PERSONNEL NOTES
Chelsea Goss Skillen has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as the director of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). She is a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Studies, and of Regis University with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Chelsea will begin working from the General Offices in Elgin, IL on Oct. 24. She served two years as a BVS volunteer, one as the orientation assistant in the BVS office; she has also served through New Community Project, Camp Bethel, and a refugee program in Australia. Her recent work experience includes co-founding a small business to empower and educate authors to share their stories and helping to run a productions and publishing company. Chelsea has been a keynote speaker at several Church of the Brethren events. We welcome her to the district!
The Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren has called Andrew (Andy) Hamilton to serve as half-time district executive minister. He began July 23 with an installation at the district conference at Peak Creek Church of the Brethren in Laurel Springs, N.C. Hamilton received his credentialing in ministry from Northern Ohio District in 2002. He holds degrees from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark.; Ashland (Ohio) Theological Seminary; the University of St Andrews, Scotland; and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown, Pa. He has served congregations in Northern Ohio District and Atlantic Northeast District over the last 23 years. His service on the denominational level has included a term on the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board from 2008 to 2013, serving on the board’s executive committee and representing the board in travels to Haiti and to Palestine and Israel. In 2014-15, he was president of the Brethren Journal Association. For more than a decade, he has been an instructor of ACTS-level classes and an adjunct instructor in various seminaries.
Gene Hagenberger retired as Mid-Atlantic District executive minister on July 15, with compensation continuing through Nov. 30. He has served in leadership of the district for more than 13 years, beginning in the role on Aug. 1, 2009. During his tenure, Hagenberger served in various roles on the Council of District Executives related to gifts discernment and executive training and development. Most recently he has been the council’s representative to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee. Prior to his role as district executive, he pastored congregations in Virlina, Middle Pennsylvania, and Mid-Atlantic Districts, most recently at the Easton congregation. An interim team of Kim McDowell (who will coordinate the team and be the representative to CODE), Joe Detrick, Eddie Edmonds, and Gretchen Zience has been called to serve the district following Hagenberger’s retirement.
Sharon Flaten has joined the staff of Bethany Theological Seminary as assistant of Recruitment and Student Development in Nigeria. Flaten is based in Jos, Nigeria, where she works directly with students enrolled in the Certificate for Biblical Peacemaking in Nigeria. Flaten is a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College. She served as a member of Brethren Volunteer Service, and she first traveled to Nigeria in 2009. From March 2019 to July 2021, while enrolled at Bethany, she lived in Jos and served as liaison to current and future Bethany students. She will work closely with Joshua Sati, the academic/operations coordinator for the Nigeria program, to build a strong cohort of students for Bethany’s Nigeria programs.
Carrie Eikler has resigned her position as coordinator of the English-Language Ministry Training Programs for the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The academy is a partnership of the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry and Bethany Theological Seminary. Eikler joined the academy in 2014. She coordinated all aspects of the Training in Ministry (TRIM) and Education for Shared Ministry (EFSM) programs. In addition, she provided instruction for Directed Independent Study Units offered annually in conjunction with the pre-Annual Conference Minister’s Association meeting. Eikler will conclude her regular duties on July 29, following the TRIM/EFSM orientation, but will teach the Directed Independent Study that begins in July until its conclusion in September. In early August, she will begin as Admission Visit and Events coordinator at Goshen (Ind.) College.
The Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin has said saying goodbye to archival intern Allison Snyder, who spent two years in the job. A virtual farewell celebration was held on July 7. Ashley Scarr began on June 27 as the 2022-2023 BHLA intern. She is a graduate of San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and has most recently been administrative assistant for San Diego (Calif.) First Church of the Brethren.
Christian Churches Together USA (CCT) has appointed Monica Schaap Pierce as its new executive director and the first woman to be appointed the head of CCT. The Church of the Brethren is a member communion of CCT. Pierce is a member of the Reformed Church in America. She received her doctorate in theology from Fordham University in 2018. She has taught theology at Roman Catholic and Reformed universities and seminaries and is currently co-chair of the national Reformed-Catholic dialogue. She has served on CCT’s Steering Committee, as CCT’s treasurer, and then as interim executive director.
The Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren has called Andrew (Andy) Hamilton to serve as half-time district executive minister. He began July 23 with an installation at the district conference at Peak Creek Church of the Brethren in Laurel Springs, N.C. Hamilton received his credentialing in ministry from Northern Ohio District in 2002. He holds degrees from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark.; Ashland (Ohio) Theological Seminary; the University of St Andrews, Scotland; and Evangelical Theological Seminary in Myerstown, Pa. He has served congregations in Northern Ohio District and Atlantic Northeast District over the last 23 years. His service on the denominational level has included a term on the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board from 2008 to 2013, serving on the board’s executive committee and representing the board in travels to Haiti and to Palestine and Israel. In 2014-15, he was president of the Brethren Journal Association. For more than a decade, he has been an instructor of ACTS-level classes and an adjunct instructor in various seminaries.
Gene Hagenberger retired as Mid-Atlantic District executive minister on July 15, with compensation continuing through Nov. 30. He has served in leadership of the district for more than 13 years, beginning in the role on Aug. 1, 2009. During his tenure, Hagenberger served in various roles on the Council of District Executives related to gifts discernment and executive training and development. Most recently he has been the council’s representative to the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee. Prior to his role as district executive, he pastored congregations in Virlina, Middle Pennsylvania, and Mid-Atlantic Districts, most recently at the Easton congregation. An interim team of Kim McDowell (who will coordinate the team and be the representative to CODE), Joe Detrick, Eddie Edmonds, and Gretchen Zience has been called to serve the district following Hagenberger’s retirement.
Sharon Flaten has joined the staff of Bethany Theological Seminary as assistant of Recruitment and Student Development in Nigeria. Flaten is based in Jos, Nigeria, where she works directly with students enrolled in the Certificate for Biblical Peacemaking in Nigeria. Flaten is a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College. She served as a member of Brethren Volunteer Service, and she first traveled to Nigeria in 2009. From March 2019 to July 2021, while enrolled at Bethany, she lived in Jos and served as liaison to current and future Bethany students. She will work closely with Joshua Sati, the academic/operations coordinator for the Nigeria program, to build a strong cohort of students for Bethany’s Nigeria programs.
Carrie Eikler has resigned her position as coordinator of the English-Language Ministry Training Programs for the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. The academy is a partnership of the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry and Bethany Theological Seminary. Eikler joined the academy in 2014. She coordinated all aspects of the Training in Ministry (TRIM) and Education for Shared Ministry (EFSM) programs. In addition, she provided instruction for Directed Independent Study Units offered annually in conjunction with the pre-Annual Conference Minister’s Association meeting. Eikler will conclude her regular duties on July 29, following the TRIM/EFSM orientation, but will teach the Directed Independent Study that begins in July until its conclusion in September. In early August, she will begin as Admission Visit and Events coordinator at Goshen (Ind.) College.
The Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin has said saying goodbye to archival intern Allison Snyder, who spent two years in the job. A virtual farewell celebration was held on July 7. Ashley Scarr began on June 27 as the 2022-2023 BHLA intern. She is a graduate of San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and has most recently been administrative assistant for San Diego (Calif.) First Church of the Brethren.
Christian Churches Together USA (CCT) has appointed Monica Schaap Pierce as its new executive director and the first woman to be appointed the head of CCT. The Church of the Brethren is a member communion of CCT. Pierce is a member of the Reformed Church in America. She received her doctorate in theology from Fordham University in 2018. She has taught theology at Roman Catholic and Reformed universities and seminaries and is currently co-chair of the national Reformed-Catholic dialogue. She has served on CCT’s Steering Committee, as CCT’s treasurer, and then as interim executive director.
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