National Youth Conference (NYC) 2022 will focus on Colossians 2:5-7 and the theme “Foundational.” The event will be held July 23-28, 2022. The registration fee, which includes food, lodging, and programing, will be $550. Youth who have completed ninth grade through one year of college at the time of NYC (or are age equivalent) and their adult advisors will gather at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. Online registration will open in early 2022 on www.brethren.org.
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has deployed a team to work with children along the US/Mexico border in Texas. This CDS team will be on location for two weeks, providing creative play opportunities for the children and much needed rest for their parents before the next leg of their journey. Since arriving in Texas, the team has been averaging 40 to 45 children per day in the CDS center.
Along with over 1,000 other concerned faith and non-faith advocates, I had the opportunity of participating in the first-ever virtual Ecumenical Advocacy Days conference. This year’s EAD took place from Sunday, April 18, to Wednesday, April 21, on the theme, “Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored,” and consisted of an opening session, two days of workshops, and one day devoted to congressional advocacy.
The Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church Program invites multivocational pastors of Church of the Brethren congregations to join a summer book study of Part-Time is Plenty: Thriving Without Full-Time Clergy by Jeffrey MacDonald.
In this issue: Remembering the Armenian Genocide, prayer requests from Brethren around the world, ways to support the Christian Citizenship Seminar that starts this evening, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy endorses “Palestinian Children and Families Act,” Timbercrest celebrates Brethren residents turning 100, and more news from congregations and districts, colleges and camps, ecumenical partners and church members.
NEWS
1) Selective Service Repeal Act receives endorsement
2) National Council of Churches issues statement following conviction in George Floyd murder case
3) Churches are asked to help with COVID-19 vaccination effort
UPCOMING EVENTS
4) Bethany Seminary to hold commencement ceremony online
5) New and Renew workshop presenters include Coté Sorens and Darryl Williamson
FEATURE
6) US militarism and climate change
7) Brethren bits: Remembering the Armenian Genocide, prayer requests from Brethren around the world, ways to support youth attending the virtual CCS, endorsement of “Palestinian Children and Families Act,” Timbercrest celebrates Brethren residents turning 100, and more
Alumni and friends are cordially invited to watch Bethany’s Academic Commencement Ceremony live online as we honor graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021. This year’s ceremony will include the first students to earn certificates while studying in Nigeria.
Churches are being asked to help support COVID-19 vaccination efforts across the United States. A COVID-19 Community Corps has been launched, inviting churches among other community groups to help build vaccine confidence in their communities. Also, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is collecting a list of churches and other community organizations that can help support the national vaccination effort.
The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has endorsed the Selective Service Repeal Act on the recommendation of longterm partner organization the Center on Conscience and War (CCW). The bill offers an alternative during a time when others are urging Congress to expand draft registration to women as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022.
Join us for the New and Renew Virtual Conference, May 13-15. We will be exploring the theme “The Reward of Risk,” guided by many terrific workshop presenters and keynote speakers. Two workshop presenters for the event are Maria-José “Coté” Soerens and Darryl Williamson.
