On the day the Global Christian Forum released an Appeal by Middle East church leaders calling their co-citizens “to reject all forms of extremism and enmity” and for the world community to “to support a Christian presence in the Middle East in partnership with other religions” it was reported that two Orthodox bishops had been kidnaped in Syria.
Church Leaders Comment on National Tragedy, CDS Offers Advice for Parents
Christian leaders are joining the nation in prayer following the Boston Marathon bombings. Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger added his voice to that of other ecumenical leaders following the tragedy. Ecumenical groups making statements include the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, and the World Council of Churches.
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) also has called for prayer and offered advice to help parents talk with their children about what happened. “We join this day in remembering those who lost their lives,” said general secretary Stan Noffsinger.
Children’s Disaster Services to Work in Boston Following Bombing
A team from Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is traveling to Boston to help care for children and family affected by the bombings at the Boston Marathon.
Annual Conference Service Project Collects School Supplies for Charlotte
The 2013 Witness to the Host City at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will benefit Classroom Central, an organization that distributes free school supplies in the host city of Charlotte, N.C.
Newsline for April 18, 2013
1) Fifty years later, church leaders respond to Birmingham letter. 2) Church leaders comment on national tragedy, CDS offers advice for parents. 3) Nigerian Brethren experience another church attack, hold annual meeting. 4) PAG in Honduras, Brethren in Nigeria and Congo, Friends in Rwanda receive GFCF grants. 5) Disaster and mission staff offer support after fire in South Sudan village. 6) Sponsor a peace and reconciliation scholarship in South Sudan. 7) 3,000 miles campaign of On Earth Peace receives lots of support. 8) Congregational ethics, ministerial leadership, drone warfare, biblical authority are on business docket for 2013. 9) Annual Conference service project collects school supplies for Charlotte. 10) Children’s Disaster Services offers training workshop in New England. 11) Young Adult Conference 2013 is held at Camp Pine Lake in Iowa. 12) Gettysburg Brethren are the subject of John Kline Lecture for 2013. 13) Brethren bits.
Brethren Bits for April 18, 2013
Brethren bits today corrects a previous announcement on the Progressive Brethren Gathering, remembers church leaders, and offers information about job openings in Southern Pennsylvania District, the World Council of Churches, BHLA, National Farm Worker Ministry, and Christian Peacemaker Teams, among lots of news from and for Brethren.
Gettysburg Brethren Are the Subject of John Kline Lecture for 2013
The author of a forthcoming book on the religious history of Gettysburg, Pa., will deliver this year’s John Kline Lecture at the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va., on April 28. The speaker, Steve Longenecker, will explain the impact of the famous battle on members of the Church of the Brethren (Dunkers) who lived on the battlefield.
Young Adult Conference 2013 Is Held at Camp Pine Lake in Iowa
The 2013 Young Adult Conference will be held May 25-27 for Brethren age 18-35 at Camp Pine Lake near Eldora, Iowa. The event will offer participants a long weekend of worship, fun, and fellowship.
Congregational Ethics, Ministerial Leadership, Drone Warfare, Biblical Authority Are on Business Docket for 2013
Delegates to Annual Conference on June 29-July 3 in Charlotte, N.C., will consider several key documents for the Church of the Brethren, among nine items of business coming to the meeting. As at last year’s Conference, delegates will again be seated together at round tables.
PAG in Honduras, Brethren in Nigeria and Congo, Friends in Rwanda Receive GFCF Grants
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) has given several grants recently, including an allocation of $60,000 to PAG in Honduras, and $40,000 to an agriculture project of the Rural Development Program of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Also receiving grants of smaller amounts were a Brethren group in the Congo, and a Friends church in Rwanda.