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
The Workcamp Ministry of the Church of the Brethren reports that several of this summer’s workcamps still have openings, but registration must be received by April 1. That date also is the deadline for full payment by those who already have registered, and for all forms to be received by the Workcamp Office.
oday, March 21, a broad coalition of religious and civil rights leaders will deliver a letter to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo requesting an official invitation to professor E. Tendayi Achiume, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, to the United States. The Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy has signed the letter and its staff were at the initial planning meeting, reports director Nathan Hosler.
Ma Sili Ibrahim, aged 102, was buried beside her late husband Ibrahim Ndiriza in a round heart at her home town of Chibok, Borno State, Nigeria. She was among recent losses of members of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). In two releases this week, EYN reported losses among members and an attack on the town of Michika.
A new venture of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is a “fast track” for orienting and placing volunteers. The arrangement allows for quicker filling of openings at projects and earlier placement of volunteers between regularly scheduled orientation units. Of the initial three fast-track volunteers, two filled assignments in Northern Ireland and one in Pennsylvania.
The housing allowance provision that provides pastors with a tax benefit for their housing expenses is constitutional. That decision was announced on March 15 by the Seventh Circuit Appeals Court, which is located in Chicago.
Over the weekend of March 1-3, more than 150 youth and advisors took part in the annual Roundtable regional youth conference held at Bridgewater (Va.) College. This marked the 78th anniversary of Roundtable, which invites senior high youth from the districts of the southeastern region (Atlantic Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Shenandoah, Virlina, West Marva, and Southeastern) as well as the Pennsylvania districts (Atlantic Northeast, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania).
NEWS 1) Mission and Ministry Board turns down proposal to increase delegate numbers2) New parking lot tax may affect some congregations3) Compelling vision conversations at Annual Conference4) Germantown Church of the Brethren is celebrating 300 years5) New students welcomed at Bethany Seminary6) Brethren Academy students explore ‘Race and the Congregation’7) Roundtable 2019 brings more than
In this issue: Stan Noffsinger starts as CEO at Timbercrest, EYN requests prayer, Ware Lecture at Elizabethtown College features artists from Silkroad, BVS Unit from fall 1969 plans 50th anniversary get together, Earth Day Sunday toolkit, remembering Mac Wiseman, and more
