EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

• Upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership include “Interim Ministry,” online July 31-Sept.24, led by Tara Hornbacker (registration deadline June 16); “Church of the Brethren History,” online Aug. 21-Oct. 15, led by Denise Kettering-Lane (registration deadline July 17); “Introduction to the New Testament,” online Oct. 16-Dec. 10, led by Matt Boersma(registration deadline Sept. 11); “A Place of Refuge,” travel seminar to Atlanta, Jan. 7-15,led by Josh Brockway (registration deadline Nov. 1). Register and pay online at Brethren Academy Course Registration/Biannual TRIM Payment | Bethany Theological Seminary(bethanyseminary.edu).

• The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is also offering Listening fort he Sound of Genuine July 2-3 with Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey as facilitator. This course is a Directed Independent Study Unit (DISU) in conjunction with attending the Ministers' Association Pre-Conference event with Frank A. Thomas, in Grand Rapids, Mich. TRIM/EFSM students will receive one credit in Ministry Skills upon completion. This also qualifies for the Annual Conference Experience. Clergy seeking CEUs will receive 2 continuing education units upon successful completion of this course. Registration deadline is May 28 at https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/brethren-academy-course-listings/brethren-academy-course-registration-annual-trim-payment/. Learn moreabout the conference, and register for the conference, at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/.

• Upcoming Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) continuing education courses include “Suicide and Your Congregation,” led by Julie Guistwite, June4, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Central, via Zoom, cost $35 (with 0.3 CEU’s); “Autism and the Church,” led by Lisa Kruse, Tim Miller, David Crumrine, and Stan Dueck, Sept. 26,8 a.m.-2 p.m. Central, via Zoom, cost $45 (with 0.5 CEU’s); and “Grief Literacy,” led by Julie Guistwite, Oct. 1, 12-3 p.m. Central, via Zoom, cost $35 (with 0.3 CEU’s).Course prices are $10 less without CEU’s. Register by visiting the SVMC course page or by contacting Karen Hodges at karenhodges@svmccob.org.

• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center offers a variety of training sessions. For details and registration information, go to https://lmpeacecenter.org/all-events/.

• NCP Learning Tours: New Community Project will offer an educational trip to Lybrook, N.M., June 20-26; to the Denali/Kenai Fjords region of Alaska July 28-Aug. 4; and to Arctic Village, Alaska, Aug. 4-12. 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.

• A Church of the Brethren L.E.A.D. (Listen – Equip – Adapt – Disciple) Conference is planned for Nov. 15-17, 2024, sponsored by the denomination’s Discipleship and Leadership Formation department. The event will be hosted at Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren on the scripture theme 2 Timothy 2:2. This will be a leadership development conference for congregational leaders such as pastors and church board members. The focus will be on raising the leadership skills of congregational leaders to help them be more effective in their local ministries. The event will be a mix of plenary and break-out sessions. Attendance will be capped at 250 participants. More information and registration will be available closer to the date.

• Video recordings of online events sponsored by the Part-time Pastor, Full-time Church program of the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Ministry are available online at https://vimeo.com/ptpftcbrethren. Among them is a webinar with Jon Ritner, author of the book Positively Irritating: Embracing a Post-Christian World to Form a More Faithful and Innovative Church, hosted by Ryan Braught, church planter and pastor of Veritas Community, a Church of the Brethren congregation. For more information contact Tabitha H. Rudy, administrative assistant for Part-time Pastor, Full-time Church, at adminptpftc@brethren.org.

• The denomination's Part-time Pastor; Full-Time Church program is beginning a book study on May 15, and registration is still open (extended from the earlier deadline). The study will be facilitated by Richard Wehrle, program manager for Thriving in Ministry. Over the course of seven weeks, participants will engage in discussion around a newly released book by Rev. Callie Swanlund, From Weary to Wholehearted: A Restorative Resource for Overcoming Clergy Burnout. Sessions will take place 7-8:30 p.m. Central on May 15 and 7-8 p.m. Central on succeeding Wednesdays. Swanlund will be in attendance for the initial session, and she will also lead a hybrid equipping session and speak at a dinner event ("Kinship and Pork Chops") at Annual Conference in July. Register at https://forms.gle/VrzqesrH8FWEB5Qc6.