Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind., held its annual Peace Week on April 14-20 with a variety of guest speakers, workshops, worship times, and a concert under the theme “Opening New Doors: Acting for Peace.”
Delegation Visits Emerging Church in Spain
A delegation of six traveled to Spain April 1-10, representing groups who are providing financial and logistical support to the emerging church in Spain. Members of this group were: Marla Bieber Abe, co-pastor of Carlisle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren representing Brethren World Mission; Norm Yeater and Carolyn Fitzkee of Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa.; Daniel and Oris D’Oleo of Renacer, a Hispanic church plant in Roanoke, Va.; and Fausto Carrasco of Nuevo Amanacer Church of the Brethren in Bethlehem, Pa.
Tools for Vital Ministry Journey Include New Bible Study Resources
Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren is making available a set of Bible study tools for congregations and districts embarking on the Vital Ministry Journey. Three Bible studies have been published as paperback booklets.
Brethren in the News
Latest links to Brethren in the news, for the month of April 2013.
Mission Workers Report from Annual Meeting of Nigerian Church
“Our first Majalisa was a good experience,” report Carl and Roxane Hill, Church of the Brethren mission workers with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). There were over 1,000 in attendance at EYN’s 66th Majalisa on April 16-19.
Two Archbishops Kidnapped on Day of Church Appeal for Middle East Peace
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.