The Southern Ohio and Kentucky District held its district conference on Oct. 6-7 at West Charleston Church of the Brethren. Along with the usual business of passing a budget for 2024 and approving the slate of new board members and other leadership, a query was brought from the Living Peace congregation in Columbus, Ohio, about whether or not it is time to rescind the 1983 Annual Conference paper “Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective.”
José Calleja Otero resigns from leadership of Puerto Rico District
José Calleja Otero has resigned as executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Puerto Rico District, effective Dec. 6. He has served in leadership of the district for eight and a half years, since he began as the district’s first executive on July 12, 2015.
Germantown church holds its official congregational anniversary celebration
Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia, Pa., held the official congregational celebration of its 300th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 8. The congregation is the first Brethren church established in the Americas.
Church of the Brethren and the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy join ecumenical and interfaith calls for ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
The Church of the Brethren has joined more than 20 Christian churches and organizations in the United States in sending a letter to the United States Congress mourning the loss of life in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and calling for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The denomination’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy signed an interfaith letter to the Biden administration and Congress, dated Oct. 16, also calling for a ceasefire.
Brethren bits for Oct. 5, 2023
In this issue: Remembering Charles Whitacre and Marge Moeller, job opening in communications with the NCC, Kingian Nonviolence training, Womaen’s Caucus nominating party, Brethren Voices episode on “Taking Care of Our…Mother Earth,” new One Home One Future national multi-faith environmental campaign, nominations received for Climate Leadership Awards, and more.
New Community Project at 20: By the numbers
New Community Project turns 20 this year! Over these two decades, we’ve covered a lot of ground and want to offer some high-lights of our work. Of course, numbers don’t tell the whole story, as our impact isn’t always visible and countable. But figures do perhaps provide some indication of progress toward our oft-stated goal of “changing the world.” So let’s see how they add up!
October Ventures course focuses on a Kansas congregation’s experience resettling refugees
The October online offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “From Ukraine to Central Kansas: A Positive Refugee Experience” to be presented by the McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren Welcomers Group. The course will be held online Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (central time). Continuing education units (CEUs) are available.
Camp Alexander Mack receives large grant from Lilly Endowment
We have EXCITING news! Lilly Endowment Inc., through the Strengthening Youth Programs Initiative, has awarded Camp Mack a three-year $620,926 grant to use the outdoor education program in support of local school districts and to offer a day camp during extended school breaks. Camp Alexander Mack, a ministry of the Northern Indiana and South Central Indiana Districts of the Church of the Brethren, is located near Milford, Ind.
BFIA grants support Gun Buy Back Program, Blessing Box, and more projects at eight Church of the Brethren congregations
The Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) has aided eight Church of the Brethren congregations with its latest round of grants, including a grant of $5,000 for a Gun Buy Back Program of Spirit of Peace Church in partnership with a local municipal program administered by the state police. The fund provides grants using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
EDF grants offer aid and relief in Haiti, the United States, Ukraine and Poland, the DRC, and Rwanda
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to respond to multiple crises in Haiti, support continued Brethren Disaster Ministries work following 2022’s summer flooding in the central United States, aid displaced Ukrainians with disabilities, provide school kits for displaced children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide flood relief in Rwanda, and support a summer program for migrant children in Washington, D.C.
