Denominational leaders attended the annual meeting of the Council of Moderators and Secretaries (COMS) of Anabaptist denominations and groups, on Dec. 12-13, 2014. Representing the Church of the Brethren were Annual Conference moderator David Steele and moderator-elect Andy Murray, and general secretary Stan Noffsinger.
CCEPI Distribution: A Story from the Relief Effort in Nigeria
On Dec. 10 the Center for Caring, Empowerment, and Peace Initiatives (CCEPI) team gathered food supplies at the temporary headquarters of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Displaced families had gathered and were already registered for ease in distribution. CCEPI is one of the EYN-connected NGOs that is being funded by Brethren Disaster Ministries through its Nigeria relief appeal.
Matt DeBall Is Hired as Coordinator of Donor Communications
Matt DeBall has accepted the position of coordinator of Donor Communications for the Church of the Brethren. He began his work in this position on Dec. 15, 2014.
Youth Ministry Names National Youth Cabinet for 2015-2016
A new National Youth Cabinet has been named by the Church of the Brethren’s Youth and Young Adult Ministry, led by director Becky Ullom Naugle. She reported that the new cabinet hopes to hold its first meeting in February.
Brethren Disaster Relief Auction Gives Half Million Dollars for Nigeria Relief
After a special request for support of the Nigeria Crisis Response, the Brethren Disaster Relief Auction board has allocated $500,000 to the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) which is administered by Brethren Disaster Ministries. This is the auction’s largest grant ever to the EDF and the disaster relief work of the Church of the Brethren.
Newsline for Dec. 22, 2014
NEWS 1) Brethren Disaster Relief Auction gives half million dollars for Nigeria relief 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries leader returns from trip to Nigeria, reports on EYN progress in midst of crisis 3) US and Cuban councils of churches issue joint statement UPCOMING EVENTS: 4) Webinar series takes a look at ‘family matters’ 5) Brethren bits
Brethren Bits for Dec. 22, 2014
In this issue: Important e-mail sent to pastors and church board chairs about IRS changes for church employees, remembering Mary Petre and Sam Smith, personnel notice from Bethany, Juniata seeks director for Baker Institute, denomination seeks donor relations program assistant, registration opens soon for Annual Conference and other 2015 events, applications due for Ministry Summer Service and Youth Peace Travel Team, youth ministry and clergy tax webinars
Webinar Series Takes a Look at ‘Family Matters’
A webinar series titled “Family Matters” is offered by the Church of the Brethren Congregational Life Ministries and partners in the United Kingdom. Although the initial webinar in the series has already taken place, “Family Matters” webinars will continue in 2015 with one offered each month from January through May.
Brethren Disaster Ministries Leader Returns from Trip to Nigeria, Reports on EYN Progress in Midst of Crisis
How can we find ways to find hope in this crisis in Nigeria? The core leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) is safely settling into temporary homes and establishing an annex or temporary headquarters for the church. In our many meetings with EYN leadership the challenge is clearly daunting, but we found time to laugh and rejoice in God.
US and Cuban Councils of Churches Issue Joint Statement
In the wake of last Wednesday’s announcement of President Obama’s intentions to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba, which would end a half century political stand off between the two nations, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) and the Cuban Council of Churches issued a joint statement expressing “great joy and celebration.” Following is the full statement, as published in a press release from the NCC: