Two pastors were ordained for pastoral ministry in the Mangateen IDP [Internally Displaced Person] camp in June: Daniel Mawer and Paul Makuar. Mawer was trained in the Presbyterian tradition but due to conflicts in the leadership of the Presbyterian Church in South Sudan, he asked if he could join the Church of the Brethren.
Sharon Brugger Norton
Global Mission Dinner hears from EYN president Daniel Mbaya
Norton as executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren introduced the international guests who were present. She then introduced the evening’s speaker and guest of honor Daniel Mbaya, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), “the largest Anabaptist communion in the world.”
International guests attend Annual Conference
International guests received a warm welcome from the 2026 Annual Conference. On Monday morning, June 29, during the opening business session Global Mission executive Sharon Brugger Norton introduced the guests from the stage. She noted that this might have been the first time that Annual Conference has welcomed international guests from Vietnam.
Global Church of the Brethren Communion meets in Spain
Attending the Global Church of the Brethren Communion gathering on Spain’s northern coast in April was one of the greatest joys thus far in my role as executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren. After many meetings on Zoom with the delegates and alternates, it was a joyous occasion to see all of our plans coming together—and for some of us, to meet in person for the first time.
Discovering joys, challenges, and God at work with the churches in the Dominican Republic
A powerful and eye-opening trip to the Dominican Republic in February and March inspired me to share both the joys and challenges we encountered there, along with glimpses of how God is at work through his people.
Global Mission executive visits Church of the Brethren in Burundi, meets with church leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo
Church of the Brethren Global Mission executive Sharon Brugger Norton visited the Church of the Brethren in Burundi in late March and early April. The Church of the Brethren in Burundi is the newest member of the Global Church of the Brethren Communion.
Consultation takes place on next phase of Church of the Brethren’s South Sudan ministry
A consultation on the future of the Church of the Brethren’s mission priority in South Sudan was held recently in Nappanee, Ind., hosted at Union Center Church of the Brethren.
New executive director speaks at Global Mission Dinner
There were many languages spoken around the tables at the Global Mission Dinner held during Annual Conference, as international guests from several countries joined Sharon Brugger Norton, the new executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren, under the umbrella of Rev. 21:1-5, “The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Global Church of the Brethren Communion calls new leadership
The Global Church of the Brethren Communion met on June 6 via Zoom with delegates from member denominations attending. Among top agenda items the group elected two new officers of the board of the communion: Santos Terrero of Spain as president, and Sharon Brugger Norton of the United States as treasurer.
Global Church of the Brethren Communion delegates and alternates meet online
What a joyous occasion following Easter for our Global Church of the Brethren Communion to gather online for the first meeting of 2025. All 12 countries in the communion were represented.