DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE

Camp Blue Diamond near Petersburg, Pa., hosted the Church of the Brethren Young Adult Conference May 22-24, drawing 44 attendees from all over the US. The theme “Identity in Community,” based on Romans 12:4-5, anchored the weekend. Preachers Cristal Herrera, Doug Diamond, Naomi Kraenbring, and Nolan McBride focused on different aspects of this idea, such as how different identities work together to create a community. Josh and Kevin Adler led music. David Steele, general secretary of the Church of the Brethren, and Dennis Beckner, Annual Conference moderator-elect, were also in attendance.

The Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) has begun renting warehouse space at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The Church of the Brethren has welcomed the organization as its new partner at the center, where it is using space formerly occupied by the Material Resources program that ended in 2025. CMMB began use of the center facilities on May 1, although its staff have been onsite for months in preparation for their move. In late summer or early fall, a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Brethren Service Center will celebrate the new partnership.

Messenger magazine and the Communications department of the Church of the Brethren received six awards—three awards of excellence, one award of merit, and two honorable mentions—in the Associated Church Press 2025 “Best of the Church Press” contest. The awards were given during the ACP’s annual convention in mid-May, with 225 winners among more than 700 entries in nearly 90 categories.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. (Eastern time), the 56th Annual Dunker Church Service will be held at the historic Dunker Church on the Antietam National Battlefield near Hagerstown, Md.—one of the most hallowed and iconic landscapes of the American Civil War. The service will include a welcome, call to worship, congregational hymns, scripture readings, special music, prayers, and a featured message from Denise Kettering-Lane, associate professor of Brethren Studies and director of the Master of Arts Program at Bethany Theological Seminary. 

Intercultural Ministries Café: Faith & Culture Conversations—rooted in relationship, discipleship, and practical intercultural engagement—will be held once a month through Oct. 20. The registration link is available at www.brethren.org/intercultural/#cafe.

The Church of the Brethren’s webpage on conscientious objection to war is at www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co. Links on this page direct young people who want to learn more about what conscientious objection means and its biblical and Brethren roots to a free downloadable curriculum titled “Call of Conscience.” The direct link to the curriculum is www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co/introduction.