Church of the Brethren membership in the United States and Puerto Rico has fallen below 100,000, according to the 2020 Church of the Brethren Yearbook from Brethren Press. For 2019, the Yearbook reported 98,680 members in 24 districts and 978 local worshiping communities across the Church of the Brethren denomination–a net loss of 5,766 over the previous year.
The Wild Way of Jesus: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter, written by Anna Lisa Gross, is the 2021 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press. “This Lent, walk with Jesus along his wilderness way,” said an announcement. “Look to the birds in the air, taste mustard growing along the path, and greet people deemed outcasts. Follow Jesus through the world’s wild edges and experience life-giving good news.”
Of late, the inauguration of a new US president has occupied our attention. But there’s a more pertinent inauguration needed during days of national upheaval: a fresh elevation of Jesus as Lord. Many have yet to inaugurate Jesus to this status. Yes, we give lip service to the centrality of Jesus, but often we become acculturated, collapsing toward consumerism, civil religion, and an insular faith. In doing so, we fail to allow Jesus to transform every aspect of our “form and frame,” being “born again,” not only in our relationship to God, but also in our relationship to soul, self, others, and all of creation (Romans 12).
The Program and Arrangements Committee has determined that the 2021 Annual Conference will be entirely online. The committee hoped to have a hybrid (both in-person and online) Conference as announced last fall. However, due to the continuing challenges of COVID-19, the committee deemed that it is not wise to have an in-person component for Annual Conference this summer. As Program and Arrangements Committee has consistently stressed, the health and safety of Annual Conference participants is the highest priority.
NEWS
1) Intercultural Ministries sends out letter and invitation to new Racial Healing Grant Program
2) Discipleship Ministries offers opportunity to share prayers
3) ‘Hold fast to Jesus’: Office of Ministry shares letter of encouragement with ministers
4) Nursing scholarships are announced
PERSONNEL
5) Kostlevy to retire from the Brethren Historical Library and Archives
6) Brethren bits: Memorial service for John Gingrich, “Faith, Science, and COVID-19 Part Three,” Camp Blue Diamond seeks executive director, prayer requests, matching grant for Haiti Medical Project, Southern Ohio and Kentucky District urges churches to refrain from in-person meetings, Bridgewater College welcomes author Blair L. M. Kelley, and more
The Church of the Brethren Discipleship Ministries is announcing an opportunity to share prayers in response to the general secretary’s letter following the violence of Jan. 6 at the US Capitol.
In this issue: Invitation to memorial service for John Gingrich, Moderator’s Town Hall on Faith, Science, and COVID-19 Part Three, Camp Blue Diamond seeks executive director, prayer requests, matching grant for Haiti Medical Project, Southern Ohio and Kentucky District urges churches to refrain from in-person meetings, Bridgewater College welcomes author Blair L. M. Kelley for “BC Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” and much more.
William (Bill) Kostlevy will retire as director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) effective April 17. He has worked for the Church of the Brethren for almost eight years, since March 1, 2013.
Five nursing students are recipients of Church of the Brethren Nursing Scholarships for 2020. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the Church of the Brethren enrolled in LPN, RN, or nursing graduate programs.
NEWS
1) Church of the Brethren General Secretary issues a statement on the events of Jan. 6
2) Studying scripture together is key to a compelling vision for the Church of the Brethren
3) Grants support hurricane relief, international groups affected by pandemic, community gardens
4) Couple’s gift will add endowed music professorship at Manchester University
PERSONNEL
5) Sonja Griffith resigns from leadership of Western Plains District
6) Replogle, Liu are promoted from interim to staff positions with the Church of the Brethren
7) Brethren bits: Remembering Curtis W. Dubble and Fay Reese, Washington City Church and Office of Peacebuilding and Policy are safe and unharmed, prayer requested for Modesto Church of the Brethren, new address for S. Pennsylvania District, and a round-up of excerpts from prayers, reflections, and statements on the violent attack on Congress
