Ruoxia Li and Eric Miller begin March 8 as co-executive directors of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren. The married couple will guide the international mission program of the Church of the Brethren, direct and administer denominational mission efforts, and provide administrative and clerical support for Global Mission staff, volunteers, and committees.
Brethren Volunteer Service has welcomed four new volunteers who completed the 2021 Winter orientation as part of BVS Unit 328. The orientation was held as a virtual, online event because of pandemic restrictions on in-person gatherings.
Debbie Noffsinger begins Feb. 15 in a newly restructured, salaried position of part-time Annual Conference assistant. Since Feb. 22, 2010, she has worked on a seasonal basis as the Annual Conference registration assistant.
Chris Douglas will retire from the Church of the Brethren staff on Oct. 1. She has worked for the denomination for more than 35 years, since 1985. Most recently, she has served as director of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
The Atlantic Southeast District of the Church of the Brethren has hired Victoria Ehret to serve as interim district executive minister for a period of six months, starting Jan. 25. She currently serves the district as director of ministry in a quarter-time position.
Two interim employees–Shawn Flory Replogle and Pauline Liu–have been promoted to staff positions with the Church of the Brethren. Replogle has accepted the position of executive director of Organizational Resources for Finance. Liu has accepted a position coordinating volunteers for Brethren Volunteer Service.
Sonja Sherfy Griffith has resigned as district executive minister of the Church of the Brethren’s Western Plains District, effective March 31. She has been district executive for 11 years, starting in the half-time position on Jan. 1, 2010. She has served as a bi-vocational minister, carrying out duties as pastor of First Central Church of the Brethren in Kansas City, Kan., a position she has held for the past 23 years.
The Illinois and Wisconsin District Leadership Team has called Connie Burkholder to serve as interim district executive minister, beginning Jan. 1, 2021. She has previous experience in district leadership in Northern Plains District, where she was district executive minister 1996-2006.
By Nancy Sollenberger Heishman Gary Benesh and Wallace Cole have been called to serve as interim co-executive ministers for Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren. The district called the two new leaders in an Aug. 22 reorganization meeting. They will serve as non-salaried volunteers. Benesh will represent the district on the Council of