John Jantzi has accepted the call to serve the Church of the Brethren’s Shenandoah District as district executive minister beginning Aug. 1. Since 2003 he has been pastor of Mt. Bethel Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va.
Newsline for April 19, 2012
News stories include: 1) Seminary forum discusses intersection of sexuality and spirituality. 2) Disciples and Brethren leaders explore partnerships in mission. 3) EDF grant supports Brethren disaster rebuilding site in Virginia. 4) Christians and Muslims meet to pursue peace and understanding. 5) Juniata College president Tom Kepple to retire. 6) Jantzi to serve as executive minister for Shenandoah District. 7) Revised Deacon Manual to be published in two volumes. 8) Video documents Nigerian Brethren experience of violence, peacemaking. 9) Track your steps at National Walk @ Lunch Day–and every day. 10) Honoring those who said no to war. 11) Brethren bits: Personnel, job, OEP board, Open Roof award, Youth Sunday, 100th anniversaries, college news, and more.
Seminary Forum Discusses Intersection of Sexuality and Spirituality
Bethany Seminary’s Presidential Forum on “Joy and Suffering in the Body: Turning Toward Each Other” brought more than 160 people to the campus in Richmond, Ind., on April 12-14. Headlining the event was James Forbes, senior minister emeritus of New York’s Riverside Church and Harry Emerson Fosdick Adjunct Professor of Preaching at Union Theological Seminary.
Christians and Muslims Meet to Pursue Peace and Understanding
On March 10, a meeting of Christians and Muslims took place at Camp Ithiel in the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeast District. Initiated by the district’s Action for Peace Team, the event was planned with leaders of the Turkish Cultural Center in Orlando. Over 40 people attended, including 35 Brethren along with 8 Turkish who live in the area.
Revised Deacon Manual to Be Published in Two Volumes
A newly revised and expanded “Deacon Manual” is nearing completion, with delivery scheduled for this summer, reports Donna Kline, director of the Church of the Brethren’s Deacon Ministries. The new two-volume set offers one volume for individual and group study, while the second volume is designed to accompany deacons as they minister in homes, hospitals, and the many other places they serve.
Disciples and Brethren Leaders Explore Partnerships in Mission
Leaders of the Church of the Brethren and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are meeting together to learn about each other’s traditions, find commonalities of theology and practice, and look for possibilities opportunities for collaborative work and mission in the future.
Honoring Those Who Said No to War
The following article by Howard Royer, who recently retired from the denominational staff, was written for the newsletter of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill.–and may provide a model for how other congregations remember and honor conscientious objectors:
On Earth Peace Board Holds Spring Meeting
During its Spring meeting, the On Earth Peace board of directors discussed next steps in the organization’s search for a new executive director. The agency hopes to fill the position in the coming months, and to introduce the new executive director at the upcoming Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in St. Louis, Mo.
EDF Grant Supports Brethren Disaster Rebuilding Site in Virginia
A grant of $30,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) continues support for a Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding site in Pulaski County, Va. This is an additional allocation for the project site, with previous allocations totaling $30,000.
Brethren in the News for April 5, 2012
Today’s “Brethren in the News” includes two media reports on the tragic death of Castine Church of the Brethren youth pastor Brian Delk earlier this week, as well as a unique art exhibit focused on Jesus’ human side at Veritas, a new church development in Lancaster, Pa., and a re-enactment of Jesus’ crucifixion at County Line Church of the Brethren in Champion, Ohio, along with links to many more Brethren-related news stories.