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NEWS
\n1) Mission and Ministry Board approves new areas of global mission
\n2) CCT issues call to prayer for Congress in upcoming decisions affecting those in poverty
\n3) Christian Churches Together holds forum on \u2018the persecuted church\u2019
\n4) Haiti Medical Project has a new focus on pure water for Haiti<\/p>\n
UPCOMING EVENTS
\n5) Jubilee afternoon will be a breath of rejuvenation for Annual Conference
\n6) National Youth Conference 2018 theme is announced<\/p>\n
FEATURE
\n7) Please help them: Reflection of a Latino Brethren<\/p>\n
8) Brethren bits: Jobs, personnel, new dates for Nigeria workcamp, next webinars, new Brethren Disaster Ministries video, remembrance weekend at Brethren Service Center, Office of Public Witness blogpost on indigenous opposition to pipeline, and more<\/p>\n
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Quote of the week:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWith faith in action, Peter got out of the boat and moved toward Jesus…. Sometimes we find ourselves in a sinking ship…. Sometimes we find ourselves in a sinking church…. You have a legacy. Trust God. Lean toward his word and hope. Take the risk. Get out of the boat.\u201d<\/p>\n —\u00a0Mission and Ministry Board member Thomas M. Dowdy Jr., who pastors Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren in Los Angeles, Calif. He was preaching on Matthew 14:2-33, the story of Jesus walking on the water, for the closing worship service of the spring meetings of the Church of the Brethren denominational board.<\/em><\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n 1) Mission and Ministry Board approves new areas of global mission<\/strong><\/p>\n By Wendy McFadden<\/p>\n Fledgling Church of the Brethren mission projects in two areas of the world–Venezuela and the Great Lakes region of Africa–have been formally approved by the denomination\u2019s Mission and Ministry Board, at its March 3-8 meeting.<\/p>\n The Great Lakes project, which involves the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi, follows nine years of conversation and a number of visits by Global Mission and Service executive Jay Wittmeyer and other Brethren from the US. The Church of the Brethren has funded agricultural projects, disaster relief efforts, scholarship programs, and church construction in the region. The Brethren also have ponsored a tri-nation Batwa Pygmy conference and ministries in reconciliation and trauma healing.<\/p>\n The Venezuela project began with connections in the Dominican Republic. Since a first visit in 2015, there have been several subsequent meetings with American Hispanic leaders and with Alexandre Gon\u00e7alves from the Brazilian Church of the Brethren. At a meeting last fall, more than 200 individuals from 64 churches participated. The ministry has focused on teaching and preaching.<\/p>\n The board engaged in a first reading of \u201cVision for a Global Church of the Brethren,\u201d a mission philosophy paper that will return to the board next fall for approval. The paper does not create a new mission philosophy, Wittmeyer explained, but stands on previous Annual Conference statements. The document works at clarifying a global structure of \u201cautonomous Brethren groups in different areas of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Board members heard an update on sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., which is expected to be completed by April 30, and decided how to use the expected net proceeds of some $4 million. Up to $100,000 will be used for repairs and preservation of the historic Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. \u201cIt seems fitting,\u201d they said, to use funds \u201cderived from one hallowed property to support the needs of another property of significance to the Brethren.\u201d<\/p>\n Thirty percent of the proceeds will be used to create a Brethren Faith in Action Fund that will provide grants to congregational outreach projects. This \u201cnew thing\u201d carries on \u201cthe New Windsor legacy of living out the faith.\u201d The remaining proceeds from the sale will be invested to promote the long-term sustainability of denominational ministries. \u201cBy replenishing and adding to invested funds we help ensure the vitality of all of our ministries, including service ministries like those associated with New Windsor.\u201d<\/p>\n A board committee received input for its work on last year\u2019s Annual Conference query on \u201cLiving Together as Christ Calls.\u201d The board reviewed a proposed statement on a \u201cVision for Ecumenism for the 21st Century\u201d that is headed to Annual Conference delegates this summer, and approved the appointment of Terrell Barkley to a four-year term on the Brethren Historical Committee.<\/p>\n Finance staff reported that in 2016 congregational giving to core ministries increased for the first time since 2006, although individual giving was at its lowest total in 10 years. Combined giving to core ministries decreased 2.2 percent.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Wendy McFadden is the publisher of Brethren Press.<\/em><\/p>\n 2) CCT issues call to prayer for Congress in upcoming decisions affecting those in poverty<\/strong><\/p>\n CCT is an ecumenical organization made up of five \u201cfamilies\u201d of Christian denominations across the country. The Church of the Brethren is a member denomination. The full text of the document follows:<\/p>\n Call to Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n For more than eight years the communions and organizations in Christian Churches Together have been calling the attention of members of our churches and all Americans to the moral task of eradicating hunger and poverty in our land.<\/p>\n The scriptures remind us again and again of God\u2019s concern for the poor,\u00a0\u201cWhoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God\u201d–Proverbs 14:31.<\/em><\/p>\n During the last three weeks of March, the US Congress will make critical decisions that will affect the lives of millions of our brothers and sisters living in poverty. The right decisions could alleviate and pull people out of poverty; the wrong decisions will increase poverty and put the lives of hundreds of thousands at risk.<\/p>\n We are grateful for the vast array of ways our churches are already helping millions of struggling people. We want to build on these efforts, learn from each other, and collaborate more closely. But we can, we must, do more.<\/p>\n We also recognize and encourage leaders in community, economic and public life who seek justice for poor people in our land. But we can, we must, do more. Our goal must be the elimination of poverty in this land.<\/p>\n We affirm our unanimous conviction that, our service to the poor and our work for justice is \u201cat the center of Christian life and witness.\u201d And we commit to renew our prayers, and to understand and live in faithfulness to our Lord\u2019s teaching that when we serve \u201cthe least of these,\u201d we truly minister to our Lord Himself.<\/p>\n We are leaders of the Christian community, not an interest group. We have no partisan political agenda. Together we believe that our faith demands and the people of this land yearn for concrete proposals that transcend divisive political divisions and place the lives and well-being of people above anything else.<\/p>\n In the spirit of Jesus, we call our brothers and sisters to lift the US Congress and our President up in prayer, as they make decisions that will affect the lives of millions of our brothers and sisters living in poverty in our country and around the world.<\/p>\n Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski — Catholic Family<\/em> 3) Christian Churches Together holds forum on \u2018the persecuted church\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n By Jay Wittmeyer<\/p>\n More than 40 leaders from Christian Churches Together (CCT) joined a forum in Newark, N.J., on March 2-3 to discuss the ongoing persecution of Christians around the globe. I was invited to speak on behalf of the Church of the Brethren regarding the impact of Boko Haram on the Christian community in Nigeria.<\/p>\n The primary goals of the forum were to pray together for the persecuted churches and discuss best practices in meeting the needs of suffering churches. Dialogue centered on methods to raise awareness of the realities of anti-Christian violence and persecution, and mobilizing Christians in the US to act. Presentations also discussed theologies on the issue in order to build bridges of understanding.<\/p>\n The forum reported that each month 322 Christians are killed for their faith and 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed. Christians are regularly attacked and discriminated against in various forms around the globe. Open Doors, a Christian organization focused on persecution, shared its World Watch List of persecution and the scale it uses to categorize persecution in countries. The scale is scored on the various forms of violence Christians suffer, as well as the pressures put on them in their private and corporate lives. In its latest chart, the Democratic Republic of North Korea is rated as the worst country for Christians, Somalia is second, and Nigeria is twelfth.<\/p>\n The forum highlighted the need for governments and United Nation agencies to strongly enforce Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which states \u201cEveryone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.\u201d<\/p>\n Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Orthodox Church spoke about the persecution and killing of Christians in the Middle East today. \u201cChristians are suffering more than any other people on the face of the earth today,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are completely forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n The forum also noted that many Christians persecute each other, not respecting other branches of Christendom. Examples were given how Pentecostals and Catholics fight among themselves in Mexico.<\/p>\n In speaking about the situation in Nigeria, I shared about the abduction of girls from Chibok and Boko Haram\u2019s attempt to establish a strict Islamic Caliphate, driving out Christians from the north and destroying thousands of churches. I also shared that an equal number of Muslims have been killed in the violence. \u201cPersecution\u201d is such a divisive term, that it is difficult to work at interfaith dialogue and peace when we alienate others by using the term.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Jay Wittmeyer is executive director of Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren.<\/em><\/p>\n 4) Haiti Medical Project has a new focus on pure water for Haiti<\/strong><\/p>\n By Dale Minnich<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the past 18 months, the Church of the Brethren has been addressing the need for pure drinking water in our related communities in Haiti through the work of the Haiti Medical Project in cooperation with l\u2019Eglise des Freres Haitiens (Church of the Brethren in Haiti). The mobile medical clinics offered since late 2011 treat many children and adults suffering from dysentery and other serious infectious diseases that often result from untreated water.<\/p>\n There are very few examples of improved water in the 20 communities in which we currently work. Providing better water is an urgent priority often identified by community leaders in these locations.<\/p>\n In 2015 the Haiti Medical Project leaders expanded the project\u2019s community health initiatives by launching a community development team working with community leaders on a range of community issues–especially food sustainability, maternal care, and pure water. Those working directly with water projects include Vildor Archange, Jean Bily Telfort, and Adias Docteur.\u00a0 Global Food Initiative (GFI) manager Jeff Boshart offers helpful technical expertise.<\/p>\n Where pure water is a goal to be addressed, a basic way of working is to call out a water committee of community leaders. This group works closely with our staff to assess the need, provide local resources, and lead out in selecting a method to address the need. Strong local leadership and ownership is crucial to a successful project.<\/p>\n The focus of all our early water projects is to provide an excellent source of water for an important sector of the community rather than developing individual household systems. Our goal is to provide pure, life-giving water to as many people as possible.<\/p>\n In many cases the most inexpensive way of providing pure water is to harvest rain water from nearby roof tops, move it via guttering and spouting to a cement cistern, clean and purify the water through a sand bio-filter system, and add moderate chlorination as indicated by water testing. We are benefitting greatly from technical assistance in building and maintaining the sand bio-filter systems from faculty and graduate students from the University of Maryland and the University of the District of Colombia. These systems utilize locally available sand of various grades, are simple for community leaders to learn to maintain, and are well received by the community. Since Haiti has dry seasons and rainy seasons, it is important to have a cistern large enough to store enough water to serve throughout the dry season.<\/p>\n In some cases we contract to have a well drilled. A well can be used in conjunction with a cistern or other storage tank to cover the frequent times when electric power is not available to run a pump. It also can use sand bio-filters for purification in many cases. However, in a number of the areas near the coast, well water tends to have a salty taste that makes it much less desirable for human use. In cases where we work with an existing well that has this problem, the best solution is a reverse osmosis purification system–much more expensive than a sand bio-filter–to eliminate the salinity.<\/p>\n We recently discovered a resource near the Haitian church\u2019s ministry center in Croix des Bouquets: a water school run by a service agency from the Netherlands. The project\u2019s entire community development staff has been enrolled in a water purification course that includes learning to use reverse osmosis. We also have discovered a Brethren technician in Mexico who has extensive experience to advise us where reverse osmosis is needed. Learning and teaching the appropriate technology is highly important.<\/p>\n In 2015 and 2016 the Haiti Medical Project partnered with local communities to design and install successful pure water projects in St. Louis du Nord, Acajou, La Tortue, Raymonsaint, Morne Boulage, and at the Croix des Bouquets guest house. All of these use the sand bio-filter system. The Haiti Medical Project invested a total of $45,218 in these six projects in addition to the cost of materials, labor, and some financial investment contributed by the communities served.<\/p>\n New projects are in view for 2017-18, as funds become available. We hope to more than double the pure water systems during the next two years. While community leadership development and discernment will be cultivated before any project is approved, the following list of our present assessment of the needs is a focus for water development planned for 2017 and 2018:<\/p>\n — Cap Haitian and Gonaives: Improvement of existing wells through reverse osmosis<\/p>\n — Raymonsaint: Bio-filter system for a community where a new cistern was constructed in 2016<\/p>\n — Gran Bwa: Capture spring water, provide cistern, sand bio filter, and distribution system<\/p>\n — La Tortue: Purify water in an existing pond<\/p>\n — Cap Haitian, Catienne, Croix des Bouquets, Jerusalem, La Ferriere, Perisse, Savanette: Capture rain water from rooftops, construct cisterns and provide sand bio-filter systems There are many ways congregations and individuals can get involved in supporting pure water in Haiti. For example, West Goshen (Ind.) Church of the Brethren sponsored the full cost of a well project. The children of Chiques Church of the Brethren near Manheim, Pa., contributed their regular Sunday school offerings to support water projects, amounting to $3,200 to date.<\/p>\n Congregations and individuals can support the full or partial cost of a current project as they choose. Contact Jeff Boshart at\u00a0Jboshart@brethren.org<\/a>\u00a0or Dale Minnich at\u00a0dale@minnichnet.org<\/a>\u00a0to discuss how to be a part of this important enterprise. Find out more about the Haiti Medical Project at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/haiti-medical-project<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Dale Minnich is a volunteer consultant for interpretation for the Haiti Medical Project, and recently concluded a term of service as interim general secretary of the Church of the Brethren.<\/em><\/p>\n UPCOMING EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n 5) Jubilee afternoon will be a breath of rejuvenation for Annual Conference<\/strong><\/p>\n By Carol Scheppard, Annual Conference moderator<\/p>\n For a second year in a row the 2017 Annual Conference schedule will include a Jubilee break from business on Friday afternoon. To understand how Jubilee came to be a part of Annual Conference, it is helpful to look at its origins in scripture.<\/p>\n Leviticus 25:10-12: \u201cAnd you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family. That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.\u201d<\/p>\n The practice of jubilee established in Leviticus 25 dealt specifically with Israelites who had become so poor that they had to give up their land and sell themselves into slavery to survive. The law protected those so disadvantaged by allowing them to return to their land and their families in the jubilee year. Every 50 years Hebrew slaves were freed, the people rested from their farming labor, and all debts were forgiven.<\/p>\n The concept of a Jubilee year resonated powerfully in the Christian tradition. Pope Boniface VIII instituted the first well-documented Jubilee celebration in 1300, understanding it as a year of forgiveness and freedom from punishment for sin. In recent years it has been seen more generally as a reminder of God\u2019s blessing and mercy, and a time for the community to return to right relationship with God and with one another.<\/p>\n It was in that spirit of celebrating God\u2019s blessing and mercy and of returning to right relationship with God and with each other that Annual Conference instituted its first Jubilee afternoon last year in Greensboro. The plan rose in response to concerns voiced by brothers and sisters from across the denomination. They worried that the heavy focus on contentious issues during business sessions would eventually erode the effectiveness of Annual Conference in meeting its own mission statement: \u201cThe Church of the Brethren Annual Conference exists to unite, strengthen and equip the Church of the Brethren to follow Jesus.\u201d When brothers and sisters become locked in on-going rancorous debate, Annual Conference struggles to realize its vision to glorify God, to humbly celebrate both our oneness and our diversity in the Body, and to build one another up in worship, service and community. Annual Conference strives to proclaim the Lordship of Christ and in all things to unite, strengthen and equip the Body for doing the Lord\u2019s work.<\/p>\n So, acknowledging that the season had come to rest for a period from the work of Conference business, the Program and Arrangements Committee set aside a time Friday afternoon in Greensboro to celebrate God\u2019s abundance in our midst, to restore our fellowship, and to equip ourselves for the work Christ sets before us. The response from the gathered body, both during and following Annual Conference 2016, was overwhelmingly positive. The music, the fellowship, the equipping workshops, the service projects, the special programming, and the afternoon of rest allowed for a time of essential bonding and being that the busy Annual Conference agendas had threatened to choke out in the past.<\/p>\n So, we celebrate the success of last year\u2019s Jubilee afternoon, and look forward to its return in our schedule in Grand Rapids. Once again we will take a break from business on Friday afternoon to enjoy a special period of being the Body of Christ together.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Jubilee afternoon will include, among other things, special musical performances by Ken Medema and Jonathan Emmons; opportunities to visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park (with a special exhibit by the famed artist Ai Weiwei), and the Grand Rapids Art Museum; a new set of equipping workshops; special programming in the exhibit hall; and service projects benefitting greater Grand Rapids.<\/p>\n We hope that this year\u2019s Jubilee will again bring rest from our labors and new opportunities to unite, strengthen and equip the Body of Christ.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Carol A. Scheppard is serving as moderator of the 2017 Annual Conference. Find out more about the Conference and register to attend at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/ac<\/a>\u00a0.<\/em><\/p>\n 6) National Youth Conference 2018 theme is announced<\/strong><\/p>\n By Becky Ullom Naugle<\/p>\n Participants in National Youth Conference (NYC) 2018 will focus on the theme \u201cBound Together: Clothed in Christ.\u201d The scriptural theme is from Colossians 3:12-15: \u201cAs God\u2019s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2017-18 National Youth Cabinet gathered at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., on Feb. 10-12 to begin planning for NYC 2018. \u201cGod led us to this theme because we felt the Holy Spirit telling us that we need more unity in the youth of our denomination,\u201d said Hannah Buck, cabinet member. \u201cI am so excited for youth to explore this theme during the week of NYC and be able to really dissect what it means to clothe ourselves with these bold, dynamic words and actions in our daily lives,\u201d said Kelsey Murray, NYC coordinator.<\/p>\n NYC will take place July 21-26, 2018, in Fort Collins, Colo. The event is for youth who have completed ninth grade through one year of college at the time of NYC (or are age equivalent to this range) and their advisors. Programming, lodging, and meals are included in the registration fee. Registration will be online and will open in January 2018. Visit\u00a0www.brethren.org\/nyc<\/a>\u00a0for more information, or be in touch with the Youth\/Young Adult Ministry office at 800-323-8039 ext. 485.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Becky Ullom Naugle is director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Church of the Brethren.<\/em><\/p>\n FEATURE<\/strong><\/p>\n 7) Please help them: Reflection of a Latino Brethren<\/strong><\/p>\n By Daniel D\u2019Oleo<\/p>\n My heart feels for those who are facing the uncertainty of their current immigration status. Moreover, I am writing from the bottom of my heart to present a plea for my brothers and sisters who at this time are concerned with their future and the future of their children. My intention here is to beseech my own denomination to intentionally reach out and help the Latino community in United States.<\/p>\n The Church of the Brethren is known for the size of its heart in regards to social issues, humanitarian concern, and humane relief. It is in our DNA to respond to injustice, be concerned with people in need, and help those without a voice. Since we have the heart for those who are suffering, it will come naturally that we as a church respond to the current situation with the love of Christ to the many families affected by deportations. It seems to me that we have been silenced to this issue, thus losing the opportunity to preach the gospel of love in the language we know best: helping others in need.<\/p>\n We have helped people in other countries during hurricanes, tsunamis, and arson, yet it seems to be that we have failed to see and respond to needs of the Latinos in our own back yard. For instance, \u201cThe Obama administration deported 414,481 unauthorized immigrants in fiscal year 2014…. [also] A total 2.4 million were deported under the administration from fiscal 2009 to 2014, including a record 435,000 in 2013,\u201d according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the data.<\/p>\n The question is this: are we as a church ready to see this reality not as a political issue, but as an opportunity to minister to those who are in need? Are we ready to be intentional in reaching out to the largest minority group in this country? Are we ready to establish an office, focused to deal with the social and spiritual issues of the Latino community? Could our congregations make a meaningful presence in our communities by providing a welcoming space? Can our congregations become a part of a social\/spiritual movement in which the gospel of Christ is taught with a serving love that breaks all language barriers?<\/p>\n Here is an example of what I have been experiencing: A couple of weeks ago I picked up six of the kids who normally come to our Wednesday night program. The difference this time was that the conversation among them became a bit intense due to the current immigration news we have been experiencing. I noticed that the conversation among them became more and more political as they discuss the future of their parents, if they were to be deported.<\/p>\n That is when a nine-year-old boy with a Honduran undocumented mother said to me, \u201cPastor, my mother told me that if she was deported I should go and live with you. Can we?\u201d At the exact moment, his little sister also asked the same question: \u201cPastor, will you let us stay with you? \u201cMy immediate response was, \u201cBut of course!\u201d<\/p>\n But as the days passed I began to reflect on what had happened. I pondered; what is the true role of the church toward those with whom we minister? Where do we draw the line? Are we only interested in their eternal future or are we also concern for the struggles they are experiencing?<\/p>\n As an immigrant myself, having had four different visas and having to wait almost 25 years in this country before becoming a United States citizen, my heart feels for those who may never have that privilege–no matter how long they wait. I can honestly say that my denomination played an important part in helping me get the legal documents needed to establish my life and make my future in this country. I am not only an immigrant, I am also the product of what a loving church can do for those who struggle with a broken immigration system.<\/p>\n After more than 20 years of being a Latino pastor in this country, I see the need for our denomination to do more. We can be united in a nation-wide program to alleviate members of our Latino congregations in this country. We can create venues in which we support Latino immigrant families left behind without their bread winners. We can redirect money invested in failing programs to nurture social outreach program sponsored by our Latino congregations. My plea is for those whom we are pastoring and who are afraid of even driving to church or being in large gatherings. So, let us:<\/p>\n a. Find ways to provide free immigration consultation for Latino immigrants in our communities.<\/p>\n b. Partner with Latino Church of the Brethren congregations in their efforts responding to Latino social needs.<\/p>\n c. Open the doors of our congregations for Latino community events such as quincea\u00f1eras, baby showers, birthday parties, etc. (This will extend our love and show that we are concerned more about people than our buildings).<\/p>\n d. Challenge the members of our congregations to know and be friends with the Latinos in their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n e. Find volunteers in our congregations who would teach English classes, tutor, or even provide interpretation for Spanish speakers.<\/p>\n f. Do a congregational \u201cLatino small business support day\u201d: gather 20 to 40 people from a congregation and go to a Latino grocery store and purchase something all at the same time.<\/p>\n g. Adopt a family. Find out how possible it would be for a congregation to adopt and support a single Latino mother. Some mothers are now the sole bread winners for their families, because their husbands have been deported and they are left with the children.<\/p>\n I believe our denomination has a huge potential to minister to the immediate needs of the Latino community in this country. We must be sensitive to what is happening around us and in our congregations. Please listen to the plea of a Latino Brethren. Let us help our brother and sisters.<\/p>\n I am a Latino Brethren and this is my reflection!<\/p>\n —\u00a0Daniel D’Oleo is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and a leader and pastor in the Renacer movement of Latino congregations.<\/em><\/p>\n 8) Brethren bits<\/strong><\/p>\n —\u00a0The Church of the Brethren is seeking candidates for the position of director of Ministry.<\/strong>\u00a0This position, within the office of the general secretary, reports directly to the general secretary. Responsibilities include directing the program and ministry of the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry, including working collaboratively with the Council of District Executives, and the academic dean of Bethany Theological Seminary in shared oversight of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. Additional responsibilities include discerning the leadership needs of the denomination and developing new programs to meet the needs while consulting with partners in ministry; overseeing processes for the calling, training, credentialing, placing, and nurturing of leaders, especially pastors; overseeing the Office of Ministry administration including supervision of the program assistant, and serving as steward of ministry documentation; serving as consultant and direct placement for district ministries; collaborating with Global Mission and Service in establishing guidelines for ministerial credentialing in new mission initiatives; collaborating with Congregational Life Ministries; and serving on various programs, committees, and groups. Requirements include grounding in Church of the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; ability to articulate and operate out of the vision of the Church of the Brethren; 15 years of pastoral ministry including administration; expertise and skills in group dynamics, including networking with diverse groups of people; knowledge and experience in budget development and management. A master of divinity degree or equivalent is required. This position is based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Applications are being received, with interviews beginning immediately and continuing through April 17. To apply request the application form and complete job description, submit a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and letter of application, and request three letters of reference to be sent to Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 367;\u00a0COBApply@brethren.org<\/a>\u00a0. The Church of the Brethren is an Equal Opportunity Employer.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) is seeking candidates for the position of network administrator,<\/strong>\u00a0to develop and maintain a working knowledge of all infrastructure systems to provide server, database, and network leadership; PC support; and Internet security. This person will be proactive in assisting BBT staff leverage technology for efficiency and effectiveness. This is a full-time, exempt position based in Elgin, Ill., for a not-for-profit, faith-based organization that provides employer-based pension, insurance, and asset management services for 5,000 individuals and client organizations nationwide. The ideal candidate will have an undergraduate degree in information technology or equivalent work experience in the information technology field. This position requires a high level of technical knowledge and aptitude, intense attention to detail, and proficiency with computer systems and applications. The candidate must be able to interact effectively with colleagues and customers to provide information in response to technical help-desk inquiries. For a detailed job description and requirements, contact Diane Parrott at\u00a0dparrott@cobbt.org<\/a>. For more information about Brethren Benefit Trust, visit\u00a0www.cobbt.org<\/a>\u00a0. Applications are due by March 27.<\/p>\n —\u00a0The Cedars is accepting resumes for the position of Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.<\/strong>\u00a0The Cedars is a Church of the Brethren-related retirement community in McPherson, Kan., and is a member of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes. Candidates must have a valid Kansas state administrator license and have previous experience in a Continuous Care Retirement Community. Apply by e-mailing a resume to\u00a0rkeasling@thecedars.org<\/a>\u00a0. For more information go to\u00a0www.thecedars.org<\/a>\u00a0. The Cedars is an Equal Opportunity Employer.<\/p>\n —\u00a0The National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) is hiring a new Members Services manager<\/strong>based out of an Arlington, Va., office. Follow this link for more information:\u00a0www.nvoad.org\/job\/member-services-manager<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0German Gongora has been promoted<\/strong>\u00a0to the position of director of Operations for Information Technology for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) effective March 27. He will be in charge of the administration of the IT department, provide oversight to the new network administrator, and continue to serve as program developer for BBT. He was first hired by BBT on Sept. 19, 2011, as a programmer analyst and technology support specialist. He holds a master\u2019s degree in Business Administration from Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia, and a bachelor\u2019s degree in Computer Science from Universidad Catolica de Colombia in Bogota; has taught Spanish at Berlitz Chicago; and has taught computer courses in Miami and Colombia.<\/p>\n —\u00a0A date change has been announced for the next Nigeria workcamp.<\/strong>\u00a0The workcamp will now be held from May 12-28. This change was announced by leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) after the national airport in Abuja was closed from March 8 to April 30, and most airlines have not accepted an alternative route into the Kaduna airport. The EYN leadership reported to the Global Mission and Service office that \u201cwe are not sure of security movement from Kaduna to Abuja.\u201d In addition, the date that had been selected did not consider the Easter period from April 16-18.<\/p>\n —\u00a0New webinars have been announced by Congregational Life Ministries:<\/strong> —\u00a0Brethren Disaster Ministries is sharing a new video<\/strong>\u00a0about its work and ministries. The piece has been posted to YouTube. Find it at\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/ieLACrpRL_g<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0The Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., is hosting a weekend event<\/strong>\u00a0for people who feel a special connection with the center and its ministries to gather to remember and celebrate. A sale of the \u201cupper campus\u201d of the center is expected in the next few weeks, with the \u201clower campus\u201d continuing as the Brethren Service Center housing the offices of Brethren Disaster Ministries and warehouses of Material Resources program. Find a \u201cBaltimore Sun\u201d article opn the remembrance weekend at\u00a0www.baltimoresun.com\/news\/maryland\/carroll<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0\u201cPray for an upcoming assembly of Igreja da Irmandade-Brasil,<\/strong>\u00a0the Church of the Brethren in Brazil,\u201d said this week\u2019s prayer request from Global Mission and Service. Some 30 members of the Brazilian church will gather in the city of Campinas to elect the church\u2019s national board.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Quoting from Leviticus 25:23, \u201cThe land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently,<\/strong>\u00a0for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me,\u201d a new blogpost from the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness expresses support for indigenous people opposing the Dakota access pipeline. The group \u201cbraved the sleet and 30 degree weather in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 10th to once again take a stand for Standing Rock,\u201d said the blogpost, in part. \u201cYears of work by water protectors was written away with the swipe of a pen on January 24th, when an order was presented to begin construction of the Dakota accesses pipeline, a 1,100-mile oil pipeline and Keystone XL pipeline through Indigenous land.\u201d This year\u2019s Christian Citizenship Seminar will also connect with the struggles of indigenous people. See\u00a0https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/blog\/2017\/today-we-pray-tomorrow-we-act-still-standing-for-standing-rock<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0\u201cAre you a college student, a seminary student, a graduate school student, or a high school student?<\/strong>\u00a0Or do you know somebody who is? Enter the Bethany Theological Seminary Peace Essay Contest!\u201d said an invitation. The theme is \u201cWhere Do You See Peace?\u201d The deadline to submit essays is March 27. The contest offers a first-place prize of $2,000, a second-place prize of $1,000, and a third-place prize of $500. Learn more about the theme, essay guidelines, and details at\u00a0https:\/\/bethanyseminary.edu\/2017-peace-essay-contest-announced<\/a>\u00a0. Submit essays at\u00a0https:\/\/bethanyseminary.edu\/events-resources\/special-events-at-bethany\/2017-peace-essay-contest\/bethany-peace-essay-contest-submission<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Bethany Theological Seminary was one of the sponsors<\/strong>\u00a0of \u201cTheopoetics: A Transdisciplinary Conference with Workshops and Dialogue\u201d held at The Hive: A Center for Contemplation, Art, and Action in Cincinnati, Ohio. To learn more about the conference go to\u00a0http:\/\/theopoeticsconference.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n —\u00a0In more news from Bethany, the seminary is holding \u201cAn Evening of Inspiration with Shawn Kirchner\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0in Nicarry Chapel on Friday, March 31, from 7-8:30 p.m. \u201cJoin Shawn Kirchner and the Bethany Theological Seminary community for a group sing of your favorite hymns and songs, along with an exploration of ancient and contemporary gems in the Church of the Brethren hymnal. Return home humming, with new ideas and materials to make your worship vibrant,\u201d said an announcement. Hymnals will be provided, but guests are invited to bring their own if they choose. Kirchner, who is a member of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, works as a professional musician and composer, and has led music at all levels of the Church of the Brethren denomination including at last year\u2019s Annual Conference.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Warrensburg (Mo.) Church of the Brethren is holding a retirement reception for pastor Ethmer Erisman,<\/strong>\u00a0including a celebration of his 74 years of ministry. The reception is Saturday, March 18, from 2-4 p.m., with a special recognition planned for 2:45 p.m. An article in the \u201cDaily Star Journal\u201d reports that Erisman began his ministry in 1942 at Shoal Creek Church of the Brethren in Fairview, Mo.; was ordained in 1944; served churches in Johnson County, Mo., including Kingsville, Leeton, and Warrensburg, until 2016; and spent the last 14 years at the Warrensburg Church participating in a team ministry. For more information contact pastor Becky Crouse at 660-422-8165. Find the newspaper article at\u00a0www.dailystarjournal.com\/people\/community\/pastor-retires-after-years-of-ministry\/article_ca67c973-4709-51e2-addb-93275cca9554.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n —\u00a0The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center is holding a hymn sing,<\/strong>\u00a0“How Can We Keep From Singing,” featuring songs of hope and peace, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 19, at Harrisonburg (Va.) First Church of the Brethren. Mennonite and Brethren song leaders and pastors will lead the program as people from different faith traditions come together to celebrate in unity the beliefs we hold in common. An offering will support the ministry of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center.<\/p>\n — \u201cFinding Creative Ways to Work at Race Relations\u201d is the theme for a series of area clergy meetings in Northern Ohio District this spring, presented by James and Sandra Washington from \u201cTIME-OUT\u201d Ministries. James Washington Sr. is serving as an interim pastor in the district. The Washingtons co-founded \u201cTIME-OUT\u201d Ministries (Today\u2019s Interaction May Encourage Our Unity Tomorrow) as a faith-built program to develop relationships and goals to grow in the Lord, and are also members of \u201cBest Friends,\u201d a multicultural singing group that has performed at Church of the Brethren intercultural events. \u201cWe live in a world saturated with racism–much of it below the surface of our awareness,\u201d said an invitation from the district. \u201cCome as we learn about what the church can and should bring to race relations within our communities.\u201d Ministers may earn .2 continuing education credit. Meetings are held at various locations throughout the district, March 18 through March 29. For more information contact Northern Ohio District Church of the Brethren, 419-281-3058.<\/p>\n —\u00a0Bridgewater (Va.) Retirement Community will present a workshop for pastors,<\/strong>\u00a0“How to Become a Dementia-Friendly Faith Community,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, in the Houff Community Center. A box lunch will be provided. The speaker, Annie Mars, is family services director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Virginia. Ministers may earn .2 continuing education units. To register, contact Marilyn Miller at 540-828-2652 or\u00a0mmiller@brcliving.org<\/a>\u00a0. The deadline to register is April 3.<\/p>\n —\u00a0\u201cBread for the World is alarmed<\/strong>\u00a0by today\u2019s release of the Trump administration\u2019s \u2018skinny\u2019 budget for fiscal year 2018, which targets international and domestic programs that serve poor and hungry people,\u201d said a Bread for the World release this week. \u201cIf passed, this budget would make it nearly impossible to end hunger and extreme poverty. The unprecedented spending cuts President Trump is proposing to the State Department and other international programs would roll back the tremendous progress we have made against hunger and poverty.\u201d The release notes that the proposed budget would make a 31 percent cut to the State Department and USAID, which fund many of the United States\u2019 foreign aid and development assistance programs; would eliminate the Africa Development Fund and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program, which in 2015 benefited 2.9 million children; includes significant cuts to programs that serve poor and hungry Americans, such as the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program that supports before-school and after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth. Bread for the World\u2019s 2017 \u201cOffering of Letters: Doing Our Part to End Hunger\u201d initiative asks Congress to pass a budget that puts us on track to end hunger by 2030. Bread for the World (www.bread.org<\/a>) is a collective Christian voice urging the nation\u2019s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.<\/p>\n —\u00a0A United Nations peace emphasis<\/strong>\u00a0is being publicized by Doris Abdullah, the Church of the Brethren UN representative. Japan is the collaborating member state this year, she reports. This is part of the UN\u2019s annual agenda theme, with a series of events entitled, \u201cPeace is …\u201d The purpose of these events \u201cis for Japan and other member states to show their support to the three pillars of the UN agenda (Peace and Security, Development, and Human Rights) in the form of interactive cultural events. This year\u2019s theme is peace, which can be expressed in diverse ways. Peace is family, water, and education, just to name a few examples. The Japan Mission, along with the DPI and other Member States, will decide on a topic to be highlighted each month.\u201d<\/p>\n —\u00a0A video clip of Slim Whitman singing at the 1982 Annual Conference<\/strong>\u00a0of the Church of the Brethren recently was rediscovered by Brethren videographer David Sollenberger, who has posted it to the denomination\u2019s YouTube channel. \u201cI think it\u2019s the only known video version of that performance,\u201d Sollenberger reported to Newsline. \u201cI checked with Bill Kostlevy in the Brethren Historical Library and Archives, and he can\u2019t find any other footage of that appearance, only an audio copy. No one knows who shot the footage,\u201d he added. The videotape had been in a district library for 35 years until all the VHS tapes were discarded as obsolete, and Sollenberger acquired it. Country singer Slim Whitman was a longtime member and deacon emeritus at Jacksonville (Fla.) Church of the Brethren, ande was the subject of the 1982 Brethren Press book \u201cMr. Songman,\u201d written by Kenneth L. Gibble. He died on June 19, 2013; find the Newsline remembrance at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/news\/2013\/remembering-slim-whitman-the.html<\/a>\u00a0. View the video clip of his Annual Conference performance at\u00a0www.youtube.com\/edit?o=U&video_id=AZXN1edX2lE<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n **********![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/mission-and-ministry-board-1.jpg\")
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Citing scripture reminding of God\u2019s concern for the poor, Christian Churches Together (CCT) has issued a call to prayer for the US Congress, noting that \u201cduring the last three weeks of March, the US Congress will make critical decisions that will affect the lives of millions of our brothers and sisters living in poverty. The right decisions could alleviate and pull people out of poverty; the wrong decisions will increase poverty and put the lives of hundreds of thousands at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nRev. Gary Walter — Evangelical\/Pentecostal Family<\/em>
\nArchbishop Vicken Aykazian — Orthodox Family<\/em>
\nRev. Samuel C. Tolbert, Jr. — Historic Black Family<\/em>
\nRev. David Guthrie — Historic Protestant Family<\/em>
\nRev. Carlos L. Malav\u00e9 — Executive Director CCT<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/at-the-christian-churches.jpg\")
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\nThe preliminary estimate for the projected community pure water systems for 2017-18 is $148,000. How much can be done will be determined by the amount of special gifts for this purpose.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/hymn-singing-was-one-jubilee-workshop.jpg\")
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The result of the presidential election and the politics in regards to immigration issues has impacted America in so many ways. Being a Latino pastor in a country where the Latino population reaches close to 60 million people gives me the opportunity to not only share the gospel in Spanish, but also to be concerned with the issues that affect my community.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/10\/hands-300x199.jpg\")
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMental Health: Developing Inclusive Communities, Promoting Wellbeing\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0will be presented by Jo Fitzsimmons on Wed., March 22. This event will address how to safely support children, young people, adults, and whole families in our faith communities in regard to mental
\nhealth issues, and related questions. Fitzsimmons is a youth and community worker and counselor.
\n\u201cWhat Have the Children Done for Us?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0will be presented by Sara Barron on Thurs., April 20. This event explores how to grow intergenerational communities that enable people of all ages to flourish. Barron is a Baptist minister and a development worker for CURBS, which resources, trains, and supports children\u2019s workers in urban and housing development areas.
\nWebinars are held at 2:30-3:30 p.m. (Eastern time). To connect go to\u00a0www.brethren.org\/webcasts<\/a>\u00a0. Ministers may receive .1 continuing education credit for attending a live event. For more information contact\u00a0sdueck@brethren.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n
\nContributors to this issue of Newsline include Doris Abdullah, Brian Bultman, Jeff Carter, Jenn Dorsch, Stan Dueck, Chris Ford, Kendra Harbeck, Kris Hawk, Donna March, Ralph McFadden, Wendy McFadden, Nancy Miner, Becky Ullom Naugle, Diane Parrott, David Sollenberger, David Steele, Jenny Williams, Jay Wittmeyer, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at\u00a0cobnews@brethren.org<\/a>\u00a0. Newsline appears every week, with special issues as needed. Stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. The next regularly scheduled issue is set for March 24.<\/em><\/p>\n