{"id":26458,"date":"2026-01-22T15:59:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T15:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26458"},"modified":"2026-01-23T23:15:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T23:15:06","slug":"brethren-bits-98","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-98\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren and pastor Matt Rittle<\/strong> are among those cited and quoted in a Religion News Service article about the \u201cJust Like Selma\u201d hymn project. Arlington is among the dozens of churches across the country who have indicated they will use the song during Black History Month this February, reports RNS. \u201cThose that registered to incorporate the song on the NEWorks website receive resources, including sheet music, to help them prepare to sing the hymn.\u201d Rittle told RNS that \u201che hopes his mostly white congregation that usually gathers 25 to 40 people on Sunday will sing \u2018Just Like Selma,\u2019 after congregants began an email thread discussing it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cJust Like Selma\u201d hymn project by composer Nolan Williams Jr.<\/strong> aims to help churches recall Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and mark Black History Month centering on African American life and focusing on the history of and continuing advocacy for voting rights. The song debuted via a video ahead of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Find a link to view the video of the “Just Like Selma” Martin Luther King Day performance and read the full article at https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2026\/01\/15\/just-like-selma-hymn-project-to-help-churches-recall-king-mark-black-history-month<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A new webpage featuring resources for interim ministry<\/strong> has been launched by the Church of the Brethren Ministry Office at www.brethren.org\/ministryoffice\/interim-ministry<\/a>. These new resources arrive in time for the upcoming third round table discussion <\/strong>sponsored by the Ministry Office on Monday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. (Eastern time) where the conversation will focus on questions of placement surrounding interim\/transitional ministry including lifting up the resources and guidance that districts are able to supply. Both pastors and laity are invited to attend. Several district executive ministers will join seasoned interim ministers and facilitators Tara Hornbacker, Enten Eller, and Christy Dowdy in hosting the conversation. Go to https:\/\/tiny.cc\/COB-Interim<\/a> or contact the Ministry Office for more information at officeofministry@brethren.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— The 2026 Blackwell Prize in Music was awarded to composer and musician Shawn Kirchner,<\/strong> a member of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren who has led music at denominational conferences among other church venues. An announcement noted, \u201cKirchner’s compositions incorporate folk, carol, and hymn traditions, as well as jazz, gospel and bluegrass. He is widely celebrated for his musicianship, and his choral works have been performed around the world.\u201d Kirchner has celebrated his win by conducting mass choir performances and workshops this January, hosted by the University of West Georgia Culture Lab. Find out more from this Facebook post at www.facebook.com\/uwg.newnan<\/a> and at www.westga.edu\/calendar.php#event-details\/896fe266-6ab3-4ac7-847d-d850e4b6b0b1<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cThe Historical Jesus and the Kingdom of GOD\u201d<\/strong> is the topic of the February episode of \u201cBrethren Voices,\u201d the community television program produced by Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren. Robert Miller, professor of Christian and Religious studies at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., is featured in this re-release of a two-part series originally filmed in November 2008. \u201cMiller provides us with an in depth look at the life of Jesus, in the context of the times in which he lived,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cIt was a time when a million people were killed by the Romans, during their occupation of their kingdom. According to Miller, Jesus didn\u2019t have a plan for the kingdom of God, but relied on the imagination of those who were hearing his message. He uses metaphors and images and powerful exaggerations and parables.\u201d Included is an analysis of the parable of the mustard seed. Find this and preceding episodes of Brethren Voices on YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— John Yusuf, chair of the Media Crew for the Viniklang congregation and district<\/strong> of Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), shared with Newsline information about connecting with their online posts and streaming available via Facebook. \u201cWe in the media live stream our Sunday service and other programs in the church, we produce a program titled \u2018From the pastor’s desk,\u2019 we cast our news,\u201d he reported. He also shared gratitude for receiving news about the American church, writing, \u201cThanks for the good work in the vineyard of our Lord.\u201d Find the Viniklang media crew\u2019s posts, videos, reels, sermons and worship events, etc. by searching Facebook for \u201cEYN LCC No:1 Viniklang\u201d or going to www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61551627036355<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The World Council of Churches (WCC) on Jan. 22 marked the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.<\/strong> \u201cSince nuclear weapons were first used over Hiroshima and Nagasaki over 80 years ago, the WCC has always stood in categorical opposition to nuclear weapons,\u201d said a release. \u201cThose who convened at the founding assembly of the WCC in 1948, [which included the Church of the Brethren] declared that war with nuclear weapons is a \u2018sin against God and a degradation of man,\u2019 and in the following years began to place particular attention on the situation of peoples suffering from the toxic legacy of nuclear testing programmes in the Pacific and elsewhere \u2013 and to the racism and colonialism inherent in nuclear weapon states\u2019 choices of locations for their tests. The WCC continues to advocate with churches at the national and international levels to prohibit the development, testing and use of nuclear weapons, and works with churches to impress upon their government the immorality of nuclear weapons and need for their total elimination.\u201d The release included information from the WCC department for Human Rights and Disarmament that today’s global nuclear arsenals are estimated to exceed by almost 400 times the combined explosive force of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs together with all the weapons used during World War II. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has now been ratified by 74 countries and signed\u2014ahead of expected ratification\u2014by a further 21, representing a majority of the world\u2019s countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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