{"id":27941,"date":"2026-09-30T22:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T22:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=27941"},"modified":"2026-10-02T20:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T20:21:46","slug":"brethren-bits-120","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/brethren-bits-120\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board<\/a><\/strong> will hold its fall meeting at the denomination\u2019s General Offices in Elgin, Ill., on the weekend of Oct. 16-18. A business agenda and background documents<\/a> will be made available at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Job opening: Bethany Theological Seminary<\/a> seeks a new chief financial and operations officer.<\/strong> The CFOO serves as a hands-on, strategic, and trusted member of the President\u2019s Leadership Team and treasurer to the board of trustees. This senior executive role oversees all financial strategy, investment stewardship, risk management, and administrative operations for the Seminary, with a seat at the table on institutional strategy and longterm sustainability. The CFOO partners directly with the president and board to guide the seminary through the financial realities facing theological education today, while overseeing a team responsible for accounting, payroll, human resources, facilities, and student financial services. Read the full position description<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Job opening: The Church of the Brethren\u2019s Northern Plains District<\/a> seeks a half-time district executive<\/strong> to nurture the spiritual and numerical growth of the district. The district executive is directly accountable and reportable to the executive committee of the district board. This position is ongoing, reviewed and renewed annually by the executive committee. Core leadership practices and commitments include searching out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate, and improve by experimenting, taking risks, and learning from accompanying mistakes; inspiring a shared vision, envisioning an uplifting and enriching future and enlisting others in a common vision by appealing to their values, interests, hopes, and dreams; enabling others to act, fostering collaboration by promoting cooperative goals and building trust and by strengthening people by giving power away, providing choice, developing competence, assigning critical tasks, and offering visible support; modeling the way, setting an example by behaving in ways that are consistent with shared values and by achieving small wins that promote consistent progress and build commitment; encouraging the heart, recognizing individual contributions to the success of every project and celebrating team accomplishments regularly. The district executive is expected to grow spiritually and professionally, participating in events such as the Council of District Executives professional growth events, ecumenical educational events, personal prayer and scripture study, spiritual retreat time, and educational opportunities relating to district work. Areas of responsibility include pastoral placement, pastoral and congregational support, building relationships within the district and between the district and the denomination, relating to the district board and committees, administration and supervision of district operations and district staff and volunteers, leadership development both ministerial and lay, denominational involvement, and ecumenical relations. Desired attributes and skills include, among others, a deep commitment to God and the Church of the Brethren, completion of an approved course of theological education and\/or ministerial training, ministerial credentials, and pastoral experience. To express interest in the position, contact Nate Polzin, executive director of the Church of the Brethren Discipleship and Leadership Formation, at npolzin@brethren.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Brethren Disaster Ministries regularly updates information for rebuilding volunteers <\/strong>here<\/a>. This \u201cVolunteer Schedules\u201d page offers an overview of the current rebuilding sites\u2014at this time in Buncombe County, N.C., and Ashe County, N.C.\u2014and links to each project site as well as full volunteer schedules for this year and next. \u201cWe will be serving in Western North Carolina participating in Hurricane Helene recovery through the summer and fall at multiple locations,\u201d says the current overview. \u201cThis late September 2024 storm system caused major destruction of infrastructure and residential areas across Western North Carolina, resulting in 108 reported deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BDM has been notified of a cancellation for the week of Dec. 6-12. <\/strong>Any interested persons wishing to sign up for that week can contact Kim Gingerich (kgingerich@brethren.org<\/a>) at the BDM office or Lynn Evans at the Buncombe County project (bdmhelenerecovery@gmail.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about the current sites<\/a> where BDM volunteers help repair and rebuild homes. For instructions on how to sign up<\/a> as a BDM volunteer.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— \u201cHave a junior high \u2018worship take-over\u2019 on November 1st<\/strong> or when it works best for your congregation!\u201d said an announcement of Junior High Sunday from the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This is an annual opportunity to involve junior high youth in planning worship for your congregation and to invite them to help lead worship. This year’s theme is “Your Life; God’s Direction” (Jeremiah 29:11). Worship resources<\/a> are free to download.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— \u201cYou are invited to attend a Prayer Service for the Disappeared,\u201d <\/strong>said an announcement from the Deportation Defense Response<\/a> team. The online prayer service is on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. (Eastern time). It will honor the immigrants who have been taken by ICE or have died due to immigration enforcement. It will be led by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, but is hosted jointly with On Earth Peace<\/a>, Week of Compassion, and Global HOPE. Register here<\/a>. Email migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org<\/a> with any questions you have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cPlease join us for a Continuing Education session sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center<\/a>,\u201d <\/strong>said an announcement of the course \u201cCommunity Gifts – Discerning the Spirit Together.\u201d<\/strong> The in-person workshop will be held on Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren<\/a>. No Zoom will be available. A light lunch is included. A description of the course shared, \u201cThe New Testament writers described the gifts of the Spirit as grace given to followers of Jesus for the ministry of the church. That means, then, that discerning what God has gifted us is a practice for the community of faith. We will help each other discover and understand what God is calling us to do. In this workshop, we will explore the scriptures that outline the gifts of the Spirit, practice discernment together, and explore a new denominational resource for gifts discernment.\u201d Leaders are Josh Brockway, director of Discipleship and Identity for the Church of the Brethren, and Stan Dueck, director of Discipleship Ministries for the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Atlantic Northeast District. The registration fee is $55 or $65.00 with 0.5 continuing education units. Register here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cGrounding the Guns: Legal Pathways for Restricting U.S. Arms Transfers\u201d<\/strong> is a new article posted by the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy<\/a>, written by Marcia Sowles. Referencing the 2026 Annual Conference \u201cResolution on Weapons Transfer,\u201d which reaffirms \u201cthe Church of the Brethren\u2019s commitment to peace as God\u2019s will and the call of Christ\u201d and states the church\u2019s \u201copposition to the U.S. manufacturing and sale of weapons and urges the U.S. government to halt the sale of arms to other countries,\u201d the article notes that many of these weapons are exported to countries actively engaged in military conflicts and raise serious humanitarian concerns. \u201cFor example, Israel has used U.S. weapons in its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, killing countless civilians,\u201d Sowles writes. \u201cSuch arms transfers to Israel are continuing. On September 15, 2026, the Administration announced plans for the transfer of more than $2.8 billion in arms to Israel.\u201d The article urges church members to consider the harm caused by such arms and to follow the guidance of the Annual Conference resolution to educate ourselves and others about the impact of US arms trade and to engage in advocacy and other non-violent actions to oppose US arms transfer. \u201cTo advocate for change, it is important to understand the current legal restrictions on arms transfers, how they can be used to advocate against transfers, and how they can be improved.\u201d Read the full article<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— On Earth Peace<\/a> is beginning a monthly online chapel service<\/strong> titled \u201cThe Signs of the Times Faith Formation Series.\u201d The virtual event \u201cis a monthly gathering hosted by On Earth Peace for followers of Jesus seeking spiritual grounding, wisdom, and courage in a time marked by authoritarianism, violence, polarization, and social upheaval,\u201d said an announcement. This month’s theme is \u201cFollowing Jesus in a Time of Authoritarian Threat and Violence.\u201d This inaugural chapel time is planned for Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) with Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace co-director and director of organizing, sharing the message. RSVP here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Greenville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren<\/a> is celebrating its 125th anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 18.<\/strong> According to a notice in the Daily Advocate<\/em><\/a> former pastor Ron Sherck will bring the message for the 10:30 a.m. worship service, followed by a time of celebration and remembrance. \u201cPastor Steve Short and the congregation invite friends and former members to join in this time together as they share the memories and blessings of their congregation.\u201d For more information contact 937-548-3583.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren<\/a> is inviting participation in a weekly virtual Zoom Class<\/strong> studying this Fall\u2019s Salt & Light: A Guide for Biblical Studies<\/a><\/em> on the theme \u201cThe Soul of a Nation,\u201d written by Frank Ramirez. This new adult Bible study is published by Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Chris Bucher and Joe Sollenberger are leading the Zoom class from 1-2 p.m. (Eastern time) on Sunday afternoons through Nov. 29. Register to attend<\/a>. For questions contact Jason Haldeman, minister of Faith Formation at Elizabethtown Church, at jason@etowncob.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Juniata College<\/a> in Huntingdon, Pa., is marking 20 years of its Empty Bowls fundraiser<\/strong> for food insecurity in Huntingdon County. The college is \u201ccelebrating the milestone with new ways for the community to get involved,\u201d said a report in the Huntingdon Daily News<\/em><\/a>. The 20th anniversary celebration will include \u201c20 Years of Empty Bowls,\u201d a new exhibit at the Juniata College Museum of Art featuring handmade bowls created by Juniata students and exploring food insecurity in the county through informational and interactive elements. The annual sale of bowls<\/a> is both online and in-person at the museum, beginning online at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, and in-person from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, with the soup dinner also from 5-7 p.m. that evening at Stone Church of the Brethren<\/a> just across the street from the college. \u201cSince its founding at Juniata, Empty Bowls has raised more than $98,000 for local food banks, food pantries and the Huntingdon County Area Elementary School Backpack Program,\u201d said the report.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— \u201cPeace by Piece: Stories of Fair Trade and Faithfulness in the Holy Land,\u201d<\/strong> an online webinar, is offered on Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. (Eastern time) by Churches for Middle East Peace<\/a> (CMEP) and SERRV<\/a> to celebrate Fair Trade Month<\/a>. \u201cHear from two \u2018Peace by Piece\u2019 artisan-leaders in Holy Land and learn about the stories behind their work,\u201d said an announcement. Speakers are Suzan Sahori, executive director of the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans; Hadas Lahav, CEO of Sindyanna of Galilee; and Mohammed Joudeh, a Palestinian olive producer. They will share how fair trade supports local producers and how the current climate is affecting their livelihoods \u201cincluding ongoing economic challenges, movement restrictions, and the impacts of settler attacks,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cThe conversation will explore also how communities abroad can support these leaders and their communities through the Peace by Piece project partnership and beyond.\u201d Register to attend<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n

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— \u201cPeggy and Art Gish: Dunker Punks\u201d is the title of a podcast featuring Cliff Kindy and Peggy Faw Gish,<\/strong> Church of the Brethren members who have done significant, decades-long work with Community Peacemaker Teams<\/a> (CPT). The episode of the \u201cGood on Wood\u201d<\/a> podcast aired on July 17. Good on Wood \u201cexplores the lives of dangerous disciples, holy mischief makers, contemplative activists, and ordinary radicals in hopes that their witness would inspire a new generation of Jesus followers to get up, get out, and get into some \u2018good trouble.\u2019\u201d It is a production of St. Stephens University and the Jim Forest Institute of Religion, Peace, and Justice. In the July 17 episode, the story of Peggy Faw Gish and her late husband, Art Gish, unveils \u201ca radical, incarnational faith that challenges us to embody love in the midst of chaos,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cTheir life\u2019s work\u2014centered in peace activism, nonviolent resistance, and deep spiritual practice\u2014demonstrates that transformation begins within and radiates outward in the pursuit of healing justice in Iraq, Palestine, Chicago, rural Ohio and elsewhere.\u201d Listen to the podcast<\/a>. Find out more<\/a> about Good on Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— Paul Mundey has announced the availability of his new book, <\/strong>In God\u2019s Good Time<\/a>: Navigating the Hard, Slow Seasons of Life<\/em> (Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock). Mundey has served as moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference<\/a> and is retired from many years of pastoral ministry as well as ministry on the denominational staff. The announcement describes the new volume as \u201ca book of honest, hope-filled reflections on trusting God’s timing when relief, healing, or answers feel long overdue. The book addresses our frequent lament: \u2018Hurry up, God, you\u2019re late!\u2019 Our lives cry out in need, yet the Lord often seems tardy.\u201d The book \u201cexplores the relationship between time and faith, coaching readers to cooperate with God\u2019s \u2018march of days\u2019 rather than complain and rebel against it\u2014trusting that God is working nonetheless and assuring us of resurrection and new creation in Christ in His good time.\u201d Purchase through Brethren Press<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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