MINISTRY NEWS

Larry Traxler has announced his retirement as pastor of the Cerro Gordo congregation, effective Aug. 10. District executive minister Walt Wiltschek held an initial meeting with the congregation May 4. Plans are under way to complete a congregational profile and form a search committee.

Rodney Caldwell has announced his retirement as pastor of the Mount Morris congregation, effective in mid-August. Initial conversations have begun on next steps. Rodney for now plans to continue his service as part-time chaplain for the Allure of Pinecrest retirement community in Mount Morris.

All ministers should begin gathering information for their CEU report, which will be due by the end of this summer as part of the every-five-years ordination renewal process. 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. Congregations are currently completing their part of the renewal documents for any credentialed ministers (active or retired) who are members there. Ministers who have not yet done the ethics training this cycle will need to complete the training this summer or fall. Please contact the district office with any questions.

In response to concerns raised related to potential detention and deportation among members of the Church of the Brethren, a group of church districts with numerous multicultural congregations is working cooperatively to provide resourcing and support to affected congregations and to the whole church. This new ministry is offering resources and relational/pastoral support. Support of those congregations has begun, and the ministry hopes to share more resources for members and congregations looking to grow in discipleship and support around immigration broadly in the months ahead. An initial commitment from these districts of $100,000 is launching this ministry initiative. Additional financial support is welcome to help sustain the program. If your congregation has a special interest in this work or need assistance, please contact Beth Sollenberger at atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com as the point of contact to access support or to contribute.

The denomination’s Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program will offer an equipping session and a meal event at this summer’s Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C. The equipping session, “Leadership in a Multi-Vocational Reality,” will be 12:30-1:30 p.m. July 4, featuring presenter Bill Ludwig. The dinner, 5:30 p.m. July 5, is titled “Rooted in Jesus: Living Into God’s Calling for Your Ministry,” featuring pastors/church planters Macho and Erica Lara as speakers.

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.

Congregational vacancies:

Cerro Gordo: Larry Traxler is retiring effective Aug. 10. Plans are under way to complete a congregational profile and form a search committee.

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 licensing discernment process, with Rick Koch serving as district mentor.

Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt (Chicago First) began serving as interim pastor on 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 interviews. The congregation is using pulpit supply this spring.

Mount Morris: Rodney Caldwell has announced his retirement effective in mid-August.

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 congregational profile has been published, and the search committee has begun doing interviews. Jonathan Shively and Tony Asta are serving as an interim pastoral team and recently extended their contract through Sept. 30.