In this issue: Churches for Middle East Peace issues statements, Meyersdale Church of the Brethren anniversary, Shenandoah disaster auction underway, On Earth Peace announces new resources, informational sessions from the Death Row Support Project, Brethren Heritage Center event, and more.
Eric Miller on May 15 concluded his work with the Church of the Brethren as executive director of Global Mission. Roy Winter, executive director for Service Ministries, will provide interim leadership for Global Mission.
Jacqueline Claire Flowers of Blacksburg, Va., has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA). She holds a master of divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary and a bachelor of arts in Psychology from Argosy University. She will begin working from the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., on July 15.
Making connections is one of my life’s joys, and the Christian Citizenship Seminar (CCS) held on April 11-16 in Washington, D.C., was a place to make them.
An appropriation of $143,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) is being directed by Brethren Disaster Ministries for a humanitarian response to multiple crises in Haiti. The money will provide emergency food distributions at all the congregations and preaching points of l’Eglise des Freres d’Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti).
The staff of Brethren Disaster Ministries have directed a large grant of $225,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to extend the Nigeria Crisis Response for another year. The grant is given in conjunction with a plan to phase out the program over the next three years, created in collaboration with the Disaster Relief Management Team of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
In addition to the large grant of $225,000 that extends the Nigeria Crisis Response program through 2024, the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) has provided grants to various countries including a grant that will help start a new South Sudan Crisis Recovery Initiative with staff from Global Mission.
The United Nations Civil Society (NGO) conference will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 9-10. At that time, a “Summit of the Future” will be held on the continent from where millions of people were transported as commodities between the 16th and 19th centuries. This report covers a portion of the UN events that I’ve attended in 2023 through March 2024, along with information that can be found at the United Nations websites.
In this issue: Denominational staff join ecumenical prayer service for Gaza, registration is extended for the Young Adult Conference, Brethren Academy seeks bilingual writing coach, international partners request prayer, “A Breath of Fresh Air” (Acts 2:2) is theme for the Church of the Brethren’s Pentecost Offering on May 19, and much more.
Planning is beginning now for the “every five years” retreat open to all licensed and credentialed clergywomen in the Church of the Brethren. Past retreats have provided beautiful opportunities to connect with sisters in ministry, find rest and renewal, and return home inspired and encouraged. Make plans now to attend!
