The Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference met via Zoom on the evening of Sept. 30 to consider and act on covenants with the three agencies of Annual Conference—Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace. Also acted on was a recommendation to Annual Conference to renew their agency status.
Mission and Ministry Board approves new Global Mission Development Fund at its Fall 2024 meeting
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board held its Fall 2024 meeting Oct. 17-20 at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Colin Scott presided as chair, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.

FaithX 2025 locations and dates are announced
By Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred FaithX is excited to announce service trip opportunities for all ages in 2025! A total of 12 service trips are planned. Opportunities include individual or combined trips for junior and senior high youth, a family service weekend with childcare provided, the older adult trip in March, and international or domestic trips for

Pastors’ Housing Equity Fund is coming
The newly revised pastors’ Housing Equity Fund now offers a tax-friendly option for those ministers living in parsonages who wish to build equity toward a future home purchase. Significant revisions to the fund’s structure were approved by the 2024 Annual Conference and have resulted in the creation of this new investment fund option. Whereas the
Chicago First Church of the Brethren joins Apartheid Free Communities network
Chicago (Ill.) First Church of the Brethren prayerfully took the pledge to join the Apartheid Free Communities network. Chicago First Church is the 400th organization to join under the sponsorship of American Friends Service Committee and the first Church of the Brethren congregation to join.
Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team invites congregations to plan gun violence vigils in December
The Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team would like to invite your congregation to remember gun violence victims who have passed away in 2024 by hosting a vigil or service in December as part of the Newtown Action Alliance’s 2024 Nationwide Vigils to #EndGunViolence initiative.

Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Gerald Pence, dates and location for next National Youth Conference, prayer concern for the Community of Faith and Haitians in the Dominican Republic, leadership opening in West Marva District, closing date for L.E.A.D. Conference registration, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.

Church of the Brethren aid and relief response continues following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
The Church of the Brethren’s aid and relief response following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton continues on the denominational, district, and congregational levels. Here are some updates

Opportunities for facilitator training for ‘7 Prompts’ conversations are offered
This month the Standing with People of Color Committee will offer two opportunities for facilitator training for those interested in leading “7 Prompts” conversations in their communities and congregations.

Lititz Church of the Brethren hosts gun violence prevention event
On International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren erected a Memorial to the Lost. This memorial displayed more than 90 t-shirts, each marked with the name, date of death, and age at death of a person killed by gun homicide in Lancaster County, Pa.
