In this issue: Remembering Ernie Bolz, continued prayer for India and Venezuela, Bermudian Church of the Brethren’s history told in blogpost, Southern Ohio and Kentucky District offers virtual camping this summer, On Earth Peace webinars, Laszakovitz sermon chosen for El Camino collection.
The Church of the Brethren’s Illinois and Wisconsin District has called Walt Wiltschek to serve as district executive minister. He will begin in this half-time position on Sept. 1, planning to relocate to the district in November.
Three more churches have received grants from the Brethren Faith in Action (BFIA) fund. This fund gives grants to Church of the Brethren congregations and camps in the United States, using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, has issued a statement about former principal James McDowell’s admission of having molested students. He was principal from 1974-1984. He made the admission in a Facebook post on April 15. McDowell was not a Church of the Brethren mission worker.
“In person” is the mode for most Church of the Brethren camps this summer. Representatives of several of the camps reported on their planning for the 2021 season in a recent Zoom meeting of the Outdoor Ministries Association, chaired by Gene Hollenberg with Linetta Ballew as vice-chair.
NEWS
1) Bethany Seminary to confer 26 degrees and certificates to Class of 2021
2) EDF grants support CDS work on border, COVID-19 relief in Nigeria and around the world
3) Brethren Benefit Trust board affirms five strategic goals
4) BBT issues annual lists of companies screened from investments for Dept. of Defense contracts
5) On Earth Peace holds early April board meeting
6) EYN 74th Majalisa commends six districts, lists resolutions
PERSONNEL
7) Rhonda Pittman Gingrich is hired as director of Annual Conference
8) Jennifer Houser to direct the Brethren Historical Library and Archives
9) Zechariah Houser to coordinate short-term service for the Church of the Brethren
10) Fabiola Fernandez resigns from Church of the Brethren’s Information Technology department
11) Kim Gingerich to be interim program assistant for Brethren Disaster Ministries
12) Lee Marsh to assist at Church of the Brethren General Offices
UPCOMING EVENTS
13) Brethren Volunteer Service offers in-person summer orientation unit
14) New and Renew virtual conference to occur next week
15) Brethren bits: Prayer for India, update on US deportations to Haiti, Shenandoah District to hold in-person disaster auction, SVMC announces changes in its governing board, Bridgewater College celebrates commencement, and more
In this issue: Prayer for India, update on US deportations to Haiti, Shenandoah District to hold in-person disaster auction, SVMC announces changes in its governing board, Bridgewater College celebrates commencement, and more
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Fund to COVID-19 response in Nigeria through Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and the worldwide COVID response by Church World Service (CWS). Another grant supports CWS relief work in Indonesia and Timor-Leste following flooding. A grant also has been given to support a humanitarian response at the southern US border by Children’s Disaster Services (CDS).
Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) held its General Church Council Annual Conference, also known as Majalisa, with successful approvals, deliberations, commendations, celebrations, and presentations on April 27-30. About 2,000 pastors, delegates, and heads of programs and institutions were in attendance at the EYN Headquarters in Kwarhi, Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is pleased to announce that we will be hosting an in-person summer orientation for Unit 329 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, from July 18-Aug. 6. We are excited to be able to gather safely and in intentional community for the orientation experience once more!
