{"id":26758,"date":"2026-03-06T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26758"},"modified":"2026-03-07T21:19:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T21:19:43","slug":"brethren-bits-104","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-104\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Correction: A new date has been announced for the Ventures in Christian Discipleship course \u201cGod\u2019s Earth, Our Home: Engaging Creation Care through Faith.\u201d<\/strong> Previously set for March 28, it has been moved to Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Eastern time). The course will be presented online by David Radcliff, director of the New Community Project. Find the previous announcement with more information and a link to register at https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/march-2026-ventures-course<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— A prayer concern from the Deportation Defense Response Team:<\/strong> Pastor Irv Heishman of West Charleston Church of the Brethren in Tipp City, Ohio, will be traveling to Honduras on March 9-16 to provide pastoral care to church members Armando and Marlon, who were deported there. He also seeks to learn about their life after deportation in order to continue his advocacy on behalf of immigrants as part of his ministry with the West Charleston Church. He, Armando, and Marlon will be hosted by Chet Thomas of Proyecto Aldea Global, a nonprofit that runs the National Park at Lago de Yojoa as well as extensive relief and development ministries in Honduras. Mario and Arely Cantor of the Church of the Brethren in Tegucigalpa, who have welcomed several deported persons into their congregation, will be meeting with the group as well as several Mennonite therapists who have been providing trauma and cultural readjustment care to deported persons. After traveling on to Tegucigalpa, the group will be hosted by church members and will learn about the ministries of the Cantors’ congregation and attend worship there. Please pray for smooth travels, for health, for a blessed reunion, and for spiritual rejuvenation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cDo you have a story to share with us?\u201d said an invitation from the Deportation Defense Response Team. <\/strong>\u201cWe are looking for stories of individuals in congregations who have been directly impacted by immigration enforcement and policy changes, and also for stories of people practicing \u2018faith in motion\u2019 on behalf of our immigrant neighbors and siblings in Christ. Please contact migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org<\/a> with either a short written story, or to schedule a virtual call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Deportation Defense Response Team also is sharing an updated webpage and online resource toolkit and reminders of upcoming events.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently added online resources include \u201cCommunity Defense Playbook for Congregations and Community Groups\u201d under the folder “Safety Planning for Churches,\u201d and \u201cA Call to Christians in a Crisis of Faith and Democracy\u201d under the folder \u201cTheological Resources\u201d at www.onearthpeace.org\/deportation_defense_response_team<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming events include the continuing \u201cBiweekly Pastoral Care Gatherings in Spanish & Haitian Creole\u201d from 6-7 p.m. (Eastern time) every other Monday over Zoom. Gatherings in March will take place on March 9 and 23. For more information and to receive the Zoom link contact ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com<\/a> or text 561-647-8981. The online \u201cPrayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice\u201d also continue with the next scheduled for 12 noon (Eastern time) on March 26. Find more information and RSVP at www.onearthpeace.org\/2025_11_prayer_gathering_for_immigrant_justice_20251002_20251113_20260108_20260205<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Church of the Brethren\u2019s webpage on conscientious objection to war<\/strong> is at www.brethren.org\/peacebuilding\/co<\/a>. Links on this page direct young people who want to learn more about what conscientious objection means and its biblical and Brethren roots to a free downloadable curriculum titled \u201cCall of Conscience.\u201d<\/strong> The direct link to the curriculum is www.brethren.org\/peacebuilding\/co\/introduction<\/a>. Also available on the webpage is a CO Toolkit<\/strong>. A link is offered as well to the Church of the Brethren\u2019s ecumenical partner on conscientious objection, the Center on Conscience and War<\/strong>, which got its start in 1940 as an initiative of the historic peace churches and is now the main organization offering aid to conscientious objectors who want to leave the military as well as general services to those objecting to military violence. The direct link to the Center on Conscience and War is https:\/\/centeronconscience.org<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Playlist: Pacifism on Repeat,”<\/strong> a music playlist, has been reshared by Messenger<\/em>, the Church of the Brethren magazine. First posted in 2024, it was created by Cornelius Raff, a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy. “As we find ourselves in the midst of conflict and war,” he wrote then, “in a world of escalating violence and civilian despair in many parts of the world, including the home countries of many of our international congregations, finding resilience and tranquility sometimes seems impossible. With a long tradition of embracing and living peace in the teachings of Jesus, we tirelessly oppose all aspects of war through our personal lives and in our communities, and our advocacy as denomination.” Find the links to the playlist on YouTube and Spotify at https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/messenger\/playlists\/playlist-pacifism\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is holding Zoom sessions for anyone who would like more information about what becoming a volunteer looks like. <\/strong>The next meeting will be on March 17 at 8 p.m. (Eastern time), register at https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/meeting\/register\/z4AtJE1AQxyyM5rzsr-lDQ<\/a>. \u201cBVS offers year-long service opportunities for anyone over 18,\u201d said the announcement from Virginia Rendler of the BVS staff. \u201cWe also have opportunities for retired individuals and married couples! The service opportunities are located throughout the US and abroad, and each year we are adding new projects. You don\u2019t have to be a member of the Church of the Brethren to join, as long as you are committed to sharing God\u2019s love through acts of service.\u201d Find out more about BVS at www.brethren.org\/bvs<\/a> or email BVS@brethren.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— The latest issue of Bridge<\/em>, the young adult newsletter from the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Youth and Young Adult Ministry, is now available online.<\/strong> Features include \u201cWhy YAC?\u201d about Young Adult Conference, by Luke Haldeman; \u201cIntroducing New YASC [Young Adult Steering Committee] Members: Emma Craig and Anna Ritchey Moore\u201d interviews by Felisha Diamond; \u201cWho Will Bring a Good Word at YAC 2026? Meet the Preachers\u201d by Felisha Diamond; \u201cFind Community When the Deck Is Stacked Against You by Stacking the Deck Back\u201d by Luke Haldeman; \u201cFinding Home in a New Place\u201d by Anna Ritchey Moore; \u201cWill We Let AI Replace What Makes Us Human?\u201d by Seth Spire; articles about the Sankofa Journey; and information about the upcoming Young Adult Conference. Go to www.brethren.org\/yya\/resources\/#bridge<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The next L.E.A.D. Third Thursday webinar from Discipleship and Leadership Formation will take place online on March 19 at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). <\/strong>Lidia Gonzalez will share about \u201cDiscipling Leaders.\u201d Gonzalez has been a church planter since the young age of 17 and has served the Church of the Brethren for 26 years. She works in a pastoral team with her husband, Raul Gonzalez, and together have planted five churches, four of them for the Church of the Brethren in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Virginia. Currently they are serving in Virlina District as pastors of the El Buen Pastor congregation. Go to www.brethren.org\/thirdthursday<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Bethany Theological Seminary has announced that L. David Witkovsky, who earned a master of divinity from the seminary in 1983, will be the featured speaker at the 2026 commencement in Richmond, Ind.<\/strong> The ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 9, at 10 a.m., in Nicarry Chapel. It will be the 32nd commencement held in Richmond, the longest Bethany has been in any one location. The school expects to honor 40 graduates this year, its largest class in decades, including the speaker\u2019s daughter Rachel Witkovsky. L. David Witkovsky is a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren with a distinguished career in pastoral leadership, college chaplaincy, and youth ministry including pastoring two churches in Pennsylvania over a period of 16 years, serving for 20 years as chaplain at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. where he retired at the end of 2018. He also served 10 years on the Bethany Seminary Board of Trustees. Find the full release at https:\/\/bethanyseminary.edu\/bethany-names-commencement-speaker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— In preparation for its 2026 district conference, Pacific Southwest District has started a series of three district Bible studies held via Zoom.<\/strong> Said an announcement from district moderator Don Shankster, \u201cJoin us for a whole District Bible Study in Zoom! \u00a1\u00danase a nosotros para un Estudio B\u00edblico del Distrito entero en Zoom! To help us explore the theme and Romans 15:13, there will be three Bible studies (March 10 at 7:00 p.m., June 9 at 7:00 p.m., and October 3 at 9:00 a.m.). This will be a time of teaching, small group conversation, and then full group sharing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At right: Pacific Southwest District Conference 2026 logo<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— The premiere of the documentary film Faith on the Frontline<\/em> was co-hosted by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) and the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., on Feb. 26.<\/strong> \u201cFaith on the Frontline<\/em> chronicles the influence of Black faith leadership in shaping national movements for justice and features former Atlanta Mayor and United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, who served as NCC president from 2000 to 2001, reflecting on the church\u2019s central role in accelerating the Civil Rights Movement,\u201d said a release. \u201cThe documentary debuted at the college\u2019s Bank of America Auditorium in the Shirley E. Massey Leadership Building, and is the first of NCC\u2019s MOSAIC Storytelling Initiative, a five-year project funded by the Lilly Endowment aimed at building a national repository of up to 500 stories of faith, justice, and unity across the United States.\u201d The premiere intentionally closed Black History Month at the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and also marked MOSAIC\u2019s first public screening and community engagement offering. Find a recording of the premiere event at www.youtube.com\/watch?v=c9qtjbslJ24<\/a> and a short recap provided by Timberhouse Films at www.youtube.com\/shorts\/t1qv41Qza4E<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Also from the NCC, a new partnership in theological education was launched with the Canadian Council of Churches called the North America-Turtle Island Regional Ecumenical Theological Institute (NATI-RETI).<\/strong> \u201cModeled on the World Council of Churches Global Ecumenical Theological Institute, NATI-RETI will be held August 3\u201316 in Detroit, Mich., and Toronto, Ontario. The institute will explore six thematic pillars, including solidarity with indigenous peoples, racism and anti-racism, secularism and laicity, wealth disparity and poverty, climate justice, and interfaith dialogue,\u201d said an announcement. NATI-RETI is open to seminary students in the US and Canada. The deadline to apply is April 15. Details about the program and application process are at https:\/\/nati-reti-2026.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— A \u201cStatement on Israel\u2019s Planned Invasion of Lebanon\u201d from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP),<\/strong> a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren Office of Peacemaking and Policy, states grave concern about Israel\u2019s planned ground invasion of Lebanon and the escalating regional war in the Middle East. \u201cThe ongoing expansion of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has set the region on fire,\u201d said the statement, in part. \u201cNowhere is this more evident than in Lebanon\u2026. On March 4, 2026, Israel issued a sweeping evacuation order for all communities living south of the Litani River, and additionally, multiple suburbs of Beirut, the largest forced displacement order in decades. Entire Lebanese communities, regardless of religion, ideology, or political affiliation, now face the loss of their homes, farms, businesses, schools, and places of worship. Hundreds of thousands of people have already been displaced since the Israeli announcement calling for evacuation. We have seen in previous rounds of Israeli military operations in Lebanon what such orders mean in practice: villages flattened, civilian infrastructure destroyed, and families uprooted for generations. Reports that Israeli troops are amassing at the Lebanese border raise the grave likelihood of a ground invasion.\u201d The statement urged American elected officials, including members of Congress, to Enforce the Iran War Powers Act resolution and reassert congressional authority over US military engagement in the region; immediately halt offensive weapons shipments to Israel because of their use in violation of both US and international law; press for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and across the region; support diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and a durable regional ceasefire and long-term negotiated political settlements toward a just peace. Find a link to the full statement at https:\/\/cmep.org\/press-news\/public-statements-letters<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— A Joint Christian Advocacy Summit for the Middle East has been announced for May 5-7 hosted by Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.<\/strong> \u201cJoin CMEP and a broad coalition of co-sponsors,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cCentered on the theme \u2018Do Right; Seek Justice (Is. 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine\/Israel,\u2019<\/strong> this gathering will equip and mobilize Christian advocates from across the country in support of U.S. policies that uphold dignity, human rights, and lasting security for all who call the region home. Attendees will learn from experts, gain advocacy\u2019 skills, and have the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices to call for a just peace in the Holy Land.\u201d Find out more and register at https:\/\/jointsummit2026.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— Upcoming events at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Durnbaugh Lecture<\/strong> on Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the Susquehanna Room of Myer Hall. Bethany Theological Seminary president Jeff Carter will speak on \u201cChurch and Culture: A Shaking of the Foundations\u2026Again.\u201d Said an announcement: \u201cIt\u2019s no secret that American religion is experiencing significant institutional change. Declining church membership and attendance, particularly among mainline denominations, raise questions about the future of the institutional church. Yet, amid the change, young adults continue to demonstrate sustained spiritual curiosity outside traditional church structures. Jeff Carter will discuss what distinguishes this moment from earlier periods of religious transition and how the church might engage contemporary culture in response.\u201d Parking for the Durnbaugh Lecture is at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, 777 S. Mt. Joy Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Durnbaugh Seminar<\/strong> on Friday, March 13, at 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Bucher Meetinghouse. On the topic \u201cChurch and Culture: Finding Promise Amid Change,\u201d the seminar will feature Carter facilitating a panel discussion including Brian Messler, lead pastor of Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; Amy Shorner-Johnson, chaplain and director of spiritual and religious life at Elizabethtown College; Lexi Aligarbes, co-pastor of Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren; and Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey, director of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kreider Lecture<\/strong> on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m. at the Bucher Meetinghouse on the topic \u201cAnalysis of the Interaction between the American Politico-Legal System and the Amish Christian Minority, Using Three Models\u201d will be presented by Fr\u00e9d\u00e9rique Green. She is a retired teacher with dual French and British citizenship, holding a doctorate from the University of Birmingham in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about these events and register at www.etown.edu\/centers\/young-center\/events.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— A Dunker Punks podcast on \u201cResisting Authoritarianism\u201d <\/strong>asks why it is important for people of faith to make our voices heard \u201cas we recognize signs of a rise in authoritarianism in the US (deploying the military domestically, leaders refusing to give up power, blaming outsiders for our problems, and weakening of democratic processes)\u2026. How can we as Anabaptists make a difference?\u201d The podcast features Rhonda Baker, Kingian Nonviolence, HOPE-PV, and Freedom Trainer; Ewan Benjamin, nonviolence organizer at On Earth Peace; and Matt Guynn, co-executive director of On Earth Peace. Listen at https:\/\/arlingtoncob.org\/6-resisting-authoritarianism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The 50th anniversary gathering of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (BMC) is on May 29-31 in Minneapolis, Minn.<\/strong> \u201cRooting our Stories: Reveling in 50 years of Queer and Trans Anabaptist Resilience\u201d is the theme. Said an announcement: \u201cThis festive weekend will include storytelling, singing, ritual\/worship, workshops, artmaking, games, shared meals, and honoring this incredible 50-year legacy of LGBTQIA+ Anabaptist resistance and resilience.\u201d Find event details and more about the anniversary at www.bmclgbt.org\/50th<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Church World Service (CWS) \u201cState of Play\u201d newsletter has shared a special issue on a recent decision in Pacito v. Trump.<\/strong> \u201cOn March 5, in a long-awaited decision in Pacito v. Trump, a Ninth Circuit panel largely maintained the status quo and allowed the administration\u2019s indefinite refugee ban to continue unchecked,\u201d the newsletter reported, in part. The decision \u201cfollows the \u2018preliminary\u2019 ruling made by the same panel in September of last year, now formally reversing much of the injunction issued by a lower court that had compelled the resettlement of certain refugees with strong reliance interests who are stranded in the pipeline. Under this decision, the refugee ban that has held up tens of thousands of conditionally approved refugee cases can continue. This was not a total reversal of the lower court\u2019s injunction. The Ninth Circuit found plaintiffs are \u2018likely to succeed\u2019 on parts of their challenge and, as a result, affirmed that the administration must continue providing domestic resettlement services to refugees in the U.S. The panel wrote in part: \u2018We recognize the enormous practical implications of this decision. There are over one hundred thousand vetted and conditionally approved refuges, many of whom may have spent years completing the USRAP process in a third country only to be turned away on a tarmac.\u2019\u201d Read the full newsletter special at https:\/\/cwsglobal.org\/blog\/daily-state-of-play-trumps-indefinite-refugee-ban-and-funding-halt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The World Council of Churches (WCC) has hosted a consultation with heads of member churches in the Middle East. <\/strong>The online meeting took place March 6 under the theme \u201cStanding Together in Faith and Discernment in a Time of War.\u201d Said WCC general secretary Jerry Pillay to the gathering: \u201cWe are acutely conscious that in times such as these, the churches are called to stand at the crossroads of suffering and hope\u2014accompanying the fearful, sheltering the vulnerable, and bearing witness to the God of life in the midst of destruction\u2026. Please know that the global ecumenical fellowship stands with you in solidarity and support.\u201d The consultation was an opportunity to hear the church leaders\u2019 assessment of the broader geopolitical situation and how they perceive dynamics evolving in the days and weeks ahead. The WCC also listened carefully to the pastoral, humanitarian, security, and institutional challenges confronting churches and communities. \u201cThe meeting provided an opportunity to discern together, in a spirit of prayer and ecclesial responsibility, how these developments affect all people in the region, and to reflect collectively on the role the World Council of Churches is called to play at this moment,\u201d said the release. People from the region asked the WCC as a global community of churches to keep them in prayer. Pillay added that the WCC would intensify its work on peace-building efforts, inter-religious dialogue, and advocacy in the region. Find the release at https:\/\/oikoumene.org\/news\/wcc-hosts-consultation-with-heads-of-churches-in-the-middle-east<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— NNOMY (National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth), a nonprofit with connections to On Earth Peace, is publicizing opportunities to engage in work against military recruitment and for conscientious objection:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A NNOMY webinar <\/strong>on March 21 at 2-3:30 p.m. (Eastern time) will offer a round table discussion of ways in which people can become involved in counter recruiting. Topics will include tabling at high schools, speaking to high school classrooms, forming peace clubs, leafleting at schools, community involvement, peaceful career opportunities, the need for social media campaigns. Each area will be presented by people that have been deeply involved in the work for a significant period. \u201cThese are trying times,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cOur military is waging war or threatening war on multiple fronts. Meanwhile, in order to maintain such an active presence on the world stage, the military needs more recruits. Recruiters are appearing at our schools, community meetings, social media, on our phones, everywhere it seems. At the same time, the number of groups actively involved in counter military recruitment has plummeted. NNOMY hopes to push against that trend and spark activist groups into action.\u201d RSVP for this event at https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/demilitarize2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information about a \u201cPeaceful Futures Scholarship\u201d<\/strong> is now posted by Peaceful Options for Training and Careers, a Mennonite-related organization. \u201cPlease share with anyone in your network who might find this information of interest to graduating high school students. In particular, we are looking for students who might enlist in the military just for the college money,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cWe know our amount doesn’t compete with what the military offers, but neither does it entail the risks.\u201d Click on the \u201cScholarship Info\u201d box at https:\/\/explorepotc.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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