Friday, June 01, 2012

General Secretary Announces Decision Regarding BMC Project With Brethren Volunteer Service

Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger today made an announcement concerning the BMC Kaleidoscope Coordinator as a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) project. The decision was shared in a letter addressed to Carol Wise, executive of BMC--the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests.

“After conversations with the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board Executive Committee and a conference call with members of the board, I have withdrawn the BMC Kaleidoscope Coordinator as a BVS project as it is currently defined,” the letter said.

“As General Secretary, I will hold in trusting tension the possibility for a BMC project until such time as delegations from the MMB and the BMC board can meet face-to-face in the spirit of Matthew 18.”

In January, BMC had been accepted as a placement site for BVS volunteers after applying on a regular basis for some years (find a report of the original decision at www.brethren.org/news/2012/bmc-is-bvs-project-site.html).

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. It is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts about 125,000 members across the US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, the DR, Brazil, Haiti, and India.

Source: 6/1/2012 Newsline