Sixty of the Chibok girls who were released in a prisoner swap in early May were among those who have been held in prayer by Church of the Brethren congregations since 2014. Each of those congregations has received a letter from the Church of the Brethren.
Brethren bits for June 3, 2017
In this issue: Personnel notes, job openings, Listening Sessions in Northern Ohio District, Ministry Summer Service orientation begins, Children’s Disaster Services wraps up in Missouri, prayer requested for workcamp in Nepal, webinar organized by the Christian Peace Circle, Deacon Workshop presented at Chambersburg Church, “A Biblical Basis for Befriending Foreigners” offered at Bethany Seminary, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Remember when: Church of the Brethren statements on care for Creation
As early as 1991, the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference adopted a statement titled “Creation: Called to Care.” “Why should Christians care about the environment?” the statement reads, in part. “Simply because we learn in Genesis that God has promised to fulfill all of creation, not just humanity, and has made humans the stewards of it. …”
Newsline for May 22, 2017
NEWS
1) EDF grants go to Kenya drought, flood responses in Missouri and W. Virginia
2) GFI grants go to China, Africa Great Lakes region, the DR, community gardens, nutrition program in DC
3) Christian groups begin global prayer and fasting ‘For Such a Time’
4) Millions join hearts and minds to pray for end to famine
5) Prayer requested for the millions of people facing famine
6) Brethren Benefit Trust adopts 2017 Department of Defense investment screens
7) EYN president warns pastors of bowing to material things, at KBC graduation
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
8) Annual Conference 2017 offers special programming, opportunities for spiritual enrichment, continuing education
PERSONNEL
9) Districts announce new leadership
10) Brethren bits
Brethren bits for May 22, 2017
In this issue: Correction, remembering Allen Hansell, personnel notes and job openings, “Another way of living” statements sought for use at Annual Conference, August workcamp in Nigeria needs more participants, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Districts announce new leadership
Three districts in the Church of the Brethren have announced new leadership. David Banaszak has been hired to lead Middle Pennsylvania. Kris Hawk will be the new district executive minister for Northern Ohio. Tabitha H. Rudy is interim associate district executive for Virlina.
EDF grants go to Kenya drought, flood responses in Missouri and W. Virginia
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed its most recent allocation from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to support Church World Service (CWS) response to a drought in Kenya. Another recent grant funds the start of a Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project site in Missouri. Earlier this year, a similar grant funded a limited project in West Virginia.
EYN president warns pastors of bowing to material things, at KBC graduation
Joel S. Billi, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), warned pastors of bowing to material things and called them to be different in society, at the 52nd graduation ceremony of EYN’s Kulp Bible College in Kwarhi. The president, who expressed his joy in this occasion at EYN’s highest theological institution, was represented by vice-president Anthony A. Ndamsai.
Brethren Benefit Trust adopts 2017 Department of Defense investment screens
The Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) board has adopted 2017 Department of Defense screens for investments. Each year as part of its Brethren values investing initiatives, BBT’s Board of Directors approves investment screens by adopting two Department of Defense lists comprised of companies that earn significant revenue from US military operations.
GFI grants go to China, Africa Great Lakes region, the DR, community gardens, nutrition program in DC
The most recent grant from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative will help improve the diets of clients of a hospice in China. Other grants approved in recent months aid agricultural work in the Africa Great Lakes region, the education of leaders among Brethren in the Dominican Republic, and several community gardens in the United States that are connected with Church of the Brethren congregations. An additional domestic allocation supports the Brethren Nutrition Program of Washington (D.C.) City Church of the Brethren.
