By Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, director of Ministry for the Church of the Brethren Leadership teams of several Church of the Brethren districts have issued recommendations recently regarding congregations gathering in buildings. Districts that have begun sharing guidance include, among others, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, and Southern Ohio and Kentucky. Mid-Atlantic District leadership recommended that congregations not gather
Ministry Office
Brethren Academy celebrates students who have completed their ministry training
By Janet Ober Lambert The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership celebrates 10 students who have completed their ministry training program this year. Four students will receive certificates from the Training in Ministry (TRIM) program. Six students will receive certificates from Seminario Bíblico Anabautista Hispano de la Iglesia de Los Hermanos (SeBAH-COB). These six represent the
Michigan District announces new district executive team
The Leadership Team of the Michigan District of the Church of the Brethren has appointed a district executive team to care for the essential functions of the district. In addition, the district is seeking a part-time administrative assistant. Edward “Ike” Porter had served as interim district executive minister from Jan. 1, 2019, through April 30,
Unprecedented virtual love feast events get large audience
Two virtual love feasts offered during Holy Week gained a large online audience. The two were unprecedented, church-wide events, held in addition to the virtual love feasts offered by individual congregations in the Church of the Brethren. As of April 15, a week after the live-streamed event, the love feast coordinated by the Office of
Brethren Academy offers two-part webinar on ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Pastoral Care’
“The Impact of COVID-19 on Pastoral Care” is a two-part webinar for pastors, chaplains, and other ministering people, offered by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The presenter is Debbie Eisenbise, a pastor, spiritual director, and cofounder of Through the Threshold: End of Life Doula Services providing assistance in advance care planning and honoring death
Holy Week events are available online
Church of the Brethren events are offered online during this Holy Week. They include congregations that are holding love feast and Easter Sunday worship services online; a love feast coordinated by the Office of Ministry to be streamed live on Thursday, April 9, at 8 p.m. (Eastern time) with pre-service music starting at 7:30 p.m.
Ministry Office collects resources for love feast and Easter virtual worship services
Following two webinars with Church of the Brethren pastors this week, the staff of the Ministry Office are collecting worship resources for use in virtual love feast and Easter services. The COVID-19 emergency means that congregations are faced with the question of whether to hold love feast virtually or instead to postpone it until a
Webinar on Holy Week worship planning is offered by the Office of Ministry
By Nancy Sollenberger Heishman The Office of Ministry of the Church of the Brethren will host a Zoom webinar conversation on March 26 focused on Holy Week worship planning. Many congregations have suspended in-person worship during the COVID-19 crisis yet are seeking to find ways to stay deeply connected to one another and their communities.
New webpage provides ministry resources for congregations and church leaders
A new webpage with resources for congregations and church leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic has been posted at www.brethren.org/discipleshipmin/resources . This webpage, which will be updated on a regular basis, is focused on ministry resources to support congregations and church leaders during a time when congregations may not gather in person. Brethren Disaster Ministries continues to offer
Brethren Academy updates course listing for 2020 into 2021
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership has updated its course listing for 2020 into 2021. Courses are offered for continuing education credit (2 units per course), for personal enrichment, and for TRIM/EFSM credit. To register and pay for courses go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy or contact academy@bethanyseminary.edu or 765-983-1824. The updated course listing is as follows: “Science and Faith,” a weekend