Brethren bits: Job openings, youth peace team, district news, more.

• The Church of the Brethren General Board seeks an executive director for the Global Mission Partnerships program. The executive director provides servant leadership to the Global Mission Partnerships ministries of the Church of the Brethren, including casting a vision for mission as well as development, implementation and coordination of global ministries. Preferred qualifications for this position include: significant understanding of mission theology and practice, with knowledge of relief, development, and church planting operations in an international context; mission or humanitarian service-related management experience; knowledge of cross-cultural adjustment, dependency issues, ecumenical cooperation, and interfaith challenges gained from working internationally; multi-year living experience outside the United States; multiple language proficiencies preferred (notably Hausa, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Creole, or French); demonstrated experience in conflict and crisis management; overall management experience with significant supervisory skills and budget development and oversight; demonstrated project management experience; expertise in group dynamics, processes, and networking with diverse groups of people; strong administrative and management skills to direct multiple program locations; seminary degree and/or master's degree in a relevant international field; well-grounded in the Church of the Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; able to articulate and support the core values of the Church of the Brethren and to operate out of the vision of the General Board; able to articulate a personal, Christian faith. The General Board is an equal-opportunity employer and welcomes applications from persons who can enhance the diversity of the community. Review of applications will begin July 21. The board will seek to make an appointment on or before Sept. 1. Interested persons should request an application packet from: Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694. Electronic submissions of materials are preferred at kkrog_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• The Board of Directors for Career and Personal Counseling Service, a Charlotte, N.C., based MDC accredited ministry center, is seeking an interim director. The board is seeking the services of someone with the credentials and experience needed to complete vocational assessments with candidates for ministry and other clergy and to oversee staff. MDC accreditation standards require a minimum of a Master's degree in some field of counseling, MSW, MFT, pastoral counseling with AAPC Fellow or Diplomate standing, psychology. Per MDC accreditation standards, "The Director shall have some practical experience in the church adequate to understand the theological and ecclesiastical concerns of center clients." Training and credentialing needed to interpret the MMPI-2 is preferable but not mandatory. This will be a 9-12 month assignment. Inquiries should be made to harry_greyard@ecunet.org.
  
  
• Brethren Volunteer Service announces the start of summer orientation July 27-Aug. 15 in Wenatchee, Wash. This unit will be the 280th for BVS and will consist of 19 volunteers. They will spend three weeks exploring project possibilities and topics of community building, peace and social justice, faith sharing, diversity training, and more. They will also have the opportunity for several work days in the local community and in Seattle. There will be a BVS Potluck dinner on Aug. 2 in Wenatchee at 6 p.m. for all those interested in fellowshiping with the volunteers. For more information contact the BVS office at 800-323-8939.
  
  
• The 2008 Youth Peace Travel Team completed orientation at the General Offices of the Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill., on June 6. The members of the team are Samantha Carwile, Gabe Dodd, Melisa Gaddison, and John-Michael Pickens. The group will spend the entire summer (through Aug. 15) sharing the message of peace and justice to camps and congregations from California to Florida. They will spend time at eight different camps and participate in Annual Conference, as well as the National Young Adult Conference in Colorado. The team is jointly sponsored by the Youth and Young Adult Office, Brethren Witness/Washington Office, On Earth Peace, and Outdoor Ministries Association.
  
  
• Virlina District has designated Aug. 10 as a special offering Sunday for congregations to defray the costs of rebuilding Erwin (Tenn.) Church of the Brethren. The Erwin church in Southeastern District was destroyed in a fire after lightning hit the steeple on June 9.
  
  
• The Northern Plains District Conference will take place at Hammond Avenue Brethren Church in Waterloo, Iowa, on July 25-26.
  
  
• The Western Plains District Conference will be held in McPherson, Kan., on Aug. 1-3.

Source: 7/16/2008