A call for prayer for those affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath–with special thought for the hardest-hit areas of northwest Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia–has been made by Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele.
Office of the General Secretary
Church of the Brethren congregations and members are affected by the storm, Brethren Disaster Ministries reaches out to districts
Church of the Brethren congregations and members are among those who have been affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, especially in Southeastern District denominational staff have learned in conversation with district executives. The General Secretary’s office, Brethren Disaster Ministries, and the Ministry office have connected with leaders in the church districts covering the states where the storm was most destructive–Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
General secretary extends care to Haitian migrants and Springfield, calls for cessation of violence in this volatile time
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele is extending care for Haitian migrants and the community of Springfield, Ohio, and is calling for a cessation of verbal and physical violence in this volatile period of time in our country. The statement follows in English, Haitian Creole, and French (translation into Spanish will be made available soon)
Shannon McNeil Smith is hired as executive administrative assistant in General Secretary’s Office
Shannon McNeil Smith begins Oct. 7 as executive administrative assistant for the General Secretary’s Office at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. She is currently working as a Mission Advancement advocate, a position she has held since March 4, 2019.
Nancy Miner retires as manager of the Church of the Brethren General Secretary’s office
Nancy Miner will retire Oct. 31 as office manager of the Church of the Brethren General Secretary’s office. She has worked for the denomination for more than 31 years in a wide variety of positions.
Church of the Brethren general secretary among more than 140 global Christian leaders calling for permanent Gaza ceasefire
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was among more than 140 global Christian leaders signing a new letter, released during Holy Week ahead of Easter, calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Church of the Brethren general secretary one of more than 20 Christian leaders urging ceasefire in Israel and Palestine
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was one of more than 20 Christian leaders signing a letter to President Biden saying, in part: “The time for a comprehensive ceasefire is now. Every day of continued violence not only increases the death toll in Gaza and the cost to civilians but also fosters further hatred toward Israel and the United States and irreparably damages the moral standing of the United States in the broader Middle East. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Church of the Brethren grieves withdrawal of Puerto Rican congregations
With deep sadness, the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team acknowledges news received of the withdrawal of all six congregations in the Puerto Rico District from the Church of the Brethren, as of Oct. 26, 2023.
Council of District Executives holds annual winter meeting
The Council of District Executives (CODE) held its annual winter meetings Jan. 20-24 near Melbourne, Fla., with some members also attending the Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) meeting that followed. Twenty-two of the denomination’s 24 districts were represented, along with Office of Ministry director Nancy Sollenberger Heishman.
Church of the Brethren general secretary signs letter from Christian leaders to President Biden
In a Nov. 9 letter to President Biden, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and 30 American Christian leaders including Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele called on President Biden and his administration to support an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, de-escalation, and restraint by all involved.