Beth Sollenberger will retire on Sept. 30 as interim director of administration for the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeastern District. She has served in the position since April 1, 2024. She has been working both from her home in Goshen, Ind., as well as onsite in the district.
Brethren Volunteer Service Unit 339 begins service
The 13 members of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 339 have begun service at their project sites. The volunteers completed orientation on July 27 to Aug. 4 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio.
Global Food Initiative grants support ministries of congregations in Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
The latest set of grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) support ministries of congregations in Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Also, global church leaders in East Africa received support to attend an agricultural training symposium.
EDF grants support rebuilding in North Carolina and Western Maryland, aid Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, the DRC, Nigeria, Venezuela, Cuba
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed the latest round of grants, made this spring through early summer, from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF). The grants support disaster relief efforts and aid in North Carolina, Western Maryland, Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Cuba.
Brethren bits
In this issue: Prayer request for flooding in Indiana, Engage: Global Mission Gathering, Children’s Disaster Services trainings, Bethany Seminary accreditation visit, “Pathways to Peace and Justice,” Camp Mack seeks executive director, and more.
Samuel Hupp begins as BVSer at the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy
Samuel Hupp has begun work at the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, serving through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). He is a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind.
Nick Beam term renewed as executive for Southern Ohio and Kentucky District
In action taken at a July 25 meeting, the board of the Church of the Brethren’s Southern Ohio and Kentucky District unanimously voted to offer Nick Beam a three-year contract renewal to serve as district executive minister. The announcement from the district noted that each of those three years will include a review and re-evaluation process. Also, as a part of the contract renewal, it was decided to drop “interim” from his title.
Five congregations join to plan ‘PeaceFest’
Five Church of the Brethren congregations in Pennsylvania are joining together to organize and sponsor “PeaceFest: Turning Communities Toward Peace” on Saturday, Sept. 19—the weekend closest to the International Day of Peace. This event is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lititz Church of the Brethren.
Rachel Johnson begins new role as assistant for Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Rachel Johnson, who has completed her term as National Youth Conference coordinator through Brethren Volunteer Service, on Aug. 24 will begin a new one-year, part-time role as assistant for Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministries. She will be working from her home in Pennsylvania.
Children’s Disaster Services deploys volunteers to support families affected by Washington wildfires
By Carolyn Neher Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries, is deploying a team of four volunteers to support families affected by the ongoing wildfires in Washington State. Brethren Disaster Ministries personnel continue to monitor the situation and remain in contact with local Church of the Brethren congregations and Pacific Northwest District
