In this issue: National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) Planning Team, job opening, Nate Polzin to present at Brethren Evangelism Training Event in Shenandoah, McPherson College president Michael Schneider receives award, Roundtable regional youth conference, grant opportunity for congregations, the Peace Pilgrimage begins, WCC head visits Israel and Palestine, Brethren in the news, and a Black History Month note from the NCC.
The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy was one of more than 150 faith-based organizations and groups that signed a significant letter to Congress on the issue of immigration. More than 660 individual faith leaders also signed the letter, which was facilitated by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.
Victoria (Vicki) Ehret has resigned as director of administration for the District Executive Minister Team of the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeast District. She began in the position as interim district executive minister on Jan. 25, 2021, for a period of six months, after which she transitioned to her present role. She will conclude her role by June 30, or sooner, upon the hiring by the district board of an interim to fill the position.
Song and Story Fest 2024 will be hosted by Camp Brethren Heights in Michigan, July 7-13, right after the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Grand Rapids.
With deep sadness, the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team acknowledges news received of the withdrawal of all six congregations in the Puerto Rico District from the Church of the Brethren, as of Oct. 26, 2023.
A prayer for peace by John Paarlberg, from a release by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
During an online meeting of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, held the evening of Jan. 29, reports were received from subcommittees. The meeting was presided over by Annual Conference moderator Madalyn Metzger, assisted by moderator-elect Dava Hensley and secretary David Shumate, with Annual Conference director Rhonda Pittman Gingrich.
Through Thick and Thin: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter, written by Beth Sollenberger, is the 2024 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press. This year, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14. The daily devotions continue through Easter Sunday, March 31.
The Council of District Executives (CODE) held its annual winter meetings Jan. 20-24 near Melbourne, Fla., with some members also attending the Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) meeting that followed. Twenty-two of the denomination’s 24 districts were represented, along with Office of Ministry director Nancy Sollenberger Heishman.
Church of the Brethren membership in the United States in 2022 was 81,345, according to the statistical report in the 2023 Church of the Brethren Yearbook, published by Brethren Press. The 2023 edition–published late last year–includes the 2022 statistical report and the 2023 directory for the denomination.
