The 2024 Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference authorized and approved a “Letter of Lament and Blessing to the Puerto Rico Brethren” on July 2, 2024, during the group’s pre-Conference meeting. Below are the English and Spanish versions of this letter. The Spanish translation was mailed to the leadership of the former Church of the Brethren in Puerto Rico on July 30, 2024.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Learning by serving at Bethany
Just a couple of weeks into the fall semester, students in the Bethany BOLD program are already engaged in the Wayne County, Ind., community.
Upcoming urban ministry course takes place in Atlanta
The upcoming urban ministry course offered by a partnership of Bethany Theological Seminary, the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, and the Church of the Brethren Discipleship and Leadership Formation department, is titled “A Place of Refuge: Ministry in the Urban Context.” It takes place on Jan. 7-15, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga.
Peace witness at Raytheon/RTX brings together Church of the Brethren and other participants
Over 50 people gathered outside Raytheon/RTX, one of 10 weapons contractors in Fort Wayne, Ind., on the afternoon of Sept. 5. Participants representing at least six Church of the Brethren congregations from the two church districts in Indiana, and a group of 10 from the Manchester University Kenapocomoco Peace Coalition, were joined by other Christians, Muslims, Jews, and non-faith folks to say a strong “NO!” to the Israeli/US genocide against Gaza.
October Ventures course to focus on the Psalms
The October offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Happiness in Hard Times: A View from the Psalms” to be presented by Stephen Reid, vice provost for Faculty Diversity and Belonging at Baylor University in Texas. The course will be held online in two sessions, Tuesdays, Oct. 8 and 15, both at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (central time).
Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering James Earl Jones; prayer for flooding in Maiduguri, Nigeria; Material Resources shipments; new additions of historic Church of the Brethren videos on YouTube channel; news from congregations; and more
‘Climate & Peace’ webinar will learn from stories from around the world
A webinar on “Climate & Peace: Learning from Stories from Around the World” takes place Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m. (Eastern time) sponsored jointly by the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL).
Upcoming events and opportunities with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry
The Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry is publicizing upcoming events and opportunities. More information about the ministry and its programs is at www.brethren.org/yya.
Shannon McNeil Smith is hired as executive administrative assistant in General Secretary’s Office
Shannon McNeil Smith begins Oct. 7 as executive administrative assistant for the General Secretary’s Office at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. She is currently working as a Mission Advancement advocate, a position she has held since March 4, 2019.
The story of the food bank at Fairview
A little over two years ago, I brought a food bank project to the church board at Fairview Church of the Brethren in Unionville, Iowa. I had no idea how long God would help fulfill the need here. I also felt that when the money was out and I had no funding, that would be God saying that we have served our purpose.
