In this issue: Jim Winkler completes his service with the National Council of Churches, On Earth Peace announces next “Intro to Kingian Nonviolence” webinar, Northern Plains District offers monthly insight sessions, CPT to hold online conversation about its new name, world churches pray for Tonga and Pacific nations after eruption, York Center member interviewed in Wall Street Journal.
Newsline for Jan. 21, 2022
NEWS
1) COVID response plan is set in place for 2022 Annual Conference
2) National Youth Conference registration begins, more presenters are announced
3) Brethren Faith in Action round up for 2021
4) EYN reports lives lost and churches and homes burned in Kautikari attack
PERSONNEL
5) Kay Gaier and Anna Lisa Gross named to interim leadership of South/Central Indiana District
6) Brethren bits: Jim Winkler completes service with NCC, “Intro to Kingian Nonviolence” webinar, Northern Plains District offers insight sessions, CPT conversation about new name, world churches pray for Tonga, York Center member interviewed in Wall Street Journal
Newsline for Jan. 14, 2022
1) Brethren Volunteer Service holds winter orientation, seeks applicants
2) Grant sends $15,000 to Church World Service for winter tornado relief
3) Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs faith letter calling for closing of Guantanamo
4) United Nations committee honors 73rd anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
5) CPT announces new name: Community Peacemaker Teams
6) Brethren bits: Retirement celebration for Dave Shetler, another webinar in “Children as Peacemakers” series, new volume on Contemporary Ecotheology, recent Brethren college vs. Brethren college basketball
Brethren bits for Jan. 14, 2022
In this issue: a retirement celebration for Dave Shetler, On Earth Peace offers another webinar in “Children as Peacemakers” series, WCC shares information about new volume on Contemporary Ecotheology, and a recent Brethren college vs. Brethren college basketball game.
Grant sends $15,000 to Church World Service for winter tornado relief
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed a grant of $15,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to help Church World Service (CWS) distribute relief kits and blankets and give support for unaccompanied minors following the December 2021 tornados.
Brethren Volunteer Service holds winter orientation, seeks applicants
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) will be hosting an in‐person orientation at Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Va., from Jan. 18 to Feb. 4, 2022. This winter Unit 330 will have four volunteers, three of which are coming through EIRENE, a partner organization in Germany.
Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs faith letter calling for closing of Guantanamo
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed an interfaith letter calling for the closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The office was one of 29 denominations and national faith groups that signed the letter sent to President Biden and all of the leaders and members of Congress on Jan. 11
United Nations committee honors 73rd anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” –Article 1, Universal Declaration of Human. On Dec. 9, 2021, the NGO Human Rights Committee gathered to Honor the 73rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was my first United Nations in-person meeting since the COVID-19 March 2020 shutdown.
Church of the Brethren Yearbook for 2021 includes 2020 statistical information for the denomination
Church of the Brethren membership in the United States and Puerto Rico is more than 91,000, according to the most recent statistical report in the 2021 Church of the Brethren Yearbook from Brethren Press. The 2021 Yearbook–published last fall–includes the 2020 statistical report and the 2021 directory for the denomination.
Church of the Brethren funds close out year with final grants for 2021
The Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), Global Food Initiative Fund (GFI), and Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) announced final grants for the year 2021. Included were an EDF grant to a humanitarian partner organization in Burundi, a GFI grant to a pig project in Rwanda, and BFIA grants to a church in Maryland and a camp in Colorado.
