Brethren Benefit Trust cancels annual fitness challenge

A release from BBT The annual walk walk/run will not go on as planned…at least not this year. Brethren Benefit Trust has cancelled its Annual Conference 5K Fun Run, long known as the 5K Fitness Challenge, in light of all the unexpected issues this year on both the medical and financial fronts. The event had

Brethren bits for March 28, 2020

—Brethren Benefit Trust through the Church Workers Assistance Fund has created a COVID-19 Emergency Grant Program. The program has a streamlined application process to provide financial support to church workers (pastors, office staff, etc.) whose financial situation is adversely affected because of COVID-19 related issues. This would include help for bi-vocational pastors whose non-church work

Michelle Kilbourne hired as BBT director of human resources and administrative services

Michelle Kilbourne has been hired as director of Human Resources and Administrative Services for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT). She will begin her duties on Oct. 1 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.  She brings a variety of professional experiences and extensive education to the position. Most recently she was Business

Brethren bits for Aug. 28, 2019

— Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) seeks candidates for the position of director of Human Resources and Administrative Services, reportable to the president. The primary function is to provide leadership, vision, direction, and assistance with all functions related to human resources and administrative services. This full-time, exempt position is based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices

Donna March retires from Brethren Benefit Trust

Donna March has announced her retirement as of Dec. 31 as Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) director of Human Resources and Administrative Services. She has worked in Church of the Brethren-related positions for 35 years, including 30 years at BBT. March began her tenure with the Church of the Brethren in May 1984, working for the

Brethren Benefit Trust signs Turkmen Cotton Pledge

Brethren Benefit Trust and its affiliate, Brethren Foundation Funds, on April 4 signed the Turkmen Cotton Pledge to show opposition to unacceptable human rights conditions in Turkmenistan, as the government there has been using forced labor to harvest cotton. Turkmenistan is the 11th-largest exporter of cotton in the world, but produces its commodity by threatening adult citizens with dismissal or salary deductions from their regular jobs if they do not assist with the annual cotton harvest.

Brethren bits for March 22, 2019

In this issue: Remembering Charles Lunkley, personnel notes, job openings, Messenger Online offers “So many changes! How the new tax code affects you” by Deb Oskin, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy recommends “Faith Over Fear” training, “Look at Life” conference at Bethany Seminary, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.

Faith over fear flyer

Housing allowance is upheld by appeals court

The housing allowance provision that provides pastors with a tax benefit for their housing expenses is constitutional. That decision was announced on March 15 by the Seventh Circuit Appeals Court, which is located in Chicago.

New parking lot tax may affect some congregations

A change to the Internal Revenue Code imposes a new tax on parking facilities owned by nonprofits, and may affect some churches. This new business income tax provision is found in Section 512(a)(7) of the code.

parking lot

Brethren bits for Feb. 9, 2019

— Remembrance: John Conrad Heisel, former manager of both the Nappanee, Ind., and Modesto, Calif., Brethren Service Centers, passed away on Jan. 14 in Modesto. He was born in Empire, Calif., in 1931 to Dee L. and Susie Hackenberg Heisel and was raised in Empire Church of the Brethren. He graduated from Modesto High School in 1949.

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