Church of the Brethren

Church of the Brethren leaders are sending a letter expressing condolence to the Catholic Church on the death of Pope Francis. The letter is signed by Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley and general secretary David Steele, and is being sent to the Vatican and to denominational ecumenical partners that are based in the Catholic tradition.

The Annual Conference Witness to the Host City this year in Greensboro, N.C., is benefiting BackPack Beginnings, a nonprofit dedicated to making a difference for local, low-income children and families by providing for their tangible basic needs.

The 2025 Annual Conference Blood Drive will be held in the Sheraton Greensboro (N.C.) Heritage Room on Thursday, July 3, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Friday, July 4, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., in partnership with the American Red Cross.

Church of the Brethren districts are encouraged to host their own delegate briefings to help congregational delegates prepare for Annual Conference 2025, which is scheduled for July 2-6 in Greensboro, N.C.

What a joyous occasion following Easter for our Global Church of the Brethren Communion to gather online for the first meeting of 2025. All 12 countries in the communion were represented.

By Heidi Gross The Death Row Support Project (DRSP) will be holding informational sessions for people interested in learning more about writing to those on death row. Join us on Zoom at any of the below times. During the session we will go over some basics of how this project works, introduce members of the

In this issue: Remembering the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide; job openings at Bethany Seminary and the Anabaptist Disabilities Network; BVS Visionary Voices with Jenn Hosler; Kingian Nonviolence Core Training; Shepherd's Spring celebrates 35 years; McPherson College to offer new degree in mechanical engineering; change of date for Kurtz organ concert; and more

Hesston (Kan.) College is using the beloved storybook Bible from the Shine curriculum, The Peace Table, as a textbook in its Biblical Literature class. Introduction to Biblical Literature is a required course for all Hesston College students.

Tabitha Hartman Rudy will join the staff of the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership as part-time coordinator of English-Language Ministry Training Programs, starting May 1.

The historic Kurtz organ will be played in concert on Sunday, May 25, at 4 p.m. in the chapel at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.

"The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." -Leviticus 19:34 NKJV

A US District Court judge has denied a preliminary injunction motion in Mennonite USA v. DHS, the sensitive locations lawsuit in which the Church of the Brethren is one of 27 plaintiffs.

In this issue: Remembering Tootie Long, Elsie Koehn, and Brian Roten; New & Renew is cancelled with regrets; registration opens May 1 for National Older Adult Conference; Brethren Disaster Ministries Hurricane Helene short-term project seeks volunteers; worship resources for National Youth Sunday on May 4; prayer requests for Haiti and Uganda; EYN holds its annual Majalisa; Donna Rhodes is celebrated; and much, much more.

In response to concerns raised by congregations in their districts related to potential detention and deportation among members of the Church of the Brethren, a group of church districts is working cooperatively to provide resourcing and support to affected congregations and to the whole church.

The Program and Arrangements Committee is once again holding a silent auction at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in Greensboro, N.C., this summer.

Church of the Brethren Yearbook forms have been updated this year. For congregations, the three previous forms have been replaced with one form. Congregations have the option to complete this form online via webform, or via a paper form which can be mailed or scanned and emailed to the Yearbook office.

Bill and Penny Gay of Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren in Decatur, Ind., have been volunteering in various locations in Alaska for many summers. Their work centers on community gardening and efforts to reduce food insecurity. The projects in Alaska have received support through grants from the Global Food Initiative. Here is an update on their continuing work

On March 1, 47 leaders from the Church of the Brethren districts west of the Mississippi River gathered by Zoom for the first of several planned meetups designed to enhance connection and relationships across the western Brethren.

The Church of the Brethren’s National Youth Cabinet met March 21-23 to discern the theme for National Youth Sunday 2025, scheduled for May 4, and for next year’s National Youth Conference (NYC) 2026, scheduled for July 18-23, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo.

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 year. “Put your faith in action, and volunteer with BVS!” said an invitation.