The written testimony, submitted in letter form, made by the Peace Witness Ministry on behalf of the Church of the Brethren denomination to the Senate Subcommittee hearing on ‘Proposals to Reduce Gun Violence,’ held Feb. 11, 2013.
Brethren Bits for Feb. 21
Noted in this issue: The Pope’s resignation, employee notices and job openings, former BVSers remembered, the CT Project for CDS, NOAC registration, other Brethren-related efforts against gun violence, among lots and lots more news from across the church and around the world.
Brethren Academy Issues Update on Spring and Summer Courses
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, and partners including the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) and other district-based programs, has issued an update on spring and summer courses for 2013.
Executive Committee of Denominational Board Holds January Meeting
The Executive Committee of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board met in Cocoa Beach, Fla., on Jan. 25-26, following meetings of other denominational leaders.
Upcoming College Speakers Include Nobel Peace Laureate, Popular Religion Scholar
Church of the Brethren-related colleges are hosting some well-known speakers for upcoming events, including well known religion scholar Diana Butler Bass who will speak at Bridgewater (Va.) College, and Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee who will speak at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College.
Beam and Steele Head up Annual Conference Ballot for 2013
The Standing Committee of district delegates has released a ballot for the 2013 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. The Conference takes place June 29-July 3 in Charlotte, N.C. Nominees are listed below, by position:
‘Going to the Garden’ Grants Go to Five Churches so Far
Church of the Brethren congregations across the country have begun applying for and receiving “Going to the Garden” grants as part of a new initiative to support congregationally based community gardens. “Going to the Garden” is an initiative of the Peace Witness Ministry and aims to address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and poverty. It is funded by $30,000 designated from the Global Food Crisis Fund.
Ten Receive Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarships in 2012
Ten nursing students are recipients of Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarships for 2012. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the church enrolled in LPN, RN, or nursing graduate programs.
‘A Trying Moment in Nigeria’: An EYN Leader Tallies Deaths and Churches Lost to Violence
The following tally of deaths, burned churches, and loss of property among members of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN–the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) provides a stark picture of the suffering of Nigerian Brethren since the extremist Islamist sect Boko Haram began terrorist operations in northern Nigeria around 2009.
National Youth Cabinet Meets, Announces Theme for NYC 2014
A theme has been chosen for the National Youth Conference (NYC) July 19-24, 2014, at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. The announcement came out of a meeting of the National Youth Cabinet this past weekend. The NYC theme will be “Called by Christ, Blessed for the Journey Together.”