DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE

The Global Women's Project Lenten Calendar has become a seasonal staple for many looking for a meaningful, educational spiritual practice during Lent. The calendar offers daily devotional thoughts and chances to respond. It is available free; a digital copy is on the Global Women’s Project website for anyone who signs up to receive the brief daily emails. To access it, go to: https://globalwomensproject.org/worship-and-education-resources/lenten-calendar/. The Lenten calendar features images from GWP partner projects, educational reflections, and challenges. To receive a physical copy, email cobgwp@gmail.com.

Former Bethany Theological Seminary trustee Kathy Melhorn and her husband, Mark, have made a $1.4 million commitment to Flourish: A Campaign for Bethany Theological Seminary. The Melhorns, who live in Wichita, Kansas, have made an estate gift that can be used to fund a variety of needs at the seminary. They have also made an additional gift to support faculty innovation and creativity. The gift establishes the Ramsey-Melhorn Faculty Innovation Fund.

Registration for Song and Story Fest 2025 at Camp Brethren Woods in Keezletown, Va., July 6-12, is now available, using this online form. More details about Song and Story Fest can be found here. Online registration and payment are again being offered to help streamline the process. Pay online (additional 3% fee) or send a check to On Earth Peace, after submitting your registration online. Using the online registration form is preferred, but the form can also be printed and mailed if needed.

The Church of the Brethren Council of District Executives (CODE), representing the denomination’s 23 districts, met Jan. 25-29 in Melbourne, Fla., with some members coming early to do a well-received professional education training event with facilitator Lon Swartzentruber. Business during the meetings included updates on a new CODE member website, conversation around ministry polity and denominational programs that relate to CODE, updates and sharing from the various districts, and times of worship. John Fillmore (Idaho) was called to fill an unexpired term on the Ministry Advisory Council, and Nancy and Blaine Miner (Western Plains) were affirmed to serve on the Mission and Ministry Planning Council. John Jantzi (Shenandoah) was recognized as he prepares to retire in March.

“Early Anabaptism in Global Perspective: Past, Present, and Future at 500 Years” is the topic for a conference at the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College on July 22-24. This conference marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Anabaptist movement will revisit early Anabaptism and give special attention to the global context in which it emerged and spread. Speakers will also consider how Anabaptist history has been received by churches and academics in more recent times and in varying contexts around the world. With more than three dozen plenary sessions, papers, seminars, and roundtables by presenters from ten countries, the conference will examine such varied themes as migration, diplomacy, the arts, colonialism, peacemaking, and theological identity. Optional pre- and post-conference field trips will visit area libraries and archives and the 1719 Museum. Find out more and register at www.etown.edu/centers/young-center/anabaptism-conference-2025.aspx. A worship service commemorating the 500^th anniversary took place in Goshen, Ind., on Jan. 21.

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) orientation dates for 2025 have been set and applications are open. The application form can be found at www.brethren.org/bvs/volunteer/apply. Orientation dates will be July 27-Aug. 4, summer orientation (Unit 337), at Camp Colorado in Sedalia, Colo. Sept. 10-18, fall orientation (Unit 338), at Camp Mardela in Denton, Md.