PERSONNEL NOTES

The Western Plains District has called Blaine and Nancy Miner to serve as co-district executive ministers in a half-time role. While they will begin familiarizing themselves on a limited basis with the work of the district during June and July, their formal starting date will be Aug. 5 following the Western Plains District conference.  During the initial transition into the role the first few months, Blaine will offer more hours in the role while Nancy will work fewer of the hours until her retirement from employment in the Church of the Brethren general secretary’s office on Oct. 31. Blaine holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Elizabethtown (Pa.) College and a Master of Arts in Theology from Bethany Theological Seminary. He was ordained by the Illinois/Wisconsin District through the Highland Avenue congregation in 1996. His ministry experience includes a pastorate of the Dixon congregation and multiple positions as chaplain for the State of Illinois. He served as district moderator in 2021. He is currently pursuing spiritual direction training through the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation of Lino Lakes, Minn. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree from McPherson (Kan.) College. Her employment with the Church of the Brethren began in 1993 with various administrative positions with Eder Financial (then Brethren Benefit Trust) and the Association of Brethren Caregivers/Caring Ministries. She has served as office manager for the general secretary’s office since May 2009. Blaine and Nancy are members of Highland Avenue (Elgin). They plan to relocate to the Cedars Retirement Center in McPherson, Kansas in the future. They are parents of two young adult children, Cori (Adam) and Grant (fiancé, Nikki).

Bethany Theological Seminary has hired Doug Macias as director of fundraising and constituent relations. Macias has served as community development officer at Natco Credit Union since 2021. He has 20 years of experience in the credit union industry. Macias has held positions with Atlas Community Credit Union, Missouri Credit Union Association, CUNA Mutual Group, and The Revenue Path Group. An active volunteer leader in the local community, Macias has served on the boards of the non-profit organizations Birth-to-Five, Girls Inc., and Safety Village of Wayne County, Ind. He is also active with the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. In this new role, Macias will develop and lead the seminary’s “mass-market” fundraising efforts, as well as working with individual donors in support of the annual fund and Flourish: A Campaign for Bethany Theological Seminary. His first day in the office was June 3.

Jacqueline Claire Flowers has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. She holds a Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Argosy University. Claire will begin working from the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., on July 15.

Eric Miller concluded his work with the Church of the Brethren as executive director of Global Mission on May 15. Eric began his service on March 8, 2021, initially serving as co-director with his wife, Ruoxia Li. Roy Winter, executive director for Service Ministries, will provide interim leadership for Global Mission during the time of transition.