MINISTRY NEWS

Northwest region pastors will be meeting at 2 p.m. March 18 at the Mount Morris church. 

The Church of the Brethren will offer an in-person ethics training during the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C., on Wednesday, July 2, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Eastern, for those who still need it for this cycle. Participants will receive 0.5 CEU’s. Please let the district office know by June 1 if you plan to attend this session. The district also will plan to offer one more training through the denomination’s Ministry Office in late summer or early fall for any others who still need to complete it. The training is required every five years as part of the ordination/commissioning renewal cycle, which ends in 2025. 

All ministers should also begin gathering information for their CEU report, which will be due beginning mid-2025. Copies of the continuing education report form can be found at https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/forms/. The district Ministry Leadership Development Team (MLDT) will be completing document reviews and renewals for all credentialed ministers in the district later this year. Please contact the district office with any questions. 

This year’s pre-Annual Conference Ministers’ Association continuing education event will focus on the theme “A Place for Every Body: Disability, Accessibility, and the Church.” The conference will be presented by Jeanne Davies (York Center), executive director of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network, who will offer sessions on “What Disables Us?,” “Creating Accessible Congregations,” and “Accessible Worship.” Registration opened March 5. Plan to arrive on Tuesday, July 1, in time for the Meet and Greet dinner and the opening session that evening. The Wednesday, July 2, sessions conclude at 4 p.m. Find the registration link and flyer at www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/sustaining/#event. 

Eder Financial recently rolled out its Flourishing in Ministry program in partnership with Biola University, providing free coaching and assistance to pastors and clergy. An email with information was recently sent out to all clergy. For more information, contact Eder Financial at dparrott@eder.org or 800-746-1505. 

Congregational vacancies: 

Dutchtown (Milledgeville): The congregation is currently using pulpit supply, with Tim Livengood, Ed Livengood, and Randall Westfall among those periodically filling the pulpit. District executive Walt Wiltschek met with the board on Feb. 23 to help develop future plans. 

Highland Avenue (Elgin): The congregation has called Krista Dutt (Chicago First) as its interim pastor, beginning April 1. Krista completed her M.Div. at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and will be going through the credentialing process in our district. The congregation is working on a congregational profile and calling a search committee. District executive Walt Wiltschek met with the church on Feb. 16. 

Lanark: A search committee has been formed, and the congregational profile has been posted. Rick Koch will be serving as part-time interim through March, preaching two to three Sundays per month. Randall Westfall is also filling the pulpit once a month. A possible longer-term interim possibility is being considered. 

Woodland: Local pastor Mathew Thiner is serving as an interim preacher and providing some pastoral care. Woodland member Kevin Sager is also helping to provide interim leadership, aided by a congregational team. 

York Center: A search committee has been formed, and a congregational profile has been published. Jonathan Shively and Tony Asta are serving as an interim pastoral team through at least June 30. District executive Walt Wiltschek met with the search committee in early February, and another meeting is scheduled during March.