DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE
Brethren Press has published a new book,
Notes to the Church
, by Wendy McFadden, gathering thoughts from her “From the Publisher” column in
Messenger
. She has written for the magazine for several decades, offering brief bits of wisdom each month to prompt further thought and discussion. The book($20) is available at
www.brethrenpress.com, or call 800-441-3712.
The 2025 budget parameter for the Church of the Brethren’s Core Ministries was approved by the Mission and Ministry board at its July 3 meeting, with $5.13 million in income and $5.66 million in expense. This parameter was recommended by the executive committee, with a few changes from the original staff proposal. The revised parameter includes, among other things, an increase in the cost-of-living adjustment for employee salary and benefits from the proposed 1 percent to 2.5percent for 2025 and changing the use of designated funds in the original parameter from $481,000 to $0. In approving the revised parameter–which is based on 10-year giving trends as well as investment transfers–the board also approved a significant budget deficit of $529,000, which is to be addressed by executive committee between now and the fall board meeting. The board also called a new executive committee for 2024-2025: Michaela Alphonse, Joel Gibbel, and Rosanna Eller McFadden will serve with chair Colin Scott and chair-elect Kathy Mack.
Mutual Aid Agency (MAA), which is related to the Church of the Brethren, and its partner agency Brotherhood Mutual are offering a set of resources free to congregations and their leadership. The following may be downloaded from online links: “Child Protection in a Ministry Environment–Guidelines for Ministry Workers,” “Protect Your Ministry’s Directors and Officers,” “Protect Your Roof from Early Failure,” and “Three Payroll Problems to Avoid.” Find out more about MAA at https://maabrethren.com.
A new website for Shine Everywhere, the initiative for faith formation at home and at church from the Shine curriculum of Brethren Press and Menno Media, has opened at https://shineeverywhere.com. An introduction to Shine Everywhere is on the “About” page of the website, as well as a PDF of a slide show summarizing what Shine Everywhere is about, resources you can use, and how to join. Under the “Join” tab are ways to participate in Shine Everywhere including signing up to receive news and updates, joining the Shine Everywhere Facebook group, doing a Leaders Listening Project with the parents of your congregation, and learning at-home practices. Resources for learning the “Six Practices that Grow Faith at Home” and how to use the “Follow the Peace Path” Shine card deck are under the “Practices” tab.
Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren continued its 300th anniversary celebrations with a worship celebration and the dedication of a new plaque marking the three-century milestone on July 28. Germantown, located in the Philadelphia area, is the “mother church” of the Brethren movement and the oldest continuously existing Brethren congregation. Conestoga Church of the Brethren in Leola, Pa., is holding a 300th year celebration Nov. 9-10, with a special event at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, and a morning worship celebration beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, founded by the Church of the Brethren in 1899, is celebrating its 125th anniversary by hosting events throughout its 2024-25 academic year as well as posting related information and highlights from its history on the college website. An Aug. 23 convocation marks the official start to the college’s 125th anniversary year. On April 25, 2025, a 125th Celebration Gala will close out the anniversary year.
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran announced that he has secured $2.1 million in new, congressionally directed funding for McPherson (Kan.) College during a news conference on campus June 27. According to a release from the college, “the federal funds will support the college’s initiative to create an educational center in Kansas for Rural and Community Health Science.”
For the first time in its history, Bethany Theological Seminary held commencement ceremonies in both Richmond, Ind., and Jos, Nigeria, this year. Watch video from both ceremonies on the seminary’s YouTube channel: the Jos commencement at www.youtube.com/watch?v=brPZQ-QIugE and the Richmond commencement at www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5eQsZi7tUc. View additional photos at https://bethanyseminary.edu/commencement.
The Church of the Brethren’s Standing with People of Color Committee has created a curated resource list featuring books, articles, media, and additional resources that provide insight, education, and understanding of anti-racism and racial justice. This guide will be continually improved as the committee obtains and identifies more relevant resources. It is designed to aid in reflection, discussion, and personal growth. For suggestions and comments on this guide, email standingwithpeopleofcolor@brethren.org. The resource list can be found at www.brethren.org/swpoc or www.onearthpeace.org/swpoc.
The Anabaptist Community Bible invites you to read scripture with fresh eyes and to discover how key Anabaptist themes are woven throughout the stories of the Bible and your own life. Expertly designed using the Common English Bible translation, the Anabaptist Community Bible will connect you more deeply to the biblical story, the Anabaptist story, and your own story. More than 7,200 marginal notes alongside the biblical text feature commentary from Anabaptist scholars, historical notes from the tradition, and the insights of nearly 600 Bible study groups. This pairing of notes and introductions alongside the biblical text commemorates the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism by modeling a community-based approach to reading scripture and calling readers to follow Jesus in word and deed. Pre-publication discounts are available from Brethren Press through Oct. 15. Order online at www.brethrenpress.com or call 800-441-3712 to use your Brethren Press account. Orders will begin shipping in January 2025.
The Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team is seeking congregational ambassadors. A role description is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QbQhC3qYsl8FhFWEk9Z5Zr6jWmX5S7M4/view.To express interest, email the team at cob-gvp@onearthpeace.org. Also, the team now has a custom orange t-shirt available for purchase. Go to https://on-earth-peace-merch.printify.me/product/7692810/oep-gun-violence-prevention-campaign-t-shirt.
The 2025 budget parameter for the Church of the Brethren’s Core Ministries was approved by the Mission and Ministry board at its July 3 meeting, with $5.13 million in income and $5.66 million in expense. This parameter was recommended by the executive committee, with a few changes from the original staff proposal. The revised parameter includes, among other things, an increase in the cost-of-living adjustment for employee salary and benefits from the proposed 1 percent to 2.5percent for 2025 and changing the use of designated funds in the original parameter from $481,000 to $0. In approving the revised parameter–which is based on 10-year giving trends as well as investment transfers–the board also approved a significant budget deficit of $529,000, which is to be addressed by executive committee between now and the fall board meeting. The board also called a new executive committee for 2024-2025: Michaela Alphonse, Joel Gibbel, and Rosanna Eller McFadden will serve with chair Colin Scott and chair-elect Kathy Mack.
Mutual Aid Agency (MAA), which is related to the Church of the Brethren, and its partner agency Brotherhood Mutual are offering a set of resources free to congregations and their leadership. The following may be downloaded from online links: “Child Protection in a Ministry Environment–Guidelines for Ministry Workers,” “Protect Your Ministry’s Directors and Officers,” “Protect Your Roof from Early Failure,” and “Three Payroll Problems to Avoid.” Find out more about MAA at https://maabrethren.com.
A new website for Shine Everywhere, the initiative for faith formation at home and at church from the Shine curriculum of Brethren Press and Menno Media, has opened at https://shineeverywhere.com. An introduction to Shine Everywhere is on the “About” page of the website, as well as a PDF of a slide show summarizing what Shine Everywhere is about, resources you can use, and how to join. Under the “Join” tab are ways to participate in Shine Everywhere including signing up to receive news and updates, joining the Shine Everywhere Facebook group, doing a Leaders Listening Project with the parents of your congregation, and learning at-home practices. Resources for learning the “Six Practices that Grow Faith at Home” and how to use the “Follow the Peace Path” Shine card deck are under the “Practices” tab.
Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren continued its 300th anniversary celebrations with a worship celebration and the dedication of a new plaque marking the three-century milestone on July 28. Germantown, located in the Philadelphia area, is the “mother church” of the Brethren movement and the oldest continuously existing Brethren congregation. Conestoga Church of the Brethren in Leola, Pa., is holding a 300th year celebration Nov. 9-10, with a special event at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, and a morning worship celebration beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, founded by the Church of the Brethren in 1899, is celebrating its 125th anniversary by hosting events throughout its 2024-25 academic year as well as posting related information and highlights from its history on the college website. An Aug. 23 convocation marks the official start to the college’s 125th anniversary year. On April 25, 2025, a 125th Celebration Gala will close out the anniversary year.
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran announced that he has secured $2.1 million in new, congressionally directed funding for McPherson (Kan.) College during a news conference on campus June 27. According to a release from the college, “the federal funds will support the college’s initiative to create an educational center in Kansas for Rural and Community Health Science.”
For the first time in its history, Bethany Theological Seminary held commencement ceremonies in both Richmond, Ind., and Jos, Nigeria, this year. Watch video from both ceremonies on the seminary’s YouTube channel: the Jos commencement at www.youtube.com/watch?v=brPZQ-QIugE and the Richmond commencement at www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5eQsZi7tUc. View additional photos at https://bethanyseminary.edu/commencement.
The Church of the Brethren’s Standing with People of Color Committee has created a curated resource list featuring books, articles, media, and additional resources that provide insight, education, and understanding of anti-racism and racial justice. This guide will be continually improved as the committee obtains and identifies more relevant resources. It is designed to aid in reflection, discussion, and personal growth. For suggestions and comments on this guide, email standingwithpeopleofcolor@brethren.org. The resource list can be found at www.brethren.org/swpoc or www.onearthpeace.org/swpoc.
The Anabaptist Community Bible invites you to read scripture with fresh eyes and to discover how key Anabaptist themes are woven throughout the stories of the Bible and your own life. Expertly designed using the Common English Bible translation, the Anabaptist Community Bible will connect you more deeply to the biblical story, the Anabaptist story, and your own story. More than 7,200 marginal notes alongside the biblical text feature commentary from Anabaptist scholars, historical notes from the tradition, and the insights of nearly 600 Bible study groups. This pairing of notes and introductions alongside the biblical text commemorates the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism by modeling a community-based approach to reading scripture and calling readers to follow Jesus in word and deed. Pre-publication discounts are available from Brethren Press through Oct. 15. Order online at www.brethrenpress.com or call 800-441-3712 to use your Brethren Press account. Orders will begin shipping in January 2025.
The Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team is seeking congregational ambassadors. A role description is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QbQhC3qYsl8FhFWEk9Z5Zr6jWmX5S7M4/view.To express interest, email the team at cob-gvp@onearthpeace.org. Also, the team now has a custom orange t-shirt available for purchase. Go to https://on-earth-peace-merch.printify.me/product/7692810/oep-gun-violence-prevention-campaign-t-shirt.
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