{"id":10374,"date":"2015-08-26T00:00:28","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T00:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=10374"},"modified":"2018-11-07T19:29:16","modified_gmt":"2018-11-07T19:29:16","slug":"brethren-bits-for-aug-26-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2015\/brethren-bits-for-aug-26-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren Bits for Aug. 26, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

Shown above: the Program and Arrangements Committee and Annual Conference officers (from left) Founa Inola Augustin-Badet, James Beckwith, Andy Murray, Carol Scheppard, Conference Office director Chris Douglas, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, and Shawn Flory Replogle.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Annual Conference officers, Program and Arrangements Committee, and Worship Planning Team have been holding meetings<\/strong> this week at the Church of the Brethren General Offices, to begin planning for next year\u2019s Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C. The Annual Conference officers are moderator Andy Murray, of Huntingdon, Pa.; moderator-elect Carol Scheppard, Mount Sidney, Va.; and secretary James M. Beckwith, Lebanon, Pa. The Program and Arrangements Committee includes the three officers along with elected members Shawn Flory Replogle, McPherson, Kan.; Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, Minneapolis, Minn.; and Founa Inola Augustin-Badet, Miami, Fla. The Annual Conference Worship Planning Team includes Shawn Flory Replogle along with Greg Davidson Laszakovits, Elizabethtown, Pa.; Stafford Frederick, Roanoke, Va.; Jan Glass King, Martinsburg, Pa.; Shawn Kirchner, La Verne, Calif.; Jesse Hopkins, Bridgewater, Va.; and Terry Murray, Huntingdon, Pa. \u201cKindly keep them in prayer as they begin this important work for the church,\u201d said a request from the Conference Office.<\/p>\n

Shown below: the Annual Conference Worship Planning Team for 2016 (from left) Shawn Kirchner, Stafford Frederick, Greg Davidson Laszakovits, Jan Glass King, Jesse Hopkins, Terry Murray, and Shawn Flory Replogle.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

— \u201cRegister now for SVMC’s fall Continuing Education event!\u201d<\/strong> said an invitation from the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center, highlighting the upcoming continuing education symposium \u201cThe Gospel of Mark and 21st Century Ministry.\u201d The event is held on Nov. 9 at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. Bethany Seminary professor of New Testament Dan Ulrich will talk about the implications of Mark\u2019s gospel for renewed ministry in the changing contexts of 21st century Christianity. The following panelists will respond from different ministry contexts: Belita Mitchell, pastor of Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren; Eric Brubaker, pastor of Middle Creek Church of the Brethren; David Witkovsky, chaplain at Juniata College; Steven Schweitzer, academic dean of Bethany Theological Seminary; Jeff Carter, president of Bethany Theological Seminary. Cost is $60 and includes a light breakfast, lunch, and .6 continuing education units. The registration deadline is Oct. 19. A flier and registration form are online at www.etown.edu\/programs\/svmc\/files\/
\nRegistration_GospMk.pdf<\/a> . For more information and questions contact svmc@etown.edu<\/a> or 717-361-1450.<\/p>\n

— From Intercultural Ministries and On Earth Peace comes an invitation<\/strong> for Brethren to join in a Day of Confession on Sunday, Sept. 6, called by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. This is an invitation for congregations across the nation to take time for confession related to racism during their Sunday services on Sept. 6,using the theme \u201cLiberty and Justice for All: Day of Confession, Repentance, Prayer, and Commitment to End Racism.\u201d An announcement explained the AME Church initiative: \u201cFounded because of racism and injustice, the African Methodist Episcopal Church is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial next year. Once again, they are committed to leading the nation to move the nation to face, confront, and act on the issue of race.\u201d The invitation reads: \u201cRacism will not end with the passage of legislation alone; it will also require a change of heart and thinking. This is an effort which the faith community must lead, and be the conscience of the nation. We will call upon every church, temple, mosque, and faith communion to make their worship service on this Sunday a time to confess and repent for the sin and evil of racism, this includes ignoring, tolerating, and accepting racism and to make a commitment to end racism by the example of our lives and actions.\u201d For more information and resources go to www.ame-church.com\/liberty-and-justice-for-all<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— The Interreligious Working Group on Domestic Human Needs<\/strong> which is based in Washington, D.C., is hosting an informational webinar on Congress\u2019 fall agenda on Monday, Aug. 31, at 4-5 p.m. (Eastern time). Brethren are invited to take part by the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness and its Food, Hunger, and Gardening ministry. The webinar is offered in part through Bread for the World which is urging people to faith to be in touch with their congressional representatives to strengthen national child nutrition programs. \u201cA series of high-stakes deadlines greet lawmakers as they return to Washington next month,\u201d said an invitation to the webinar. \u201cOn the agenda: keeping the government open, passing a child nutrition bill, tax extensions, raising the debt limit, extending funding for highways. The consequences will be significant.\u201d The webinar will address a number of questions including: What do all these fall policy cliffs mean for families struggling in poverty? What\u2019s the latest on Capitol Hill? What are the threats? Where are the opportunities? What role can people of faith play to make poverty and hunger a true priority in these decisions? What is the one thing members of Congress most need to hear but aren\u2019t? A flyer and a link to the registration page are at www.bread.org\/dhn<\/a> . Click the \u201cRSVP for this event\u201d button to register.<\/p>\n

— Jonathan Shively, executive director of the Church of the Brethren Congregational Life Ministries,<\/strong> is the main speaker for \u201cGrowing Leaders in New (and Older) Congregations,\u201d a retreat offered in Virlina District on Oct. 9-10. The district\u2019s New Church Development Committee is hosting the retreat, which will be held at Camp Bethel’s House of Pillars. The theme will focus on leadership development in congregational life, with a special focus on new church plants. The registration fee of $60 includes admission to the retreat as well as dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The retreat opens with an optional session at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9. The main retreat will begin with registration at 4 p.m. on Oct. 9, and will continue through that Saturday afternoon at 4:15 p.m. Continuing education units will be available for ministers. For further information, including how to register, contact the Virlina District Resource Center at nuchurch@aol.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— Several district are advertising special events around their annual district conferences this year:<\/strong>
\nSouth Central Indiana District<\/strong> is offering a continuing education event for ministers on Sept. 18 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind. Steven Schweitzer, academic dean at Bethany Theological Seminary, will present a Bible study on covenant.
\nBethany dean Steven Schweitzer also will lead an event in advance of the Illinois and Wisconsin District Conference<\/strong> on \u201cThe Book of Chronicles and the Church: Theology, Continuity, Innovation, and the Kingdom of God.\u201d The workshop will be held Nov. 5 from 7-9 p.m. and Nov. 6 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Peoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren. Ministers may receive .8 continuing education units. Cost is $40, with an additional fee of $10 for continuing education units. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided on Nov. 6. Contact the district office at 309-649-6008 of bethc.iwdcob@att.net<\/a> .
\nPacific Southwest District Conference<\/strong> will be preceded by an event for ministers and other congregational leaders, with congregations encouraged to send a team of one to three lay leaders along with their pastor. The pre-conference event is titled \u201cFinding Hope\u201d and will be presented by Jeff Jones, associate professor of Ministerial Leadership and director of Ministry Studies at Andover Newton Theological School. The date is Nov. 13, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and the location is Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif. Cost is $40 per attendee, or $100 for groups of three or more from the same congregation. Registration includes Friday lunch with the Women\u2019s Fellowship, and copies of Jeff Jones\u2019 book for all participants.<\/p>\n

— \u201cPlease save the date for this event\u201d<\/strong> says a note from Fahrney-Keedy Home and Village near Boonsboro, Md. The retirement community is planning a Water Tower Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Sept. 24 at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n

— The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) Centennial<\/strong> is planned for Seabeck, Wash., next July. The Fellowship of Reconciliation, a faith-based peacemaking organization with ties to the Historic Peace Churches, \u201cfor a century has been \u2018leading from behind\u2019 in social movements throughout the world,\u201d said a release. The FOR will celebrate its 100th anniversary from Nov. 11, 2015, until its \u201cblowout centennial conference\u201d on the theme \u201cPersevering FOR Peace\u201d at the Seabeck Conference Center in Washington on July 1-4, 2016. Keynote speakers will be Erica Chenoweth and Jamila Raqib, researchers in how the use of nonviolence may overthrow despotic regimes. \u201cTheir research has shown that nonviolence is far more effective than violence when it come to social and political change,\u201d said the invitation. \u201cA special emphasis is being made to invite and give training to young nonviolent social activists, and scholarship funding will be available.\u201d For more information see the FOR Centennial event page at www.facebook.com\/pages\/Fellowship-of-Reconciliation-Centennial-at-Seabeck-WA-July-1-4-2016\/1860470274177297<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this issue: Annual Conference officers and committees meet, SVMC announces \u201cThe Gospel of Mark and 21st Century Ministry,\u201d Brethren are invited to a Day of Confession on Sept. 6 called by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a informational webinar focuses on hunger issue in Congress\u2019 fall agenda, Jonathan Shively to be the main speaker for Virlina District\u2019s \u201cGrowing Leaders in New (and Older) Congregations,\u201d several districts are offering special events around their annual district conferences, the FOR celebrates 100 years, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[],"class_list":["post-10374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10374"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12775,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10374\/revisions\/12775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10374"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=10374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}