Registration is now open for the new church development conference, @HIM #Hope #Imagination #Mission, scheduled for May 19-21 in Richmond, Ind. The conference will feature Efrem Smith and Mandy Smith as keynote speakers, and will be marked by passionate worship, informative workshops, valuable networking, and prayerful support.
Congregational Life Ministries
Racial Injustice and Mass Incarceration Will Be Focus of CCS 2016
he Christian Citizenship Seminar to be held next year on April 23-28, 2016, will focus on the theme, “Proclaiming Freedom: The Racial Injustice of Mass Incarceration.” The theme scripture is taken from Hebrews 13:3, “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.”
Outdoor Ministries Association Retreat Considers ‘Seeds of Change’
Every year in mid-November, those engaged and interested in Church of the Brethren outdoor ministries gather for a conference and retreat. Camp managers, administrators, program coordinators, board members, and those who love and support outdoor ministries come together for a week of sharing, learning, and enjoying each other’s company, and of course, the great outdoors.
Ventures Course at McPherson College Will Explore Congregational Ethics
The next Ventures course at McPherson (Kan.) College titled “Congregational Ethics: Patterns of Healthy Communities” will be led by Joshua Brockway, director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship for the Church of the Brethren and a member of the staff of Congregational Life Ministries. Brockway has provided leadership for a new emphasis on congregational ethics in the Church of the Brethren. This online webinar is offered on Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon (central time).
National Junior High Sunday Will Be Observed on Nov. 1
National Junior High Sunday in the Church of the Brethren will be observed on Nov. 1. The 2015 theme is based on James 2:14-17 from “The Message”: “Faith Without Works Is Outrageous Nonsense.” Worship resources and other resources for the special Sunday are made available online and are free to download from www.brethren.org/yya/jr-high-resources.html .
Kim Ebersole Resigns as Director of Family Life and Older Adult Ministries
Kim Ebersole has tendered her resignation effective Oct. 9. She has been serving on the Church of the Brethren denominational staff as director of Family Life and Older Adult Ministries.
NOAC by the Numbers
The 2015 National Older Adult Conference, which was the Church of the Brethren’s 13th NOAC, gathered 906 people at the Lake Junaluska (N.C.) Conference Center on Sept. 7-11. This number includes registered participants, staff, volunteers, guest speakers, and young adult assistants. Here are some more NOAC numbers:
Brian McLaren Calls NOAC to Get Back to the Bible, in a Different Way
“I can tell you love each other,” Brian McLaren said to the NOAC congregation as he began his morning keynote address. McLaren is a popular author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. His two most recent books are “Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road? Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World” and “We Make the Road By Walking.”
Dialogue Urges Christians to Work Intentionally Across Racial Divides
A lot of well meaning people assume that the Civil Rights struggle is over and that we won, said Alexander Gee Jr., during an afternoon dialogue event at NOAC 2015. “We don’t talk about it in seminary, in churches, or from the pulpit,” he said. “Like polio or tuberculosis, we say we’ve solved it!”
Newsline for Sept. 18, 2015
A REVIEW OF NOAC 2015
1) Deanna Brown focuses first NOAC keynote on women’s stories
2) Brian McLaren calls NOAC to get back to the Bible, in a different way
3) Bob Bowman’s Bible studies focus on Prodigal Son parable
4) Dialogue urges Christians to work intentionally across racial divides
5) Chief Junaluska of the Cherokees: A story from the NOAC Coffeehouse
6) ‘You’re the bear, Kim’: An interview with Dub, the NOAC bear
7) NOAC by the numbers
8) ‘Today at NOAC’ pages, photo albums offer daily view of the conference
9) Brethren bits