PERSONNEL NOTES
LaDonna Sanders Nkosi has resigned as Director of Intercultural Ministries for the Church of the Brethren’s Discipleship Ministries. She concluded her work with the denominational offices effective Dec. 31. LaDonna began her service on January 16, 2020. In recent years, she had also been working with The Gathering Chicago, a new church effort of the district.
The South/Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Laura Stone to serve as district executive minister beginning Feb. 1. Laura currently serves as chaplain at Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester, Ind., a position she has held since May 2018. Ordained by the South/Central Indiana District in 2019 and a member of the Manchester congregation, Laura was raised in the Kokomo congregation. A graduate of Manchester University, she holds a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School and has done work on her Ph.D. in practical theology at Boston University School of Theology. She is a spiritual director, having received her training at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. Laura’s denomination experiences include serving as a member of the Annual Conference worship planning team currently; as a National Youth Conference speaker; an instructor, and planning committee member of the Brethren Leadership Institute of the South/Central Indiana District; and as a writer for and current board chair of Brethren Life and Thought. She was elected by Annual Conference this past July as a trustee of Bethany Theological Seminary representing clergy.
Bethany Theological Seminary has hired Laura Kelley as Director of Annual and Leadership Giving. In this newly established role, Kelley will have primary responsibility for the Bethany Fund, which supports all aspects of the seminary’s educational mission, and work with individual donors to match their philanthropic interests with the Seminary’s needs. She began Jan. 9. Kelley is a 2020 graduate of Earlham College with a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Global Studies, with minors in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and religion. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in religion at Earlham School of Religion. Since September 2021 she has served as Admissions and Marketing Coordinator for the Graduate Programs in Education at Earlham. Her previous work experience includes stints at Asheville (North Carolina) Catholic School and the Human Rights Campaign.
Russ Chrusciel has been hired as Operations Manager, Organizational Investing and Deferred Gifts, for Eder Financial. Russ initially joined Eder as a member of the Product & Services team on Dec. 12. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in business administration (concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship) from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He brings a wealth of practical experience from a variety of customer-facing and technical roles within the financial markets, financial services, and software sectors. Russ lives in Geneva, Illinois with his wife of 25-plus years, Karna. They have four daughters. Russ is a member of Chapelstreet Church in Geneva.
Byrl Shaver began serving as quarter-time interim district executive minister for the Michigan District on Jan. 1. Byrl currently serves in a half-time position as pastor of Nappanee Church of the Brethren in the Northern Indiana District, a role he has held since 2008. He holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and from United Theological Seminary, where he obtained his Master of Divinity degree. His previous ministry settings include pastorates in Pacific Southwest and Southern Ohio/Kentucky districts and chaplaincy at the Pendleton Indiana Correctional Facility. Byrl will continue his ministry with the Nappanee congregation while he serves in this new role.
Daniel L. Rudy has been called to serve as district executive minister for the Virlina District beginning Feb. 6. He has served as pastor of Ninth Street Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., since 2011 and has been an instructor in the Christian Growth Institute of the Virlina and Shenandoah districts. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater College. Emma Jean Franklin Woodard is serving a five-week interim role for Virlina’s district executive position to bridge from the retirement of David Shumate, which became official on Dec. 31, and the beginning of Daniel Rudy’s service.
Pauline Liu has resigned as the volunteer coordinator of Brethren Volunteer Service. She will conclude her work with Church of the Brethren effective Feb. 2. Pauline began her service on May 18, 2020, as the orientation assistant of Brethren Volunteer Service.
Michael Brewer-Berres resigned as interim program assistant for Brethren Volunteer Service. She will concluded her work with the Church of the Brethren effective Dec. 16. Michael began her service on Aug. 23, 2021, as the BVS orientation assistant. Emily Bowdle began her service on July 18, 2022, as the orientation assistant in the BVS office and ended her time of service with Brethren Volunteer Service on Dec. 16.
The South/Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren has called Laura Stone to serve as district executive minister beginning Feb. 1. Laura currently serves as chaplain at Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester, Ind., a position she has held since May 2018. Ordained by the South/Central Indiana District in 2019 and a member of the Manchester congregation, Laura was raised in the Kokomo congregation. A graduate of Manchester University, she holds a Master of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School and has done work on her Ph.D. in practical theology at Boston University School of Theology. She is a spiritual director, having received her training at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind. Laura’s denomination experiences include serving as a member of the Annual Conference worship planning team currently; as a National Youth Conference speaker; an instructor, and planning committee member of the Brethren Leadership Institute of the South/Central Indiana District; and as a writer for and current board chair of Brethren Life and Thought. She was elected by Annual Conference this past July as a trustee of Bethany Theological Seminary representing clergy.
Bethany Theological Seminary has hired Laura Kelley as Director of Annual and Leadership Giving. In this newly established role, Kelley will have primary responsibility for the Bethany Fund, which supports all aspects of the seminary’s educational mission, and work with individual donors to match their philanthropic interests with the Seminary’s needs. She began Jan. 9. Kelley is a 2020 graduate of Earlham College with a bachelor’s degree in Peace and Global Studies, with minors in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and religion. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in religion at Earlham School of Religion. Since September 2021 she has served as Admissions and Marketing Coordinator for the Graduate Programs in Education at Earlham. Her previous work experience includes stints at Asheville (North Carolina) Catholic School and the Human Rights Campaign.
Russ Chrusciel has been hired as Operations Manager, Organizational Investing and Deferred Gifts, for Eder Financial. Russ initially joined Eder as a member of the Product & Services team on Dec. 12. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree in business administration (concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship) from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He brings a wealth of practical experience from a variety of customer-facing and technical roles within the financial markets, financial services, and software sectors. Russ lives in Geneva, Illinois with his wife of 25-plus years, Karna. They have four daughters. Russ is a member of Chapelstreet Church in Geneva.
Byrl Shaver began serving as quarter-time interim district executive minister for the Michigan District on Jan. 1. Byrl currently serves in a half-time position as pastor of Nappanee Church of the Brethren in the Northern Indiana District, a role he has held since 2008. He holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and from United Theological Seminary, where he obtained his Master of Divinity degree. His previous ministry settings include pastorates in Pacific Southwest and Southern Ohio/Kentucky districts and chaplaincy at the Pendleton Indiana Correctional Facility. Byrl will continue his ministry with the Nappanee congregation while he serves in this new role.
Daniel L. Rudy has been called to serve as district executive minister for the Virlina District beginning Feb. 6. He has served as pastor of Ninth Street Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., since 2011 and has been an instructor in the Christian Growth Institute of the Virlina and Shenandoah districts. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts from Bridgewater College. Emma Jean Franklin Woodard is serving a five-week interim role for Virlina’s district executive position to bridge from the retirement of David Shumate, which became official on Dec. 31, and the beginning of Daniel Rudy’s service.
Pauline Liu has resigned as the volunteer coordinator of Brethren Volunteer Service. She will conclude her work with Church of the Brethren effective Feb. 2. Pauline began her service on May 18, 2020, as the orientation assistant of Brethren Volunteer Service.
Michael Brewer-Berres resigned as interim program assistant for Brethren Volunteer Service. She will concluded her work with the Church of the Brethren effective Dec. 16. Michael began her service on Aug. 23, 2021, as the BVS orientation assistant. Emily Bowdle began her service on July 18, 2022, as the orientation assistant in the BVS office and ended her time of service with Brethren Volunteer Service on Dec. 16.
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