District News Notes, December 18, 2025

DISTRICT OFFICE

From Dec. 20th through January 4th, we will be closed and on vacation.

CREST MANOR

Christmas Concert CANCELLED!!

The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership (BAML) is seeking an administrative assistant. This position can be either in-person or remote. Candidates with ties to the Church of the Brethren and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

BAML is a ministry training partnership of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board and Bethany Theological Seminary. The Academy is an umbrella for several non-degree ministry training efforts within the denomination. Please share this email with those who may be interested.

We thank you for all you do to support the Academy.

Read full position description here.

Position Opening Church of the Brethren - December 15, 2025

DIRECTOR OF BRETHREN DISASTER MINISTRIES (BDM) The Church of the Brethren is seeking to fill a full-time salaried position of Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM). The Director of Brethren Disaster Ministries is part of the Brethren Disaster Ministries team and reports directly to the Executive Director of Service Ministries. 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 articulate, support and operate out of the vision, mission, and core values of the Church of the Brethren as defined by the Mission and Ministry Board, 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, 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.

Brethren Volunteer Service announces new project sites, new BVS Early Enrollment Program

Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) is announcing two new project sites: Food for Greater Elgin and East Belfast Mission/The Larder. “We are excited to share that BVS is partnering with two new nonprofits as placements for incoming volunteers,” said the announcement.

Also from Brethren Volunteer Service comes a new initiative called BVS Early Enrollment Program.

Read more at www.brethren.org/news/2025/bvs-new-project-sites

Church Administration and Finance Manual: Resources for Leading the Local Church

by Otto F. Crumroy Jr., Stan Kukawka, Frank M. Witman,

Church Publishing Incorporated, NY, September 19,2023

Description

The Church Administration and Finance Manual is a comprehensive guide designed to equip pastors, administrators, and church leaders with practical tools for managing the complex realities of today’s congregations. Blending theological grounding with professional best practices, this classic book covers essential areas such as stewardship, budgeting, financial reporting, risk management, staffing, legal concerns, and organizational leadership. Updated for the modern church context, this manual not only addresses traditional governance and finance but also engages emerging issues like technology, compliance, and accountability. The book serves as both a reference and a hands-on workbook to help churches steward resources faithfully while supporting their mission with integrity and efficiency.

Available for purchase at: https://www.churchpublishing.org/churchadministrationandfinancemanualrevisededition

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.

January: Safe Gun Storage: Be SMART

February: Say Something

March: Youth Violence Prevention Week
See details included in this month’s newsletter Plan Ahead section

April: Bereaved Mother’s Day
We will provide elements to include in your church service

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

Join us for 2026 Winter Camp @ Camp Mack!

Dates:
Start: Friday, February 13th 2025, 6:00PM
End: Sunday, February 15th 2025, 2:00PM

Age Range:
3rd – 8th Grade

Registration Cost:
$130
This includes lodging, meals and snacks, transportation, toboggan ride,

a group photo, staff leadership, and all retreat supplies!

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

JOIN A CHILDREN’S DISASTER SERVICES VOLUNTEER TRAINING IN SPRING 

2026 Learn how to bring comfort and care to children following human-caused and natural disasters.  Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is preparing to hold four volunteer training events in February and March next year. Contact Deb Kauffman if you have any questions. Training dates, locations, and coordinator contact information: Feb. 20-21–First Presbyterian, Beaufort, SC  (Chris Appl-Walsh, 404-989-5306, capplwal@gmail.com) Feb. 20-21–Oakland CoB, Bradford, OH  (Toni Custer, 937-423-1841, tcuster77@gmail.com) Feb. 27-28–Dove of the Desert, Glendale, AZ  (George Cushman, 928-460-2462, gccushman@cox.net) Mar. 14-15–La Verne CoB, La Verne, CA  (Kathy Benson, 909-837-7103)

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.

Young Adult Camp

Help Support Young Adult Camp

We have an opportunity to support Church of the Brethren young adults in strengthening their faith and relationships, by backing a project designed by and for them, which addresses a deeply felt need. Watch their video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOHnmq55fEE

Our district is exploring how to be a more hospitable culture of belonging, meet younger people where they are, learn what they need and want, and form a renewed intergenerational church community together -- this request for support is a serendipitous opportunity to experiment with what it means to grow in this way.

Katie Seward of the Lafayette CoB has connected the young adults with us.  She asked them, "What do you need? What are the barriers?" and they responded that their one barrier is money.  They are energetically coordinating everything else!

We are aiming to keep registration in an accessible range for 18-24 year olds, and we are dreaming of making it possible for perhaps 20-30 young adults. We calculate, then, that we need to raise $2000-$3000.  I think we can do that! I know of your generosity and your strong desire to encourage and support the growing faith of our young people.

We don't know what seeds our generosity might sow, but we step out in faith that God, who dreams of one fully reconciled and whole creation, will honor and multiply even the smallest seeds of love, faith, and hope.

Read the young adults' description of YAC here:

What YAC is:

YAC is a gathering for Camp Mack alumni who want to return after high school and reconnect with the place that helped shape their faith. It’s a chance to rekindle old friendships, strengthen the ones that remain, and grow together in Christ.

Our purpose is to bring alumni back to Camp Mack for meaningful fellowship, worship, and leadership development. As YAC becomes established, we hope each participant leaves better equipped to serve the church and to return as strong, confident counselors for youth camp.

YAC is entirely student-led, giving college students the opportunity to guide the experience from start to finish. All workshops, sermon messages, and worship sessions are planned and led by students who want to serve their peers and grow in their own callings. This creates an authentic environment where young leaders can practice their gifts and encourage one another in their walk with Christ.

When they are planning to meet:

Dec 30th-Jan 1st at camp

Request:

https://youtu.be/AOHnmq55fEE?si=lPkn7i_uSYpz-0Qm

BREMEN

The Bremen CoB Women’s Fellowship will be hosting a Craft Bazaar on Saturday, March 28, 2026.  More info will follow at a later date.

CLERGY TAX SEMINAR

Rev Deb Oskin will be presenting on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (EST), CLERGY TAX SEMINAR.

          Students, clergy and anyone who deals with clergy finances are invited to participate in this online Zoom seminar.

          Learn how to prepare clergy taxes correctly & legally.

          Comply with regulations while maximizing tax deductions.

          Earn 0.3 CEUs-for the first 2 sessions only.

I’ve attached the seminar brochure for more information.

Register here: Clergy Tax Seminar

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   

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!

Registration opens January 5, 2026, visit www.brethren.org/nyc for more information. 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 Pastoral Compensation Resources Now Available

The 2026 Pastoral Compensation Guidelines and Tools are now available through the CoB Office of Ministry website at: https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/compensation/

All congregations are encouraged to review these documents on a yearly basis as they prepare the annual budgets.

Ventures Courses Now Available

Registration is now live for the Ventures in Christian Discipleship 2025-2026 webinar series. All courses are previewed below, and additional information is attached for the fall courses. We hope you will share widely with your district churches, lay leaders and pastors. CEUs are available. All are welcome!

·         January 20 & 27: “Building Bridges Between Brethren through Compassionate Listening: Let Thy Kingdom Come!” presented by Barbara Daté, Joe Vecchio, & Harriet Koscho

·         February 21: “The Ecology of Vitality: Mutuality in Pastoral and Congregational Well-Being,” presented by John Fillmore

·         March 28: “God’s Earth, Our Home: Engaging Creation Care through Faith,” presented by David Radcliff

Participants can learn more and register online at www.mcpherson.edu/ventures . Please be in touch if you have any questions.

=====

January Ventures Course Offering

“Building Bridges Between Brethren through Compassionate Listening:

Let Thy Kingdom Come!”

Tuesdays, January 20 & 27, 2026

7:00-9:00pm Central Time

Presenters: Barbara Daté, Joe Vecchio, Harriet Koscho

.4 CEU credit

Course Description:

This interactive workshop invites Brethren from across the denomination to strengthen relationships through deep compassionate listening. How we are going to accomplish this is via using the facilitated Daté Discernment Circle (DDC) process. We believe that sharing deeply with heartfelt understandings can be a catalyst to healing.  Further, that any fresh understandings could foster stronger connections as we build up our beloved Brethren relationships by offering one another compassion and empathy.

Come prepared to listen. Come prepared to share if you wish. Each person who shares will begin with a “Prompt” designed to focus on what is meaningful about “being Brethren”, for example: “What ‘Being Brethren’ in this time and place means to me…” or “Pain I am recovering from…”. We will be coached to use the deep compassionate listening skill, micro-paraphrasing.* As we take turns sharing what is meaningful to us, we will also ensure that each person is listened to with respect and understanding by each “Special Listener” requested in turn by each “Speaker”. What is especially compelling about this DDC model is Barbara’s belief and witness to the “breaking through of the Spirit in our midst” so often that she nurtures the sacred space for that possibility!

Our hope is that a broad cross-section from across our denomination will participate. Then as we nurture compassionate understandings we will be able to turn together, shoulder to shoulder to: “Bring forth the kingdom of mercy! Bring forth the kingdom of peace!”: Thy Kingdom Come! Amen!

For more information or to register, go to: https://www.mcpherson.edu/ventures/

FaithX for 50+

This February, FaithX is hosting a special service trip for adults ages 50+ at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, FL – and you are invited to join! See below for more information. Registration is open now and will close on February 1, 2026 – https://www.brethren.org/faithx/older-adult/ If you have questions, feel free to contact them by email (faithx@brethren.org) or phone (847-429-4337).

BRETHREN DISASTER MINISTRIES

Norm Waggy - our District BDM Rep – has committed to half a crew (7 persons)  from N. IN to work the week of Feb 15-21.  Can you make this work?  I can guarantee you it is an experience you will not forget.  And, really, how full is your calendar in February . . . . 

2026 New Community Project Learning Tours

David Radcliff, New Community Project dradcliffncp@yahoo.com Go. Meet. Learn. Grow. Change yourself – and your world. Nepal in mid-January, 2026 (human trafficking, Himalaya, a wildlife park, NCP support of girls and women). For more information: www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tour

2026 L.E.A.D. Conference: Leadership matters!

Learning more about leading well can only help pastors and congregations. The Church of the Brethren LEAD Conference will encourage, inspire, and equip you and your congregation’s leaders to further develop your ministry’s effectiveness and earn CEU credit. Join us for powerful times of worship, in-depth keynote messages, and practical breakout sessions taught by practitioners who are eager to share lessons they’ve learned that you can adapt and implement in your own ministry context.

This will be a leadership development conference for congregational leaders such as pastors and church board members. The focus will be on raising the leadership skills of congregational leaders to help them be more effective in their local ministries. The event will be a mix of plenary and break-out sessions.

Dates: May 1-3, 2026

Location: Ephrata Church of the Brethren, Ephrata, PA

For more information please see the official website here: https://www.brethren.org/dlf/lead-conference/

Children’s Disaster Services

Learn how to bring comfort and care to children following disasters

By Michael Scalzi

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is very excited to have new volunteer trainings scheduled for the Spring of 2026 in addition to the Fall of 2025. Join a CDS volunteer training and learn how to bring comfort and care to children following disasters.

The CDS training program is a 25-hour training that equips volunteers with the skills needed to understand and respond to children who have encountered both human-caused and natural disasters. Learn more and register for a training at www.brethren.org/cds or call 410-635-8735.

For training dates and locations go to www.brethren.org/news/2025/learn-how-to-bring-comfort