Annual Conference elects new leadership

Church of the Brethren Newsline

July 1, 2021

The delegate body of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference today voted to elect new leadership. The delegates voted on two ballots, one to fill open positions carried over from 2020–when the Conference was canceled because of the pandemic, and one to fill positions open in 2021.

All of those elected from the 2020 ballot, except for the moderator-elect of Annual Conference, will serve a term shorter by one year than the usual term for their office. Those elected from the 2021 ballot will serve full terms.

Later in the business schedule, the delegates will vote to affirm the board-elected and constituency-elected directors and trustees.

2020 ballot election results:

Annual Conference moderator-elect: Tim McElwee

Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee: Beth Jarrett

Mission and Ministry Board from Area 1: Josiah Ludwick

Mission and Ministry Board from Area 4: Kathy A. Mack

Bethany Theological Seminary trustee representing clergy: Chris Bowman

Bethany Theological Seminary trustee representing laity: Jacki Hartley

Brethren Benefit Trust board: David L. Shissler

On Earth Peace board: Ruth Aukerman

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Arthur Fourman

2021 ballot election results:

Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee: Nathan Hollenberg

Mission and Ministry Board from Area 3: Karen Shively Neff

Mission and Ministry Board from Area 5: Barbara Daté

Bethany Theological Seminary trustee representing laity: Drew Hart

Bethany Theological Seminary trustee representing the colleges: Steve Longenecker

Brethren Benefit Trust board: Sara Davis

On Earth Peace board: Alyssa Parker

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Robert S. McMinn

For more information about the Annual Conference go to www.brethren.org/ac2021.

Tim McElwee of Wolcottville, Ind., has been elected to serve as moderator-elect of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. He will serve as moderator-elect in 2022 and as moderator in 2023. Now retired, his leadership experience in the Church of the Brethren includes a number of roles at Manchester University over more than 30 years, including vice president for advancement, vice president for academic resources, and associate professor of peace studies. While an ordained minister he served as Manchester’s campus pastor and later as a chaplain at Timbercrest, a church-related retirement community. In the 1990s he was denominational staff in Washington, D.C. He also has worked as senior director of development for Heifer International.

He holds a master of divinity degree from Bethany Seminary and a master’s degree and doctorate from Purdue University.