South Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Marie Willoughby as co-interim district executive minister, as of Oct. 15, serving alongside Anna Lisa Gross. She replaces Kay Gaier, who served in the position from Jan. 15, 2022.
districts
Michigan District names District Executive Team with Beth Sollenberger as interim executive minister
The Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren’s Michigan District has made changes to the District Executive Team that cares for the essential functions of the district.
Kay Gaier and Anna Lisa Gross named to interim leadership of South/Central Indiana District
South/Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Kay Gaier and Anna Lisa Gross to serve as co-interim district executive ministers in a half-time position beginning Jan. 17.
Church of the Brethren Yearbook for 2021 includes 2020 statistical information for the denomination
Church of the Brethren membership in the United States and Puerto Rico is more than 91,000, according to the most recent statistical report in the 2021 Church of the Brethren Yearbook from Brethren Press. The 2021 Yearbook–published last fall–includes the 2020 statistical report and the 2021 directory for the denomination.
Exercising caution during this surge / Actuar con precaución durante este aumento repentino
The following letter was shared with all of the pastoral leaders in Pacific Southwest District by district executive minister Russ Matteson. The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Ministry provided it for use in Newsline
Brethren Disaster Ministries consults with districts following tornados and storms in central US, Children’s Disaster Services sends team to Missouri
A devastating outbreak of 59 confirmed tornados occurred overnight on Dec. 10 to 11 in the central US, followed by powerful storms on Dec. 15. District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDCs) from the affected Church of the Brethren districts–Illinois and Wisconsin, Missouri and Arkansas, Northern Plains, Southern Ohio and Kentucky, and Western Plains–report little to no damage in the communities with Church of the Brethren congregations.
District team emerges from felt need to confront the evil of racial injustice
We in the Southern Ohio and Kentucky District have always strived to be intentional about addressing the concerns in our society. For instance, during a Missional Renewal Team meeting shortly after George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, the conversation centered on that tragedy and the epidemic of violence against people of color, along with the systemic racial injustice in our country triggering this violence.
Beth Sollenberger retires from leadership of South Central Indiana District
Beth Sollenberger has announced her retirement as district executive minister of South Central Indiana District. She has served in leadership of the district for nearly 11 years, beginning on Feb. 1, 2011. She will conclude her ministry on Dec. 31.
Online reception will recognize and welcome new church fellowships and projects
A virtual recognition of new church fellowships and projects in the Church of the Brethren is planned as a pre-Annual Conference event on Sunday, June 27, at 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time). The event is open to the denomination, and is in place of the recognition breakfast usually held at in-person Annual Conferences.
Disaster grants help families displaced by eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo, survivors of Hurricanes Iota and Eta in Honduras
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed a grant of $15,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to the Rwanda Church of the Brethren. The grant will be used to help families who have been displaced by the eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo volcano. In related news, an EDF grant of $20,000–representing a donation from The Meat Canning Committee of the Church of the Brethren districts of Southern Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic–has been given to Proyecto Aldea Global (PAG) in Honduras for a chicken-raising project to aid survivors of Hurricanes Iota and Eta.
