In this issue: Remembering Ellis Shenk, Juniata physics students win award, Brethren Voices celebrates 200th episode, Brethren Heritage Center advertises handbells, World Council of Churches has three job openings for leadership staff.
NEWS
1) Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signs joint letter from faith groups urging leaders to de-escalate tension, pursue peace in Ukraine
2) Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust announces two changes as it implements five strategic goals
3) Mission Advancement office makes change in gift acknowledgment and receipt process
4) Pemi church burned in violent attack in northeastern Nigeria
5) ‘Life Support Project’ provides pen pals to people serving life or long-term sentences
UPCOMING EVENTS
6) Two-part Ventures course to focus on ‘Peace, Violence, and Nonviolence’
7) Bridgewater College hosts Forum for Brethren Studies event on ‘Brethren and the Polarizing Pandemic’
8) Brethren bits: Remembering Ellis Shenk, Juniata physics students win award, Brethren Voices celebrates 200th episode, Brethren Heritage Center advertises handbells, World Council of Churches has three job openings for leadership staff
More than 350 people from across 17 Church of the Brethren districts have registered for National Youth Conference (NYC) 2022 since registration began on Dec. 1. In more news, ongoing announcements of presenters for NYC 2022 continue. The NYC 2022 office is happy to announce that all the worship preachers for the event have been confirmed.
As we look ahead to Annual Conference on July 10-14, 2022, in Omaha, Neb., one of our top priorities is caring for the health and wellbeing of all Conferencegoers. In the highly politicized context of the ongoing pandemic, this has proven to be a challenging task. The Program and Arrangements Committee developed the following plan in consultation with epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Jacobsen and physician and former Program and Arrangements Committee member Dr. Emily Shonk Edwards.
South/Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Kay Gaier and Anna Lisa Gross to serve as co-interim district executive ministers in a half-time position beginning Jan. 17.
Here is the funding summary for Brethren Faith in Action (BFIA) grants in 2021. The total amount granted was $80,870.89; 20 of 26 applications were approved for grants; 15 congregations and 5 camps received funds.
In an ISWAP/Boko Haram attack on Kautikari town on Jan. 15, at least three people were killed and five people were abducted. Two churches of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) and more than 20 houses were burned. Kautikari is one of many communities devastated in Chibok and other local government areas in Borno State, Nigeria, where churches and Christians are targeted.
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.
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
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
