, and sons Jonathan and Andrew Young. Find a full obituary at www.groffeckenroth.com/obituaries/david-young
— Remembrance: Olga Serrano, 84, of Quito, Ecuador, died on March 27 [reporting received from Eder Financial]. She was born on Nov. 26, 1941.
She was the author of the 1992 Brethren Press book Un Canto al Senor an la Isla del Encanto, a history of the Church of the Brethren in Puerto Rico written on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.
Originally from Ecuador, she and her husband, Mario Serrano, spent some years as pastors of Church of the Brethren congregations in Puerto Rico. She pastored the Rio Prieto congregation, which she founded, while he pastored the Castañer congregation. She also was a chaplain at the Castañer Hospital and served on the ministry commission of the former Church of the Brethren District of Florida and Puerto Rico.
At the time her book was published, she was co-pastoring the new church project Principe de Paz in Santa Ana, Calif. In addition to co-pastoring, she also worked with Hispanic women, served as chair of the liaison committee, and worked as an educational assistant for children with disabilities and emotional challenges in Santa Ana.
She was a graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, which she attended with her husband. During their time at the seminary, in the 1980s, they worked to create curriculum for Theological Education by Extension for Spanish-speaking Brethren.
She joined the Church of the Brethren in 1982 after having become acquainted with Brethren in Ecuador. It was during her study at the Latin American Biblical Seminary in San José, Costa Rica, that she was awakened to the possibility of women serving in the pastoral ministry. She was described by Messenger in May 1985 as the Church of the Brethren’s only ordained Hispanic woman at the time.
— Camp Harmony is seeking candidates for its next executive director. The Church of the Brethren-related camp and outdoor ministry center is located near Hooversville, Pa. Austin Masser, the present executive director, is leaving the position in July. Find out more about the camp at www.campharmony.org. Contact phil@campharmony.org for more information about the open position.
— In more news from Bethany, the seminary has made grants totaling $19,500 to local nonprofits in Wayne County, Ind., that are closely aligned with its mission. “The organizations selected receive funding support for at-risk and marginalized individuals,” said a release. “Many are faith-based organizations that address racial and economic inequality or focus on education. Several of the funded groups host Bethany students as volunteers as part of the BOLD program. BOLD (which stands for Build, Organize, Love, and Dare) is a service-based opportunity for exceptional residential students who want to put their education and faith into practice while working on graduate degrees.” Read more about Bethany’s support of local organizations at https://bethanyseminary.edu/bethany-provides-funding-to-local-nonprofits
— Church World Service (CWS) has announced a new “Rise up for Refuge!” campaign. “Over the past months, we’ve been talking with organizers, faith leaders, and communities across the country about what it means to rise up with our immigrant neighbors in this moment with hope,” said the announcement. “As we begin Immigrant Heritage Month, Rise Up for Refuge is officially live. Rise Up for Refuge aims to support local communities by providing resources, coordination, and expertise to grow the impact of community-led action responding to the targeting of our immigrant and refugee neighbors. We’re not here to replicate the incredible work already happening in communities across the country. We’re here to platform it. To give it the light it deserves. To build a community that reflects the movement already growing.” Supporters are invited to participate by following CWS on social media, by signing up for updates, by supporting local events and community-led activities for immigrants and refugees, by advocating with members of Congress to oppose funding for lawless immigration enforcement, by getting involved as a volunteer with a local CWS office, and by attending a World Refugee Day event, among other possibilities. Find out more at https://cwsglobal.org/rise-up
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Brethren bits
- Messenger and Communications receive six awards from the Associated Church Press
- Virtual event for adults will follow on conscientious objection sessions for young people
- Deportation Defense Response invites participation in World Refugee Day Ecumenical Service
- Pastoral care in focus on a trip to Honduras to support deported church members