Borders are everywhere. There are borders separating countries/nations, borders drawn between states or municipalities, and even borders that define factory areas or commerce areas within cities. Some say we have to have borders. But what if borders between countries didn’t exist? What if people could travel from one area to another without hostility? The Peace Bell in Hiroshima’s Peace Park in Japan imagines such a world.
Brethren Volunteer Service
BVS Summer Unit Begins Work at Project Sites
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 297 has completed its orientation and begun work at a number of project sites in the United States, Ireland, and El Salvador. The summer unit held orientation on June 10-29 in Chicago and Elgin, Ill. Following are the new BVS volunteers, their home congregations or home towns, and projects sites.
BVS Director Participates in Conference Call with Selective Service
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) director Dan McFadden today participated in a telephone conference call with the Selective Service System. The Selective Service System hosted the call to update participants about Alternative Service plans in the event that a draft is ever called for by the US Congress. The call was hosted by Cassandra Costley, manager of the Alternative Service Program for SSS.
MSS Interns Begin a Summer of Service to the Church
The 2012 class of Ministry Summer Service interns have been holding orientation June 1-6 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The mentors for each intern joined the orientation for the last two days of the event. Below is a list of interns and mentors, as well as the ministry settings in which they will serve for the next 10 weeks:
General Secretary Announces Decision Regarding BMC Project with Brethren Volunteer Service
June 1, 2012 (Elgin, Ill.) — Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger today made an announcement concerning the BMC Kaleidoscope Coordinator as a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) project. The decision was shared in a letter addressed to Carol Wise, executive of BMC–the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests.
Brethren Volunteer Service Holds Summer Orientation Unit
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) announces the start of the 2012 Summer Orientation. To be held June 10-29 at the Brother David Darst Center in Chicago, Ill., this orientation will be the 297th unit for BVS and will consist of eight volunteers from across the US and Germany.
BVSers in Hiroshima Help Organize Peace Concert with Brethren Singer
Brethren Volunteer Service workers at the World Friendship Center in Hiroshima, Japan, recently helped organize a concert for peace given by American Brethren folk singer Mike Stern on April 13.
New Unit of BVS Volunteers Begins Service
The Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Winter Orientation Unit 296 completed training from Jan. 29-Feb. 17 in Gotha, Fla. Following are the volunteers, their congregations or hometowns, and placement sites…
Tyler to Serve as Coordinator of Workcamps and Volunteer Recruitment
Emily Tyler will begin June 27 as coordinator of workcamps and volunteer recruitment for the Church of the Brethren. The job combines oversight and administration of the youth and young adult workcamps with recruitment of volunteers for Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS).
Youth Peace Travel Team Is Named for 2012
The 2012 Youth Peace Travel Team has been named. As they spend time with junior and senior high youth this summer at camps across the Church of the Brethren, the team will teach about peace, justice, and reconciliation.