Seven Church of the Brethren districts in the midwest and plains regions partnered to hold an online workshop titled “Changing Mindsets for Ministry” on Feb. 22, with about 80 people participating. The event featured Jeff MacDonald, a journalist and pastor from the Boston area, as keynote speaker.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Brethren bits
In this issue: Prayers concerns from Global Mission, Annual Conference registration opens March 5, disabilities leader to present Ministers’ Association pre-Conference event, BVS “Visionary Voices” speaker series, job openings, National Council of Churches prayer webinar, Green Lectionary podcast for Lent, Seven Weeks for Water Campaign from the World Council of Churches.
March Ventures course to be presented by Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley
The March offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Acknowledging Grief, Claiming Hope: Reflections from Around the Church of the Brethren” to be presented by Dava Hensley, Church of the Brethren ordained minister and 2025 Annual Conference moderator.
Tim Button-Harrison to retire from leadership of Northern Plains District
Tim Button-Harrison has announced his retirement from leadership of the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District. At the Feb. 7-8 meeting of the district board, it was announced that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2025, after having served the district for more than 19 years.
Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center hires Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey as the new director
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) has hired Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey as the new director, beginning May 1. Prior to May, Hollenberg-Duffey will be working with retiring executive director Donna M. Rhodes to provide a good transition.
More than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations—including the Church of the Brethren—sue to protect religious freedoms
Más de dos docenas de denominaciones y asociaciones cristianas y judías demandan para proteger las libertades religiosas (lea más en español a continuación) Reversal of the Department of Homeland Security’s ‘Sensitive Locations’ Policy interferes with central religious beliefs, violates both the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Today, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy
A letter from the Annual Conference Office
The 2025 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference takes place in Greensboro, N.C., on July 2-6. Annual Conference provides an opportunity for the body of Christ known as the Church of the Brethren to come together to hear the voice of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit within and among us.
Children’s Disaster Services fields large response to Los Angeles fires
In January, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) sent four volunteer teams to care for children in the Los Angeles area in response to the wildfires that engulfed the city and surrounding area.
Intercultural Ministries offers online prayer request page
The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is offering a special webpage for prayer requests to be shared from across the country and denomination. With the mission statement, “We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people across cultures, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people,” the opportunity to request prayer is offered in three languages: English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
NOAC online registration will open May 1
The 2025 National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) Planning Team is hard at work preparing for the conference to be held at Lake Junaluska, N.C., on Sept. 1-5. NOAC online registration will open May 1 at www.brethren.org/noac.
