Since President Trump initiated his federal immigration crackdown, sending thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota, the communities that Open Circle Church of the Brethren supports have been in crisis.
At least two Church of the Brethren pastors—Jenn Hosler of Washington (D.C.) City Church of the Brethren and Matt Rittle of Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren—answered a call from local organizers for interfaith ministers to go to Minneapolis, Minn., last week as clergy support during events responding to immigration enforcement.
The Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren’s Michigan District has written a letter “with heavy hearts and profound sorrow over a series of tragic events that have shaken our nation and deeply burdened our consciences.” The letter responded to recent violence related to immigration enforcement including the shootings of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred and Virginia Rendler have accepted the positions of interim co-directors of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), starting Jan. 26.
“Love Feast: Past, Present, and Future” led by Denise Kettering-Lane will be held on Friday, March 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) at Cross Keys Village in New Oxford, Pa. This free event sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is in-person only. Continuing education credit is available for the fee of $10.
— “Do you have a story to share with us?” The Church of the Brethren Deportation Defense Response Team is looking for stories of individuals in congregations who have been directly impacted by immigration enforcement and policy changes, and also for stories of people practicing “faith in motion” on behalf of immigrant neighbors and siblings
An updated listing of Church of the Brethren congregations offering online worship services
Weighing heavy on my heart is the violence and political unrest being experienced in Minnesota. Most of the activity is occurring in Minneapolis, but there is an ICE presence here in Rochester as well.
At the heart of the Church of the Brethren is a deep trust in God’s promise to work powerfully through faithful people. Scripture reminds us that God can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us”—bringing glory to God through the church, now and for generations to come (Ephesians 3:20–21, NIV).
Traci Rabenstein has resigned as executive director of Mission Advancement for the Church of the Brethren, effective April 3. She will complete more than nine years of employment with the denomination.