{"id":26677,"date":"2026-02-20T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26677"},"modified":"2026-02-20T23:52:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:52:55","slug":"brethren-bits-102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-102\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Camp Blue Diamond is seeking a gifted individual with a passion for outdoor ministry to serve as the next program director. <\/strong>The camp is a 238-acre retreat facility, summer camp, and family campground nestled within the Rothrock State Forest near Petersburg, Pa., affiliated with the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Middle Pennsylvania District. The mission of Camp Blue Diamond is to encourage discipleship of Jesus Christ and to facilitate growth and healing in each person\u2019s relationship with God, others, themselves, and the created world. The main role of the program director is to oversee all aspects of programing, working to ensure that each is Christ-centered, allowing campers and staff to experience growth and healing in their relationship with God, others, themselves, and the created world. Duties include but are not limited to managing and supervising summer staff, organizing retreats, helping to coordinate rental groups, assisting with kitchen and housekeeping duties during Outdoor School, and participation in camp board meetings, church visits, and the American Camp Association. Outdoor ministry at Camp Blue Diamond requires flexibility and teamwork. In this spirit, the program director may be called upon to provide help in other areas as needed. The program director is accountable to the executive director and Camp Blue Diamond board of directors. Qualifications include strong interpersonal skills as well as leadership, organization, and communication, along with a basic knowledge of program development, computer skills, and marketing. A bachelor\u2019s degree is strongly preferred, along with camp leadership experience. Exceptional candidates without a degree will be considered. The applicant should be a Christian and a member of the Church of the Brethren or have an appreciation and understanding of Brethren beliefs and values. This fulltime, salaried position includes health benefits, a generous PTO\/holiday package, and onsite housing and utilities. Review of applicants will begin March 1. It is expected that an appointment will be made in April with an anticipated start date in May. For a full description and information on how to apply visit https:\/\/campbluediamond.org\/full-time-staff-openings<\/a> or contact Brian Bert, executive director, at executive@campbluediamond.org<\/a> or 814-667-2355.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Trotwood (Ohio) Church of the Brethren is hosting a program on \u201cAlaska and Climate Impacts\u201d<\/strong> presented by Rex Miller on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. (Eastern time). \u201cMiller will give a presentation on his visit to Alaska in 2025 with New Community Project,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cThey have sponsored this trip over 20 years and have observed the changes in Alaska over those years. As the Director of Denali National Park shared with the group, she said that Denali was \u2018on the melting edge\u2019 of climate impacts in Alaska. Rex’s visit was to learn more of the native issues in Alaska as well as climate issues in Alaska. Please join us at Trotwood COB for loving fellowship & refreshments.\u201d For questions call the Trotwood Church at 937-837-6604 or Pam Jones at 937-854-1104<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Lent resource on modern slavery titled \u201cTrue Freedom\u201d is a six-week course available in six languages addressing modern slavery,<\/strong> prepared by the World Council of Churches in partnership with the Clewer Initiative. It aligns with the Churches’ Commitments to Children by the WCC and has a particular focus on ending child slavery. The course draws on themes from the book of Galatians and is designed to encourage individuals and churches to respond to modern-day slavery in their communities. \u201cThe resource raises awareness on the responsibilities of Christians to address the injustices and vulnerabilities which push people into modern slavery,\u201d said Frederique Seidel, WCC senior program lead for Children and Climate. \u201cFor churches, congregations, and individuals, it is important to understand how the prevalence of modern slavery is also increasing as a result of climate crisis.\u201d The course offers Bible studies on the book of Galatians, questions for group discussion and reflection, case studies from around the world, statistics about modern slavery, action ideas for different contexts, and reflections by Kenneth Mtata, WCC program director for Life, Justice, and Peace, and Bishop Alastair Redfern, chair of the Clewer Initiative. The course is downloadable for free in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Korean. Go to www.oikoumene.org\/resources\/publications\/true-freedom<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— The World Council of Churches is urging a just, sustainable peace on the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,<\/strong> which will be marked on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The statement from WCC general secretary Jerry Pillay welcomed reported signs of progress toward the cessation of violence, saying that the global fellowship of churches hopes and prays for dialogue to continue, for all parties to engage in good faith, and for the violence to cease. \u201cMeanwhile, the Ukrainian people have continued to suffer the worst impacts of Russia\u2019s illegal aggression,\u201d he said. \u201cDeliberate, systematic, and massive daily attacks have continued against Ukrainian population centres far from the frontline, using dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones\u2026. After so much death and destruction, so much suffering, and so many violations of law and morality, this aggression must stop and this war must end,\u201d said Pillay. \u201cWe pray to God to open the path to a just and sustainable peace, for justice for the victims of this aggression, and peace to prevail in Ukraine, the region and the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Also from the WCC, general secretary Jerry Pillay issued a release on the death of Jesse Jackson, noting his prophetic role, passionate advocacy, and drive for justice.<\/strong> \u201cRev. Jesse Jackson was a great gift to all those who believed and acted for justice, equality, and love,\u201d said Pillay. \u201cAs he advocated for freedom and democracy around the world, he served humanity in a way that showed his belief that we are all children of God. We give thanks for his life and contributions to make his country and the world a better place striving for justice, equality and liberation.\u201d The release also quoted Angelique Walker-Smith, from the National Baptist Convention USA, and WCC president from North America: \u201cRev. Jesse Jackson was not only an iconic civil rights leader of our time and presidential hopeful, serving with global leaders like the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King; he was a pastor and priest to and with the people. His messages and actions of hope recognized the imago Dei in all of us but was uniquely expressed in his preaching cadence of mantras stating, \u2018I am Somebody!\u2019 and ‘Keep hope alive!\u2019 which ran contrary to systematic and systemic messages of dehumanization of marginalized people.\u201d The WCC expressed prayer for God`s strength and peace over the Jackson family, friends, and all those who mourn his passing both in the USA and the world over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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