The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) held its second annual Christian Unity Gathering on May 7-9 near Washington, D.C. The gathering focused on interfaith peacemaking and mass incarceration, and related topics including Christian responses to police brutality. Some 200 people attended, including leaders from a wide spectrum of Christian traditions.
Intercultural Retreat Brings a Rainbow of Humanity Together to Say ‘Amen!’
Two of the organizers of the 2015 Intercultural Retreat held in early May in Harrisburg, Pa., write their impressions of the gathering: “All God’s People Say Amen” was the rousing theme for an inspiring weekend intercultural retreat at Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren where Belita Mitchell serves as lead pastor. Almost 150 people from 9 districts of the Church of the Brethren gathered to participate in this three-day event….”
Alaska Project Receives Going to Garden Grant to Support ‘Far North’ Gardening
A unique gardening project in Alaska is one of the sites receiving grants through the Going to the Garden initiative of the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) and Office of Public Witness. “I was just floored by what they are doing,” commented GFCF manager Jeff Boshart. The Alaska effort is a personal mission of Bill and Penny Gay and an outreach project of their congregation at Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren in Decatur, Ind.
Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 Takes on the Topic of Immigration
Two of the senior high youth who participated in this year’s Christian Citizenship Seminar–Jenna Walmer and Corrie Osborne–report on the event and its impact: “On April 18, Church of the Brethren youth gathered in New York City at the start of Christian Citizenship Seminar (CCS), a conference that allows youth to explore the connections between a specific topic and our faith. This year the topic was immigration. The seminar culminates with congressional visits in Washington, D.C. Throughout the seminar, we discussed the importance of our faith’s connection with citizenship and how immigration impacts our lives. It is a busy week filled with learning, fun, and spiritual growth….”
Newsline for May 13, 2015
1) The Armenian genocide is commemorated at the Washington National Cathedral. 2) Armenian Genocide sparked 100 years of Brethren response to disaster and conflict. 3) ‘I have decided to stay with my orphans’: Remembering Brethren work during the genocide. 4) NCC annual gathering marks new ecumenical focus on interfaith peacemaking, mass incarceration. 5) Brethren Disaster Ministries directs $70,000 to joint response in Nepal, among other grants. 6) Intercultural Retreat brings a rainbow of humanity together to say ‘Amen!’ 7) Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 takes on the topic of immigration. 8) Second Haitian Peace Seminar is held in Miami. 9) Church of the Brethren general secretary to receive honorary degree from Manchester. 10) Alaska project receives Going to Garden grant to support ‘far north’ gardening. 11) Mount Morris Church celebrates immigrant member Isabelle Krol. 12) Brethren bits.
Second Haitian Peace Seminar Is Held in Miami
From Friday evening April 24, until noon Sunday, April 26, the Second Haitian Peace Seminar was held at l’Eglise des Freres Church of the Brethren in Miami, Fla. During the three-day conference 100 attendees registered. Of these registrants 22 were youth. Registrants represented five Haitian churches in Florida and a Church of the Brethren in Haiti.
Mount Morris Church Celebrates Immigrant Member Isabelle Krol
Mount Morris (Ill.) Church of the Brethren on a recent Sunday held a service and celebration for member Isabelle Krol, on the 50th anniversary of her becoming an official citizen of the United States. She came to the United States from Belgium, following World War II. Following is part of her life story, taken from an interview by Dianne Swingel:
Brethren Disaster Ministries Directs $70,000 to Joint Response in Nepal, Among Other Grants
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed a grant of $70,000 from the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to help fund a joint response in Nepal with Church World Service (CWS) and Lutheran World Relief, Heifer International, and local partners.
Brethren Bits for May 12, 2015
In this issue: Church of the Brethren members invited to contribute to memory book honoring general secretary Stan Noffsinger, Tim McElwee named to new VP post at Manchester University, Office of Public Witness supports call for end to family detention in Immigration Detention Centers, Mother’s Day 5K for Peace in Nigeria raises more than $5,000, Nigerian television reports on Brethren visit to Chibok, and more.
Armenian Genocide Sparked 100 Years of Brethren Response to Disaster and Conflict
The commemoration of 100 years since the beginning of the Armenian genocide in 1915 also marks nearly a century of Church of the Brethren compassionate response to those affected by disasters and conflicts. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman Turks in the genocide that occurred from 1915 to 1923. Brethren began responding to the needs of Armenian survivors and refugees beginning in 1917.