{"id":26423,"date":"2026-01-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26423"},"modified":"2026-01-18T00:43:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T00:43:02","slug":"brethren-bits-97","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-97\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

— Correction: <\/strong>An error appeared in the remembrance for Beverly Minnich in the last issue of Newsline. During her time in Brethren Volunteer Service she was half-time secretary for Annual Conference moderator Edward K. Ziegler, who served in 1960, not Earl K. Ziegler, who served in 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Erik Brummett has resigned<\/strong> his position on the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Mission and Ministry Board. Brummett joined the board in July 2024 following the Annual Conference election where he was on the ballot for Area 5. He is a minister in Pacific Southwest District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Center on Conscience and War (CCW) is seeking its next executive director<\/strong> to steward the 85-year old organization into its next phase, while continuing to honor its rich history and critical mission. CCW is the only national organization whose mission is to extend and defend the rights of conscientious objectors to war. It got its start as an initiative of the historic peace churches including the Church of the Brethren. Responsibilities of the position include financial management, daily operations, compliance and regulatory reporting (state and federal), and record keeping; fundraising including grant writing, donor relations, and planned giving; conscientious objection (CO) and GI Rights counseling; public outreach and education; maintaining relationships with varied faith communities and representing the organization to other organizations including the Selective Service System and other governmental bodies and members of Congress; stewardship of historical records in day to day operations and in coordination with the Swarthmore College Peace Collection. Qualifications include familiarity with and commitment to CCW\u2019s history and mission, with at least a basic understanding of conscientious objection to military duty; ability to lead and manage day-to-day operations of a small nonprofit; desire to support members of the military on their individual personal journeys and facilitate their ability to tell their own stories; communication skills; ability to empathize with and provide support for people with differing views and sensitivity and tolerance for a variety of religious and non-religious views; ability to de-escalate, mediate, and mitigate adversarial situations with military commands and other military personnel; among others. Apply by submitting a resume and a cover letter addressing specific qualifications and why you wish to lead an organization that serves conscientious objectors. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Address materials to apply@centeronconscience.org<\/a> specifying \u201cDirector-[your name]\u201d in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 30. For more information including location, salary, and benefits, go to https:\/\/centeronconscience.org\/job-announcement-executive-director<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity<\/strong> is scheduled for Jan. 18-25. The Armenian Christian tradition is the source for the worship resources for this year\u2019s observance. The resources prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church \u201cdraw upon historic traditions of prayer and petitions used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia, some of which date as far back as the fourth century,\u201d said an announcement from the World Council of Churches. \u201cThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 offers Christians throughout the world the opportunity to draw upon this shared Christian heritage.\u201d The theme comes from Ephesians 4:4: \u201cThere is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.\u201d<\/em> Churches are invited to translate the resources into additional languages as helpful and may contextualize or adapt the resources for their own use. Go to www.oikoumene.org\/resources\/documents\/resources-for-the-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Photo by Ivars Kupcis, WCC<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

— For the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) will host<\/strong> prayer, reflection, and conversation centered on the unity of the global Christian community, with a particular focus on the witness and life of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenian clergy and speakers will join CMEP to pray together and engage a range of topics that affirm the shared faith, resilience, and interconnectedness of Christians worldwide. The first event in the series takes place via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 12 noon (Eastern time) on the topic \u201cLearn About the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem\u201d with Save the ArQ founder Hagop Djernazian.<\/strong> \u201cThe SavetheArQ Movement launched in May 2023 and has been dedicated to preserving and protecting the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cFollowing the discovery of an illegal 98-year lease of this treasured, historic property, the Armenian community of Jerusalem initiated legal proceedings a year ago to nullify this unlawful agreement signed by the Armenian Patriarchate.\u201d Go to https:\/\/cmep.org\/cmep-events\/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
For Martin Luther King Jr. weekend,<\/strong> Brethren Press is sharing recommended reading from the writings of Drew G. I. Hart including an excerpt published in <\/em>Messenger magazine this month and the book <\/em>Making It Plain: Why We Need Anabaptism and the Black Church, among other of his previous books. Read more at https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/brethren\/racial-justice-books<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
\u201cIdentity in Community\u201d<\/strong> is the theme for the 2026 Young Adult Conference scheduled for May 22-24 at Camp Blue Diamond in Pennsylvania. The scripture theme is Romans 12:4-5. Registration is open now at www.brethren.org\/yac<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Plans for the very first NOAC Book Study<\/strong> are underway. National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) coordinator Christy Waltersdorff and Rev. Dennis Webb will lead the study on Zoom. The group will begin with a book by Dominique Gilliard, who was a keynote speaker at the 2025 NOAC, titled <\/em>Subversive Witness. The leaders recommend ordering the book from Brethren Press at <\/em>https:\/\/www.brethrenpress.com\/product_p\/9780310124030.htm<\/a> or by calling customer service at 800-441-3712. The book study will begin in late February. If you are interested in participating, please send an email to cwaltersdorff@brethren.org<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— During a recent mailing from the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Mission Advancement office,<\/strong> a box of envelopes was lost in transit through the US Postal Service. Staff have concluded that the box must have broken open and unsealed envelopes (approximately 250) were then sent to addresses. \u201cWe apologize for any confusion this may have caused for those who received these empty envelopes,\u201d said the notice from Mission Advancement. \u201cWe also extend our gratitude to all of our individual donors and congregations for your financial support of the mission and ministry of the Church of the Brethren.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

— \u201cDoing innovative outreach? Apply for a grant.\u201d <\/strong>The application window has opened for the Kingdom Advancing Grant from the Brotherhood Mutual Foundation. A total of $150,000 will be awarded to innovative church programs or initiatives that not only connect people with Jesus but also can be replicated by other Christian churches. Grants generally range from $2,500 to $40,000. The number of grants awarded each year varies based on the scope and financial need of the projects. Kingdom Advancing Grant recipients not only receive funding for their initiative or program, but also are paired with an experienced ministry leader who can provide guidance and assistance. The current grant application period runs through March 31. Grant recipients will be notified in July. The application process will take some time, so the earlier church leaders can consider applying and find out if their congregation is eligible, the better. Find out more at https:\/\/kag.brotherhoodmutual.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

— Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren <\/strong>members and leaders took part in \u201cButterfly Prayers: Public Art and Witness for Immigrants\u201d<\/strong> in front of the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Nov. 2, 2025. The prayer vigil for immigrants and persons facing deportation included clergy and congregations throughout the city, according to a report in the church newsletter. \u201cLorelei VerLee, founder of Creative Women of the World, provided the opportunity to participate in an artistic prayer expression. Each person was invited to paint on a small canvas (tiles) something that reflected their prayers for immigrant neighbors. The tiles were then put together, creating a butterfly, as public art and a collective witness in support of immigrants. Beacon is displaying \u2018the butterfly\u2019 in our fellowship hall the next several weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Photo courtesy of Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— Manchester University professor Tim Reed,<\/strong> who attends Manchester Church of the Brethren in North Manchester, Ind., is displaying portraits of lives affected by incarceration as a special art display at the Allen County Public Library\u2019s Krull Gallery in Fort Wayne. The two-month exhibit opens on Saturday, Jan. 17, with a reception from 3-5 p.m. Reed \u201chas made video portraits created in collaboration with people whose lives have been touched by the prison system,\u201d said an announcement from Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne. \u201cTim then invited Rachel Gross to include some of the Death Row Art Exhibit which is comprised of art created by people who were assigned pen pals through the Death Row Support Project (DRSP).\u201d For more about the DRSP go to www.brethren.org\/drsp<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Church of the Brethren\u2019s Shenandoah District<\/strong> has launched a new website. Find it at https:\/\/shencob.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Church of the Brethren\u2019s Southern Ohio and Kentucky District<\/strong> is inviting its members to prepare for Annual Conference with a five-part Bible study on the first Monday of each month from Feb. 2 through June 2. The first study will be led by Annual Conference moderator Don Fitzkee. Groups will meet in person at two congregations in Ohio–Happy Corner and New Carlisle–and at the Brethren Retirement Community, and a Zoom option will be offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Powerhouse Regional Youth Conference<\/strong> will be held Feb. 6-8 at Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind. The event is for senior high youth from the Midwest and their adult advisors. Dennis Beckner, moderator-elect of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and pastor of Columbia City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, is the keynote speaker. Cost is $200 for youth or advisors. The registration deadline is Jan. 25. For more information, contact Northern Indiana District youth advisors Val Kline (765-606-854 or v3kline@hotmail.com<\/a>) or Lucas Kauffman (574-312-0225 or lucaskauffman1210@gmail.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Roundtable 2026<\/strong> will meet Feb. 27 to March 1 on the theme \u201cSearching for Connection to God and Beyond\u201d with leadership from Keyon Williamson. Roundtable is a regional youth conference that is now Church of the Brethren and Mennonite. It will be held at Bridgewater (Va.) College. \u201cThe conference will be filled with worship, fun workshops, and opportunities to engage with one another (there will also be ice cream). It is a weekend to remember,\u201d said an announcement. For more information and to register, go to https:\/\/iycroundtable.wixsite.com\/iycbc\/roundtable-registration<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Applications close Jan. 20 for the Transformative Leadership Program<\/strong> offered through Creation Justice Ministries, a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy. \u201cThis free leadership cohort is designed for congregations that are already engaged in creation justice and are ready to deepen, strengthen, and sustain that work through shared learning, practical tools, and community support,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cOver the past year, churches across the country have told us the same thing: the call to respond faithfully to climate and environmental injustice is clear\u2014but the work can feel heavy, isolating, and hard to sustain alone. The Transformative Leadership Program exists to meet that moment. Through guided sessions, peer connection, and structured reflection, this cohort helps congregations move from intention to action\u2014without burning out their leaders or losing sight of the theological grounding that sustains the work.\u201d Congregational teams accepted into the program will participate in a free three-day, in-person workshop on March 9-12 at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich., that combines climate science, practical theological approaches, and community organizing tools to equip leaders who shape their church\u2019s relationship to creation justice. Congregations will work with a coach for six months to implement a climate action project in their church and community, to be implemented between May and October this year. For more information and to register go to https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdvhkBo5Otau0TNC_tCPzSsE9vS869_O066yATs4hw9y9O3Jw\/viewform<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Lutheran bishops from the United States, Denmark, and Canada<\/strong> have issued a joint statement supporting the people of Greenland. \u201cAs the national bishops of Lutheran churches in the United States, Canada and Denmark, we wish to send the Greenlandic people our full support in an unusually difficult situation,\u201d the statement said, in part. \u201cWe pray for and encourage our own congregations and people to pray for and stand with Greenland and the Greenlandic people who want to maintain their independence. We pray for peace and respect between nations.\u201d The statement supported the Church of Greenland and Bishop Paneeraq Siegstad Munk, who has been quoted in her public statements, \u201cWe are people, not property. Greenland is not land to be bought. It is our home and it is not for sale.\u201d The statement noted that the Church of Greenland is connected with dioceses in Denmark and participates in leading ecumenical organizations including as a member of the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation, among others. \u201cWe invite you to write to your elected leaders and tell them to respect the independence of Greenland and the Greenlandic people,\u201d the statement concluded. It was signed by Yehiel Curry, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Henrik Stubkj\u00e6r, bishop of Viborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark; and Larry Kochendorfer, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Church of the Brethren musician and composer Michael Stern<\/strong> is sharing a choral arrangement of \u201cStand Up,\u201d a song based on Martin Niemoller\u2019s famous saying that begins with the words, \u201cFirst they came for the communists.\u201d Wrote Stern to Newsline: \u201cOver the past year numerous people have been asking me for a choral arrangement of my most well known song\u2026. Now I have it. I’d be delighted to have music directors consider using it with their choirs in 2026.\u201d A free preview of the digital octavo has been posted on his publisher’s website at https:\/\/www.beatinpathpublications.com\/MS\/home.html<\/a>. Stern invites choir directors and church musicians to feel free to contact him with questions or ideas. Find his website and contact information at www.mikesongs.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

–– Rebecca Dali, an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and founder of CCEPI,<\/strong> a nonprofit focused on serving those affected by violence in northeast Nigeria, was one of five speakers at a recent hearing hosted by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. The hearing on \u201cFoRB Violations Against Christians Abroad\u201d took place Tuesday, Jan. 13, at the Senate Dirksen Office Building in Washington, D.C. More information about the hearing and a video recording of the event are at www.uscirf.gov\/events\/hearing-forb-violations-against-christians-abroad<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n