NEWSLINE
Approval of a budget for the denominational ministries of the Church of the Brethren and the naming of the next chair-elect topped actions taken by the Mission and Ministry Board at its fall meetings. The board met at the General Offices in Elgin Oct. 13-16 led by chair Carl Fike, assisted by chair-elect Colin Scott and general secretary David Steele. Kathy Mack of Northern Plains District was named the next chair-elect, to serve alongside the chair for two years beginning at the close of the 2023 Annual Conference. Her two-year term as chair will begin at the close of the 2025 Conference. The board approved a 2023 budget for all denominational ministries of $8,538,570 in income and $8,529,600 in expense, representing a net income of $8,970.
A “Sing Me Home” benefit concert for On Earth Peace will be held at Manchester Church of the Brethren (North Manchester, Ind.) on Dec. 3. Musicians Jacob Jolliff and Seth Hendricks, along with “Hearth and Hymn,” will perform beginning at 6 p.m. Central time. York Center Church of the Brethren is among the additional sponsors. Guests may attend in-person or via livestream. Tickets are $25 for general admission or $10 suggested donation for streaming. An auction will also take place. More information is at www.onearthpeace.org/sing_me_home_benefit_concert_2022 and www.onearthpeace.org/auction_2022.
The Church of the Brethren Material Resources program, with warehouses at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., has made the following hurricane relief shipments: In response to Hurricane Ian, a shipment of blankets, school kits, and baby kits to Arcadia, Fla.; a shipment of hygiene kits, toothpaste, and cleanup buckets to Englewood, Fla.; a shipment of blankets and school kits to Orlando; a shipment of cleanup buckets to Cape Coral, Fla.; and a shipment of blankets, hygiene kits, toothpaste, and cleanup buckets to Naples, Fla. In response to Hurricane Fiona, a shipment of blankets, baby kits, school kits, hygiene kits, and toothpaste to Puerto Rico via Jacksonville, Fla.
Paul W. Hoffman (90), a past moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and the 11th president of McPherson (Kan.) College, died on Sept. 30 in McPherson. A memorial service was held on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 8, at McPherson Church of the Brethren.
Ruben D. Deoleo (62), a former director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren who was instrumental in efforts toward Annual Conference action on intercultural ministry, died Oct. 5 at his residence in Lancaster, Pa., following a long illness. A memorial service was held on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 9, at Mountville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
The Church of the Brethren-related Womaens Caucus Steering Committee has announced a “Training Opportunity in Compassionate Care” for ministers. “The purpose of this training is guidance in compassionate care on all pregnancy journeys and decisions,” said the announcement. The training will consist of 20-25 hours of self-guided study and three Zoom sessions with guest leadership on Nov. 17, Dec. 15, and Jan. 19. Credentialed ministers may receive 2.6 continuing education units. For more information email womaenscaucuscob@gmail.com.
A recent article by Brotherhood Mutual notes the challenges that rising energy costs are creating for congregations during the winter heating season. It suggests turning down the thermostat, installing available energy-conserving features, keeping furnaces cleaned and maintained, consolidating events when possible, and establishing a budget plan. [Congregations having trouble with utility bills are also encouraged to contact the district office for possible resources.]
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.
A “Sing Me Home” benefit concert for On Earth Peace will be held at Manchester Church of the Brethren (North Manchester, Ind.) on Dec. 3. Musicians Jacob Jolliff and Seth Hendricks, along with “Hearth and Hymn,” will perform beginning at 6 p.m. Central time. York Center Church of the Brethren is among the additional sponsors. Guests may attend in-person or via livestream. Tickets are $25 for general admission or $10 suggested donation for streaming. An auction will also take place. More information is at www.onearthpeace.org/sing_me_home_benefit_concert_2022 and www.onearthpeace.org/auction_2022.
The Church of the Brethren Material Resources program, with warehouses at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., has made the following hurricane relief shipments: In response to Hurricane Ian, a shipment of blankets, school kits, and baby kits to Arcadia, Fla.; a shipment of hygiene kits, toothpaste, and cleanup buckets to Englewood, Fla.; a shipment of blankets and school kits to Orlando; a shipment of cleanup buckets to Cape Coral, Fla.; and a shipment of blankets, hygiene kits, toothpaste, and cleanup buckets to Naples, Fla. In response to Hurricane Fiona, a shipment of blankets, baby kits, school kits, hygiene kits, and toothpaste to Puerto Rico via Jacksonville, Fla.
Paul W. Hoffman (90), a past moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference and the 11th president of McPherson (Kan.) College, died on Sept. 30 in McPherson. A memorial service was held on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 8, at McPherson Church of the Brethren.
Ruben D. Deoleo (62), a former director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren who was instrumental in efforts toward Annual Conference action on intercultural ministry, died Oct. 5 at his residence in Lancaster, Pa., following a long illness. A memorial service was held on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 9, at Mountville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
The Church of the Brethren-related Womaens Caucus Steering Committee has announced a “Training Opportunity in Compassionate Care” for ministers. “The purpose of this training is guidance in compassionate care on all pregnancy journeys and decisions,” said the announcement. The training will consist of 20-25 hours of self-guided study and three Zoom sessions with guest leadership on Nov. 17, Dec. 15, and Jan. 19. Credentialed ministers may receive 2.6 continuing education units. For more information email womaenscaucuscob@gmail.com.
A recent article by Brotherhood Mutual notes the challenges that rising energy costs are creating for congregations during the winter heating season. It suggests turning down the thermostat, installing available energy-conserving features, keeping furnaces cleaned and maintained, consolidating events when possible, and establishing a budget plan. [Congregations having trouble with utility bills are also encouraged to contact the district office for possible resources.]
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.
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