{"id":25226,"date":"2025-05-28T19:32:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T19:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25226"},"modified":"2025-05-28T19:32:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T19:32:59","slug":"ministry-in-a-bani-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/ministry-in-a-bani-world\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ministry in a BANI World\u2019 is topic for clergy gathering in Illinois and Wisconsin District"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Reprinted from the Illinois and Wisconsin District newsletter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifteen people came together for this year\u2019s district clergy gathering in the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Illinois and Wisconsin District, held May 1-2 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center near Rockford, Ill., and sponsored by the district\u2019s Ministry Leadership Development Team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stan Dueck, director of organizational leadership for the Church of the Brethren, served as keynote speaker on the topic \u201cMinistry in a BANI* World\u201d (*Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible), <\/strong>looking at the tectonic shifts that have taken place in the church landscape and what that means for ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dueck led three sessions over the course of the 24-hour event. \u201cOur churches are in a culture, expanding and changing,\u201d he said, noting that the fast pace of change brings anxiety and even a sense of trauma for many. Letting go can mean a fear of \u201closing memory\u201d and traditions that hold meaning. \u201cFamily\u201d-size churches, which encompass most of the congregations in the Church of the Brethren, and almost all in this district, are most affected, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed to a sense of discipleship that occurs at \u201cthe intersection of worship, scripture, and world\u201d and \u201ccan (re)frame our social imagination\u201d as a path forward. That can require recognizing and even embracing the \u201cBANI\u201d realities in the midst of the church, sometimes doing the opposite of what we have assumed to be true and letting go of cognitive biases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney Caldwell and Randall Westfall led worship during the event, and participants also enjoyed good food from the retreat center, time for fellowship, and opportunities to wander the spacious and peaceful grounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Stan Dueck leads the Illinois and Wisconsin District clergy gathering. Photos courtesy of Illinois and Wisconsin District<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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