Church of the Brethren

The Shine curriculum of Brethren Press and MennoMedia is introducing a new initiative called Shine Everywhere. Shine Everywhere will provide new avenues of communication between those who create Shine curriculum and the congregations and families who use it. The purpose of the new initiative is to listen attentively to congregations and families and then incorporate their input into new Shine resources.

On Feb. 14, Belinda Addae, a representative from Church World Service, presented a Legacy Congregation Award to Mountville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren in recognition of years of support for their kit programs.

In this issue: Service information for Belita Mitchell, remembering Bitrus K. Tizhe and Dale F. Correll, Easter discount for The Peace Table, international prayer concerns, Brethren Volunteer Service workers gather, and much, much more.

Belita D. Mitchell, the first Black woman to be ordained in the Church of the Brethren and the first Black woman to serve as moderator of the Annual Conference, passed away Feb. 10 at her home in Mechanicsburg, Pa.

The Nominating Committee of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference is presenting the following ballot for the 2024 Conference taking place in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 3-7.

The opportunity to participate in this new matching gift challenge doubles the impact of financial contributions to the Church of the Brethren, if given through the end of the first quarter of this year. Gifts received by March 31, 2024, will be doubled.

We did it! We have named our new initiative “Shine Everywhere.” We love the fact that it builds on Shine and extends the light metaphor of living in God’s light!

Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele was one of more than 20 Christian leaders signing a letter to President Biden saying, in part: “The time for a comprehensive ceasefire is now. Every day of continued violence not only increases the death toll in Gaza and the cost to civilians but also fosters further hatred toward Israel and the United States and irreparably damages the moral standing of the United States in the broader Middle East. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center is offering a robust schedule of continuing education for clergy and interested laity in 2024. Ranging from “Christian ID in the Age of AI,” “Worship Models,” “Grief Literacy,” “Suicide and Your Congregation,” “Luke and Acts,” “Autism and the Church,” to “Why Leadership Matters,” everyone will find a topic of interest.

Don Murray (94), an actor, director, and producer, and a former Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker, died Feb. 2 at his home near Santa Barbara, Calif. He served in BVS from 1953 to 1955, during which time he joined the Church of the Brethren. Just a few years before he was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor in his film debut, 1956’s Bus Stop with Marilyn Monroe, Murray served in post-war Europe with BVS.

President Jeff Carter, academic dean Steve Schweitzer, and coordinator of Seminary Computing Services Paul Shaver returned in mid-January from a visit to Jos, Nigeria. They met with Bethany employees Sharon Flaten and Joshua Sati, as well as students, and local religious and educational leaders.

In this issue: National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) Planning Team, job opening, Nate Polzin to present at Brethren Evangelism Training Event in Shenandoah, McPherson College president Michael Schneider receives award, Roundtable regional youth conference, grant opportunity for congregations, the Peace Pilgrimage begins, WCC head visits Israel and Palestine, Brethren in the news, and a Black History Month note from the NCC.

The Church of the Brethren’s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy was one of more than 150 faith-based organizations and groups that signed a significant letter to Congress on the issue of immigration. More than 660 individual faith leaders also signed the letter, which was facilitated by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition.

Victoria (Vicki) Ehret has resigned as director of administration for the District Executive Minister Team of the Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeast District. She began in the position as interim district executive minister on Jan. 25, 2021, for a period of six months, after which she transitioned to her present role. She will conclude her role by June 30, or sooner, upon the hiring by the district board of an interim to fill the position.

Song and Story Fest 2024 will be hosted by Camp Brethren Heights in Michigan, July 7-13, right after the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Grand Rapids.

With deep sadness, the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team acknowledges news received of the withdrawal of all six congregations in the Puerto Rico District from the Church of the Brethren, as of Oct. 26, 2023.

A prayer for peace by John Paarlberg, from a release by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).

During an online meeting of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, held the evening of Jan. 29, reports were received from subcommittees. The meeting was presided over by Annual Conference moderator Madalyn Metzger, assisted by moderator-elect Dava Hensley and secretary David Shumate, with Annual Conference director Rhonda Pittman Gingrich.

Through Thick and Thin: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter, written by Beth Sollenberger, is the 2024 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press. This year, the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14. The daily devotions continue through Easter Sunday, March 31.

The Council of District Executives (CODE) held its annual winter meetings Jan. 20-24 near Melbourne, Fla., with some members also attending the Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) meeting that followed. Twenty-two of the denomination's 24 districts were represented, along with Office of Ministry director Nancy Sollenberger Heishman.