{"id":14285,"date":"2019-08-16T15:55:04","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T15:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=14285"},"modified":"2019-08-21T15:58:23","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:58:23","slug":"newsline-for-aug-16-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2019\/newsline-for-aug-16-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Newsline for Aug. 16, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMay the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!\u201d (Psalm 29:11).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEWS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1) In response to the shootings in El Paso and Dayton<\/a>
2) Director of Ministry writes to pastors following shootings<\/a>
3) Touched and challenged: Reflections from a trip to Haiti<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PERSONNEL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

4) Nate Inglis resigns from Bethany Seminary<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) Brethren bits: Turnover in the Workcamp Ministry and other personnel notes, job openings, Annual Conference meetings, Haiti annual conference, webinar to prepare for Peace Day, 49th Annual Dunker Church Service, as well as news from congregations, districts, colleges, and more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1) In response to the shootings in El Paso and Dayton<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A statement from Church of the Brethren General Secretary David Steele<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more\u201d (Matthew 2:18).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, like far too many days before, we are grieving with our country at the news of two horrific mass shootings, one in El Paso, Texas, and the other in Dayton, Ohio. At a time when it is hard to find words to soothe, we turn to the balm that heals us in the scriptures and our commitment to Christ\u2019s peace. In the words of Romans 14:19, \u201cLet us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reaffirm the words that Mission and Ministry Board said in last year\u2019s statement, \u201cLukewarm no more: A call for repentance and action on gun violence:\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe work of the church is pastoral and public. We must preach the Gospel in word and deed. […] We have fallen short of discipleship in the way of Jesus, lost sight of Christ\u2019s reconciling work, grown weary in doing good, become numb to shootings, and tolerant of widespread violence in our nation. We call ourselves into greater and more energetic care for all people through direct service, bold peacemaking, and the work of challenging policies that do not lead to well-being and God\u2019s shalom.\u201d1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are in the midst of a crisis, one caused by violent white supremacy fueled by prominent hateful rhetoric. It is such a time as this that requires the bold peacemaking to which our historic pacifist stance calls us. Our 1991 Statement on Peacemaking says, \u201cJust as peace is broken when injustice and unrighteousness reign, so peace is threatened when fear and hostility exercise control.\u201d2<\/sup> Fear and hostility provided the foundation for these domestic terror incidents to occur, and it is an act of hope and trust in God to call for peace in the wake of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement goes on to say that \u201c[i]n the tradition of Moses to Malachi, prophetic proclamation and action has been a distinctive part of our heritage. The prophetic, whether a word of judgment, a cry of anguish, a symbolic act of resistance or defiance, a confession, or a vision of hope and promise, always presupposes that Yahweh is active in our time.\u201d3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we seek to bring God\u2019s peace to earth as it is in Heaven, we must proclaim the prophetic, this act of resistance to the violence we see around us every day. We believe that Yahweh is active in our time, which calls us to lament and grieve for all those who feel the sting of violence and to seek true justice and peace for a hurting world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— David Steele, General Secretary of the Church of the Brethren<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/sup> \u201cLukewarm no more: A call for repentance and action on gun violence,\u201d Mission and Ministry Board Statement (2018).\u00a0www.brethren.org\/about\/statements\/2018-lukewarm-no-more.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/sup> \u201cPeacemaking: The Calling of God’s People in History,\u201d Annual Conference Statement (1991).\u00a0www.brethren.org\/ac\/statements\/1991peacemaking<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3<\/sup> \u201cPeacemaking,\u201d (1991).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Director of Ministry writes to pastors following shootings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Candles\"
Photo by Zoran Kokanovic<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Church of the Brethren director of Ministry, Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, wrote a letter to pastors across the denomination after the shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. Her letter followed on that of general secretary David Steele, and encouraged pastors in their work to reduce violence in their own communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heishman personally joined the vigil in Dayton on the evening following the shooting where, she wrote, \u201cwe shared our grief and anguish while proclaiming hope and resolve to act to end the violence in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am intensely aware that as ministers of the gospel of Christ we have a unique opportunity in these days to \u2018do something\u2019 quite significant,\u201d her letter continued, in part. \u201c…We can proclaim with passion the mercy and hospitality that Jesus embodied in his presence, his teachings, and his death and resurrection as Savior and Risen Lord. When social media becomes a tool for promoting white supremacist views, may God empower us to proclaim Jesus\u2019 way of living, showing solidarity with marginalized persons whom Jesus loves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The full text of the letter follows below and also is online at\u00a0https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/brethren\/ministry-office-2019-8<\/a>\u00a0.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear colleagues in ministry,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greetings from the Office of Ministry. I write with gratitude for your committed work sharing the saving love, healing, peace, and justice of Christ in your communities. With this message, I add my voice to the message written by David Steele recently as he addressed the violence in El Paso and Dayton.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my part, I write personally, having joined the evening following the shooting with thousands of fellow Dayton, Ohio, area residents gathered in the square of the city\u2019s Oregon district on the same street where a young white male murdered 9 persons and wounded dozens of others in an act of violence. In the inspiring gathering of residents that took place Sunday evening, we shared our grief and anguish while proclaiming hope and resolve to act to end the violence in our country. Chants of \u201cdo something!\u201d rang out in response to elected officials addressing the large crowd that was clearly frustrated by the series of these horrific acts of violence. Faith leaders offered prayers, songs were sung, speeches were offered, and finally we all lit candles to proclaim our fearless resolve to embody love, peace, and hope in our communities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am intensely aware that as ministers of the gospel of Christ we have a unique opportunity in these days to \u201cdo something\u201d quite significant. We can guide our faith communities in welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry, refreshing the thirsty, visiting the sick and imprisoned, clothing the naked and comforting the grieving. We can encourage our church members to advocate for public policies that they believe could reduce violence. Especially in a time in which strangers, immigrants, and foreigners are targeted by public figures as suspicious and dangerous, we can proclaim with passion the mercy and hospitality that Jesus embodied in his presence, his teachings, and his death and resurrection as Savior and Risen Lord. When social media becomes a tool for promoting white supremacist views, may God empower us to proclaim Jesus\u2019 way of living, showing solidarity with marginalized persons whom Jesus loves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My prayers are with you and your congregations as you seek to welcome others with Christ\u2019s unconditional love, sharing the gospel in word and deed. May the way you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength be reflected as you lavishly love each and every one of your neighbors no matter who they are, what they believe, and how or from where they have come. May God\u2019s grace and peace be yours in abundance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An historical note: In 1994 the Annual Conference declared, \u201cWe believe that the Christian church should be a powerful witness against the use of violence to settle disputes. Faithful disciples of the non-violent ways of Jesus have acted as leaven in the society against the violent trends of every age. Out of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ we cry out against the violence of our times. We encourage our congregations and agencies to work with other Christians to find dramatic and effective ways to witness to the peace and reconciliation offered through Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grace and peace,<\/em>
\u00a0\u00a0
Nancy S. Heishman<\/em>
Director of Ministry<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Touched and challenged: Reflections from a trip to Haiti<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Mothers’ Club meeting with Haiti Medical Project nurses at La Ferrier gathers about 100 mothers and their children. Photo by Bob Dell<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Dale Minnich<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty members of McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren were among 33 participants in a mission education conference in Mirebalais, Haiti, sponsored by Haiti Medical Project from July 19-23. The five days in Haiti were spent learning about needs of communities served by the Haiti Medical Project. Participants were eager to meet Haitian leaders and members of the communities served.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key educational programs of the Haiti Medical Project is mothers\u2019 clubs, where pregnant women and mothers of young children meet monthly with nurses and other resource people. In our visit to the rural community of La Ferrier we were touched by the sight of more than 100 women and about that many infant children meeting under a cloth shade with four of the project\u2019s nurses, learning about ways to improve the children\u2019s nutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To look out on that sea of babies and mothers especially touched me because we are actively involved in combating high infant mortality. If the present patterns in such communities were to persist, we could expect that seven or eight of those children would not make it to age five. In this case, however, the staff is doing vital work by increasing access to clean water, taking away a lead factor for infant mortality. By the end of next year, nearly all of the communities related to the Haiti Medical Project will have access to this precious life saving resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last day, as we prepared for our return flights, some leaders from the Croix des Bouquets community came to thank the McPherson congregation for providing the funds for a new reverse osmosis water project in their community. McPherson currently is supporting five water projects and expects to find funds for at least two more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pattern for the educational experience was to take a field trip each morning to a community served by the Haiti Medical Project, followed later in the day by sessions for debriefing, assimilating more information, and getting to know one another and our Haitian hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A highlight for many was attending Sunday worship in one of three congregation of Eglise des Freres D\u2019 Haiti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti). Another was a panel of four bi-vocational Haitian pastors telling the stories of the start and development of their congregations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning with 1 congregation in 2003, Eglise des Freres now has 26 congregations and several thousand participants. The Haiti Medical Project serves these communities and four others–a total of 30 communities widely spread across Haiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had a good experience that touched and challenged us in many ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Dale Minnich is volunteer staff for the Haiti Medical Project. Find out more at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/haiti-medical-project<\/a>\u00a0.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Nate Inglis resigns from Bethany Seminary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Nate Inglis<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Jenny Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathanael Inglis, assistant professor of theological studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, has resigned his position as of Aug. 20. Inglis began teaching at the seminary in the fall of 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inglis came to Bethany after completing his PhD at Fordham University, then spending two years in Brethren Volunteer Service in a Guatamalan indigenous community. His interest in Anabaptist and ecological themes influenced the courses he developed at Bethany and his professional presentations. During his tenure, he lectured at conferences in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia in Canada, and Belgium, and was selected to participate in a Science for Seminaries faculty retreat through the American Association for the Advancement of Science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inglis then assisted in securing a $75,000 grant from the AAAS to help Bethany incorporate scientific topics and themes into its curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNate brought expertise in ecological theology and various methodological approaches to the academic study of theology,\u201d said Jeff Carter, president. \u201cHis concerns for social and ecological justice are reflected in his teaching, writing, and work with Bethany\u2019s Green Circle committee, which promotes awareness about such issues. We wish him well as he begins this next phase in his academic career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inglis will take a position as assistant dean of students at Columbia University in New York City this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Jenny Williams is director of communications for Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) Brethren bits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Annual Conference Office this week welcomed the 2020 Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee and Worship Planning Team<\/strong>\u00a0to the Church of the Brethren General Offices for a series of meetings. On the Program and Arrangements Committee are Annual Conference moderator Paul Mundey of Frederick, Md.; moderator-elect David Sollenberger, North Manchester, Ind.; Conference secretary James M. Beckwith, Elizabethtown, Pa.; Jan Glass King, Lebanon, Pa.; Emily Shonk Edwards, Nellysford, Va.; and Carol Elmore, Roanoke, Va. On the Worship Planning Team are Mandy North, Manassas, Va.; Cindy Lattimer, Huntingdon, Pa.; Robbie Miller, Bridgewater, Va.; and Josh Tindall, music coordinator, Elizabethtown, Pa., who joined the meetings via Zoom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Church of the Brethren Workcamp Office is welcoming assistant workcamp coordinators for the 2020 season: Liana Smith and Kara Miller.<\/strong>Smith comes from Atlantic Northeast District, where she is an active member of Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Miller also is from Atlantic Northeast District, from Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and is a 2016 graduate of West Chester University with a major in music education and a minor in elementary education. They will begin their work planning the 2020 workcamp season on Aug. 19. 
     Lauren Flora and Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred<\/strong> completed their service as assistant workcamp coordinators this week, working through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). They organized and led experiences of faith-filled service for 256 youth and advisors this summer, under the theme \u201cGrow\u201d (2 Peter 1:5-8). 
     Steve Van Houten<\/strong> also concluded some five months of service as interim coordinator of the Workcamp Ministry on Aug. 14.
     Hannah Shultz<\/strong> began Aug. 5 as coordinator of Short-Term Service, which includes the Workcamp Ministry, serving as staff of BVS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Monica McFadden will soon complete her term of service in BVS<\/strong> as racial justice associate in the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacebuilding and Policy in Washington, D.C. She has worked with ecumenical and interfaith partners to educate and hold faith communities accountable on issues of race. Partnering with the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Intercultural Ministries, she helped spearhead efforts to bring attention to historic and current injustices against Native Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Brethren Disaster Ministries is partnering with AmeriCorps and SBP in North Carolina<\/strong>\u00a0to place an AmeriCorps member to work at a Carolinas rebuilding project site. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older. Funding for this AmeriCorps position is specific to Hurricane Florence disaster recovery in N.Carolina. Please share this link that includes a position description, benefits information, and directions to apply:\u00a0https:\/\/recruitamc.workable.com\/jobs\/1084360<\/a>\u00a0. Applications must be submitted by Monday, Aug. 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Bethany Theological Seminary announces an opening for office manager for \u201cBrethren Life & Thought,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0an academic journal of the Church of the Brethren. The position is expected to average eight hours per week. Many duties can be performed off site; some travel to Bethany\u2019s campus in Richmond, Ind., is required. Major responsibilities include operations of journal production (subscriptions, communication with editors, logistics of printing); communicating with subscribers and donors (not including fundraising); providing clerical support for the Advisory Board of the Brethren Journal Association; maintaining an inventory of back issues and archives of the association\u2019s work. Qualifications include a high school diploma and preferably a year\u2019s experience in a business setting, organizational skills, self-motivation, and familiarity with database management and current computer technology. Familiarity with the Church of the Brethren is preferred. Desired start date is early September. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to\u00a0deansoffice@bethanyseminary.edu<\/a>\u00a0or Academic Dean\u2019s Office, Office Manager, Brethren Life & Thought, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West, Richmond, IN 47374; 765-983-1815. Bethany Theological Seminary\u2019s policy prohibits discrimination in employment opportunities or practices with regard to race, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Welcoming Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 322. Image courtesy of BVS<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

— Eglise des Freres d\u2019Haiti, the Church of the Brethren in Haiti,<\/strong> has been holding its seventh annual conference in Croix des Bouquets. \u201cParticipants are gathered under the theme of \u2018Proclaiming to the World that Jesus Is King of Kings,\u2019 based on 1 Tmothy 6:15,\u201d said a prayer request from the Global Mission and Service Office. \u201cPray for wisdom and discernment as they elect leaders and develop priorities for the coming year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Join On Earth Peace on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) for a Zoom webinar<\/strong> to learn more about making the case for peace on Peace Day. Dan Ulrich, Wieand Professor of New Testament Studies at Bethany Seminary, will lead a study of the Sermon on the Mount. Title of the webinar is \u201cThe Case for Peace in the Sermon on the Mount.\u201d Said an invitation from On Earth Peace: \u201cTo build a case for peace from a Christian perspective, this webinar will focus on texts in the Sermon on the Mount that have inspired peacemakers from various faith traditions. According to Matthew 5:9, Jesus blesses peacemakers with the promise that they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:38-42 and 5:43-48 then expand on the wisdom of the Mosaic law to offer methods and motives for just peacemaking. Our discussion of these passages will help us see them in a fresh light and find renewed inspiration to work for shalom in these troubled times.\u201d Contact peaceday@onearthpeace.org<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The 49th Annual Dunker Church Service<\/strong> held in the restored Dunker Church at the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Md., will be on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. This service commemorates the peace witness of the Brethren during the Civil War and takes place the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. Carl Hill, pastor at Potsdam (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, will bring the message, \u201cLife in the Midst of Death\u201d (Psalm 90:1-6). He and his wife, Roxane Hill, spent two years in northeast Nigeria teaching at Kulp Bible College. After sectarian violence erupted in the region, they spent two years as co-directors of the Nigeria Crisis Response, where Roxane Hill continues to serve. Carl Hill has presented at Civil War Roundtable events on the topic, \u201cReligion in the Civil War.\u201d The annual service is sponsored by Mid-Atlantic District and is open to the public. For more  information contact Eddie Edmonds at 304-671-4775, Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey at 443- 340-4908, or Ed Poling at 301-766-9005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Elm Street Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0is one of the locations for three new bike repair stations in Lima, Ohio, according to a report from HomeTownStations.com. The program by Wheelhouse is made possible through one of seven $500 mini-grants awarded through the Department of Community Development. Find the article at\u00a0www.hometownstations.com\/news\/grants-handed-out-to-seven-area-agencies-and-organizations\/article_1c4d264a-bef4-11e9-965b-23f66d2d8f47.html<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Ivester Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0in Grundy Center, Iowa, has hosted an event with former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and state representative Ed Fallon who has written a book about his march with a group of some 50 people from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the environmental crisis. According to a report in the \u201cGrundy Register,\u201d Fallon said, \u201cWe want people to wake up and realize (that) climate change is not an issue…. It\u2019s a crisis.\u201d At the event at the Kling Memorial Library in Grundy Center, he signed copies of his book \u201cMarcher, Walker, Pilgrim: A Memoir from the Great March for Climate Action.\u201d See\u00a0www.conradrecord.com\/content\/walking-walk-fallon-shares-climate-march-story-kling-memorial-library<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0in Weyers Cave, Va., is hosting a workshop titled \u201cGrief from the Inside Out: Honoring Grief in the midst of Anger, Fear, and Shame.\u201d Presenters Regina Harlow and Joshua Harris will lead an interactive workshop for pastors to hone their skills in recognizing and dealing with the anger, fear, and shame that is so often associated with grief, said an announcement from Shenandoah District. Harlow is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and co-founder of the Sadie Rose Foundation. Harris is a marriage and family therapist and owner of Tasso Counseling in Staunton, Va. The workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Cost is $10. Registration form is available at\u00a0http:\/\/images.acswebnetworks.com\/1\/929\/2019GriefFromInsideOutPleasantValley.pdf<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren<\/strong> in Littleton, Colo., is hosting a Neighbor Climate Action Event on Aug. 20 from 7-9 p.m. \u201cCheck out what neighbors in Littleton want to do about the climate crisis,\u201d said an invitation. \u201cReunite with neighbors who care about what we can do about the climate crisis before it is too late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0Windber (Pa.) Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0\u201csays they have had such success with the \u2018blessing box\u2019 concept that they decided to add the blessing box farm stand, which offers fresh produce for the community to take.\u201d The report from Channel 6 WJAC TV adds that \u201cthe idea of the blessing box came to the church when one of their parish members visited a church out of state and saw one. The church fills the blessing box with nonperishable foods…. Visitors can come and go as they please and anonymously select the food they need.\u201d Pastor Joe Brown told the paper that he hopes this shows that the community cares about those who are struggling. Find the article at\u00a0https:\/\/wjactv.com\/news\/local\/windber-church-helps-the-community-with-blessing-box-that-offers-free-food<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The financial books for the Shenandoah District Disaster Auction and Sale<\/strong> closed on July 31, the district reported by email this week. \u201cA net total of $206,092.56 came in through donations and sales…. $190,000 has been sent to the Emergency Disaster Fund…and $15,330.77 was given to the local District Disaster Fund, bringing that total to $60,000 available for local needs.\u201d The district extended a \u201cbig thank you\u201d to all who contributed this year, on behalf of the Disaster Auction Coordinating Committee. \u201cClearly, it takes many individuals to achieve this level of income and these proceeds are only possible because of the generosity of people who want to minister in practical ways to those who are experiencing disasters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0\u201cHeritage Fair 2019 is quickly approaching,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0announces Middle Pennsylvania District. The fair this year takes place Sept. 21 and features \u201csome new exciting things\u201d the announcement said, such as an Escape Room, Diamond Dash, Dunk Tank, as well as several demonstrations throughout the day. The event also includes the Annual Auction, musical groups, a children\u2019s area, and much more. The fair is held at Camp Blue Diamond and helps support the ministries of the camp and the district. Camp Blue Diamond is located midway between State College and Huntingdon, Pa., within the Rothrock State Forest. Find a series of fliers at\u00a0https:\/\/1drv.ms\/u\/s!AoS-HGxUnUcqgr1VojHn7M7sZ6Gffg?e=WbUmof<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0\u201cWHY do we do what we do?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0asked the Camp Bethel e-newsletter this week. The answer: \u201c56 program and support staff taught 1,062 children and youth how to \u2018Let the Peace of Christ Rule\u2019 during Camp Bethel\u2019s 93rd summer camp season…. This included 910 on-site campers, 152 campers in 3 Traveling Day Camps, and 32 participants in our Family Fun nights. 165 campers received Good-As-Gold funding from Virlina congregations, and 72 campers received \u2018Campership\u2019 assistance.\u201d The camp is located near Fincastle, Va. View the camp\u2019s weekly summer videos at\u00a0www.campbethelvirginia.org\/videos.html<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— In an update from Brethren Woods,<\/strong> a camp in Shenandoah District, the summer program had 442 campers participate, led by 24 summer paid staff and 40 volunteer staff. A report in the district newsletter noted the use of the \u201cPeace Works\u201d curriculum that \u201chelped the camp community to learn more about Jesus as the Prince of Peace who can make peace work in our hearts, between those closest to us, within our communities and churches, and even throughout the world. Each day featured a different word from around the world to help explain that day’s theme and scripture. This international component was the springboard for staff to incorporate different ethnic foods and traditions into the regular camp structure.\u201d Campers raised $292.71 as part of the summer service project offering shared with the Fairfield Center in Harrisonburg, Va., that provides conflict mediation and restorative justice services to the area. \u201cThis summer, Brethren Woods was also visited as part of the American Camp Association accreditation process and received a \u2018Yes\u2019 on all 180 of the applicable standards for a perfect score! Just one more example of how Brethren Woods is meeting and exceeding all industry standards for excellence in programming, staffing, and facilities!\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Bridgewater (Va.) College has landed on the list of \u201cBest College Values, 2019″ from Kiplinger<\/strong>, a Washington, D.C.-based publisher of business forecasts and personal finance advice, according to a release from the college. \u201cBridgewater College lands on the lists for best value for colleges and universities and best private liberal arts colleges,\u201d the release said. \u201cAll of the schools on Kiplinger\u2019s lists meet its definition of value: high-quality education at an affordable price. Key factors include academic measures, student-to-faculty ratio (Bridgewater\u2019s is 14:1), test scores of incoming first-year students and sophomore retention rate. High points were also awarded for four-year graduation rates as well as to schools that graduate students who demonstrate financial need…. In 2018-19, 99 percent of Bridgewater students received financial aid.\u201d In addition, The Princeton Review named Bridgewater College to its \u201cBest in the Southeast\u201d list in the website feature \u201c2020 Best Colleges: Region by Region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0There\u2019s a new Dunker Punks Podcast<\/strong>\u00a0on the topic, \u201cDoes the Bible speak to you? No, like does it SPEAK to you?\u201d Said an announcement, \u201cListening back to Dylan Dell-Haro\u2019s series on gender on the Dunker Punks Podcast, we get to hear him interview \u2018The Bible\u2019 about peoples\u2019 cultural and literary perspectives on God and God\u2019s \u2018gender.\u2019\u201d Listen at bit.ly\/DPP_Bonus7<\/a> . Subscribe to the Dunker Punks Podcast at bit.ly\/DPP_iTunes<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0The Brethren Voices show for August 2019<\/strong>\u00a0celebrates entering into the 15th year of this public access television show produced by Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren and producer Ed Groff. \u201cBrethren Voices began 14 years ago to tell the stories of modern day Brethren who live their faith in action and deed,\u201d said an announcement. This August edition features stories from Brethren Disaster Ministries, musician Steve Kinzie, Mark Charles on being Native American, March for Our Lives concerns of children, and John Jones of Camp Myrtlewood asking, \u201cWhat kind of world are we passing on to the children?\u201d said the announcement. September\u2019s program will feature Johnathan Hunter, one of the featured storytellers at the Song & Story Fest family camp co-sponsored by On Earth Peace, who has extensive experience working with the homeless population. \u201cJohnathan dispels some of the myths about the homeless and informs participants of the realities faced by 1 percent of the population, during a year\u2019s time.\u201d Find Brethren Voices at\u00a0www.youtube.com\/brethrenvoices<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—\u00a0\u201cSave the date for #EAD2020!\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0says an announcement shared by the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy. The Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) on April 24-27, 2020, will focus on the topic of climate change, \u201cre-imagining community for God’s earth and people. Come to learn about the intersection of climate change and economic injustice, and to advocate for climate justice….Climate change affects everyone and disproportionately affects those struggling to overcome poverty. 2020 will be a pivotal year for the United States and the world with a general election that will set the course for the next four years–with an enduring impact on climate and economic justice.\u201d Find out more at\u00a0www.advocacydays.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Christian Peacemaker Teams is issuing an urgent call<\/strong> for reservists and interns to serve in Israel and Palestine.<\/strong> \u201cAre you being called to engage in peacemaking?\u201d asked an invitation. \u201cIsrael continues to ban human rights observers from Palestine, and CPT is committed to maintaining our presence with our partners in al-Khalil\/Hebron. We request interns and Reservists to join the Palestine team ASAP!\u201d Both trained CPTers and interns are welcome. Airfare and costs on the ground are covered by CPT with a three-month commitment. Contact Mona el-Zuhairi at monazuhairi@cpt.org<\/a> . 
     CPT also is seeking participants for a delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan<\/strong> on Sept. 21-Oct. 5. \u201cAre you called to learn more about transforming violence and oppression? Join CPT in Iraqi Kurdistan to witness active peacemaking and nonviolent resistance, as our team members and partners join together to demand an end to the violence against Kurdish and Assyrian civilians,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cCross-border bombardments of Iraqi Kurdistan communities have been worse than ever in 2019. In June, a Turkish airstrike killed three, and injured two members of one family driving in a car on a mountain road used daily by civilians. In July, Iranian shelling killed a teenage girl and wounded her two brothers. CPT partners with Kurdish and Assyrian Christian communities that are repeatedly bombarded in Turkish or Iranian military operations, their fields and crops burned, homes destroyed, and livestock killed…. Delegates will learn about the history and political realities that civil society and ethnic and religious minorities in Iraqi Kurdistan face. They will meet with families who lost their relatives in the bombardments, and visit farming and pastoral communities targeted by Turkish and Iranian military.\u201d Contact the delegations coordinator at delegations@cpt.org<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Extended drought in Africa is threatening hunger for tens of millions of people<\/strong> in the horn, eastern, and southern parts of the continent, according to a report published by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and written by Fredrick Nzwili, an independent journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. The drought linked to climate change has become persistent in recent times, the report said, and is having an effect on church congregations. \u201cAlready, some priests and pastors say they are noticing a decrease in church attendance, as people stay away to tackle the challenge. Tithes and offertory have declined, according to the clerics. The rains have failed or have been too little for two consecutive seasons in these regions, leaving behind a serious food shortage, water scarcity and diminished pasture for livestock.\u201d Said a pastor in Kenya: \u201cWe are telling our congregations to conserve the little food in their granaries and use water sustainably. It is a long way before the next harvest. Already, some people have nothing to eat and soon they may need some kind of aid.\u201d In South Sudan, UN agencies estimate that nearly 7 million people are facing critical food shortages. Also affected are Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Angola, Mozambique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Wilma Wimer of Staunton (Va.) Church of the Brethren<\/strong> received recognition in the Shenandoah District newsletter for her part in the congregation\u2019s donation of 200 bags for Church World Service school kits. Two days after her 90th birthday Wimer delivered the bags that she sewed together from pieces cut by Mabel Lou Weiss from fabric donated by church members or surplus available to the district. Said the recognition: \u201cIt took Wimer a little over a year to craft all 200 bags, but she enjoys knowing they will be used to deliver Church World Service school supplies wherever there are needs.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NEWS
\n1) In response to the shootings in El Paso and Dayton
\n2) Director of Ministry writes to pastors following shootings
\n3) Touched and challenged: Reflections from a trip to Haiti<\/p>\n

PERSONNEL
\n4) Nate Inglis resigns from Bethany Seminary<\/p>\n

5) Brethren bits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":14286,"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":[129],"wf_post_folders":[],"class_list":["post-14285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-newsline"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14285","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\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14285"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14285\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14295,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14285\/revisions\/14295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14285"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=14285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}