With COVID-19 concerns still looming large, we are not able to meet on the Bridgewater (Va.) College campus as usual for Roundtable 2021–the annual regional youth conference hosted by the Interdistrict Youth Cabinet at Bridgewater College. We have had to pivot to a new idea for Roundtable in order to reach the most youth and still provide a fun, meaningful experience in person and online.
The Youth and Young Adult Ministry has launched a new initiative called the Youth Fellowship Exchange, which aims at providing pandemic-safe fellowship opportunities to youth from all over the country. Free and fun, youth groups can find renewed energy for forming relationships and engaging with “the other.” In a time when opportunities for cross-congregational fellowship are limited, this is a fresh and easy activity.
Debbie Noffsinger begins Feb. 15 in a newly restructured, salaried position of part-time Annual Conference assistant. Since Feb. 22, 2010, she has worked on a seasonal basis as the Annual Conference registration assistant.
The complete 13-session Compelling Vision Bible Study Series is now available in English with a Spanish translation to be available in coming days. The series is a project of the Compelling Vision Working Group and is intended to help church members study the compelling vision statement that will be brought for approval to the 2021 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren.
NEWS
1) Annual Conference office releases two ballots to be presented to 2021 delegate body
PERSONNEL
2) Chris Douglas to retire from the Church of the Brethren staff
UPCOMING EVENTS
3) The 2021 New and Renew Conference is virtual
4) Leadership Summit on Wellbeing takes place April 19-22 as a virtual event
5) Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center announces continuing education events
6) Brethren bits: Praise requested for the escape of several of the Chibok girls, remembering John Thomas Sr., prayer for Haiti, report from Rwanda, On Earth Peace announcements, Illinois and Wisconsin District Potluck, congregations do the Souper Bowl, success for 2020 graduates of McPherson College, more
In this issue: Prayers of praise requested for the escape of several of the Chibok girls, remembering John Thomas Sr., prayers requested for Haiti, mission report from Rwanda, On Earth Peace announcements, Illinois and Wisconsin District potluck workshops, congregations involved in Souper Bowl, success for 2020 graduates of McPherson College, and more.
Join us for the New and Renew Virtual Conference, May 13-15. New and Renew is an opportunity for pastors and leaders of new church plants and established churches to come together for worship, learning, and networking.
The Church of the Brethren is hosting a Leadership Summit on Wellbeing, a virtual event for clergy and other church leaders. This multi-day event covers a wide array of topics that are intended to provide a holistic approach to sustaining leaders.
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) has announced upcoming continuing education events. Two Spring events will be held virtually via Zoom. The Fall event currently is planned to be in-person. Descriptions and registration links are below. For more information contact svmc@etown.edu.
The Annual Conference office has released two ballots to be presented to the delegates at the Church of the Brethren annual meeting on June 30-July 4, 2021. The event is online-only.
