The 101st Jilla Sabha was held in Champawadi, Vyara District, Tapi, on May 12-13. The meeting included the appointment of new leadership for the First District Church of the Brethren in India.
Interfaith Letter Raises Concerns, Urges Greater Transparency on Drone Warfare
Church of the Brethren interim general secretary Dale Minnich and On Earth Peace executive director Bill Scheurer were among 28 faith leaders from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh traditions who sent an interfaith letter on drone warfare to President Barack Obama. Staff of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Public Witness were among those who created the letter on behalf of the Interfaith Drone Network.
Brethren Bits for June 11, 2016
Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Sentencing Reform, next webinar, Global Mission executive recommends report on “Nigeria Fractured and Forgotten,” Children’s Disaster Services needs 100 more hand-made toys for traumatized children in Nigeria, “Racial Justice Field Report from Flint” on June 21, and more.
On Earth Peace Announces Theme for Peace Day 2016
“Called to Build Peace” is the theme for Peace Day 2016, held annually on Sept. 21, which is the International Day of Prayer for Peace. This year’s campaign from On Earth Peace invites churches, peacebuilders, and seekers of justice to participate. “Plan a prayer service or community action event and reflect on how you and your community are called to build peace during the week surrounding Sept. 21, 2016,” said an invitation from organizer Bryan Hanger.
Network of Spiritual Directors Meets for Annual Retreat
For over a decade, spiritual directors from throughout the Church of the Brethren have met annually for a retreat and continuing education. Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Ministry and Retreat Center in Sharpsburg, Md., provides a beautiful and quiet setting for this event, which includes opportunities for worship, prayer, silence, creative expression, peer supervision, and keynote presentations.
Newsline for June 11, 2016
NEWS
1) Interfaith letter raises concerns, urges greater transparency on drone warfare
2) India Brethren hold 101st annual meeting
3) Network of spiritual directors meets for annual retreat
4) Northern Indiana congregations sponsor project to share Nigeria t-shirts
UPCOMING EVENTS
5) On Earth Peace announces theme for Peace Day 2016
RESOURCES
6) Ministry of Reconciliation manual is made available as an online resource
7) New Covenant Bible Studies series invite readers to ‘love Leviticus,’ study Jesus’ miracles
8) Brethren bits
New Covenant Bible Studies Series Invite Readers to ‘Love Leviticus,’ Study Jesus’ Miracles
There are two new books in the Covenant Bible Studies series from Brethren Press: “Ten Reasons to Love Leviticus” and “More Miracles of Jesus.” Also newly available from the Church of the Brethren publishing house is the 2016 camping curriculum on DVD, titled “Branching Out.”
Ministry of Reconciliation Manual is Made Available Online
About a year ago, in the wake of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ministry of Reconciliation (MoR) as a program of On Earth Peace, program director Leslie Frye wondered if it might be worthwhile to revise the 1995 “Ministry of Reconciliation Discipleship and Reconciliation Committee Handbook.”
Nigerian Brethren President Inaugurates EYN 100th Anniversary Committee
Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) was founded by the American Church of the Brethren in 1923 at Garkida, Nigeria, where it had its 75th anniversary in 1998. EYN president Joel S. Billi has inaugurated a 13-member committee for a 100 Years Anniversary of EYN-Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. This is coming less than one month after he assumed office as the EYN president, and is coming from a decision of the EYN National Executive Committee at its meeting held on April 12.
Lengthy Court Case over Church Property in LA Draws to a Close
A lengthy court case over church property in Los Angeles, Calif., is finally drawing to a close. This was one of two cases in recent years that have involved the Church of the Brethren denomination in local and district struggles over ownership of church buildings and property. In each case, a congregation decided to leave the Church of the Brethren but continued to claim ownership of church buildings and property, in contradiction to denominational polity.