The Church of the Brethren’s Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) met in Florida on Jan. 27 and has issued the following statement. The IAF includes officers of the denomination’s Annual Conference; the general secretary of the Church of the Brethren and the chair of the Mission and Ministry Board; representatives of the Council of District Executives; and executives and chairs of the boards of the three Annual Conference agencies: Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace.
refugees
Church of the Brethren joins amici curiae brief in the Supreme Court
On Feb. 17, the Church of the Brethren joined with 30 other denominations and faith organizations in filing an amici curiae brief in the Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs in Noem v. Al Otro Lado, No. 25-5. The case is challenging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) authority to prevent individuals from filing for asylum at ports of entry.
Mission and Ministry Board extends general secretary’s term, recognizes Material Resources, approves 2026 budget parameter, among other business
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held its fall 2025 meeting on Oct. 17-19 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., led by chair Kathy Mack with chair-elect Josiah Ludwick and general secretary David Steele.
Deportation Defense Response offers new online giving option to support Church of the Brethren members, shares requests for prayer and praise
“Did you know there have now been 27 Church of the Brethren members helped because of your generosity?” said an announcement from the Deportation Defense Response team. “Folks who have received these funds that have covered the high costs of legal and filing fees have expressed to the team that they are so thankful and they feel they are not alone.”
Faith leaders condemn administration efforts to abandon historic US refugee program
Church World Service (CWS) alongside its fellow “Covenant Members”—with the full-fledged support of people of faith, refugee voices, and community leaders across the United States—condemned White House efforts to abandon the US Refugee program. The Church of the Brethren is one of the “Covenant Members” of CWS and also is a founding member.
Lancaster Church’s ‘Evening of Stories & Songs’ to benefit immigrant community
Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is hosting an outdoor “Evening of Stories & Songs” to benefit ministry to refugees and other immigrants on Saturday, Aug. 9, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The church is located at 1601 Sunset Ave., Lancaster, Pa.
Church of the Brethren signs ‘Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge’
The Church of the Brethren has signed the “Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge” as one of the Covenant Members of Church World Service (CWS).
More than two dozen Christian and Jewish denominations and associations—including the Church of the Brethren—sue to protect religious freedoms
Más de dos docenas de denominaciones y asociaciones cristianas y judías demandan para proteger las libertades religiosas (lea más en español a continuación) Reversal of the Department of Homeland Security’s ‘Sensitive Locations’ Policy interferes with central religious beliefs, violates both the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Today, the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy
Intercultural Ministries offers online prayer request page
The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is offering a special webpage for prayer requests to be shared from across the country and denomination. With the mission statement, “We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people across cultures, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people,” the opportunity to request prayer is offered in three languages: English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board shares concern for immigrant, migrant, refugee church members (in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole)
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board expresses grave concern for those across the country who are of migrant, immigrant, or refugee status who may be under threat of deportation following recent presidential executive orders. These renewed threats of deportation are already affecting the lives of many in our denomination’s congregations.