Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele has sent a pastoral letter to the Armenian community following the Azerbaijan attack against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) which forced the Armenian population to flee the area. The letter was sent to Archbishop Vicken Aykazian on behalf of the Armenian Church of America, the global Armenian Orthodox fellowship, and the Armenian community worldwide, with particular attention to the Armenian members and attenders within the Church of the Brethren.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Shannon Kahler retires from Inspiration Hills, Andrew Kauffman appointed interim executive
Andrew Kauffman has been hired by Northern Ohio District to serve as interim camp executive director at Inspiration Hills, beginning Dec. 1. Kauffman will follow Shannon Kahler in the position, with four weeks of overlap before she retires at the end of December.
Brethren Volunteer Service Unit 334 begins project placements
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 334 held orientation Sept. 26‐Oct. 4 at Camp Koinonia in Cle Elum, Wash. The time included group building, sessions with a variety of guest leaders (most of whom joined the group virtually), preparing and eating meals together, a service project, a day trip into Seattle, and a time of consecration and sending.
Strength for the Journey: 2024 applications are now accepted
New “Strength for the Journey” pastor cohorts are forming now, with plans to begin meeting in January 2024. Applications are available at https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/strength-for-the-journey and will be accepted through Oct. 31.
Webinar offers conversation on baptism and church membership for people with intellectual disabilites
“Becoming the Baptized Body: A Conversation on Baptism and Church Membership for People with Intellectual Disabilities” is offered as an online webinar on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time).
Query does not advance from Southern Ohio and Kentucky District
The Southern Ohio and Kentucky District held its district conference on Oct. 6-7 at West Charleston Church of the Brethren. Along with the usual business of passing a budget for 2024 and approving the slate of new board members and other leadership, a query was brought from the Living Peace congregation in Columbus, Ohio, about whether or not it is time to rescind the 1983 Annual Conference paper “Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective.”
José Calleja Otero resigns from leadership of Puerto Rico District
José Calleja Otero has resigned as executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Puerto Rico District, effective Dec. 6. He has served in leadership of the district for eight and a half years, since he began as the district’s first executive on July 12, 2015.
Germantown church holds its official congregational anniversary celebration
Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia, Pa., held the official congregational celebration of its 300th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 8. The congregation is the first Brethren church established in the Americas.
Church of the Brethren and the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy join ecumenical and interfaith calls for ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
The Church of the Brethren has joined more than 20 Christian churches and organizations in the United States in sending a letter to the United States Congress mourning the loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and calling for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The denomination’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signed an interfaith letter to the Biden administration and Congress, dated Oct. 16, also calling for a ceasefire.
Brethren bits for Oct. 5, 2023
In this issue: Remembering Charles Whitacre and Marge Moeller, job opening in communications with the NCC, Kingian Nonviolence training, Womaen’s Caucus nominating party, Brethren Voices episode on “Taking Care of Our…Mother Earth,” new One Home One Future national multi-faith environmental campaign, nominations received for Climate Leadership Awards, and more.
