PERSONNEL NOTES

Jim Miner (Highland Avenue) will retire as Yearbook Specialist for the Church of the Brethren effective June 26. In this role, which he began in November 2016, he has been responsible for creating the annual Church of the Brethren Yearbook. This includes maintaining the official list of congregations and compiling denominational statistics. In previous employment with the church, Jim worked in the Information Technology department as computer programmer and systems analyst from September 1981 to March 1997. In total, he has worked for the Church of the Brethren almost 24 years.

Mishael Nouveau has resigned as the office manager for the Church of the Brethren Ministry Office effective June 27. Mishael began her service on January 29, 2018. Serving as a liaison between the Ministry Office and the districts and agencies, she has supported the functioning of the Office through overseeing the management of ministerial data during periods of significant change and transition. She will soon be completing a Ph.D. that she has been working at as part of her professional development.

Keith Call has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as director of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. Keith most recently served as an archivist for the College Church of Wheaton (Ill.) but spent the bulk of his career as assistant archivist at the Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections, Buswell Library. He has published two history books about Wheaton and one about Oregon, Illinois, as well as six published compilations, including The Ancient-Future Visionary and Worship is the Road to Revival, both by Dr. Robert E. Webber; Musings on a Starry Night and Pondering the Permanent Things, both by Dr. Thomas Howard; and A Well of Wonder: Essays on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien and the Inklings and The Arts and the Christian Imagination: Essays on Art, Literature and Aesthetics, both by Dr. Clyde S. Kilby. He is currently working on compilations by poet Malcolm Guite and poet Luci Shaw. He began working at the General Offices in Elgin on June 2.

Jazmin Gongora has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as administrative assistant for Discipleship and Leadership Formation. Jazmin most recently served as an administrative assistant at School District 300 in Algonquin, Ill. Raised by Mennonite missionary parents, Jazmin has a great love and appreciation for Anabaptist traditions. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and is eager to serve the church. Jazmin will begin working at the General Offices in Elgin on June 17.

The Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren has called Kevin Daggett and Rebecca House to serve as co-district executive ministers beginning Sept. 15. Each will serve half-time carrying out the varied responsibilities of the position as determined through their partnership with the district’s Leadership Team. Kevin has served in pastoral ministry for over 30 years in congregations in Shenandoah, Southeastern, and Virlina districts. He currently serves as pastor of Dayton Church of the Brethren and chair of the Shenandoah District’s Leadership Team. Kevin will conclude his ministry at Dayton in mid-August. In addition to his role as co-district executive minister, Kevin will also assume the responsibilities of the director of Ministerial Services, an eighth-time district position that has been unfilled for several years. Kevin is a 1984 graduate of Bridgewater College and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1989. He was ordained by the Virlina district from the Daleville congregation. Kevin lives in Bridgewater, Va. Rebecca has served in pastoral ministry for 17 years in congregations in Shenandoah, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern Ohio/Kentucky districts. She currently serves as associate pastor of Staunton Church of the Brethren. Rebecca will conclude her ministry there in early September. In addition to her role as co-district executive minister, Rebecca will continue her quarter-time role as the district’s director of District Conference and Youth Services for the Shenandoah District. Rebecca is a 2000 graduate of Bridgewater College and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2007. She was ordained by the Mid-Atlantic District from the Union Bridge (Md.) congregation. Rebecca lives in Weyers Cave, Va.

On Earth Peace is congratulating Darlene Johnson on her retirement after nearly 25 years with the agency. She has served as co-executive director and administration director. The agency also is welcoming Andrew Duffy as interim transition director. Johnson worked from On Earth Peace’s office at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., beginning at a time when The Peace Place bookstore was located there and On Earth Peace founder M.R. Zigler would eat his lunches in the cafeteria. Previously, Johnson also worked with SERRV, also located at the Brethren Service Center. During her tenure, On Earth Peace shifted from a fully staffed in-person office to a fully remote and decentralized workplace, and also made programmatic shifts. Duffy has spent his career helping people and organizations navigate conflict and change, with work spanning 15-plus countries. Starting as a peer mediator at age 10, he’s stayed committed to making peacebuilding and leadership more approachable and practical. He holds a degree in history from Manchester University (North Manchester, Ind.) and a master’s in international politics and security studies from the University of Bradford. He is completing a doctorate in conflict analysis at Nova Southeastern University. In his role as transition director, he will help On Earth Peace update and develop processes for its decentralized workplace and contribute to strategic planning toward future permanent staffing.

Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADN) recently said goodbye to communications director Emily Hunsbaker after six years of service to the organization and welcomed Sarah Werner this month as the new communications director. Werner is also the communications coordinator for Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA. She comes to ADN with 10 years of experience as a writer and editor. Werner lives in Columbus, Ohio, and attends Columbus Mennonite Church. She also teaches theology and biblical studies courses with PATHWAYS, a theological education program of the United Church of Christ.