Nominations are being accepted for all Annual Conference-elected offices in 2016 including Annual Conference moderator-elect; Program and Arrangements Committee member; Mission and Ministry Board members for Areas 3, 4, and 5; On Earth Peace Board member; Brethren Benefit Trust board member; Bethany Theological Seminary laity and college representatives; and Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Committee member. Descriptions of these offices are available at www.brethren.org/ac .
Newsline for Sept. 3, 2015
NEWS
1) An open letter to members and clients of Brethren Benefit Trust
2) John Mueller resigns from leadership of Atlantic Southeast District
NIGERIA UPDATES
3) Nigeria Crisis Response co-directors report from trip to Nigeria
4) Nigerian children face dangers as they seek education
5) Volunteer observes a Trauma Healing Workshop in Nigeria
6) Trauma healing is the path to forgiveness in Nigeria
7) Small-scale ‘Wall of Healing’ display is available from Global Mission office
UPCOMING EVENTS
8) Living Stream worship webcast from Lake Junaluska to kick off the 13th NOAC
9) Nominations are sought for Annual Conference-elected offices
10) McPherson College offers ‘Ventures in Christian Discipleship’ courses
11) Powerhouse Regional Youth Conference to celebrate an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’
SPECIAL SECTION: REFLECTING ON FERGUSON
12) Ferguson: An invitation for the church to participate in dismantling racial discrimination
13) Thinking About Ferguson–again
14) This is an effort which the faith community must lead
15) In wake of Ferguson, Rockford church works to build nonviolent community
16) Brethren bits
This Is an Effort Which the Faith Community Must Lead
On Tuesday evening, Sept. 1, the African Methodist Episcopal Coalition held a worship service in Washington, D.C. I had received the invitation from the National Council of Churches (NCC) the week before in my capacity with the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Public Witness, but it was also relevant for my role as a minister in Washington City Church of the Brethren.
Nigeria Crisis Response Co-Directors Report from Trip to Nigeria
Having recently returned from a short trip to Nigeria, we were encouraged by the relief efforts headed by the EYN Disaster Team of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The church’s large-scale program of assistance is funneling money to EYN with a five-pronged approach. We were happy that progress has been made in all five areas that we have designated.
Living Stream Worship Webcast from Lake Junaluska to Kick off the 13th NOAC
“This Sunday, we are lucky to get a sneak peek at the fun happening at Lake Junaluska next week,” said an announcement of a webcast worship service by Living Stream Church of the Brethren, an online ministry. The service will be webcast from the Lake Junaluska (N.C.) Conference Center where the National Older Adult Conference is set to begin Monday, Sept. 7.
Powerhouse Regional Youth Conference to Celebrate an ‘Attitude of Gratitude’
The Powerhouse Regional Youth Conference will return to Camp Mack in Milford, Ind., again this year for its sixth edition, providing a weekend of worship, workshops, music, recreation, and more for Midwest senior high youth and their advisors. We hope you can join us Nov. 21-22 for this great weekend! Our theme will be “An Attitude of Gratitude,” looking at ways we live out and express thankfulness.
In Wake of Ferguson, Rockford Church Works to Build Nonviolent Community
Since the Michael Brown incident, as a congregation we have been looking for ways to avert such from happening in Rockford, knowing that back in 2009 we had a similar incident. We have been working with the Police Department to build a healthy and positive Nonviolence Community Policing and Community relationship.
Volunteer Observes a Trauma Healing Workshop in Nigeria
The Trauma Healing Workshop is held at a displacement camp that is filled with EYN members from the northeast area of Nigeria where the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency has done much of its terror, killing, and destruction. EYN stands for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
Small-Scale ‘Wall of Healing’ Display Is Available from Global Mission Office
At this year’s Annual Conference, Global Mission and Service presented the “Wall of Healing,” a poster exhibit commemorating the thousands of Nigerians who have been killed in recent years through terrorist violence and persecution. The exhibit is based on the information collected by Rebecca Dali and the Center for Caring, Empowerment, and Peace Initiatives, and was put together by Brethren Volunteer Service workers Pat and John Krabacher.
Trauma Healing Is the Path to Forgiveness in Nigeria
Is it truly possible to forgive someone who has hurt you so grievously that you can hardly function? Some of the IDPs (Internally Displaced People) in Nigeria have been hurt in ways that most of us can only imagine. To understand the healing process let me begin with a definition of trauma and move through some of the important steps necessary to accomplish this goal.