The Annual Conference office is co-sponsoring two online workshops offered by Womaen’s Caucus on the theme “Equipping for Leadership.” All are invited to join! The first webinar titled “Leadership in the Church of the Brethren” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m. (Eastern time) via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent out in August.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Video promotes nominations and explains process for choosing denominational leadership
A new video that promotes nominations for Church of the Brethren leadership and helps explain the nomination and election process at Annual Conference is now available at www.brethren.org/ac/nominations. Also on this web page are a list of currently open positions and nomination forms.
Brethren Press offers a new Bible story book from Shine
curriculum’s Bible story book, called All Together: God’s Story for You and Me. The book serves as the source of the Bible story for elementary classes. One new volume is produced each year, containing all the Bible stories for that year.
Virtual National Older Adult Conference to offer keynote presentations, worship and Bible study, unique online gatherings
A review of everything you need to know to attend this year’s virtual NOAC
Haiti Medical Project continues to meet needs for health care and community development
Project arises from Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25. Characteristics of Jesus’ followers are those who care for the hungry, thirsty, unclothed, sick, and imprisoned. The Haiti Medical Project helps meet these needs of the people in Haiti.
Church workers’ COVID emergency grants are extended again
threat in the US for 18 months now, is soon to be behind us, or taking a second run with vaccination challenges and variants that are harder for our systems to fight off. At Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), when the pandemic began in March 2020, staff immediately kick started discussions on how to address the inevitable financial woes that would hit some of our members and clients hard–such as pastors and other employees of churches, districts, and camps.
Global Food Initiative makes Ecuador visit
to Ecuador on June 16-24 was to spend time meeting with Alfredo Merino, executive director of La Fundacion Brethren y Unida (FBU–Brethren and United Foundation).
Letter encourages equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines
The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed an interfaith letter encouraging action by the US administration to ensure everyone has equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine and other tools necessary to contain the pandemic. The letter gained 81 signatories.
Global Mission staff released from custody in South Sudan
Athanasus Ungang, Church of the Brethren Global Mission staff in South Sudan, was released from prison this week after a detention lasting more than three weeks. He and other church leaders and colleagues had been held for questioning following the murder of a church leader in May, although he was not a suspect in the case and the authorities did not press formal charges.
Newsline for July 23, 2021
NEWS
1) Disaster grants fund Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project in Dayton, relief work in Honduras, the DRC, India, Iowa
2) Global Food Initiative grants go to Haiti agriculture program, community garden, food distribution program
3) Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs letter to Senate Armed Services Committee regarding Selective Service
4) Global Brethren leaders discuss the essence of being Brethren
UPCOMING EVENTS
5) Children’s Disaster Services resumes volunteer training
6) Annual Conference office co-sponsors webinars on theme of equipping for leadership
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: CONGREGATIONAL STORIES
7) Dunker Punks Vespers service held at Oakton Church of the Brethren
8) Lititz church’s Tree House Playground hosts National Night Out event
9) Pennsylvania congregations aim to donate thousands of shoes
10) West Shore Church of the Brethren hosts free gospel concerts
11) Brethren bits: Annual Conference worship services continue to be available online, prayer concerns from South Sudan and Pacific Northwest District, historic photos of the construction of the General Offices are online, Ecumenical Advocacy Days are hiring, and more