The Church of the Brethren Deportation Defense Response (DDR) is inviting participation in a World Refugee Day Ecumenical Service taking place online on Wednesday, June 17, 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time).
The 2026 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren is offering a number of special events and opportunities this summer in Fort Wayne, Ind.
I wanted to share briefly on the trip I made to Honduras (March 9-16). The purpose of the trip was to provide pastoral care to two of my church members who had been deported and to learn what life is like post deportation.
“Faith in Motion: Pastor Irv Heishman’s Experience in Honduras” is the first “Faith in Motion” live, virtual event hosted by the Deportation Defense Response (DDR) Team of the Church of the Brethren. The event takes place online on Thursday, June 18, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time).
“My faith compelled me to respond,” one woman states, after in early 2025 seeing the harm of the new administration’s policies affecting immigrants and other vulnerable people. Many Brethren have felt their faith compel them to respond, too, and like her, have stepped up to lead and become involved with rapid response networks in their communities.
The business agenda for the 2026 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference has been announced. Along with numerous reports and the ballot, the delegate body will receive an interim report from the Review and Evaluation Committee and will consider four items of new business: resolutions on weapons transfer and care for immigrants and refugees, polity adjustments for licensed and commissioned ministers, and the yet-to-be-announced recommended COLA for the pastoral scale.
Founa A. Badet, director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren, has scheduled the first “Intercultural Ministries Frontliners Training” for those interested in becoming personally involved and active in the work. Also newly announced is an online book club to study Churches, Cultures, and Leadership by Mark Lau Branson and Juan F. Martinez.
The Faithful Response Immigration Gathering on March 17-19 at Camp Christian in Marysville, Ohio, drew participation from the four sponsoring denominations and others involved in immigration ministries.
Intercultural Ministries Café: Faith & Culture Conversations—rooted in relationship, discipleship, and practical intercultural engagement—will be held once a month for the next few months.
Nine months ago, during our report to the delegates at Annual Conference, we challenged the congregations of the church to raise $100,000 to create a new Legal and Mutual Aid Fund to meet the needs of Church of the Brethren immigrants due to harsh immigration enforcement. On Easter weekend, we give thanks that compassionate individuals and churches within the denomination have donated more than a quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) in the last nine months. Praise God!