News Notes

District News Notes, May 6, 2026

PLEASANT CHAPEL – TOMORROW!!

We would love to have you join us for our biannual waffle bacon breakfast at Pleasant Chapel! 1993 County Road 8, Ashley, IN 46705 - Saturday, May 9th, 2026 - 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.  Ashley, Indiana - Home of two smiley face water towers! 

CREEKSIDE

Creekside has partnered with SAW's (Servant at Work) specializing in building wooden wheelchair ramps for low-income, permanently disabled individuals. 

https://sawsramps.volunteerhub.com/vv2/event/ebe94b2d-4f6f-4a10-8795-464cc1c3d9b2

If you are interested in helping or would like additional Information, please contact Mike Kauffman mkauff2012@gmail.com or Roger Griffith 14rogergriffith@gmail.com , 574-707-9872   

DISTRICT CONFERENCE - SAVE THE DATE

September 18 - 19, 2026

Camp Alexander Mack, Milford, IN

Moderator: Anna Lisa Gross

Moderator-Elect: Evan Garber

Virtual Annual Conference Briefing - SAVE THE DATE:

Virtual Annual Conference Briefing

Interested members who were unable to attend the in person briefing on April 28th are invited to participate in a virtual briefing led by the Annual Conference Officers on Wednesday, May 27 at 8:00 pm. Registration is required. To register, visit https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZBmMbL8KTsuPXv9gR6Kz4w

CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE

I am writing to you as part of the COBMA's planning team and specifically in finding childcare helpers for the pre-annual conference workshops with Russell Haitch. I was hoping that you could help me by putting out a call for four adult volunteers to help with childcare. The days and times are: Saturday (June 27) from 6:00-9:00pm and Sunday (June 28) from 9:00am-4:00pm. This year we will have two groups: one for tweens/teens and one for younger children. If you or potential volunteers have any questions please email me at this address and I will respond as quickly as possible.

May the journey be long and interesting,

Andrew

andrew@modcob.org

2026 Annual Conference Volunteer Opportunities, June 28 – July 2

Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne

Now that registration is open for the Fort Wayne Annual Conference, it’s time to get serious about volunteering; many thanks to those of you who have already raised your hands! Below are brief descriptions of the positions that still have openings. Please pay particular attention to the need for ushers for the Sunday night worship service – our goal is to have ALL of the ushers be from Indiana and Northern Ohio. In addition, the Tuesday evening service will be ushered by Manchester University graduates from any and all years – many of you will likely fall into both categories, and are welcome and encouraged to participate both days, or any day at all, of course. Each of the other positions will be scheduled in shifts of one or more hours, making it easy for you to contribute just the amount of time you have available. If you are interested in helping with any of this important work, please complete the

form found at https://forms.gle/XyahevfqfqwmyrA47. For more information, feel free to contact Joel and Donna Kline at 630-337-1926, soph_mini@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Hospitality – This year’s hospitality efforts will include

1) staffing at the Convention Center,

2) greeters at the three downtown conference hotels, and

3) meal hosts – a new program where locals will take a group of up to 6 attendees to a meal in a downtown restaurant, providing an opportunity for food and fellowship – everyone will pay for their own meal.

Ushers for Worship – For opening worship on Sunday evening, we are hoping to have all of the ushers be local. If you are a Manchester University graduate, please consider also ushering for Tuesday’s service.

Age Group Activities – Help with our preschool children (including infants), as well as K-2nd grade and 3rd -5th grade. Will include onsite programming as well as field trips.

Children’s Lunch Prep – Sack lunches will be provided for multiple age groups; food purchase, preparation, and/or delivery are all options for volunteers.

First Aid – Doctors, PAs, and nurses are needed to staff the onsite First Aid room, as well as serve one or more shifts on- call. A CURRENT MEDICAL LICENCE IS REQUIRED.

Silent Auction – Provide those interested in bidding on Auction items with a Bidder number; answer questions as needed.

A Vigil with Death Penalty Action

A member of Manchester Church of the Brethren will be executed by the state of Oklahoma on May 14. All are welcome to join a Vigil with Death Penalty Action from 10am until about noon. You can come and go. Register to watch the Virtual Vigil at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-for-raymond-johnson-in-oklahoma/ (scroll down the page a bit to find this link). The vigil can also be watched on Death Penalty Action's Facebook page. This vigil will begin by acknowledging the persons Raymond killed and then continue with interfaith and international prayers and music.

STATEWIDE DAY OF ACTION TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANTS

Saturday, May 16 is a statewide day of action to end ICE Detention at Miami Correctional Facility. We will meet for a rally at the Allen County Courthouse at 1pm, hear some speakers, sing some songs, and then march from the courthouse to the Allen County Jail.  Please save the date for this action, plan to attend, and please spread the word to your friends. If you'd like to volunteer as a safety marshal, or would like to help in other ways, contact Pastor Anna Lisa.

NONVIOLENCE, HOPE, COURAGE, AND STRATEGIC DEFIANCE!

Fort Wayne, Indiana

June 26-28, 2026

This year, millions of people have stood with their immigrant neighbors, raised their voices against abuses of power, and found new ways to use love as a force for public good.

Join On Earth Peace for a weekend of strategic nonviolence analysis, skill-building, and spiritual power. This training is meant to help Christians and people of goodwill build spiritual and practical grounding for the work ahead. Prepare your spirit, mind, and body for whatever is coming next as we read the signs of the times, build and refine our nonviolence tools, and generate ideas for creative ways forward. 

Objectives: 

· Activate nonviolent Christians in the context of political violence in the United States

· Analyze the current landscape to identify opportunities for movement and action

· Use key strategy tools to develop options for addressing pressing community situations

· Prepare to engage, respond, and de-escalate situations to develop the capacity for courageous response at the personal and community level

· Equip ourselves through music, prayer, and spiritual sharing

Conceptual content to be drawn from: 

· Kingian Nonviolence - the values, theology, and philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the US Civil Rights Movement 

· Strategic Nonviolence - planning and analysis tools from global nonviolence movements

· De-escalation - learning and practicing skills to de-escalate tense situations

· Harnessing Our Power to End Political Violence (HOPE-PV)/ Backfire methodology - understand the dynamics of political violence, and organize in ways that make it less likely that perpetrators will continue to act

· Noncooperation - learning how to withdraw society’s “pillars of support” from authoritarian systems 

On Earth Peace is an agency of the Church of the Brethren which works with churches and community groups around the country to develop leadership for justice and peace. 

Dates: June 26 - June 28, 2026

Hours and length:

  Friday 6pm-9pm 

  Saturday 9am-9pm

  Sunday  9am-12pm

Location: Grand Wayne Convention Center, Fort Wayne, Indiana 

Cost:

This workshop is being developed as an investment in community and regional nonviolence capacity. We intend to develop leadership that will endure far beyond the time of the workshop. The bare bones cost to produce this workshop - including 3 facilitators’ labor (at living wage) & travel/hotel, site expenses, hospitality, participant packets and materials, organizing & administration - is approximately $14,000. If we have 50 participants, that averages out to about $280/participant. 

Cost/Price Tiers 

· $100 - Equity access rate -  If this rate is still inaccessible, contact us. We will work together to identify funds to assure your attendance. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. 

· $300 - Full cost rate - This rate covers the full cost of your training. 

· $600 - Sustainer/gift rate - This rate covers your cost and one other person’s participation.

Please RSVP Using this Link- https://forms.gle/vhQZdgG78L9zdAdE7

DUANE GRADY BIKE FUNDRAISER FOR HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

Duane Grady of Goshen, Ind., an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren and a former member of the denominational staff, has announced a bicycling fundraiser. “After a 50 year hiatus, I’m biking across Iowa again this summer and while doing so, hope to raise some money for Heifer International.” Find out more at https://fundraise.heifer.org/fundraiser/7186915

TIMBERCREST

The Timbercrest Sewing Sister group makes quilts/comforters for the Linus project. We would appreciate donations of quality cotton quilting fabric (fat qtrs and larger).  Cheerful colors and juvenile prints are appreciated.

CAMP MACK

Register for summer camp today at campmack.org!

Upcoming Events:

May 9 Birdwatching Day: Enjoy the spring migration with birdwatchers of all ages. New and seasoned birdwatchers will experience the various habitats and birds at camp. We will also travel to other locations to see birds not usually found at camp. $50, includes sack lunch, snacks, and transportation. Bring money

for a restaurant meal. Come dressed for the weather. The terrain is often uneven, and we will walk up to 4 miles in a day. Binoculars are highly recommended. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 9a to 9p.

The Spring Pastor’s Sabbath is cancelled. Join us in the fall! October 19–20. 1p Mon.–1p Tues.

May 28–30 Women’s Camp: Enjoy time at the campfire, sessions led by guest speakers, Love Feast, and camp fun. Leave feeling refreshed and recharged together with other women. $190 for 2 nights and 5 meals (arrival Thursday 4p), $120 for 1 night and 3 meals (includes Friday lunch/dinner & Saturday Breakfast), and $82 for 1 day and 3 meals (Saturday meals & activities). Women of all ages are welcome. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. 4p Thursday to 12:30p Saturday.

June 7–9: Grand Camp

June 15–19 Day Camp

June 28–July 4 Youth Camp

July 5–7 Samplers

July 5–10 Seekers, Finders, Followers, Eco-Adventure, Target Sports, Creative Arts

July 5–11 Survivor

July 8–10 Samplers

July 12–17 Seekers, Finders, Splash, Culinary

July 20–24 Day Camp

July 26–31 Adventure Camp

August 2–4 Grand Camp

Check out your brochure or campmack.org for all of the summer camp dates and details. There are new options this year! We already have several signed up for Adventure Camp. Spread the word about the new summer day camps, as well. It's a great opportunity for younger campers to become more comfortable spending time at camp before coming to an overnight camp. There's an optional overnight at the end of the week where parents can stay, too!

Thank you for your continued support! We are sincerely grateful that you volunteer, donate, and pray. 

Prayer Request: Please pray for summer campers to come to experience Camp Mack and for summer staffers.

BVS

Virginia Rendler here, co-director of Brethren Volunteer Service. I wanted to let you all know that the deadlines to apply for BVS are fast approaching! 

If you or someone you know would like to do a service year with BVS, please apply before May 20 (summer orientation) or June 24 (fall orientation). Please pass this message along to anyone you think might be interested.

For more information, check out www.brethren.org/bvs or email us at bvs@brethren.org!

Thank you,

Virginia Rendler (she/her/hers)

Interim Co-Director of Brethren Volunteer Service | Coordinator of Long Term Service 

vrendler@brethren.org

(612) 750-9777 or (847) 429-4387

Ohio Valley Song & Story Fest:

Can We See a New World Coming?  July 5-11, 2026

This year in our district at Inspiration Hills, Burbank, OH, A unique Family Camp in the glacial valleys of Northern Ohio

Can you see a new world coming in these bleak times of greed, self-destruction and fear?  Can we envision a different world, a new and better community where every-one is free, enjoying justice and love and peace?

At the Fest, through music and stories and community interaction, we open ourselves to the holy so that our life and work is guided by the energizing Spirit of Life. We want to help birth and become God’s Beloved Community.

Song & Story Fest #30:

This is the thirtieth summer in a row for these Song and Story Fests and our fourth visit to Inspiration Hills, the Church of the Brethren camp for Northern Ohio.  We will be gathering the week af-ter Annual Conference in Fort Wayne, IN.  We will begin Sunday evening, July 5, with supper at 5:30 pm, an opening campfire, and some music and dancing. The Fest will close Saturday morning, July 11, after breakfast, worship, and hugs.

An Intergenerational Camp for All Ages - Single persons and families of any size and shape will enjoy this com-bination of performance and participation in the woodlands of northern Ohio.

On Earth Peace co-sponsors the Fest, providing leadership, administrative support, and liability insurance coverage. “Inspiration Hills will be held harmless in case of accident, injury, or death during this event.”

Registration and Fees

Registration includes all meals, on-site facilities, and leadership and is based upon age.  Children 5 and under are welcome, no charge.

Please register now and remit the entire fee by June 1. Registrations after June 1 should add 10% as a late fee.  No discount for off-site, tent or RV housing.

Daily Fee (if coming for 4 days/nights or less) - $60/adult, $40/teen, $30/child, $150/family, includes all meals and pro-gram. Lodging is an additional $20/night/person.

We want you to come, regardless of your finances.  We will work with you.  Contact Ken at bksmeltz@comcast.net or 814-571-0495 for help.  

And if you are willing to contribute to our help fund, add your contribution on the registration fee tally.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQQFfEWeUTiXcWcw1hcG cDUUSpEzNX9wH4IPKWgCjuw-ZBTw/viewform

and pay on-line or send a check to the address below:

On Earth Peace, P. O. Box 188; New Windsor, MD  21776

For general questions, email the Song and Story Fest planning committee at songandstoryfest@gmail.com or call Tina at 510-778-4484.

We expect a high turnout, so be ad-vised to register early!

BRETHREN ACADEMY

Multivocational Ministry

Online - August 19-October 13, 2026

Instructor: John Fillmore

Credit:  MS

Registration Deadline: July 22, 2026

Course Brochure coming

Cultivating an Everyday Faith

Online - September 23-November 17,  2026

Instructor: Joan Daggett

Credit:  MS, FCR

Registration Deadline: August 19, 2026

Course Brochure coming

Introduction to New Testament

Online - October 21-December 15, 2026

Instructor:  Matt Boersma

Credit:  BHTS, FCR, BTS

Registration Deadline: September 16, 2026

Course Brochure coming

For more information or to register, go to: https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/brethren-academy-course-listings/

Part Time Pastor: Full Time Church - Program Update

Ryan Braught has taken on the role of program manager for the Part Time Pastor: Full Time Church program.  Ryan was one of the presenters for the pre-district-conference CEU event. He reminds us that the PTP:FTC program offers coaching, peer mentorship, sabbath rest grants, and book studies for multi-vocational pastors.

If the program, its circuit riders, or Ryan can be of any help to any of our district’s multi-vocational pastors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to him (rbraught@brethren.org).  Jan Largent is a circuit rider for the program in our district (jllargent@aol.com).

OEP Calendar for 2026

The calendar below lists the events we will be promoting in 2026. Please share this with your leadership, affinity, or interest groups. Choose which events/activities you will want to participate in fully, so you can plan ahead. Each month we will provide resources to support the listed event. 

Click on the blue link below to find out more information.

May: Wear Orange
Purchase COB Orange t-shirts here

June: Bring Annual Conference to your Congregation
Get prepared for Annual Conference
Or bring Annual Conference happenings to your church

July: (TBD)

August: Pinwheels for Whilred Peace
Prepare for International Day of Peace

September: Bystander Training Tips
Learn different methods a person can use to help victims of harassment

October: Elections/Legislation Activism
Information will be provided about Gun Violence Prevention and national/local elections

November: National Vigil to End Gun Violence (new resources)
Prepare for Blue Christmas or All Saints Day Service
Service Elements will be provided

December: Celebrate Progress
Let us know what your congregation contributed to Gun Violence Prevention

I OBJECT! NOW WHAT? (OPPOSING WAR AND THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR WAR)

Object! Now What? is a virtual event hosted by OEP for the youth and young adults who would be affected by Selective Service registration and the Draft.

· When: Sunday, May 17, 2026 (at a time to be determined)

· Where: Online

· Please RSVP by May 12, 2026

By RSVPing, you are identifying your interest in bringing youth to the program. OEP will reach out to learn about when your youth meet for Sunday School and schedule a time accordingly.

Global Food Initiative grants can help churches address hunger in their communities

By Jenn Hosler
 
Did you know that the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) grants can help churches address hunger in their communities? GFI grants can support church-based community gardens, nutrition education, cooking classes, food pantries, community meals, blessing boxes, and more.

Read more at www.brethren.org/news/2025/gfi-helps-churches-address-hunger

National Youth Conference 2026

National Youth Conference 2026 will take place July 18-23, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. The theme for NYC 2026 is “Light Within Us,” based on Matthew 5:14-16. Youth who have finished 9th grade through their first year of college (or age equivalent) are invited to attend with adult advisors. This will be a week full of fellowship, worship, service projects, recreation, and so much more!

To register, visit www.brethren.org/nyc. The cost of NYC is $625 for early bird registration, $650 for regular registration, and $675 for late registration.

If you have any questions, reach out to Rachel Johnson (rjohnson@brethren.org).

2026 New Community Project Learning Tours

David Radcliff, New Community Project dradcliffncp@yahoo.com Go. Meet. Learn. Grow. Change yourself – and your world. For more information: www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tour