In this issue: Remembering John Crumley, personnel notes, job openings, commissioning materials for Workcampers, prayer requested for tensions between Dominicans and Haitians in the DR, new podcasts from Frederick Church of the Brethren and Dunker Punks, Brethren Woods celebrates 60 years, “Farm to Table Dinners” at Shepherd’s Spring, and more.
On May 17-19, with a pre-conference worship service on May 16, people from across the country met at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., to worship and renew. The event was “New and Renew: Revitalize, Plant, Grow,” the Church of the Brethren’s church planting and church development conference for 2018. The event was sponsored and organized by the Discipleship Ministries (formerly Congregational Life Ministries) of the Church of the Brethren.
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) volunteers Petie Brown and Randy Kawate have cared for children at the shelter in Pahoa on the “Big Island” of Hawaii. The effort has aided children and families affected by the volcanic eruption that has displaced hundreds of residents.
Registrations are now being received for the Sixth Brethren World Assembly, to be held Aug. 9-12 in Winona Lake, Ind. This gathering happens every five years for Brethren groups descended from Alexander Mack in 1708 and it is sponsored by the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.
Leadership of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes is in transition following the resignation of executive director Ralph McFadden, who resigned earlier this year. McFadden had been staying on until a successor was found. The fellowship in mid-May announced that Dave Lawrenz, who recently retired from leadership of Timbercrest, a Church of the Brethren retirement community in North Manchester, Ind., has agreed to take the executive director role.
Todd Bauer’s contract with Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) as Latin America coordinator will come to an end at the end of May. BVS is reevaluating how it coordinates its work in Latin America in light of lower numbers and tightening budgets. Bauer has served in the position for nearly 11 years.
More than half a dozen Brethren attended the major “Reclaiming Jesus” witness event held at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., on May 24. The event, organized by a variety of progressive-leaning Christian leaders, was centered around a series of declarations against lying, misogyny, authoritarianism, xenophobia, and other issues that recently have dominated cultural discourse.
Church of the Brethren Newsline May 25, 2018 Delegates to this year’s Annual Conference will address 11 new and unfinished items of business. New business includes “Change in Delegate Representation at Annual Conference,” “Vision for a Global Church of the Brethren,” “Brethren Values Investing,” “Polity for Electing Brethren Benefit Trust Board Directors,” “Polity for Electing the District
Annual Conference 2018 takes place at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 4-8. The theme is “Living Parables” (Matthew 9:35-38). Online registration is open through June 11 at www.brethren.org/ac . After that date, registration will take place onsite in Cincinnati, at an increased cost.
NEWS
1) Annual Conference 2019 forced to change locations
2) Process team lays out road map for development of ‘compelling vision’
3) Meeting promotes conversation about biblical inspiration and authority
4) Gathering prays for future direction of the Church of the Brethren
UPCOMING EVENTS
5) NYC speech contest winners are announced
6) Young Adult Conference to meet at Brethren Woods
RESOURCES
7) Brethren Press publishes book of poetry by Ken Gibble, among new resources
8) Brethren bits
