Reconciliation meetings are held in the Dominican Republic.

A delegation of Church of the Brethren ministers has traveled from the United States to the Dominican Republic to help with reconciliation meetings. The delegation went to the DR as representatives of the American church, for the purpose of assisting efforts of reconciliation within the Dominican Brethren church, according to a report from Church of the Brethren mission staff Irv and Nancy Heishman. The meetings took place Sept. 19-23.

Delegation members were Earl Ziegler of the Brethren World Mission committee, an ordained minister and a former Annual Conference moderator; Daniel D’Oleo, pastor of Maranatha Church of the Brethren in Lancaster, Pa.; and Guillermo Encarnación, former director of Theological Education and a longtime leader in the life of the Dominican Church of the Brethren.

The Church of the Brethren in the DR has been through a leadership crisis in the last couple of years, according to reports from mission staff. "Accomplishments of the delegation’s visit included progress toward better communication within the DR church and greater understanding on the part of the delegation of the challenges faced by the new leadership," said the Heishmans.

"Prayers are welcomed for the ongoing efforts," the Heishmans added. As the Church of the Brethren mission coordinators in the DR, their responsibilities include assisting Dominican Brethren leaders in their work.

Source: 10/8/2008 Newsline