{"id":26986,"date":"2026-04-16T16:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T16:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26986"},"modified":"2026-04-18T17:18:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T17:18:47","slug":"brethren-bits-107","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-107\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Remembrance: Wendell Cline Eller,<\/strong> 99, of Bridgewater, Va., who served for a time on the denominational staff of the Church of the Brethren, passed away on Monday, April 6. He worked as director of Audio-Visual Education for the Church of the Brethren for seven years from June 1, 1955, through Aug. 31, 1962. Prior to that, starting in 1953, he was on the staff of the Department of Audio-Visual and Broadcast Education of the National Council of Churches, working in Chicago as evaluation assistant. He was born on April 22, 1926, in Lynchburg, Va., to Henry Cline Eller and Effie Mae Naff. He held degrees from Bridgewater (Va.) College (1948) and Bethany Biblical Seminary (1953) in Chicago. As a Brethren Volunteer Service worker in his youth, he was one of those serving in placements at mental hospitals. He also volunteered in district youth work. He was an ordained minister for more than 60 years and his professional career included various pastorates in several different Church of the Brethren districts in Indiana, Virginia, Iowa, and Florida. His leadership roles in the denomination included service on the Standing Committee of Annual Conference. It was when he worked at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., that he met Sonya Kaufman. They were married in 1957 and enjoyed 68 years of life together. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Doris Eller Heisel and brother Galen Ross Eller. He is survived by his wife, Sonya; children Jerel Eller (Dawn), Denise Eller Saunders (Warren), Sheri Eller Bragg (Adrian), and Shawn Eller (Raquel); and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Memorial gifts are received for Bridgewater Church of the Brethren and Bridgewater College. Find a full obituary at www.johnsonfs.com\/obituaries\/Wendell-Cline-Eller?obId=48095632<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Applications for the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Health Care Education Scholarship in 2026 are due by May 22.<\/strong> Find out more at www.brethren.org\/healthcarescholarship<\/a> where the application instructions give information about initial requirements, and the application checklist is available to guide applicants in getting a file in order so that an application can be considered. This scholarship is made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment and is available to members of the Church of the Brethren who are enrolled in degree programs for nursing, medicine, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, and other health professions. Scholarships of between $5,000 and $10,000 are awarded to a limited number of applicants each year. Apply at www.brethren.org\/healthcarescholarship<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The TPS for Haiti extension passed the House of Representatives on Thursday, April 16. <\/strong>As reported by Church World Service (CWS) in its \u201cState of Play\u201d newsletter: \u201cThe House passed H.R. 1689, legislation that would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for three years. All Democrats and 10 Republicans voted to pass the bill. This is a historic win in support of 350,000 Haitians living in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An advocacy campaign by Faith in Action International calls on the US Senate also to pass this legislation.<\/strong> \u201cThis is only the 15th time in the past forty years that a discharge petition led to House passage, and the first time an immigration-related bill has advanced this way,\u201d said an announcement about the campaign. \u201cNow the Senate needs to act ASAP to pass this life-saving legislation.\u201d The campaign is calling for supporters to take two steps: send messages to their senators via an online form at bit.ly\/HaitiTPSnow<\/a> and, if clergy, sign on to a clergy letter at https:\/\/secure.faithinactioninternational.org\/a\/clergy-letter-senate<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CWS also is sharing an alert that the Supreme Court is to hear oral arguments on April 29<\/strong> about the Trump administration\u2019s planned termination of TPS for Haiti and for Syria. \u201cThe ruling, expected in June or July, could have implications for all 1.3 million people from the 17 countries currently designated for TPS. The Trump administration\u2019s efforts to end TPS align with its larger campaign to strip legal status and work authorization for millions of people and place them at risk of deportation. TPS was first designated for Haiti after a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and currently protects more than 350,000 Haitians from being returned to dangerous conditions marked by widespread civil unrest, kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, and limited health care.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren is holding its Second Annual Shalom Summit<\/strong> on April 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the theme, \u201cDisciples Pursuing Racially Just Neighborhoods.\u201d Registration is now open, said an announcement. \u201cSpeakers and authors Dominique Gilliard, Isaac Villegas, & Sheila Wise Rowe will address this year’s theme of Prophetic Resistance through topics of racial reconciliation, immigrant justice, and healing racial trauma\u2026. This is a can\u2019t-miss opportunity to grow in your faith and your understanding of racial justice.\u201d The cost of $20 includes a continental breakfast. Learn more and register at https:\/\/thejourneyharrisburg.org\/shalom-summit<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cDid you know that Camp Bethel, Virlina District, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in July of 2027?\u201d <\/strong>says an announcement from Virlina District. The Virlina District Historical Committee is preparing to publish a book covering the past 50 years of Camp Bethel\u2019s ministries to commemorate this important event. \u201cWhether you are\/were a camper, a staff member, the parent of a camper or someone who loves Camp Bethel, do you have a favorite memory or a great photo (please include a short description of your photo) of Camp Bethel dating from 1977 to today? We will be glad to receive whatever you send\u2014short, just a few sentences, or long! Campers and staff: Did you keep a journal of your Camp Bethel experience? Not all submissions will be included in the book, but we would welcome your submission for consideration!\u201d Please send your memories to Marilyn Lerch at history@virlina.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cMother\u2019s Day is coming!\u201d said an announcement from the Global Women\u2019s Project.<\/strong> \u201cMay 10 is the day to honor special women in your life, especially our moms, and Global Women\u2019s Project continues to sponsor our Mother\u2019s Day Gratitude Project. Here\u2019s how you can participate. When you send a donation and a note to GWP with the name and address of the person(s) you want to honor, we will send a personalized card to that person letting them know that you gave a donation in their name. Instead of buying your loved ones material things, you\u2019ll be showing them love through a gift that directly benefits the women of our partner projects in the U.S., India, Uganda, South Sudan, and Mexico\u2026. For donations received by May 1, a card will go out to your loved ones before Mother\u2019s Day. Or, if you send a donation in memory of your loved one, we will add the name to our ‘In Memoriam’ area of our newsletter.\u201d To participate, write checks to GWP and mail care of Karin Heckman Nelson, who is now serving on the steering committee. Mail to 1502 Foothill Blvd, Ste 103, PMB 153, La Verne, CA 91750.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) is an annual Christian advocacy gathering taking place in Washington, D.C. <\/strong>Participants will meet on the theme, \u201cProtecting People, Peace, and Planet\u201d (Psalm 24). This year’s advocacy days are taking place next week from April 20-22 and include worship, workshops, building solidarity, and visits to members of Congress. Learn more and register at https:\/\/advocacydays.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— Duane Grady of Goshen, Ind.<\/strong>, an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and a former member of the denominational staff, has announced a bicycling fundraiser. \u201cAfter a 50 year hiatus, I’m biking across Iowa again this summer and while doing so, hope to raise some money for Heifer International.\u201d Find out more at https:\/\/fundraise.heifer.org\/fundraiser\/7186915<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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