MINISTRY NEWS
On April 12, a "Reflections on Anabaptist History at 500" event will take place at 10 a.m. at the Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center, 675 State Route 116 in Metamora, near Peoria. The event will feature Hesston (Kan.) College history and Bible professor emeritus John Sharp. All are welcome, and there is no charge. A fellowship lunch will follow the presentation. 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 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.
Denominational efforts are currently under way to support congregations who are being affected by deportations of undocumented people, either those who have members who are undocumented or who minister to those communities, or who are allies of such groups. If your congregation would have interest in being connected to these efforts, please contact the district office.
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.
For any clergy currently in active part-time ministry, Ryan Braught—a "circuit rider" with the denomination's Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program—is offering free, monthly one-hour coaching sessions. He describes the sessions as "times where I listen, encourage, support, ask questions, and help to bring clarity." Ryan is a Brethren pastor/church planter in Lancaster County, Pa., so the sessions would be held via Zoom or a similar platform. It can be done as a one-time trial or set up a larger framework of ongoing coaching. Contact Ryan at ryan@veritaschurchpa.org.
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): Ed Livengood is serving as an internal preacher and providing pastoral care. Ed is pursuing a call to ministry and has recently entered the discernment process, with Rick Koch serving as district mentor.
Highland Avenue (Elgin): The congregation called Krista Dutt (Chicago First) as its interim pastor, and she began April 1. Krista completed her M.Div. at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and plans to go through the credentialing process in our district. The congregation is working on a congregational profile and calling a search committee.
Lanark: The congregational profile is circulating, and the search committee has begun doing interview. The congregation is using pulpit supply this spring.
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 (Lombard): 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 and recently extended their contract through Sept. 30. The search committee is in the interview process.
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