DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE
Leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) conducted three days of prayer and fasting Feb. 21-23 for Nigeria’s general and regional elections and the upcoming EYN Centenary Celebration. The regional centenary celebrations of EYN’s 100th anniversary went successfully in five zones of the denomination: in Biu, Lassa, Chibok, Yola, and Michika. Celebrations in Mubi, Gulak, Garkida, Jos, Abuja, and Maiduguri were also planned. The grand finale of the Centenary Celebration will start with an international press conference and a grand finale event this week at the EYN Headquarters.
With just under two years remaining for the denomination’s “Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church” Lilly Foundation grant, the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry gathered a group of circuit riders, advisory team members, district executives, and others at the denominational offices in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 24-26, to take a “balcony view” of the program to date and consider possibilities and direction going forward. Led by Brethren leadership coach/consultant Greg Davidson Laszakovits of GDL Insight, the group used the Gospel of Luke’s eye-opening account of the Emmaus Road as a framework for reflection, storytelling, and discernment. While the program has yielded some positive results, only about 5 percent of Brethren pastors have participated in the program thus far. That makes broader buy-in important in the next few years–especially as the program seeks sustainability after the grant has ended. A number of potential short-term and longer-term priorities emerged, including enhancing marketing and awareness of the program, encouraging a culture of “Full-Time Church” in congregations, creating a directory of speakers and resources, facilitating deeper discussions between circuit riders and pastors, having more significant connections with districts, doing a sociological survey of part-time pastors to gather their stories and seek common themes, providing curriculum resources, and sponsoring a denomination-wide event to explore leadership and cultural shifts in ministry. Learn more at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/part-time-pastor.
Brethren Press has announced the upcoming release of a storybook Bible from the “Shine” curriculum titled The Peace Table. It will include biblically faithful retellings of 140 Bible stories with colorful, diverse art by 30 illustrators. Along with each Bible story, there are prayer prompts, questions, and action ideas to guide reflection and conversation. Twelve Peace Paths allow children to ‘choose their own adventure’ through the book, exploring how peace themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. A resource section includes ideas for how to experience peace with God, self, others, and creation, as well as maps, background information on the Bible, interactive ways to pray, and prayers for many occasions. Preorder any quantity between now and June 1 and receive a 25 percent discount. View a sample and preorder a copy today at https://shinecurriculum.com/product/the-peace-table-a-storybook-bible.
The Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry has created an online video resource of six segments featuring congregations that are creatively practicing the priesthood of all believers and thereby meeting their needs for pastoral leadership. At a time when congregations are struggling to find pastors to serve their needs, this series produced by videographer David Sollenberger is offered as a reminder that God places abundant spiritual gifts within congregations, just waiting to be discovered, affirmed, and nurtured. The series features three congregations, Warrensburg and Cabool in Missouri and Arkansas District, and Clover Creek in Middle Pennsylvania District. Their pastoral teams consist of as few as two to as many as five people. The series is a testimony to the effectiveness of the Brethren practice of the priesthood of all believers in fostering a culture of calling set-apart ministers. Find the new resource at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/shared-ministry-model.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) installed Jerry Pillay as general secretary on Feb. 17, during a service at the Ecumenical Center Chapel in Geneva, Switzerland. The Church of the Brethren is one of the founding member churches of the WCC. Pillay will serve as the WCC’s ninth general secretary. He was previously the dean of the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
Marci Frederick, director of libraries at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., is researching Brethren communion bread practices, including recipes, spiritual practices while making bread, purchased bread, and how the bread is used. In an announcement of a survey for this research, she requests “your personal and congregational stories as she attempts to track how recipes spread and changed.” The survey is open through April 30 at https://emu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QiDm3DEgvRGsU6. For more information on this Eastern Mennonite University sabbatical project, contact marci.frederick@emu.edu.
The larger Anabaptist movement will celebrate its “quincentennial”—500 years!—in January 2025. The Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society is planning several activities and published articles to lead up to that historic anniversary. The spring 2023 event will look at the The Apostolic Christian Church of America, led by Luke Fischer: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m., at the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center, 675 State Road 116 in Germantown/Metamora. A fellowship lunch will follow.
The seventh Brethren World Assembly will take place July 26-29 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and at Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia on the final day, July 29. The theme of the assembly is “Brethren Faithfulness: Priorities in Perspective.” The gathering marks 300 years of the Brethren in America and the 300th anniversary of the Germantown Church. The event also marks the centennial of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The scheduled sessions relate to the history and developments of the Brethren in America from 1723 up to the Civil War, with an additional session about EYN. Opening devotions and evening worship services will open and close each day. For the entire Assembly, July 26-29, including the day at Germantown, fees are $310 (early bird cost, registered by May 15) or $370 (regular cost, registered between May 16 and June 15). For the days in Elizabethtown only, July 26-28, fees are $190 (early bird, registered by May 15) or $225 (regular cost, registered between May 16 and June 15). One-day options are also available. Lodging is additional. Registration closes June 15. For more information, contact BWA23@etown.edu or call 717-327-8188.
Brethren Life and Thought, a joint publication of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Brethren Journal Association, invites submissions on Brethren and popular culture for a special issue. Said an announcement: “We seek creative pieces, poems, sermons, liturgical pieces, sermons, or essays on the intersection of church, faith, and popular culture (movies, music, science fiction, novels, famous figures, artists, etc.). Submissions should be emailed to editor Denise Kettering-Lane (kettede@bethanyseminary.edu) by May 15 for consideration.
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) is again this year sending an annual contribution to Bread for the World to support that organization’s advocacy work, reports GFI manager Jeff Boshart. Bread for the World every year organizes and collaborates with people of faith to carry out advocacy efforts, for example its annual “Offering of Letters” in which individuals, congregations, and other organizations write letters and emails to leaders in Washington, D.C., to inspire them to pass legislation that will reduce hunger in the United States and around the world.
On Earth Peace is planning a “Day of Celebration” for March 18, as an online event starting at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. “We are looking forward to introducing you to our interns, fellows, and staff,” said an announcement. The event, which will continue as a “drop in” throughout the rest of that afternoon and evening and will serve as a fundraising event, also will include an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s current work, share in an opening worship time, hear a spoken word poetry session exploring Kingian Nonviolence principles, participate in a Kingian Nonviolence introductory training, and participate in an On Earth Peace member meeting. For more information go to www.onearthpeace.org/oep_day_of_celebration_2023.
Creation Justice Ministries, which is a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is relaunching a “52 Ways to Care for Creation” bulletin insert series. Each week’s bulletin insert highlights a creation justice idea for action or reflection that corresponds with the season or the church calendar. Find out more at www.creationjustice.org/resource-hub/category/bulletin-insert.
The Church of the Brethren offers nursing scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 for church members who are enrolled in LPN, RN, or nursing graduate programs. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. Scholarships of up to $2,000 for RN and graduate nurse candidates, and up to $1,000 for LPN candidates, will be awarded. A preference is given to new applications. Also, preference is given to nursing students who are in their second year of an associate’s degree or third year of a baccalaureate program. Scholarship recipients are eligible for only one scholarship per degree. Nominees must be members of the Church of the Brethren. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 1. Candidates awarded scholarships will be notified in July and funds will be sent directly to the appropriate school for the fall term. Find the application form and more information at www.brethren.org/discipleshipmin/nursingscholarships.
With just under two years remaining for the denomination’s “Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church” Lilly Foundation grant, the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry gathered a group of circuit riders, advisory team members, district executives, and others at the denominational offices in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 24-26, to take a “balcony view” of the program to date and consider possibilities and direction going forward. Led by Brethren leadership coach/consultant Greg Davidson Laszakovits of GDL Insight, the group used the Gospel of Luke’s eye-opening account of the Emmaus Road as a framework for reflection, storytelling, and discernment. While the program has yielded some positive results, only about 5 percent of Brethren pastors have participated in the program thus far. That makes broader buy-in important in the next few years–especially as the program seeks sustainability after the grant has ended. A number of potential short-term and longer-term priorities emerged, including enhancing marketing and awareness of the program, encouraging a culture of “Full-Time Church” in congregations, creating a directory of speakers and resources, facilitating deeper discussions between circuit riders and pastors, having more significant connections with districts, doing a sociological survey of part-time pastors to gather their stories and seek common themes, providing curriculum resources, and sponsoring a denomination-wide event to explore leadership and cultural shifts in ministry. Learn more at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/part-time-pastor.
Brethren Press has announced the upcoming release of a storybook Bible from the “Shine” curriculum titled The Peace Table. It will include biblically faithful retellings of 140 Bible stories with colorful, diverse art by 30 illustrators. Along with each Bible story, there are prayer prompts, questions, and action ideas to guide reflection and conversation. Twelve Peace Paths allow children to ‘choose their own adventure’ through the book, exploring how peace themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. A resource section includes ideas for how to experience peace with God, self, others, and creation, as well as maps, background information on the Bible, interactive ways to pray, and prayers for many occasions. Preorder any quantity between now and June 1 and receive a 25 percent discount. View a sample and preorder a copy today at https://shinecurriculum.com/product/the-peace-table-a-storybook-bible.
The Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry has created an online video resource of six segments featuring congregations that are creatively practicing the priesthood of all believers and thereby meeting their needs for pastoral leadership. At a time when congregations are struggling to find pastors to serve their needs, this series produced by videographer David Sollenberger is offered as a reminder that God places abundant spiritual gifts within congregations, just waiting to be discovered, affirmed, and nurtured. The series features three congregations, Warrensburg and Cabool in Missouri and Arkansas District, and Clover Creek in Middle Pennsylvania District. Their pastoral teams consist of as few as two to as many as five people. The series is a testimony to the effectiveness of the Brethren practice of the priesthood of all believers in fostering a culture of calling set-apart ministers. Find the new resource at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/shared-ministry-model.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) installed Jerry Pillay as general secretary on Feb. 17, during a service at the Ecumenical Center Chapel in Geneva, Switzerland. The Church of the Brethren is one of the founding member churches of the WCC. Pillay will serve as the WCC’s ninth general secretary. He was previously the dean of the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and is from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.
Marci Frederick, director of libraries at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., is researching Brethren communion bread practices, including recipes, spiritual practices while making bread, purchased bread, and how the bread is used. In an announcement of a survey for this research, she requests “your personal and congregational stories as she attempts to track how recipes spread and changed.” The survey is open through April 30 at https://emu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6QiDm3DEgvRGsU6. For more information on this Eastern Mennonite University sabbatical project, contact marci.frederick@emu.edu.
The larger Anabaptist movement will celebrate its “quincentennial”—500 years!—in January 2025. The Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society is planning several activities and published articles to lead up to that historic anniversary. The spring 2023 event will look at the The Apostolic Christian Church of America, led by Luke Fischer: Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m., at the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center, 675 State Road 116 in Germantown/Metamora. A fellowship lunch will follow.
The seventh Brethren World Assembly will take place July 26-29 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and at Germantown Church of the Brethren in Philadelphia on the final day, July 29. The theme of the assembly is “Brethren Faithfulness: Priorities in Perspective.” The gathering marks 300 years of the Brethren in America and the 300th anniversary of the Germantown Church. The event also marks the centennial of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). The scheduled sessions relate to the history and developments of the Brethren in America from 1723 up to the Civil War, with an additional session about EYN. Opening devotions and evening worship services will open and close each day. For the entire Assembly, July 26-29, including the day at Germantown, fees are $310 (early bird cost, registered by May 15) or $370 (regular cost, registered between May 16 and June 15). For the days in Elizabethtown only, July 26-28, fees are $190 (early bird, registered by May 15) or $225 (regular cost, registered between May 16 and June 15). One-day options are also available. Lodging is additional. Registration closes June 15. For more information, contact BWA23@etown.edu or call 717-327-8188.
Brethren Life and Thought, a joint publication of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Brethren Journal Association, invites submissions on Brethren and popular culture for a special issue. Said an announcement: “We seek creative pieces, poems, sermons, liturgical pieces, sermons, or essays on the intersection of church, faith, and popular culture (movies, music, science fiction, novels, famous figures, artists, etc.). Submissions should be emailed to editor Denise Kettering-Lane (kettede@bethanyseminary.edu) by May 15 for consideration.
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) is again this year sending an annual contribution to Bread for the World to support that organization’s advocacy work, reports GFI manager Jeff Boshart. Bread for the World every year organizes and collaborates with people of faith to carry out advocacy efforts, for example its annual “Offering of Letters” in which individuals, congregations, and other organizations write letters and emails to leaders in Washington, D.C., to inspire them to pass legislation that will reduce hunger in the United States and around the world.
On Earth Peace is planning a “Day of Celebration” for March 18, as an online event starting at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. “We are looking forward to introducing you to our interns, fellows, and staff,” said an announcement. The event, which will continue as a “drop in” throughout the rest of that afternoon and evening and will serve as a fundraising event, also will include an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s current work, share in an opening worship time, hear a spoken word poetry session exploring Kingian Nonviolence principles, participate in a Kingian Nonviolence introductory training, and participate in an On Earth Peace member meeting. For more information go to www.onearthpeace.org/oep_day_of_celebration_2023.
Creation Justice Ministries, which is a partner organization for the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy is relaunching a “52 Ways to Care for Creation” bulletin insert series. Each week’s bulletin insert highlights a creation justice idea for action or reflection that corresponds with the season or the church calendar. Find out more at www.creationjustice.org/resource-hub/category/bulletin-insert.
The Church of the Brethren offers nursing scholarships of $1,000 to $2,000 for church members who are enrolled in LPN, RN, or nursing graduate programs. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. Scholarships of up to $2,000 for RN and graduate nurse candidates, and up to $1,000 for LPN candidates, will be awarded. A preference is given to new applications. Also, preference is given to nursing students who are in their second year of an associate’s degree or third year of a baccalaureate program. Scholarship recipients are eligible for only one scholarship per degree. Nominees must be members of the Church of the Brethren. Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by April 1. Candidates awarded scholarships will be notified in July and funds will be sent directly to the appropriate school for the fall term. Find the application form and more information at www.brethren.org/discipleshipmin/nursingscholarships.
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