The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference partners this year with the YWCA/YMCA of Columbus, Ohio, for an annual Witness to the Host City. Annual Conference 2014 takes place in Columbus on July 2-6, led by moderator Nancy Sollenberger Heishman. Each year, the Witness to the Host City service project invites Brethren to aid the city that hosts the denomination’s annual meeting.
Brethren Academy Issues an Updated Course Listing for 2014
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership has issued an updated listing of courses offered in 2014. Courses are open to Training in Ministry (TRIM) students, pastors, and all interested persons. Offered this year: “Beyond Sunday School,” “Rock the Church,” study in conjunction with the Ministers’ Association event, “Church of the Brethren Polity and Practice,” “Conflict Transformation in Congregations,” and “Luke-Acts and the Birth of the Church.”
Fellowship of Brethren Homes Forum to Meet in Lancaster, Pa.
The Brethren Village Retirement Community in Lancaster, Pa., will host this year’s Fellowship of Brethren Homes Forum on April 14-16. Representatives from member communities will be joined by several denominational staff members for three days of training, updates, networking, and sharing best practices in long-term care.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
The Church of the Brethren Family Life Ministry is providing resources and ideas for congregations to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month during April. Find more information at www.brethren.org/childprotection/month.html .
Chaplains from Brethren-Related Colleges and Universities Hold Meeting
Chaplains from five of the six Church of the Brethren-affiliated colleges and universities and Tracy Primozich, director of admissions for Bethany Theological Seminary, met Feb. 19 in Tacoma, Wash., following the National Association of College and University Chaplains (NACUC) annual conference.
Workbook on Physical Loss and Disability Is Published in Vietnam
On Sept. 3, 2013, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) Faculty of Social Work received boxes containing the first 1,000 copies of the Vietnamese translation of “Coping with Physical Loss and Disability Workbook,” written by Rick Ritter, M.S.W., who has been part of Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren in Indiana. The book was published by Youth Publisher, Ho Chi Minh City.
The Building of a Shared Society: The Work of One BVS Project Site in Northern Ireland
East Belfast Mission, one of the project sites in Northern Ireland where Brethren Volunteer Service workers are placed, was in the news early this year when a peacebuilding event it hosted was met with violent protests. Here, BVS volunteer Megan Miller explains the groundbreaking work of the mission.
Brethren Bits for March 4, 2014
Northern Ohio District loss, job openings, early registration for church planting conference, Shine training, Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, ecumenical calls for peace with Iran and in the Ukraine, Lent initiatives and resources, and much more.
Newsline for March 4, 2014
1) On Earth Peace co-sponsors new Stop Recruiting Kids Campaign. 2) Bethany Seminary announces results of essay contest. 3) Applications are due soon for nursing scholarships. 4) Workbook on physical loss and disability is published in Vietnam. 5) The building of a shared society: The work of one BVS project site in Northern Ireland. 6) Brethren bits
Applications Are Due Soon for Nursing Scholarships
The Church of the Brethren awards a limited number of scholarships each year to individuals enrolled in a nursing program. Candidates for the scholarships must be enrolled in an LPN, RN, or nursing graduate program and must be members of the Church of the Brethren. The scholarships are awarded from the Health Education and Research Endowment.