PERSONNEL NOTES

The Church of the Brethren has named John Fillmore as director of ministry, effective Nov. 2. As part of the denomination’s Discipleship and Leadership Formation team, he will lead the Ministry Office, equipping ministers, supporting congregations and districts, and strengthening pastoral leadership across the denomination. Fillmore has served as pastor of Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren since 2011. He also serves as district executive for the Idaho and Western Montana District and as a circuit rider for the Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program, supporting congregations and pastoral leaders across the denomination. Beginning Nov. 2, he will devote his ministry full time to the Church of the Brethren’s Ministry Office, working remotely from his home in Idaho. Fillmore earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, Idaho), a Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Portland (Ore.) Seminary at George Fox University. In addition to his congregational and district leadership, he has led numerous denomination-wide Zoom book studies. Fillmore succeeds Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, who retired in July after nearly nine years of service as director of the Ministry Office.

Rachel Johnson, who has been serving as National Youth Conference coordinator, will begin a one-year, part-time role as the Youth & Young Adult Ministries assistant on Aug. 24, working from her home in Pennsylvania. She will work remotely to support the programming and administration of Youth and Young Adult Ministries programs, providing extra denominational support to regional youth conferences of the Church of the Brethren. Rachel will build online registration forms and provide social media content creation for 2027 events, including Christian Citizenship Seminar, National Junior High Conference, and Young Adult Conference. She will also collaborate with groups responsible for planning regional youth conferences, offering administrative support, and planning consultation.

Beth Sollenberger is retiring from her role as interim director of administration for the Atlantic Southeastern District of the Church of the Brethren effective Sept. 30. Beth has served in this position since April 1, 2024. During her tenure Atlantic Southeast hosted a CODE event featuring the multi-cultural ministries in the district. She was also one of the district representatives instrumental in the creation of the Deportation Defense Response Team; following her retirement the DDR Mutual and Legal Aid Fund will have a new address, which will be announced soon.