The Reflector - January 2026
Friday, January 02, 2026
Thursday, January 01, 2026
The Village ILWIDIot
Walt Wiltschek
“Try to shine as lights among the people of this world, as you hold firmly to the message that gives life.” —Philippians 2:15b-16a, CEV
The church service began in typical fashion. Everyone settled into their pews, the accompanist began the prelude, and the boy who had acolyte duties that day began his walk up the aisle to the chancel area, ready to set aglow the candles on the worship center.
He had just cleared the last step when the thing that every acolyte dreads came to pass: The flame on his candle lighter went out. Poof, a few wisps of smoke making their way to the ceiling.
I was sitting up front, the guest preacher that day, so I happened to be the one in his line of sight. He looked at me with wide eyes and mouth hanging slightly open. The unspoken question was clear: Now what do I do?
I was about to tell him not to worry about it when I saw an usher making his way up the aisle, lighter in hand. Soon the flame was sparked to life again, the candles were lit, and a very relieved boy went back to join his family in the pews.
How often do we feel that our light has gone out, whether individually or congregationally? Poof. We might look to God or those around us with that same slack-jawed expression: Now what?
Yet over and over again when I come to those times, I find that someone is there, bearing the light that seemed to be lost. As we embark on this new year together, may it be so for all of us.
DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SCHEDULE
In addition to regular meetings, Walt will be at the Inter-Agency Forum and Council of District Executives meetings and intercultural event in Florida Jan. 25-Feb 2, preaching at Naperville on Feb. 8 and then attending the district leadership team mini-retreat in Oglesby that afternoon, and preaching at Springfield First on Feb. 15.
Walt is available to visit your church, do pulpit supply, lead sessions, have conversation times, or otherwise connect with your congregation. Please contact IWDDE@outlook.com to schedule a time. He is half-time and is usually on district duty late afternoons/evenings on weekdays plus weekends.
REMINDER: Please use the new district office address for all mail correspondence: Church of the Brethren IL/WI District, 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148. As noted previously, please do not send district mail to Canton, as there is no longer a district office there. Thank you!
FROM WATCHING TO TENDING
“You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger” —James 1:19
“I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you” —2 Timothy 1:6
Beloved in Christ,
January often carries an expectation of new beginnings. We feel pressure to start fresh, set direction, or decide what comes next. Scripture, however, offers us a more grounded place to begin. Renewal does not always come from starting over. More often, it comes from tending what has already been given.
In December, many of us were invited to watch and pay attention to where God might already be at work among us. January asks us to stay with what we’ve begun to notice and to consider how we care for it.
James writes, “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.” These words name the posture required for faithful discernment. Before we act, we listen. Before we decide, we attend carefully to what is already present among us.
Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to “rekindle the gift of God that is within you” assumes something important: The gift is already there. Rekindling is not about creating energy or direction from nothing. It is about renewal that comes through attention, patience, and care.
Many of us recognize this moment: A conversation that keeps returning without resolution. A ministry that still matters deeply, even though it no longer looks the way it once did. A small group of people who continue to show up, carrying both commitment and questions. These are not signs that something has failed. Often, they are signs that something deserves to be tended.
Rekindling asks more of curiosity than certainty. It invites us to listen carefully to one another, to notice where energy gathers naturally, and to resist the urge to rush past what needs patience. This kind of work is rarely efficient, but it is faithful. It honors congregational life as it actually is, rather than as we wish it were.
This month, we might find it helpful to take one small step beyond noticing: Setting aside time to listen together without an agenda. Naming what feels life-giving right now, and what seems worth nurturing with care. Not deciding what comes next, but listening long enough to understand what is being entrusted to us in this season.
If we discover something meaningful through this kind of reflection, I hope we will share it. Stories of careful tending help the whole district recognize how renewal takes shape in ordinary, faithful ways. You may send them to the district office, to me, or share them in the ways that fit your community best.
December invited us to watch. January invites us to tend. May we approach this work together with humility, attentiveness, and trust that God is already present in what we are being asked to care for.
(2026 logo designed by Madalyn Metzger)
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
Ministry Leadership Development Team, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m.
Church Revitalization and Development Team, Jan. 17, 9 a.m.
Council of District Executives winter meetings and intercultural event, Miami, Jan. 28-Feb. 1
Leadership Team in-person retreat, Starved Rock Lodge, Oglesby, Ill., Feb. 8, 2-5 p.m.
District clergy gathering, Bishop Lane Retreat Center, Rockford, April 27-28
2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference, Nov. 6-7, Polo (Ill.) Church of the Brethren
[all meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted]
IN OUR PRAYERS
A district prayer calendar has been created for your use in praying for our district and related programs through the year. We invite you to include the following in your prayers in coming weeks:
Week of Jan. 11: Pray for the Yellow Creek congregation in Pearl City, and for the work happening in Honduras that was begun by former Camp Emmaus manager Bill Hare and continues through other volunteers.
Week of Jan. 18: Pray for the Polo congregation as it serves its community and prepares to host district conference later this year. Pray also for the work of the denomination’s Discipleship and Leadership Formation office as it provides resources and encouragement for congregations across the country, including staff member Josh Brockway (Highland Avenue).
Week of Jan. 25: Pray for the Council of District Executives as they hold their winter meetings this week, and for all the work of the 23 districts of our denomination stretching from coast to coast.
Week of Feb. 1: Celebrate Service Sunday to lift up all those who serve and have served in God’s name in various ways, being the “hands and feet of Christ.” Pray for Brethren Volunteer Service and for all the volunteers who are serving around the world. Take time to say thank you to someone who has served.
Week of Feb. 8: Pray for the Leadership Team of our district, guided by chair Ed Carper (Canton) and vice chair Anna Lee Hisey-Pierson (York Center) as it meets for a planning retreat and shapes the work of the district in the coming year.
REMEMBERED
Beverly Arlene (Laird) Minnich, 85, of Moundridge, Kan., passed away on Jan. 3. She was part of the Church of the Brethren community in Ecuador for three years, beginning in 1966 when her husband, Dale E. Minnich, worked as executive secretary of the United-Brethren Foundation (FBU). She was a committed member of the Church of the Brethren, serving in volunteer leadership roles at the local, district, and denominational levels. She served a term in Brethren Volunteer Service at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., half time with the church kindergarten and half time as secretary for Annual Conference moderator Earl K. Ziegler. During her three-month BVS training at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., she met Dale, and they married on June 16, 1962. In addition to Ecuador, their ministry and life together took them to Ohio, Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Kansas.
Throughout, they both were active in church work including on her part serving as a youth leader, child care organizer, Disaster Child Care worker, and Sunday school teacher. Find a full obituary at www.wigginsfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Beverly-Arlene-Minnich
MINISTRY NEWS
Dennis Webb retired as pastor at Naperville, effective Dec. 31, after 23 years of service. The church held a potluck celebration for him on his last Sunday, Dec. 28. We are grateful for Dennis’ many years of good service to the district.
Eric Wetzel was officially installed as pastor at Lanark during a special service led by district executive Walt Wiltschek on Jan. 11. Eric officially began at the church in November. He and his wife, Sherri, are now fully settled into the parsonage in Lanark after moving from Virginia. We welcome them again to our district!
Several other members of the district are exploring calls to ministry. The district’s Ministry Leadership Development Team has connected them with ordained district mentors, and they are forming discernment cohorts to continue exploring paths to ministry. Please be in prayer for them as they seek God’s direction for their lives and work.
A third denominational round table discussion on interim ministry will take place Jan. 26, 6:30-8 p.m. Central, focusing upon the questions of placement surrounding interim/transitional ministry, including lifting up the resources and guidance that local districts are able to supply. Learn more at COB-Interim-Roundtable3.pdf.
A grant is now available for church employees losing ACA credit for their health insurance plans. The grants is available for active employees of a Church of the Brethren district, camp, or congregation through the Church of the Brethren’s Church Workers Assistance Plan via Eder Financial. For more details or to apply contact Diane at cwgrants@eder.org
Note: The IRS mileage rate for business travel is 72.5 cents per mile for 2026, up 2.5 cents from 2025.
Congregational vacancies/updates:
Cerro Gordo: A search committee has been formed, and a congregational profile is now available. Cerro Gordo is currently using pulpit supply. District executive Walt Wiltschek will be meeting with the search committee again in March.
Highland Avenue (Elgin): Krista Dutt (Chicago First) was commissioned (ordained for term of service) in the Church of the Brethren in October and is serving as interim pastor. The congregation has called a search committee, and a profile is now available.
Mount Morris: The congregation is meeting in the Allure of Pinecrest Grove community building and is using pulpit supply during the winter while negotiations with an interim pastor are under way. Jonathan Shively will be doing a consultation process with Mount Morris in the coming months as they discern direction. Conversations about next steps for pastoral ministry are ongoing.
Naperville: Dennis Webb retired as pastor effective Dec. 31. A search committee has been formed and is developing a profile. Conversations about interim possibilities are under way with the church board. Naperville will be using pulpit supply during the winter.
Woodland: Local pastor Mathew Thiner and Woodland member Kevin Sager are taking turns filling the pulpit, an arrangement the congregation says is working well for them at this time.
York Center (Lombard): Gay Bouwmeester began as part-time interim pastor Nov. 16. The congregation is working on next steps, and a congregational profile is available.
DISTRICT CLERGY GATHERING
Save the date! The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District clergy gathering and educational event will take place April 27-28 at Bishop Lane Retreat Center near Rockford. Denominational moderator Don Fitzkee will be with us and will be sharing as part of the program. The district Ministry Leadership Development Team is working on other plans and details for the event.
CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS
Canton on Dec. 21 enjoyed a special “Carols for Christmas” musical service assembled by Carol Davis, drawing almost 50 people. It was followed by a cookie feast in the fellowship hall organized by Brenda Carper. Canton also shared the following story that figured into the musical service:
In the 1980s, Carol Davis searched for a children’s book that could be adapted into a musical for the Fulton County Playhouse. After searching the children’s section of Parlin Ingersoll Library, she discovered The Little Band and the Inaugural Parade by John Travers Moore. From that point, she set the wheels in motion by contacting Moore and continued a letter-writing friendship, which lasted the remainder of his life. Little Band evolved into a musical written by Carol, with Denise Adams creating the musical numbers. It first premiered at the Fulton County Playhouse and was included in Bradley University’s theatre season the following year. A theatrical adaptation of The Story of Silent Night followed. During the Dec. 21 musical service, Carol and the choir treated the audience to a mouse ornament for everyone’s Christmas tree.
Chicago First concluded its centennial year with a Christmas party in the fellowship hall.
Naperville featured a special song by a Gujarati choir for its Christmas Day service, a tradition in the Indian church. The service was followed by a catered lunch. The congregation also held a New Year’s Day service and potluck lunch.
Woodland (Astoria) enjoyed a Christmas program put together by Paul Sager and reported that “the church was filled” for the event, which received a good response from the community.
Mark your calendars! The 2026 Illinois/Wisconsin District conference will take place Nov. 6-7 at Polo Church of the Brethren. Program & Arrangements Committee has begun working on plans. Watch for more details in the months ahead.
Brethren Press has informed customers with standing orders for the Church of the Brethren Yearbook that it will not be published for 2025, and their standing orders are suspended for the time being. The 2024 edition is still available to purchase from Brethren Press, go to www.brethrenpress.com/product_p/year2053.htm. The Yearbook office was moved from Brethren Press to Mission Advancement. More information about the Yearbook is expected to be made available by the Mission Advancement office.
Illinois/Wisconsin District is participating in Ecumenism Metro Chicago’s ecumenical prayer service as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Jan. 24, from 2-4 p.m. at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Chicago. The service’s theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4) reflects the mission of the organization that “seeks to engage all the baptized, their communions and extended ministries in Chicagoland in living together with prayer, action and a coordinated voice that respects distinctions among traditions and extends God’s love through Christ and the Holy Spirit, for all the world.” Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford (Highland Avenue) will be representing the district. At the close of the service, representatives of the church bodies that participate will sign joint statements of actions grounded in the organization’s declaration, “To care, protect, and preserve God’s gift of creation, for all of the earth is the Lord’s” (Psalm 24:1), affirming the Paris Agreement on climate change. The two statements will “proclaim our Christian resolve to Protect Children, Grandchildren, Future Generations by Adopting Climate Change Mitigating Strategies and Protect Children, Grandchildren, Future Generations by Providing Clean, Safe Drinking Water…. These statements are a clear public witness of EMC’s Declaration that ‘taking decisive restorative action is a moral and religious imperative.’” Find out more at https://eia.archchicago.org/ecumenical-relations/ecumenism-metro-chicago-emc.
DEPORTATION DEFENSE RESPONSE
A denominational effort, organized by five districts with large numbers of undocumented members in partnership with On Earth Peace and Intercultural Ministries, has been formed to provide support, advocacy, and legal assistance as needed. A Deportation Defense Response webpage is now online at www.onearthpeace.org/deportation_defense_response_team. A toolkit of resources is at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/168SYb-D3cMBO8ORb4sDXMqMbA2yvSGCN. To be added to the DDR newsletter list, to share other helpful resources for the toolkit, to share how a resource from the toolkit benefited your congregation or community, to find out how to get involved with the work, or for other questions, email migrantjustice@onearthpeace.org
The group is inviting local partnerships and offering a process for online donations for the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund at www.onearthpeace.org/legal_mutual_aid_fund_donations. You can also mail checks payable to Atlantic Southeast District with “DDR” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Atlantic Southeast District, 64954 Orchard Dr., Goshen, IN 46526. For questions contact atlanticsoutheastcob@gmail.com. The fund is described at www.onearthpeace.org/immigrant_legal_mutual_aid_fund. It is seeking a total fundraising goal of $250,000. Congregations needing financial help to aid their immigrant church members may apply for grants from the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund by contacting ddrcobcoordinator@gmail.com or 561-647-8981 to receive the application form. The team will distribute funds received to members of the church facing immigration challenges who need legal support.
Biweekly Prayer Gatherings for Immigrant Justice are now held every other Thursday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Central over Zoom, next on Jan. 22. Find more info and RSVP at www.onearthpeace.org/2025_11_prayer_gathering_for_immigrant_justice_20251002_20251113_20260108.
Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send them to iwdde@outlook.com.
CAMP NEWS
Camp Emmaus has announced its 2026 summer camp dates:
May 22-25: Memorial Day Family Camp
June 12-14: Counselor-in-Training (CIT)
June 13-14: Elementary Camp
June 14-17: Target Sports Camp
July 5-11: Senior High Camp
July 12-18: Survivor Camp
July 19-23: Intermediate Camp
July 24-26: Young Adult/Young at Heart Camp
July 26- Aug. 1: Middle School Camp
August 6-8: Women's Camp
September 4-7: Labor Day Weekend Family Camp
Camp Emmanuel has also announced its revised 2026 schedule:
May 29-31: Women's Camp
June 5-7: Pre-Junior Camp
June 7-13: Middle School Camp
June 16-20: Junior Camp
June 25-28: High School Camp
July 10-12: Mommy and Me
July 13-17: Day Camp
August 7-9: Men's Camp
September 4-7: Family Camp
Learn more at www.campem.com.
The 2026 OMA “InsideOut” camp curriculum will be titled “In the Wilderness.” An introduction to the theme notes: “Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. … The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there.” The annual InsideOut curriculum is a partnership between the Church of the Brethren and a variety of other denominations for use in outdoor ministry. Learn more at https://insideoutcurriculum.com/.
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
In addition, NYC youth participants are invited to create and send in various worship elements built around the NYC theme. The plan is to use these worship elements as part of the worship services during NYC, which gives youth the opportunity to help shape what worship looks like. Find the submission form at https://forms.gle/UP9Y5et17G1FANdz5. Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@brethren.org with questions.
*Currently, five congregations (Canton, Highland Avenue, Naperville, Neighborhood, and Springfield First) have reported that they expect to have youth and advisors attending this year’s NYC. If you have members planning to attend and have not yet informed the district office, please do so as soon as possible. We will not have enough participants to do a bus, so congregations are working on more local transportation options, likely flying to Colorado.
FaithX: FaithX will offer seven short-term service trips in 2026, along with the option for custom-designed trips for families, congregations, or districts. To prioritize senior high participation in National Youth Conference (NYC) this coming July, the program will offer fewer youth trips. Four trips will be available for junior and senior high youth (Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania), an older adult trip to Camp Ithiel in Florida will take place in February, an adult international trip to Northern Ireland will be offered in June, and the We Are Able trip will be offered in Michigan in July. Additional information, trip descriptions, and registration links can be found at www.brethren.org/faithx. Registration is now open for the older adult trip, and registration for summer trips will open on Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. Central Time.
DISASTER RESPONSE
Brethren Disaster Ministries is continuing work at a rebuilding site in Letcher County, Ky., with new builds and repairs of homes damaged during the July 2022 flooding event. Seth Long, Executive Director, was featured on a Nov. 4 podcast talking about the work on HOMES Inc. in the community. You can listen here: https://www.christianapp.org/news/podcast. We are grateful for volunteers from our district who have assisted at this project. In 2026, our district’s volunteer week will shift to the summer, late August/early September. A group of nearly 100 disaster response volunteers also served in Johnson County, Tenn., from Sept. 21 to Nov. 15 to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Brethren Disaster Ministries received a $5,000 UPS Long Term Recovery Grant through a partnership with the UPS Foundation and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. These funds supported a portion of the volunteer project operational expenses for the Letcher County rebuilding site. This included finances for meals, tools, fuel, and vehicle repairs to enable volunteers to complete the work. During the term of the grant in September 2025, 55 volunteers provided more than 3,100 hours to support safe and secure housing for 10 households. New construction was completed on nine new homes in a Higher Ground Neighborhood in bordering Knott County in partnership with local partner HOMES Inc. Work completed by volunteers ranged from building foundations to framing walls and roofs to painting and finishing work inside the houses. In addition, one home that was elevated to prevent future flooding received a front and back deck for entrance into the home.
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries, deployed to western Washington State following catastrophic atmospheric river flooding that began on Dec. 8. For those interested in volunteering with CDS, several trainings are available in late winter/spring 2026: Feb. 20-21 in Beaufort, S.C. or Bradford, Ohio; Feb. 27-28 in Glendale, Ariz.; or March 14-15 in La Verne, Calif. Registration, including all meals, curriculum, and overnight is $55 for early bird, and $65 if sent less than three weeks before the event. Participants in the 25-hour training, which includes a simulated shelter experience, learn to provide comfort and encouragement to children by offering the healing young children need in traumatic situations. Learn more and register at https://www.brethren.org/cds/training/.
With the closure of the Material Resources program in New Windsor, Md. (where the Brethren Service Center offices will remain), the Church World Service Kit Depot location at the Elgin office is also closing and will no longer be a location that receives kits. Learn more at cwskits.org/cws-kits-end-of-the-year-updates. It appears the nearest drop-off location to our district now is the CWS Service Annex in Elkhart, Indiana. There is also a location in Boone, Iowa, near Ames. Kits can also be shipped to one of the remaining depots.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
The Annual Conference office recently announced that advance registration for delegates will be $350 and for non-delegates $175. Onsite registration is $425 and $210, respectively. Daily fees are also available for those not attending the full week. A virtual registration option will be available for $220.
The three official conference hotel options will range in cost from $128 to $135 per night plus tax, with a discounted daily parking fee of $8. Annual Conference registration and housing will open to the public on March 4.
Watch for more details at www.brethren.org/ac.
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
• A Clergy Tax Seminar led by Deb Oskin will be presented on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Students, clergy and anyone who deals with clergy finances are invited to participate in this online Zoom seminar on how to prepare clergy taxes correctly and legally. Participants can earn 0.3 CEUs for attending the first two sessions of the seminar (the third session is optional). Registration is $40 per person; registration deadline Jan. 23. Register online at: www.bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy.
• Circuit Rider John Fillmore will facilitate a 7-week discussion on Susan Beaumont’s book How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going: Leading in a Liminal Season beginning Feb. 3. Sessions will be held weekly, Tuesday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. Central. Participants may request CEUs from the Brethren Academy for a cost of $10. Learn more and register at Registration for "How to lead when you don't know where you are going" Book Study.
• Upcoming courses from the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership include “Church of the Brethren Beliefs and Practices,” online March 4-April 28, led by Denise Kettering Lane (registration deadline Jan. 21); “Church History 1,” online March 18-May 12, led by Tim Harvey (registration deadline Feb. 4); “Church of the Brethren History,” online asynchronous, March 16-May 11, led by Craig Gandy (registration deadline Feb. 20); and “Introduction to Preaching,” online hybrid with onsite class in Richmond, Ind., May 19-22 (note new dates), and two Zoom sessions before, led by Dava Hensley (registration deadline Apr. 7). Register and pay online at Brethren Academy Course Registration/Biannual TRIM Payment | Bethany Theological Seminary (bethanyseminary.edu). Other courses on the schedule for later in 2026 include “Introduction to Biblical Studies,” “Multivocational Ministry,” and “Introduction to the New Testament.”
• The date for the next Basic Clergy Ethics course is set for Feb. 7. The registration deadline is Jan. 29. A brochure can be found on the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership website under "Clergy" at https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/.
• McPherson College’s “Ventures in Christian Discipleship” series will offer “Building Bridges Between Brethren through Compassionate Listening: Let Thy Kingdom Come!” Jan. 20 & 27, led by Joe Vecchio, Barbara Date’ (Madtown), and Harriet Koscho; “The Ecology of Vitality: Mutuality in Pastoral and Congregational Well-Being,” led by John Fillmore, Feb. 21; and “God’s Earth, Our Home: Engaging Creation Care through Faith,” led by David Radcliff, March 28. All sessions are via Zoom. Suggested donation is $25 per course. Learn more and register at https://www.mcpherson.edu/ventures/.
• Anabaptist Disabilities Network will offer the free webinar “Blessed Is the Body: A Conversation with Tatum Tricario” Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Central. Tricario is author of Blessed Is the Body, a Lenten devotional centered around disability justice. The webinar will be on Zoom at: https://MCUSA.zoom.us/j/89439571091.
• Lombard Mennonite Peace Center offers a variety of training sessions. Upcoming options include “Conflict Transformation Skills,” Jan. 22 or Aug. 27 via Zoom; “Restorative Conversations,” March 11 or May 12 via Zoom; “Strengthening the Body of Christ,” Sept. 16 via Zoom; and “Peaceful, Productive Pastor-Parish Partnerships,” March 2 via Zoom. For details and registration information, go to https://www.lmpeacecenter.org/trainings. LMPC has also begun offering free quarterly clergy roundtable events. Watch their website for details on future roundtable opportunities (next on April 16).
• The L.E.A.D. (Listen – Equip – Adapt – Disciple) Conference Planning Team is now offering “Third Thursday” quarterly webinars with the goal of providing congregational leaders with tools to grow in their leadership abilities. Continuing education credit is available. The next such webinar is Jan. 15, “Adaptability in Leadership,” led by Jeremy Ashworth at 6 p.m. Central. Learn more at www.brethren.org/thirdthursday.
• Designed particularly for ministers new to the Church of the Brethren denomination, Bethany Theological Seminary’s new certificate of achievement in ministry studies (CAMS) includes six courses that focus on Brethren history and theology, practical experience with the ordinances and preaching of the church, biblical interpretation, and peace studies. The certificate can be completed in two years or even one year, depending on course offerings. Five of the six courses can be completed at a distance. For more information go to https://bethanyseminary.edu.
PERSONNEL NOTES
Greg Davidson Laszakovits began Jan. 1 as interim district executive minister for Northern Plains District. He lives in Elizabethtown, Pa., and will serve half-time in a hybrid working style that will involve traveling to the district as needed. Ordained by the Papago Buttes congregation in Pacific Southwest District in 2002, he has served as pastor at Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren for 15 years and also has been an interim pastor at congregations in Mid-Atlantic and Middle Pennsylvania districts. He brings international experience from a term as mission coordinator of Igreja da Irmandade-Brasil (the Church of the Brethren in Brazil) and also directed the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy (formerly the Washington Office of the Church of the Brethren) for three years. He currently owns and operates GDL Insight, which offers coaching, training, and consulting services for congregations, other nonprofits, and business organizations.
Chelsea Goss Skillen resigned as director of Brethren Volunteer Service effective Feb. 10. Chelsea began her service on Oct. 24, 2022. Chelsea plans to move to Portugal and join her husband's business.
Jenn Dorsch-Messler resigned as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries effective Jan. 9. Jenn began her service on February 24, 2015, providing leadership for the Home Rebuilding Program, while supporting all BDM program areas. A key role has been nurturing the BDM network of volunteers and supporters in congregations and districts, while also being the BDM representative to national disaster response groups. Jenn has accepted a position on a new executive leadership team for another disaster response and recovery organization.
Pat Marsh will retire as manager of accounting and assistant treasurer for the Church of the Brethren effective May 29. In this role, which she began in April 2020, she has primarily been responsible for managing the general ledger, preparing the financial statements, assisting with the organizational budget, and serving as lead staff for the audit. Pat started employment with the church in January 1995, as an accountant. In total, she has worked for the Church of the Brethren for 31 years. Pat’s extensive accounting knowledge and her devotion to the accuracy of the organization’s finances have been a tremendous blessing.
Loretta Wolf concluded her work with the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on Dec. 30 as director of Material Resources. This layoff is due to the closing of the Material Resources program at the end of 2025 and the reduced supplies to process as part of the transition for the program partners to new warehouses. Loretta began her service on July 12, 1976.
Glenna Thompson concluded her work with the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., on Dec. 30. This layoff is due to the closing of the Material Resources program at the end of 2025 and the reduced supplies to process as part of the transition for the program partners to new warehouses. Glenna began her service with SERRV as a sales representative in September 1980, and in 1982 she became a records secretary for a total of 23 years. On January 21, 2014, Glenna was rehired as office assistant for Material Resources.
JOB OPENINGS
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is seeking an administrative assistant to work 25-30 hours per week (pay $16-$18/hour) and provide direct secretarial and administrative support to the BAML staff, students, and programs. A high school diploma is required; associate’s degree preferred. Candidates should have clerical experience, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, proofreading ability, knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and databases, and a flexible schedule. Bilingual English-Spanish preferred. The position can be on-site or remote: Applicants who live within commuting distance of Richmond, Ind., would be expected to work in person at Bethany Theological Seminary, while applicants who live at a distance from Richmond may apply as a remote employee. Orientation for a remote employee would require a visit to the Richmond campus. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested candidates should send their resume, a letter of interest, and contact information for three references by email to: Janet Ober Lambert, Director, BAML, academysearch@bethanyseminary.edu.
The Church of the Brethren is seeking to fill a full-time salaried position of Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM). Major responsibilities include providing oversight and administration of Brethren Disaster Ministries with a focus on the home rebuilding program. This includes identifying and opening new home rebuilding sites as necessary, managing long-term and weekly rebuilding volunteers and leading the training of volunteer leaders. Required skills and knowledge include strong interpersonal skills; ability to uphold and support the basic beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren as determined by Annual Conference; and ability to act within a multicultural and multigenerational team environment. Training or experience with making effective presentations and providing adult education, especially in conducting skill training workshops; managing staff and volunteers and in house construction and repair is required. Knowledge of International Building Codes is preferred. A bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree in related field preferred. This position is remote and based at the Brethren Disaster Ministries office, New Windsor, Md. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates are invited to send a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org.
The Church of the Brethren is seeking an individual to fill the full-time hourly position of program assistant for Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) – Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). The major responsibilities of this position are to support programming and administration of CDS. These activities include providing administrative, programming, and clerical support to the associate director of Children’s Disaster Services. This includes support of volunteers, volunteer training and response, and assistance with general administration of BDM. Candidates should have an understanding of child development, excellent communication and organizational skills, experience using computers and technology (especially Microsoft Offices suite; Raisers Edge experience helpful), and ability to work independently. Two years of office experience and previous experience working with children or in child development is preferred. Associate’s degree or equivalent life/work experience is required. Applications will be received beginning immediately and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Qualified candidates may send a cover letter and resume to COBApply@brethren.org.
DENOMINATIONAL NEWS/NEWSLINE
Registration for the 2026 Song and Story Fest taking place July 5-11 at Inspiration Hills in Ohio is now open. You can access all the info about this coming year's Song and Story Fest at: On Earth Peace Event Page for Song and Story Fest. The organizers note that have added more detail to the online registration form about which meals and nights participants will be present for. Also, if any members of a family will have different arrival and departure times and therefore different numbers of meals and/or nights at the camp, please have those individuals register separately.
A new Reach curriculum for youth in grades 9-12 is now available from Brethren Press through the Shine curriculum, a joint effort of Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Reach is an interactive faith formation curriculum for high school youth with a flexible format of six-week units. Reach offers both biblical and topical explorations that invite young people to engage deeply with God, scripture, their peers, and the faith community. The curriculum is appropriate for Sunday school, midweek gatherings, or retreat settings, inviting youth to grow in faith that is active, rooted, and responsive. Reach is available in digital format. Two units are available for purchase now, with additional units expected to be released each quarter in 2026 through 2027. Find out more and purchase Reach curriculum at www.brethrenpress.com/category_s/230.htm
The deadline to apply for the Church of the Brethren’s Health Care Education Scholarship in 2026 has been changed to May 22. This scholarship, made possible by the Health Education and Research Endowment, is available to members of the Church of the Brethren enrolled in degree programs for nursing, medicine, dentistry, physical and occupational therapy, and other health professions. Scholarships of between $5,000 and $10,000 are awarded to a limited number of applicants each year. For more information and to apply, go to www.brethren.org/healthcarescholarship
Brethren Disaster Ministries made the last grants for 2025 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF), headed by a large grant of $120,000 to support the Hurricane Melissa recovery program of Églises des Frères d’Haïti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) and $5,000 to support emergency relief in Cuba after Hurricane Melissa via ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela). Also in this round of grants, $20,000 aids children in Gaza, $19,850 helps repair of a school in Uganda, $8,500 helps purchase a vehicle to support disaster and crisis response in Burundi, and $5,000 supports the response by Fundación Brethren y Unida to the humanitarian crisis in Ecuador.
Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren gained media attention in a report on the area school board meeting held Nov. 25. It was announced that the congregation would spearhead a new campaign, kicking off at the community Thanksgiving Eve service hosted by the church, to help pay off the debt of students who owe money for school lunches. School district staff said the debt totals around $34,000. Elizabethtown Church board chair Amy Karr is quoted as saying that 328 students were carrying lunch debt ranging from 10 cents to just over $900. Read the full report at https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/elizabethtown-church-launches-fundraiser-to-pay-off-student-lunch-debt/article_eeae0437-92da-456b-addf-a6ae0e19c5b9.html
FaithX is hosting a special service trip for adults ages 50-plus at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla., Feb. 22-27. Previous trips included camp projects of painting a cabin, tree trimming, invasive species removal, deep cleaning, and kitchen assistance as well as Bible study, games, bird watching, puzzles, rocking chair relaxation, and recreational trips away from camp. Registration is open at www.brethren.org/faithx. For questions, please reach out to Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred in the FaithX Office at faithx@brethren.org or 847-429-4337.
Brethren Press is offering the opportunity for congregations and individuals to pre-order next year’s Lenten devotional. The Wondrous Works of God: 2026 Devotional for Ash Wednesday Through Easter written by our own Carol Davis (Canton) is available for $5 each for the regular print edition. Pre-order at www.brethrenpress.com/product_p/lentendev-0001.htm.
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is accepting applications for 2026-2027. Before embarking on a service year, volunteers first attend an orientation. In 2026, the summer orientation will be July 27 to Aug. 4 at Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio. The fall orientation will be Sept. 15-23 at Camp Emmaus in Mt. Morris, Ill. For more information, go to www.brethren.org/bvs. BVS also recently announced two new project sites: Food for Greater Elgin (Ill.) and East Belfast Mission/The Larder in Northern Ireland. Also from BVS comes a new initiative called BVS Early Enrollment Program. This pilot program is for applicants who apply by Feb. 26, allowing them to apply for specific placements, know their placement in advance, and have earlier access to limited international placements. Early enrollment volunteers will still attend orientation and start their volunteer year in August or September 2026. For any questions about volunteering or the application process, email bvs@brethren.org.
The L.E.A.D. Planning Team has scheduled the next in-person denominational L.E.A.D. Conference for May 1-3, again hosted by Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. Keynote leader will be Tod Bolsinger of Sloan Leadership Inc. and executive director of Fuller’s De Pree Center Church Leadership Institute. Learn more at The L.E.A.D. Conference – Discipleship and Leadership Formation.
GRANTS AND GIVING
Grants available through the district include the following:
1. Mission and Mortar: Sustaining and developing ministry (mission) within congregations, as well as maintaining property (mortar), is sometimes hindered because of inadequate financial resources. The Illinois/Wisconsin District, whose mission is to support the growth and development of member congregations, desires to financially support congregations that are in good standing with the district and have specific needs. More information can be found here.
2. Being Jesus in the Neighborhood: Congregations can apply for $100 in seed money to start a new outreach project or initiative in their local communities, or to expand an existing one. These should be projects that intentionally engage with the neighborhood immediately around the congregation or, for those in rural locations, with the town or area around the church. Each congregation receiving a grant will be asked to share a little about their project at district conference. More information can be found here.
3. Emerging Missions Fund: To facilitate the growth and establishment of new faith communities, this grant is available for church and ministry planting initiatives. New church and ministry plants are encouraged to apply by contacting the district office and/or the CRDT.
Supporting Your District
The Illinois/Wisconsin District is active in a variety of ministry and mission efforts, both directly and indirectly. Continuing these efforts requires resources in the form of time, tools, knowledge, and especially finances. Consider making a contribution to the district’s general fund or one of its special funds (disaster relief, youth, emerging ministries, etc.). Look for the donate button at iwdcob.org, or send your checks to the district office: 1S071 Luther Ave., Lombard, IL 60148.
