Who is already called to the work of racial justice, or is already active in any way? The committee is hoping to start with an accurate picture of what is already happening. It wants to connect with initiatives or individuals at any level in the Church of the Brethren (community, congregation, district, denomination) who are working on racial justice issues in any way (education, activism, healing, spiritual renewal, etc.), whether they are doing their work inside or outside of the church. The committee also is interested in getting to know people who have a passion for this topic but may not yet be publicly active.
Category: Church of the Brethren Newsline
Brethren Faith in Action Fund aids six congregations and one camp
The Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) has aided six congregations and one camp with its latest round of grants. The fund provides grants using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Find out more at www.brethren.org/faith-in-action.
Emergency Disaster Fund aids Tennessee, Puerto Rico, Florida, Honduras, Uganda, and Venezuela
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) grants to support a rebuilding project in Tennessee, the work of Children’s Disaster Services and Church of the Brethren congregations in Florida following Hurricane Ian, flood recovery work of the Christian Solidarity Program for Honduras, a flood relief program of the Church of the Brethren in Uganda, and a flood relief program of ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela).
Continuing nominations for the Annual Conference ballot are encouraged
The deadline for nominations for the Annual Conference ballot has been extended to Jan. 4, 2023. The Church of the Brethren and its agencies depend on leaders elected at Conference from nominees proposed by the wider church.
Heifer International board welcomes new CEO Surita Sandosham
Last week the Heifer Project International board gathered in Little Rock, Ark. Though I have been representing the Church of the Brethren on this board for two years, this was the first time I met fellow board members and most of the staff. In addition to physically meeting board members and staff, who I’ve been with for many hours of Zoom, I met the new CEO, Surita Sandosham. Having joined the board only 20 days earlier, Sandosham was still in intense listening mode.
Remembering H. Lamar Gibble
H. Lamar Gibble, 91, a former longterm staff member of the Church of the Brethren noted for his ecumenical work as Peace and International Affairs Consultant/Europe and Asia Representative, died on Oct. 29 in Elgin, Ill.
Brethren bits
In this issue: Prayer is requested for Haiti and the Haitian Brethren, Mutual Aid Agency offers resources for pastors through Full Strength, Children’s Disaster Services completes its work in Florida, Dauda Gava to speak at the Young Center at Elizabethtown College, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Daniel Rudy to serve as executive minister for Virlina District
The Church of the Brethren’s Virlina District has called Daniel L. Rudy as district executive minister beginning on Feb. 6, 2023. The district has called Emma Jean Franklin Woodard to serve a five-week interim role between the retirement of David Shumate on Dec. 31 and the beginning of Rudy’s service. Rudy has pastored Ninth Street
Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Kent Shisler, announcements from Annual Conference, job openings, save the date for New and Renew in 2023, media attention to the situation in Haiti, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Elizabethtown Church places full-page ad in local newspaper on ‘The Perils of Christian Nationalism’
Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren voted unanimously to run a full-page advertisement in the Sunday edition of the Lancaster, Pa., newspaper. The statement, titled “The Perils of Christian Nationalism,” was written “in response to the Christian Nationalism that we encounter daily in our communities and nationwide,” said pastor Pamela Reist.
