The Reflector - October 2022

The Village ILWIDIot

By Walt Wiltschek

“Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.” –Hebrews 10:25, CEB

From their very beginnings, the Brethren have found value in community. Faith was not just something to be practiced internally, but also to be lived out as part of a group of believers.

Brethren worshiped together, studied Scripture together, and tried to discern God’s will for their movement—together. It provided support and encouragement, especially in challenging times, but it also provided broader perspectives and understandings and helped to curb the excesses that can come when faith becomes too individualized and all about us.

It’s a model that appears through much of the New Testament: Jesus and his disciples, the early church that “lived in a wonderful harmony” and shared everything (Acts 2:44, The Message), Paul and his traveling companions and the church communities they began, councils at Jerusalem and Antioch, and elsewhere.

As Brethren diligently sought to live out that model, they developed similar practices of mutuality and sharing in their own corporate life. As Ken Morse eloquently wrote in the hymn “Strangers No More,” when we are part of the body of Christ, we are “strangers no more, but members of one family … strangers no more, we’re sisters and we’re brothers now.”

That understanding is part of the reason the love feast—which many congregations recently celebrated—is so central to Brethren theology, as we come around the table together. And it’s a key reason that the “Big Meeting” of Annual Conference, as well as the other places we gather in districts and larger circles, has been woven into the fabric of denominational life.

The COVID-19 pandemic, of course, disrupted those rhythms in all sorts of ways, forcing many congregations to forego their gatherings for a time or find creative ways to do them. Annual Conference was cancelled in 2020 and was held virtually in 2021; the same was true with the district conference here. Many have felt a sense of loss around all of that.

Zoom and other technological platforms have helped to bridge those gaps in many cases, and I’m grateful for those options and the possibilities they provide. But it’s not the same as being together in the same space. As one of my former supervisors used to say, “I want to be able to eyeball them.” There’s value in being able to see one another face-to-face.

While the pandemic is not fully behind us, its effects and immediacy have waned significantly, and so we are looking forward to having district conference together in Peoria next month, for the first time in three years. A virtual option will still be available for those who need it, but many of the delegates and non-delegates will be there in person. I’m looking forward to seeing many of those eyeballs, and I hope some of you are, too.

Blessings to each of you in Illinois and Wisconsin as we go forward, together, as the body of Christ. 

District executive schedule: In addition to regular meetings, Walt will be leading worship at Naperville Oct. 9, preaching/sharing at Franklin Grove Oct. 16, helping with the district campfire at Camp Emmaus Oct. 22, preaching at Dixon Oct. 23, doing an online Council of District Executives meeting Oct. 25, leading an installation and licensing service at Dutchtown (Milledgeville) Oct. 30, and taking part in district conference and Leadership Team meetings in Peoria Nov. 4-5.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

Ministry Leadership and Development Team, Wed., Oct. 19, 6 p.m.

District Campfire at Camp Emmaus, Sat., Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.

“21st Century Youth and Young Adult Ministry” pre-conference CEU event with Becky Ullom Naugle, Peoria Church of the Brethren, Fri., Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference at Peoria Church of the Brethren, Fri.-Sat., Nov. 4-5 (virtual options available)

Leadership Team, following district conference in Peoria, Sat., Nov. 5

Church Revitalization and Development Team, Sat., Nov. 19, 9 a.m.

[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]

IN OUR PRAYERS

A district prayer calendar has been created for your use in praying for our district and related programs through the years. We invite you to include the following in your prayers in coming weeks:

Week of Oct. 10: Pray for our denominational staff who work at the Church of the Brethren offices in Elgin and elsewhere around the country. Be in prayer for general secretary Dave Steele and Eder Financial president Nevin Dulabaum, and pray for the Mission & Ministry Board and Eder board members who help set goals and make decisions to guide the staff’s work.

Week of Oct. 17: Pray for the Walnut Grove congregation this week, and for their ministry around Parkersburg, Albion, and beyond.

Week of Oct. 24: Pray for the Cherry Grove congregation this week, and for their ministry in Lanark, Shannon, and beyond.

Week of Oct. 31: Be in prayer for the Illinois/Wisconsin District conference as delegates and others meet in Peoria this weekend, that they would hear the Spirit as they make decisions. Pray particularly for moderator Harold Rose (Canton) as he leads the business sessions and for moderator-elect Phyllis Batterton (Woodland).

Week of Nov. 7: Pray for the Highland Avenue congregation this week, and for their ministry in the city of Elgin and beyond.

Week of Nov. 14: Pray for the Naperville congregation this week, and for their ministry in their community and around DuPage County.

MINISTRY NEWS

October is Clergy Appreciation Month! If you haven’t already, be sure to take time this month to say thanks to the pastors and chaplains in your midst, and perhaps do something special for them in appreciation for all that they do through the year.

Terri Monnin began as pastor of the Milledgeville (Dutchtown) Church of the Brethren on Oct. 3, with her first Sunday in the pulpit Oct. 9. District executive Walt Wiltschek will do an installation service for her on Oct. 30, as well as making official her licensing in the denomination. Terri has found an apartment in Sterling. She and her husband, Joe, currently live in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, and will be working on the transition in the coming year. Terri is a seminary graduate but is new to the Church of the Brethren. Welcome, Terri!

Rickey Ferguson completed his service as pastor of the La Place congregation on Sept. 30.

Benjamin Reynolds has announced his resignation as transitional pastor at Chicago First effective Dec. 31.

The Dixon congregation has posted its profile as it begins a pastoral search. It is a half-time position.

Cherry Grove, Virden, and La Place also have current vacancies and are various stages of the search process.

CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

After a hiatus of more than two years forced by the pandemic,      (Elgin, Ill.) resumed staging its popular coffeehouses, beginning with an unorthodox evening picnic on the lawn of the Church of the Brethren General Offices on Sept. 25. The sunset concert featured singer/songwriter Jonathan Shively, a member of Highland Avenue, who serves as choir director for the congregation. Other musicians from the congregation took turns at the mic, as well. With a history that stretches back almost 40 years, the Highland Avenue coffeehouse is usually located in the congregation’s fellowship hall but enjoyed a beautiful evening for this outdoor venture. Members of the community and surrounding congregations are also invited to participate in the events. [from Jim Lehman]

Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send those to the district office: andreag.iwdcob@gmail.com.

CELEBRATING

Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has been selected as the 2023 recipients of the Community of Christ and Shaw Family Foundation’s International Peace Award. Said an announcement from CPT: “The award recognizes our commitment to transformative nonviolence for over 35 years, honoring our diversity in representation of ethnicity, gender, and faith and our common struggle for abolishing poverty and ending human suffering…. CPT joins a long list of awardees that includes Leymah Gbowee, Dolores Huerta and Father Virgilio Elizondo, to name a few. CPT will receive the award during the Community of Christ World Conference in April 2023.” Read the full press release at www.cpt.org/2022/09/08/community-peacemaker-teams-recipients-of-the-international-peace-award-2023. [from Newsline]

DISTRICT CAMPFIRE

A district campfire worship celebration will be held at Camp Emmaus (Mount Morris, Ill.) on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m. An hour of worship around the campfire will be followed by time for s'mores and other refreshments, fellowship, and stargazing.

We invite you to enjoy the spirit of camp in the beautiful fall season! The event is free, and all are welcome!

PRE-CONFERENCE CEU EVENT

Pastors/ministers and others who have interest are invited to take part in a continuing education event before district conference on Friday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Peoria Church of the Brethren.

Titled “21st-Century Youth/Young Adult Ministry,” the event will feature keynote speaker Becky Ullom Naugle, the denomination’s director of youth/young adult ministry. Cost for the event is just $15, which includes lunch, and all participants will receive 0.5 CEU’s. In addition to the sessions together, our time will include periods of worship and prayer.

Registration remains open for this event. To register, please contact the district office at 309-649-6008 or andreag.iwdcob@gmail.com.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

District conference is almost here! The countdown is on to Nov. 4-5 at Peoria Church of the Brethren, when we will gather in person for the first time since 2019 for district conference (a hybrid option will also be available for those who want to participate virtually). Harold Rose (Canton) serves as moderator this year, with Phyllis Batterton (Woodland) as moderator-elect. We are expecting more than 100 people to attend, some virtually but most in person.

The theme this year is “Outside the Walls: Being Jesus in the Neighborhood.” The weekend will include worship, ice cream, business, fellowship, and more. Tim McElwee, the 2023 Annual Conference moderator, will be with us through the weekend and will be speaking at the Friday evening worship service.

Key business items include the 2023 district budget, revisions to the district constitution and bylaws, approval of the slate of district officers and team members, recognition of ministry milestones, and reports from various denominational and district entities.

Other highlights of the conference include equipping sessions on three topics (peacemaking, pastoral compensation, and theopoetics); an exhibit hall with information from various Brethren and Brethren-related organizations; and an auction to benefit district ministries.

A mini-retreat for youth grades 6-12 will take place during the conference. Youth should also do the district conference registration and complete an additional form for the youth retreat. And a pre-conference continuing education event on youth/young adult ministry (with Becky Ullom Naugle, director of youth/young adult ministries for the Church of the Brethren) will be offered for pastors/ministers and others who have interest on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. [see more information above].

A new “District Conference” tab has been added to the district website), and materials will continue to be added there as they become available. Please contact the district office with any additional questions.

Lanark Church of the Brethren has agreed to be the host for the 2023 district conference, and York Center (Lombard) will tentatively be hosting in 2024.

HURRICANE RELIEF

Our prayers continue for the Church of the Brethren communities and others in Florida following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian recently, and with those who later felt the effects in the Carolinas and elsewhere, as well as those affected earlier by Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico. The following update was shared in the denomination's Newsline, with ways to help at the bottom:

Brethren Disaster Ministries staff and the Atlantic Southeast District leadership are continuing to reach out to affected churches and communities to learn of the impact of the storm and the needs that have developed. There were no immediate reports of injury among church members, but there was news of minor damage in two churches. While most other churches were unaffected, news had not yet been received from two churches in Fort Myers and Naples, the hardest-hit areas, at the time of the report.

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) volunteers prepared to deploy to Florida at the request of the American Red Cross. It was anticipated that two CDS teams would serve in the locations with the highest need after the initial chaos of the crisis, being stationed in shelters to work with the children and families affected by the hurricane. Additional teams will be deployed in Florida and other areas on the southeast coast, if needed.

Brethren Disaster Ministries expects to support the shipping of clean-up supplies and other Church World Service kits as part of the early relief efforts. Staff also will monitor needs for assistance with clean-up efforts in communities where Church of the Brethren congregations are located, while preparing to support long-term recovery efforts in Florida.

Donations can be made to the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) for hurricane response, go to www.brethren.org/givehurricaneresponse. Clean-up buckets and hygiene kits also are needed, go to www.cwskits.org for lists of kit contents and instructions. Kits should be sent to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

MINISTRY BUDGET TOOLS

Annual Conference approved some new tools for calculating pastors’ salaries and benefits. It doesn’t change most of the fundamental elements of the scale but rather is designed to help congregation determine what percentage of time they can afford while compensating pastors fairly. It also encourages congregations to think about ministry priorities, and which ones the pastor should be primarily responsible for and which ones congregation members might do. Those resources have recently been made available online at www.brethren.org/news/2022/office-of-ministry-launches-new-webpage-with-compensation-resources/.

From Sept. 26 through Oct. 22, members of the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee (PCBAC) will offer an introductory workshop on five occasions to introduce the these new tools. The workshop is open to all and will be particularly helpful to church board chairs, pastors, and treasurers. Register to attend and receive a Zoom link by completing the Google form: https://forms.gle/9hLDdACeMK8jurya7. A training session also will be offered at district conference.

If you have questions, contact officeofministry@brethren.org Members of PCBAC include Deb Oskin, chair, Bob McMinn, Art Fourman, Angela Finet, and Andy Hamilton, representative of the Council of District Executives.

WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH $100?

The district's Church Revitalization and Development Team (CRDT) is taking applications for two new grant programs. A total of 10 combined grants ($100 each) from the two programs will be given this year, and any congregation in the Illinois & Wisconsin District is welcome to apply.

First, a Being Jesus in the Neighborhood Grant: Congregations can apply for seed money to start a new outreach project or initiative in their local communities, or to expand an existing one. These should be projects that intentionally engage with the neighborhood immediately around the congregation, or—for those in rural locations—with the town or area around the church. Each congregation receiving a grant will be asked to share a little about their project at district conference.

Second, a Give Your Pastor a Break Grant: Congregations can apply for up to $100 for a grant to cover or help cover a guest speaker for an extra Sunday to give your pastor a day off--or at least a day off from having to prepare and preach a sermon. Any time can be challenging to be a pastor, especially when many are filling those roles part-time, and the pandemic and other current events have made it especially so. We hope this might be part of the ways you care for your pastor.

Each congregation may receive only one grant per calendar year. Applications are available on the district website (iwdcob.org), or contact the district office. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Blessings to each of you as you faithfully seek to serve your communities!

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

This year’s Brethren Press Advent devotional is titled “Simple Gifts,” written by Kathy Guisewite. Cost is $4.50 per copy. A description from Brethren Press says, “Every part of the Christmas story is miraculous. God’s love was made manifest in a lowly barn, in the dark of night, for ordinary people. We need not believe that we must do anything extraordinary to make this season magical. There’s no need to worry about shopping for it or allowing the stresses of life to weigh us down. Perhaps if we practice leaning into the simplicity of the holy story and the sacredness of our ordinary lives, we will find joy and peace.”

The Brethren Press devotional series is published twice a year for the Advent/Christmas and Lenten seasons. A seasonal subscriber option costs $8 a year for both regular print booklets, or $16 a year for both large print booklets. Subscriptions are renewed automatically each year at the discounted rate and bulk quantities can be adjusted with a simple call.

EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Spring district pastors/ministers retreat: The district’s Ministry Leadership Development Team has tentatively scheduled a spring retreat/continuing education event for pastors/ministers April 24-25 at the Bishop Lane Center in Rockford. Watch for more details.

The Ventures in Christian Discipleship program operated by McPherson College will offer a course on Nov. 12 by Brethren pastor Vivek Solanky (formerly of the Naperville congregation). Solanky will speak on “Human Trafficking: A Call for the Church to Respond,” from 10 a.m. to noon Central. And on Dec. 6, Jen Jensen of the denomination’s “Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church” program will present a course on “Beyond Burned Out to Boundaries and Balance” from 6-8 p.m. Central To learn more about Ventures in Christian Discipleship and to register for courses, visit www.mcpherson.edu/ventures.

The Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church program of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Ministry is offering a book study led by Ryan Braught on “Positively Irritating: Embracing a Post-Christian World to Form a More Faithful and Innovative Church,” by Jon Ritner. This monthly book study will be held on the second Thursday of the month at 8 p.m. Central beginning Oct. 13. This monthly book study is also available in an asynchronous format. Register by emailing Jen Jensen at jjensen@brethren.org.

The organization Faith+Lead (through Luther Seminary) has available on demand a 6-hour self-guided course called “Hybrid Ministry in a Post-Pandemic Church,” helping pastors and others think about ways to create a framework for church that engages and connects the entire community. Cost is $75. Learn more and register at https://t.e2ma.net/click/vfs32k/zarqt/3d8o7ab.

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is offering its one-day Healthy Congregations webinar (via Zoom) on Jan. 26 and March 22 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central), as well as some additional dates in 2023. Cost is $99. A Restorative Congregations webinar will be presented via Zoom Feb. 23, May 23, and Nov. 2 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). Conflict Transformation Skills for Churches will be offered via Zoom April 11 and Sept. 16 (9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Central). For more details and registration information, and to see other events—including the week-long Mediation Skills Training Institute in Arizona Nov. 14-18—go to https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/.

On Earth Peace will offer a 2-hour introduction to Kingian Nonviolence in a webinar on Oct. 28 at 3 p.m. Central. It will be facilitate by Mark Klym and Highland Avenue pastor Katie Shaw Thompson. Learn more and RSVP at www.onearthpeace.org/2022_10_28_2hr_intro_kingian_nonviolence.

The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership will offer the 8-week online course “Introduction to Educational Ministry” Jan. 11 to March 7 with instructor Gene Hollenberg. It fulfills TRIM credits or provides 2.0 CEU’s. Course fee is $300; registration deadline is Dec. 7.

The Brethren Academy is also offering the course “A Place of Refuge: Ministry in an Urban Context,” as a two-week intensive Jan. 9-18 in Atlanta with instructor Josh Brockway. Registration deadline is Nov. 1; cost is $300. Current Academy students can receive a stipend to cover travel costs.

Other upcoming courses include “Wisdom Literature” by Steve Schweitzer March 15-May 9 (online); “Pathways for Effective Leadership Part 2” by Randy Yoder March 24-25 and April 28-29 (online intensive); and “What Brethren Believe” by Denise Kettering April 19-June 13.

Register for courses and pay online at www.bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/brethren-academy-course-listings/brethren-academy-course-registration-annual-trim-payment/.

Strength for the Journey

A program from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, named “Strength for the Journey,” invites pastors and others serving in ministry to take part in cohort groups for support, encouragement, and accountability.

Three types of cohorts are available: a “deep dive cohort” that will explore a topic of mutual interest in depth; a “specialized ministry cohort” that will provide networking and mutual support with others in fields such as chaplains, spiritual directors, outdoor ministries staff, etc.; and a “case study cohort” that will look at specific case studies from their ministry settings. Cohorts will have five to eight people and meet for 10 to 12 90-minute sessions via Zoom during the year. CEU credits will be available.

Up to five groups will be approved each year. Ministers may apply as individuals or as a group. Applications will be accepted between Sept. 1 and Oct. 30, with groups to be formed by mid-December. Each group will be assigned a convener and will begin meeting after Jan. 1. Funding for registration, resources, and some travel assistance (if an in-person gathering is desired) is being provided by the David J. and Mary Elizabeth Wieand Trust.

For more details and applications, visit www.bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy.

NCP Learning Tours

New Community Project will offer an educational trip to Nepal Jan. 11-22, to South Sudan May 11-22, to the Amazon region of Ecuador June 1-7, to Lybrook, N.M., June 22-28, to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons July 20-27, and to central and southern Alaska Aug. 7-15. These trips are open to all ages and explore the beauty of and challenges facing God’s creation and God’s children. Learn more at www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tours.

Camp Emmaus (Mount Morris, Ill.) has an opening for the position of Camp Manager. This position is open currently and housing is provided. Qualifications include strong skills in administration, organization, marketing, leadership, communication, maintenance, record keeping, along with basic accounting and computer skills. The camp manager should be a Christian and member of the Church of the Brethren or have an appreciation and understanding of Brethren beliefs and values. Responsibilities of the Camp Manager are: to work with the Camp Emmaus Board; do grounds and building upkeep; promote usage of the facilities; work with rental groups; keep camp records; be available and willing to assist in summer youth camping ministry; work with district churches holding events on the camp property; and provide a Christian caring environment for those using, renting and/or visiting the facilities. While in the past we have had a full-time onsite Camp Manager, at this time schedule and salary may be negotiated. Please send letters of interest and resume to Camp Emmaus board chair Aaron Gerdes c/o Camp Emmaus 12340 North Grove Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178 or via email to tlldrnkwtr@yahoo.com.

The South/Central Indiana District, which comprises 40 congregations in the middle of the state of Indiana and represents a wide range of theological views, is seeking a District Executive Minister. The DEM’s commitment to Jesus Christ and the scriptures is essential. This full-time position is available Sept. 5. Interested and qualified persons may apply for this position by sending a letter of interest and a resume to: Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, Office of Ministry, 1451 Dundee Avenue Elgin, IL 60120, or officeofministry@brethren.org. Applicants will be asked to complete a Candidate Profile on receipt of resume. Applicants are requested to contact three or four persons to provide a letter of reference.

Eder Financial seeks a full-time Sales Leader to meet potential clients in person, on Zoom, or at conferences. The position requires flexible hours but can work remotely. The position requires an undergraduate degree, at least four years of experience in identifying, creating, and reporting on sales opportunities, and effective oral and written communication skills. The ideal person is an engaging listener and communicator with a drive to achieve sales success through strong relationship building which cares for the customer’s problem and the organization’s reputation. To apply, email a cover letter, resume, and three references to Tammy Chudy at tchudy@eder.org.

Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., seeks applicants for the position of Director of Annual and Leadership Giving to join the Institutional Advancement team. This individual will develop and lead the seminary’s “mass-market” fundraising appeals and maintain a portfolio of donors (individuals and churches). The director will strategize and actively work to build relationships with a variety of constituents, enlisting financial support for the seminary. Find the position announcement and application instructions at www.bethanyseminary.edu/jobs/director-of-annual-and-leadership-giving.

Bethany is also seeking applicants for a part-time, professional position to coordinate and strengthen social media efforts. The goals include generating compelling marketing-style content, increasing followers, and encouraging engagement across platforms. Successful candidates will have experience creating effective content for a variety of social media platforms. For the full position announcement and how to apply, go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/jobs/social-media-coordinator.

The Church of the Brethren seeks applicants for the full-time, salaried position of Managing Editor of Brethren Press. The managing editor manages the publishing projects and production schedule for Brethren Press; supervises the work of contracted writers, editors, designers, and others; edits and typesets selected publications; and handles acquisitions and permissions. Qualifications include experience in project management, excellent writing and editing skills, strong organizational abilities, and the capability to become deeply informed about the identity and beliefs of the Church of the Brethren. A bachelor’s degree is required, and a master’s degree in a related field, such as divinity or biblical studies, is preferred. The managing editor is expected to work proficiently in Microsoft products, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat, and Access. The position is based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.; location is negotiable. A position description will be provided upon request. Applications will be reviewed and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. Apply by sending a cover letter and resume’ to COBApply@brethren.org; Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 ; 800-323-8039 ext. 367.

PERSONNEL NOTES

Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as interim coordinator of Short-term Service. In this position, she will provide oversight and administration of short-term service experiences and placements, including the Faith Outreach Expeditions Ministry (FaithX, formerly Brethren Workcamps), and support recruitment of volunteers for Brethren Volunteer Service. She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor of arts degree in Botany and Zoology and minors in Religion and Environmental Studies. In 2018-2019 she was the assistant coordinator of workcamps (through BVS) in Elgin, Ill. Marissa currently works as the senior admissions associate for Chapel Haven Schleifer Center in New Haven, Conn. Marissa began working as a remote employee from Washington, D.C., on Oct. 3.

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!

Precious Earley accepted the position of communications director for Eder Financial (formerly Brethren Benefit Trust), starting Sept. 26. Earley holds a bachelor’s in telecommunications from Ball State University, with a concentration in news, and a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the P.I. Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University. Her experience includes more than 17 years in various marketing and communications roles in higher education, banking, and the church. From 2016 to 2019, she was director of marketing and communications for the National Inspirational Youth Convention, an auxiliary of the National Association of the Church of God, which for more than 80 years has brought together nearly 1,000 delegates annually from more than 400 churches nationwide. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Christian Women Connection. Earley and her family live in Atlanta, Ga. She practices her faith within the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) tradition and is a member of Community Church in Atlanta, where her husband is senior pastor.

Ruoxia Li has resigned as the co-director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren Mission & Ministry Board. She concluded her work with the organization effective Oct. 4. Ruoxia began her service on May 3, 2021, serving as co-director with her husband, Eric Miller.

Barry LeNoir, director of Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Va., will depart his role on June 30, 2023. He began his service on Aug. 19, 2002. During his tenure at Camp Bethel, he has overseen a 112-percent growth in camp attendance. He served on the Church of the Brethren’s Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA) Steering Committee from 2004-2010, receiving the OMA Camp Staff Award in 2011. Previous to his work for Camp Bethel, he was a teacher and three-sport coach in the Roanoke (Va.) County Schools 1992-2002, and was on the summer staff at camps in Virginia and Wisconsin. He and his family are planning to relocate to their family farm in Floyd, Va.

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

A youth mini-retreat/National Youth Conference reunion is being planned during district conference, Nov. 4-5 at Peoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren. Interested youth (grades 6-12) and advisors should register as non-delegates (including meal sign-up and purchase) and indicate that they want to be part of the retreat.

The time together will include some NYC reflections and memories, Bible study time, a service project, a visit from Annual Conference moderator Tim McElwee, joining in some district conference events, games, and more. Participants should bring a sleeping bag/pillow, toiletries, and anything else they need for the night. Meals (please register for the conference lunch) and snacks will be provided.

For questions, please contact district executive Walt Wiltschek at IWDDE@outlook.com.

Camp Emmaus’ annual fall youth retreat held around the camp’s Leaf-Raking Work Day will take place Nov. 11-13 at the camp for youth in grades 9-12. It begins Friday at 7 p.m. and continues through noon on Sunday. Cost is $50 for the weekend. Register by Nov. 10. Find more information and registration details at: https://campemmaus.churchcenter.com/unproxy/registrations/events/1429585

The Powerhouse Regional Youth Conference sponsored by Manchester University will be held Nov. 19-20 at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind., for youth in grades -12. Keynote speaker is Chris Kaake. Cost is $100, and registration deadline is Nov. 4. Find information and registration details at www.manchester.edu/student-life/religious-life/powerhouse-youth-conference

Denominational events:

The denomination’s National Junior High Sunday is Nov. 6. This year’s theme is “Take Courage.” Find resources at www.brethren.org/yya/jr-high-resources/.

The next Church of the Brethren National Junior High Conference will take place June 16-18, 2023, at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., for youth in grades 6-8 and their advisors. Nov. 6 is designated as Junior High Sunday.

The Church of the Brethren’s Christian Citizenship Seminar for youth in grades 9-12 and advisors will be held next spring in New York and Washington, D.C. Watch for more details.

The 2023 Church of the Brethren Young Adult Conference, for young adults ages 18-35, will be May 5-7 at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind.

For more information on these events, watch for updates on www.brethren.org.

On Earth Peace is offering “Spoken Word Poetry for Building Peace” for youth and young adults ages 16-22 as an online event on Thursdays Oct. 13 and 27, Nov. 3 and 17, and Dec. 1, 8, and 15, at 6 p.m. Central. They will use poetry to explore Kingian Nonviolence principles. For more information visit www.onearthpeace.org.

2022 DISTRICT CAMP DATES

Camp Emmaus’ fall leaf-raking day will be Saturday, Nov. 12. Volunteers are sought that morning to clear the camp of leaves to keep the grounds in good shape for the following year. Bring a rake if possible. Donuts and warm beverages are provided.

Camp Emmaus has begun a search for a new manager following the announcement of the retirement of long-time managers Bill & Betty Hare. See the “Job Opportunities” section of the newsletter for more information.

Camp Emmanuel will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023! A celebration at the camp is being planned for Sept. 30 next year. Watch for details as they become available.

Stay up to date on what’s happening at our district camps! Visit www.campem.com for Camp Emmanuel news and www.campemmaus.org for Camp Emmaus news.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The 2023 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference will take place July 4-8 (a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule) in Cincinnati with the theme “Living God’s Love.” Advance delegate registration will be $340 per person; non-delegate adult advance registration is $140 for the week ($40 for post-high school through age 21, free for high school age and below). Conference hotels will be $144 per night, including tax. Registration and housing reservations will open to the public March 1.

The Annual Conference Office is seeking nominations for denominational positions to be considered for next year’s ballot. More detailed information about each office open for nominations is provided at www.brethren.org/nominations in the “Information about Offices Open for Nomination” document. Please note that some nominations must be made according to specific categories and that certain areas of expertise are needed for some offices. If you know persons who work in one of the areas from which nominees need to come this next year, please make a special effort to prayerfully submit the names of persons you know who can make a valuable contribution to the denomination. All nominations are due by Dec. 1.

DISTRICT WEBSITE

When is the last time you visited the IL/WI District Website? There you’ll find helpful information about your district including but not limited to:

• District Calendar
• Eco-Stewardship
• District Newsletter
• Ministries

Don’t delay! Check it out! See what you can learn about your district!

NEWSLINE

• A newly formed Standing with People of Color Committee met via Zoom on Sept. 13 and 21 to begin work delegated by the 2022 Annual Conference, which affirmed the “Standing with Persons of Color” query sent by Southern Ohio and Kentucky District. That district and On Earth Peace were tasked to collaborate in developing a plan and resources to help the Church of the Brethren denomination study and act on issues of racial justice. The two-year study/action process will run from Annual Conference 2023 to Annual Conference 2025. Over the next few months, the committee will clarify objectives for the process and connect with many people and groups in the denomination to learn what’s already happening related to racial justice learning and action in the Church of the Brethren. Representatives of the Southern Ohio and Kentucky District’s Racial Justice Team including Robert Jackson, Christy Schaub, Lucas Keller, and Bruce Rosenberger, along with Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace, LaDonna Sanders Nkosi as director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren, Jennifer Quijano West of the Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference, and Rhonda Pittman Gingrich as director of Annual Conference were in attendance at the first meeting.
• The Fellowship of Brethren Homes met for its Annual Forum at West View Healthy Living in Wooster, Ohio, on Aug. 10-12. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns, the forum offered a welcome opportunity to gather with like-minded friends and colleagues from Church of the Brethren-affiliated senior living communities. In attendance were representatives of Hillcrest and Casa de Modesto in California; Garden Terrace in Washington; the Cedars in Kansas; Pinecrest in Illinois; Londonderry Village in Pennsylvania; and Good Shepherd, the Brethren Retirement Community, and West View Healthy Living in Ohio. The keynote presentation was provided by Courtney Malengo, founder of Buzz + Smart Communications, who shared insights about effective storytelling, especially stories about the traditions, values, and philosophies of the Church of the Brethren upon which our communities were founded and continue to operate. The group also heard from David Sollenberger, Church of the Brethren videographer and immediate past moderator of Annual Conference, who led a discussion about successful storytelling through video.
• Scott Holland has been awarded professor emeritus status at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., as of July 1. Now in semi-retirement, he is continuing to teach the core courses in the seminary’s groundbreaking theopoetics program that he helped to develop. He also continues to represent the seminary and the theopoetics program “on the road” as a preacher and guest lecturer. Holland has served as Slabaugh Professor of Theology and Culture at Bethany and spent 23 years directing the seminary’s Peace Studies program, in a position endowed by the Baker Peace Studies Endowment. In the latter role, he has organized the Jennie Calhoun Baker Peace Essay Contest for many years, and he has worked with the World Council of Churches as drafting editor of the Ecumenical Call to Just Peace, published in 2011. He first joined the Bethany faculty in 1999 with an invitation to focus on public theology.
• The annual Dunker Church Service at the Dunker Meetinghouse on the Antietam National Battlefield, a Civil War battlefield site in Maryland, took place Sunday, Sept. 18. The speaker for this year’s service was Brethren sociologist Carl Bowman, with sponsorship from Church of the Brethren congregations and pastors in the area, and Mid-Atlantic District.
• Work has begun on a first-ever Anabaptist Bible, according to a release from MennoMedia. Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden, who attended an Aug. 26-28 event gathering some 45 “Bible ambassadors” from various Anabaptist communities, confirmed Church of the Brethren participation in the project. Also at the event was Josh Brockway, co-coordinator of Discipleship Ministries for the Church of the Brethren. The gathering in Des Plaines, Ill., kicked off the historic project, convened by John Roth, director of the “Anabaptism at 500” project of MennoMedia. The Anabaptist groups represented at the meeting included Mennonite Church Canada, Mennonite Church USA, Brethren in Christ, Evana, Lancaster Mennonite Conference, the Bruderhof, and the Church of the Brethren. Participants worked in table groups to review the plan for inviting 500 Bible study groups from across the Anabaptist community in North America to participate in the project and to consider what other components might be included in the Bible. These study groups will be assigned portions of scripture and asked to share their insights with the project. Volunteers can register their study groups at www.mennomedia.org/reading-scripture-together.
• The World Council of Churches (WCC) 11th Assembly, meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8, met under the theme “Christ’s Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity.” This was the first WCC Assembly in Europe since 1968, when an assembly was hosted in Uppsala, Sweden. The Church of the Brethren has been a member denomination of the WCC since its start in 1948, when the first assembly was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a founding communion, the Church of the Brethren has sent delegates, observers, staff, and/or communicators to each of the assemblies that are held about every eight years in different parts of the world. This year’s US Church of the Brethren delegation included Elizabeth Bidgood Enders, pastor of Ridgeway Community Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa.; Nathan Hosler, director of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy in Washington, D.C.; Jeffrey Carter, president of Bethany Theological Seminary, who has been serving a term on the WCC Central Committee; general secretary David Steele; and news director Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford. A delegation from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) also attended.

RESOURCES

District Mission and Mortar Grant/Loan Program

Is your congregation beginning a new mission outreach program but a little short on cash? Is your congregation faced with a major repair or capital improvement project that exceeds your congregation’s capacity to pay for it? Did you know that the district has a program to assist with your needs? It’s called the Mission and Mortar Grant/Loan Program and is available to help meet the needs mentioned above.

Grants are available up to $2,500, and non-interest bearing loans up to $5,000. A congregation that applies must provide financial data and be a regular contributor to the district. Applications are considered on a first-come first-served basis and are reviewed/approved by the district Leadership Team.

If you would like more information or wish to apply, visit the district website. Send completed applications to the IL/WI District Office, 269 E. Chestnut St., Canton, IL 61520.

Supporting Your District
 

The Illinois/Wisconsin District is active in a variety of ministry and mission efforts, both directly and indirectly. For these efforts to continue, resources are needed in the form of time, tools, knowledge, and especially finances.

Consider making a contribution to one or more of the following:

• Disaster Relief Fund
• Endowment Fund
• Mission and Mortar Fund
• General Fund
• Emerging Ministries
• Ministry Training

Look for the donate button at iwdcob.org, or send your checks to the district office: 269 E. Chestnut St., Canton, IL 61520. Thank you!

GIFTS DISCERNMENT AND CALL COMMITTEE

The Gifts Discernment and Call Committee (GDCC) is commissioned to discern the gifts of persons for the purpose of inviting and calling them in to positions of leadership and team/committee participation. The GDCC delves into this work based on the names and information available to them. The likelihood is that gifted persons are not invited and called to serve because the GDCC lacks names and information. If you feel compelled to serve in the district and have not been asked, you can connect to the district webpage and learn how to share your name and information with the GDCC. Simply complete the online profile form after clicking on the “online profile form” link in the website article. Or call the district office (649-6008) and a profile form will be emailed to you.

Do you know someone you believe has gifts to serve at the district level? Invite them to visit the district webpage or share their name with the GDCC or district office.

Serving is rewarding!