DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE

Messenger, the Church of the Brethren magazine, received three awards—an award of excellence, an award of merit, and an honorable mention—from the Associated Church Press in the 2024 “Best of the Church Press” contest. Awards were announced during the ACP’s annual convention in Chicago April 30-May 2. Paul Grout’s artwork titled “The Holy Family” received an award of excellence in the category Visual Communications: Illustration with Article or Cutline. It appeared on the cover and on page 16 of the December 2024 issue of Messenger. William Miller’s article “Healthy Planet, Healthy People” received an award of merit in the category Reporting and Writing: Science Writing for the World of Faith. It appeared in the May 2024 issue of Messenger. And Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford’s article “What do we spend on war?” received an honorable mention in the category Reporting and Writing: Service Journalism. It appeared in the June 2024 issue of Messenger.

Anabaptist Disabilities Network has published The Story of God’s First People, a Bible study curriculum for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. Written by Jeanne Davies (York Center), ADN’s executive director, this Bible study fills the need for faith formation resources written specifically for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities from an Anabaptist perspective. This study includes six lessons covering key figures in the Old Testament. Each story features a captivating illustration by Dona Park that incorporates people of various genders and races, as well as people with visible disabilities, so readers can see themselves in God’s story. Lessons also involve a “do” portion, with action items that provide a “learning through doing” approach. The Bible study is available for purchase at BrethrenPress.com. ADN and the MHS Association also recently received a $1.2 million grant from the Lilly Foundation for All In: Immersive Worship for Everybody, a five-year collaborative learning project with 12- 20 pilot congregations to create accessible, intergenerational worship services that are engaging to people regardless of age or abilities.

Shine Curriculum, a joint project of MennoMedia and Brethren Press, is inviting congregational leaders to participate in a short Congregation Survey this month. This is a valuable opportunity for pastors or formation leaders to help shape future Shine resources by sharing insights about congregational life, Sunday school trends, and curriculum needs. As a thank you, the first 100 churches to respond will receive a $25 USD check—and up to $75 USD total if families in the congregation also complete the Family Survey. Learn more and take part at ShineEverywhere.com/join/surveys.

While Mother’s Day has passed, Global Women’s Project encourages continued support of extraordinary women this month by making a donation to fund women-led projects that improve women’s health, education, and livelihood. Donors can choose a recipient to receive a handmade card indicating a gift has been made in their honor. Learn more at www.globalwomensproject.org.

Racial justice advocates, allies, and all who feel called to stand with people of color in the Church of the Brethren are invited to a meet-up for connection, reflection, and discernment on what comes next. This gathering is a space to forge relationships among committed justice seekers, support one another in leadership, and envision the next steps in dismantling racial hierarchies within our church and society. The meeting will explore how to strengthen grassroots discipleship, appoint local Racial Justice Advocates, and ensure the legacy of this initiative continues to grow. This 90-minute Zoom session is scheduled for June 10 starting at 7 p.m. Central. To register, go to  ww.onearthpeace.org/racial_justice_advocates_and_allies_meet_up.

Brethren Revival Fellowship will offer its 52nd annual Brethren Bible Institute July 21-25 on the campus of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, with eight courses available. Cost is $300 for the week, including lodging and meals. CEU’s are available. Applications are due by June 25. For information, contact Brethren Bible Institute, 155 Denver Rd., Denver, PA 17517.

The Death Row Support Project (DRSP) will be holding informational sessions for people interested in learning more about writing to those on death row. The sessions will go over some basics of how this project works, introduce members of the team who provide support, and talk about expectations of DRSP writers. Upcoming meetings are June 2, 7-8 p.m. Central https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86378715858) and June 7, 1-2 p.m. Central  (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81696905317). Find out more at www.brethren.org/drsp.

The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries Jubilee Celebration will take place Nov. 18-21 in Gotha, Fla., at Camp Ithiel. Find more information at www.brethren.org/intercultural/#jubilee. Intercultural Ministries will also be holding several events at Annual Conference this summer.

The L.E.A.D. Planning Team has scheduled the next in-person denominational L.E.A.D. Conference for May 1-3, 2026, again hosted by Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Between now and then, the team is planning quarterly virtual events as four webinars focused on one of the four leadership components: Listen, Equip, Adapt, Disciple. The first webinar is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, at 6 p.m. Central Time featuring Dennis Edwards, the keynote speaker at the L.E.A.D. Conference held last fall, presenting material on listening as a leadership skill from his book Humility Illuminated. More information about the webinar will be shared soon.

Registration for Song and Story Fest 2025 at Camp Brethren Woods in Keezletown, Va., July 6- 12, is now available, using this online form. More details about Song and Story Fest can be found here. Online registration and payment are again being offered to help streamline the process. Pay online (additional 3% fee) or send a check to On Earth Peace, after submitting your registration online. Using the online registration form is preferred, but the form can also be printed and mailed if needed.

“Early Anabaptism in Global Perspective: Past, Present, and Future at 500 Years” is the topic for a conference at the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College on July 22-24. This conference marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Anabaptist movement will revisit early Anabaptism and give special attention to the global context in which it emerged and spread. Speakers will also consider how Anabaptist history has been received by churches and academics in more recent times and in varying contexts around the world. With more than three dozen plenary sessions, papers, seminars, and roundtables by presenters from ten countries, the conference will examine such varied themes as migration, diplomacy, the arts, colonialism, peacemaking, and theological identity. Optional pre- and post-conference field trips will visit area libraries and archives and the 1719 Museum. Find out more and register at www.etown.edu/centers/young-center/anabaptism-conference-2025.aspx.

Retired Mennonite pastor Ed Bontrager (who has also had some Church of the Brethren connections) has written a 12-session study titled “Remembering Anabaptist Reformers” to highlight the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism. Cost for the book, about 150 pages, is $12. Order by emailing Ed at eebontrager@comcast.net.