In its most recent set of grants, the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) distributed grants to five congregations across the Church of the Brethren. The fund provides grants using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. Find out more at www.brethren.org/faith-in-action.
Brethren bits for Oct. 14, 2022
In this issue: Remembering Paul Willis Hoffman, Larry Lee Elliott, Ruben D. Deoleo, and Glen M. Faus, and more news by, for and about Brethren.
Youth and Young Adult Ministries announces upcoming events
Upcoming Youth and Young Adult Ministries programs and events include National Junior High Sunday on Nov. 6, 2022; Christian Citizenship Seminar on April 22-27, 2023; National Youth Sunday on May 7, 2023; Young Adult Conference on May 5-7, 2023; and National Junior High Conference on June 16-18, 2023.
Online art auction supports Ukraine crisis response
Beginning Friday, Oct. 14, an online art auction to support the Ukrainian crisis response, overseen by Brethren Disaster Ministries, will open and receive bids for 180 donated art items.
Faith groups’ letter to Pres. Biden urges pursuit of diplomacy to avoid nuclear catastrophe
More than two dozen faith groups, including the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, have written a letter to President Biden urging the abolition of nuclear weapons, and stating that “the possession and use of nuclear weapons cannot be justified.” The letter comes after the Biden administration responded with threats of “catastrophic consequences” to Russian Pres. Putin’s veiled threats to use nuclear weapons.
Beth Sollenberger concludes service as interim executive for Michigan District
Beth Sollenberger is concluding her service as interim district executive minister and member of the Michigan District Executive Leadership Team over the past several years. She has served in an interim role for the last several years, specifically during the calendar year of 2018 and then beginning again in May 2020. In January 2022, she was called to another interim term. She will conclude her service on Dec. 31.
Marie Willoughby to serve as co-interim executive for South Central Indiana District
South Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Marie Willoughby as co-interim district executive minister, as of Oct. 15, serving alongside Anna Lisa Gross. She replaces Kay Gaier, who served in the position from Jan. 15, 2022.
Emergency Disaster Fund grants fund relief work in Africa and Puerto Rico
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to support relief efforts by the denomination’s Puerto Rico District following Hurricane Fiona, and in the African nations of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. To financially support the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries, and to give to these and other EDF grants, go to www.brethren.org/edf.
Latest Global Food Initiative grants go to the DRC, Rwanda, and Venezuela
The latest round of grants from the Global Food Initiative (GFI) have been given to ministries of Churches of the Brethren in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the Seed Projects; Rwanda, for purchase of a grain mill; and Venezuela, for agriculture micro-projects. For more about the GFI and to contribute financially to these grants, go to www.brethren.org/gfi.
Mission and Ministry Board meets this weekend, agenda focuses on budget
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board holds its fall meetings this weekend at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Leading the meeting is chair Carl Fike, assisted by chair-elect Colin Scott and general secretary David Steele.