Brethren Benefit Trust and its affiliate, Brethren Foundation Funds, on April 4 signed the Turkmen Cotton Pledge to show opposition to unacceptable human rights conditions in Turkmenistan, as the government there has been using forced labor to harvest cotton. Turkmenistan is the 11th-largest exporter of cotton in the world, but produces its commodity by threatening adult citizens with dismissal or salary deductions from their regular jobs if they do not assist with the annual cotton harvest.
In this issue: Three rural historic black Baptist churches burn down in St. Landry Parish, La.; remembering Dan McRoberts and Naomi Kulp Keeney; personnel notice; Brethren Disaster Ministries signs letter supporting Legal Services Corporation; groups hold meetings at the General Offices; action alert on “How to Celebrate Earth Day”; new life and growth among Brethren in Spain and Rwanda; and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
The 2019 Annual Conference to be held July 3-7 in Greensboro, N.C., will feature concerts by the Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Jonathan Emmons, and Friends with the Weather. Register for the Conference and find out more about the schedule and other special events at www.brethren.org/ac .
At her 72nd Annual General Church Council Conference, or Majalisa, Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) appointed three directors and an advisor and awarded six members. The conference title “Jesus the Author and Finisher of Our Faith” was taken from the book of Hebrews 12:2, and held between April 2-5 at the EYN Headquarters, Kwarhi, Hong LGA, Adamawa State. About 1,700 participants attended the highest decision-making body of the 96-year-old denomination, which has faced the terrible experience of insurgent activities.
“The Status of Brethren Organizations: Demise and Momentum 1994-2019″ was the topic of the Bridgewater (Va.) College Forum for Brethren Studies on March 15. The day-long forum featured speakers on four institutions in the Church of the Brethren: Bethany Theological Seminary, Annual Conference, Brethren Press, and the Mission and Ministry Board.
NEWS 1) Brethren programs begin response to flooding in Midwest and plains states2) Bridgewater forum looks at ‘demise and momentum’ in church institutions3) Church of the Brethren offers vacant land for sale in Elgin4) Brethren Benefit Trust signs Turkmen Cotton Pledge5) New master’s degree highlights Bethany’s revised curriculum6) EYN holds 72nd Majalisa on theme ‘Jesus
Heavy and widespread mid-March snowstorms led to the beginning of major flooding in the US Midwest. Rivers are still rising and flooding may worsen with the expected heavy rains that may fall in the next several weeks. Flooding along the Mississippi River, James River, and Red River of the North, and many of their tributaries, is causing extensive flooding in Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas. Already many homes, businesses, crops, stored grain, roads, and bridges have been destroyed in these communities.
The Church of the Brethren denomination has retained the services of A. Rick Scardino of Lee & Associates for the purpose of selling excess vacant land at its address at 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, Ill. Dundee Avenue is also Illinois State Route 25.
In this issue: Remembering Charles Lunkley, personnel notes, job openings, Messenger Online offers “So many changes! How the new tax code affects you” by Deb Oskin, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy recommends “Faith Over Fear” training, “Look at Life” conference at Bethany Seminary, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
NEWS 1) Housing allowance is upheld by appeals court2) Faith, civil, and human rights groups join to urge official visit by UN independent expert to investigate racism in the United States3) Sili buried beside husband at Chibok, among recent losses of EYN members4) Nigeria Crisis Response work continues amidst the violence PERSONNEL 5) BVS volunteers
