The Church of the Brethren’s advocacy and peace witness office based in Washington, D.C., has issued a statement on the current issues with regard to religious liberty and the provision of health insurance coverage for contraception.
Resources for Lent: Devotional and Blog Challenge Believers to Engage the World
In “A Community of Love,” the Lenten devotional from Brethren Press, author Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford encourages readers to engage in personal introspection that leads to participation in the community of faith. Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is hosting a blog as one way to invite readers into this larger community of faith. The site will offer simple prayers and questions growing out of the Lenten devotional. Also find more resources for Lent and Easter from Congregational Life Ministries, Global Women’s Project, and the Springs Initiative.
New Schedule Announced for Ministers Event Led by Brueggemann
The Ministers’ Association has issued a new schedule for its pre-Conference two-day learning event featuring Walter Brueggemann, July 6-7 in St. Louis. Brueggemann, a renowned Old Testament scholar and author of over 50 books, will address the topic “Truth Speaks to Power” and the question, “How can the witness of the gospel be uttered and enacted in the midst of a public domain that now features immense concentrations of money, power, and control?”
Ministry Office Sponsors Series of Sessions on Women in Leadership
The Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office, in cooperation with the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership and Bethany Theological Seminary, has put together a series of sessions on women in leadership for the 2012 Annual Conference.
Deacon Ministry Offers Pre-Conference Workshops
Two deacon training workshops will be held in St. Louis on Saturday, July 7, prior to the start of the 2012 Annual Conference. The workshops are sponsored by the Church of the Brethren Deacon Ministry, a part of Congregational Life Ministries. Both workshops will be held in the America’s Center convention center, Room 122.
Annual Conference Bits and Pieces
These highlights of special events and opportunities at the 2012 Annual Conference include a second annual Congregational Life Ministry Fair, pre- and post-Conference tours of Bethany Theological Seminary, “New Fire: Youth and Young Adults and the Ecumenical Movement” presentation at the Ecumenical Luncheon, a “Night at the Museum” for young adults and singles/night owls, and much, much more.
Annual Conference Registration and Housing Open Online Feb. 22
In an announcement from the Conference Office, on Feb. 22 general registration and housing reservations open online for the 2012 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, to be held on July 7-11 in St. Louis, Mo. The registration site for the Conference is www.brethren.org/ac .
Brethren Bits for Feb. 8, 2012
Brethren bits for Feb. 8 include a remembrance for a longtime volunteer at the Brethren Service Center, news of a new chaplain for Fahrney-Keedy, job openings at On Earth Peace and Camp Peaceful Pines, a young adult opportunity at the World Council of Churches, the Senior High Roundtable at Bridgewater plus more college news, anniversaries, a new “Brethren Voices,” and more.
Vision Statement Coming to Annual Conference is Available Online
The Vision Statement for the Church of the Brethren, slated for consideration at the 2012 Annual Conference in July, is now available for inspection and review on the Conference website. That was one of the actions taken by a committee charged with interpreting and presenting the statement to the Conference delegates.
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering Scheduled for March 18
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The theme for the 2012 One Great Hour of Sharing offering continues to be “Sharing Brings Joy,” with a focus this year on sharing joy with others.