Newsline

1) Brethren funds distribute $77,958, Brethren Disaster Ministries starts new project in West Virginia
2) Church of the Brethren among 500 groups signing letter in support of Syrian refugees
3) Manchester University reaches $1.5 million goal for endowed Peace Studies professorship
RESOURCES:4) ‘Let Us Also Go’ is theme for 2016 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press
5) Brethren bits

1) Preachers are announced for Annual Conference 2016
2) CDS volunteers work in Oregon over holidays, deploy to area flooded by Mississippi
3) Global Mission and Service worker honored in Vietnam
4) Vietnam blind school holds training with slogan ‘Understanding Eliminates Darkness’
5) WCC leaders express concern over situation on the Korean peninsula
6) Update is available for Church of the Brethren ‘Manual of Organization and Polity’
7) Sustaining Ministerial Excellence Advanced Seminar brings together cohort of camp leaders
8) Don Knieriem resigns as database administrator for Church of the Brethren
9) Registration opens for church planting event in May
10) Brethren Academy announces upcoming courses
11) ‘Heart of Anabaptism’ webinars continue in 2016
12) Brethren bits

NEWS
1) Queries address same-sex marriage, On Earth Peace, life together in the church, Creation care
2) District terminates ordination of pastor who performed same-sex marriage
3) EYN president Samuel Dali addresses Nigerian nation in Christmas message
4) EYN choir tour proves ‘phenomenally successful’
5) BBT Board increases benevolent grant levels
6) Pacific Southwest District Conference meets on the theme of ‘Justice’
7) New Ventures session offer opportunity for story of grief, healing
8) Brethren bits

1) Church of the Brethren general secretary speaks out against anti-Muslim rhetoric
2) Haiti Service Ministry Consultation strengthens partnerships, assesses ministries
3) Review and Evaluation Committee holds second meeting
4) Press conference urges support for US refugee resettlement
5) Congregations host Ted & Co. event, help raise funds for Heifer Arks
6) Kindness is good for your health, research shows

UPCOMING EVENTS
7) Winter and spring workshops are offered by Children’s Disaster Services

8) Brethren bits

1) EDF grants support rebuilding project in Colorado, PAG in Honduras
2) Outdoor Ministries Association retreat considers ‘Seeds of Change’
3) Bread for the World issues annual hunger report
4) Christians gather amid UN talks to pray for Creation at Notre Dame in Paris

PERSONNEL
5) John Ballinger resigns from leadership of Northern Ohio District
6) Paynes resign as co-executives for Southeastern District

UPCOMING EVENTS
7) Racial injustice and mass incarceration will be focus of CCS 2016

8) Brethren bits

1) Brethren staff visit Nigeria, assess crisis response with EYN and mission partners 2) NCC issues statement on recent Middle East violence and acts of terrorism 3) Your voice is needed on behalf of refugees: An action alert from the Office of Public Witness 4) Church of the Brethren gardener is honored as a Purpose Prize Fellow 5) Lancaster County church stands with Nigerian terror victim 6) Share the light of Advent through Shine 7) Brethren bits

1) Global Food Crisis Fund gives grant to Haitian Brethren agriculture project; 2) EDF grants go to families in Myanmar and Haitians in the DR, CDS receives UMCOR grant; 3) Photographer of Beaver Creek; 4) BBT announces Medicare Supplement open enrollment through November; 5) Ventures course at McPherson College will explore congregational ethics; 6) Brethren bits

1) Presidential Forum at Bethany Seminary explores the intersections of Just Peace. 2) New unit of Brethren Volunteer Service completes orientation. 3) Office of Public Witness issues action alert on refugee crisis. 4) Heifer partners with the Brethren and Ted & Co. for new creative funding initiative. 5) Material Resources program logs a busy October. 6) BBT announces Medicare Supplement open enrollment through November. 7) EYN Disaster Team brings relief for Maiduguri’s displaced. 8) EYN offers seminar on trauma healing for displaced pastors. 9) At UN, anti-nuclear majorities challenge nuclear-dependent minority. 10) Advent Offering supports Church of the Brethren ministries, focuses on the Magnificat. 11) Advent devotional, winter quarter of Guide for Biblical Studies provide seasonal focus on gifts. 12) Brethren bits

1) Denomination records stellar giving, but Core Ministries giving suffers. 2) Mission and Ministry Board adopts 2016 budget of $9.5 million for denominational ministries. 3) Church of the Brethren issues position posting for General Secretary. 4) Districts take action addressing same-sex marriage. 5) Workcamp schedule is announced for 2016.
6) Brethren bits

1) Brethren representative reports from United Nations 70th anniversary event. 2) World Council of Churches condemns escalation of conflict in Syria. 3) Atlantic Southeast District holds its ninth Family Peace Camp. 4) Fred Bernhard resigns from Bethany Seminary. 5) Summer orientation held by Brethren Volunteer Service and Brethren Revival Fellowship. 6) Brethren bits