Brethren to gather in Virginia for Caring Ministries Assembly.

Brethren from across the country will come together at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren Aug. 11-13 for the fifth Caring Ministries Assembly, to explore the theme "Peace Beyond Our Fears." The conference sponsored by the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) will offer worship and training opportunities for deacons, pastors, chaplains, and congregational caregivers.

Brethren keynote speakers will be Louise Baldwin Rieman, co-pastor of Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis, and Andrew Murray, founder and director of Juniata College's Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Other featured speakers will be Robert Wicks, professor of pastoral care at Loyola College in Maryland, who specializes in secondary stresses that caregivers experience, and Carolyn Yoder, a nationally certified licensed counselor and director of the STAR Center at Eastern Mennonite University. Daily Bible study will be provided by Stephen Reid, academic dean and professor of Old Testament at Bethany Theological Seminary.

More than 20 workshops will cover a range of caring ministry topics with leadership by several denominational agencies. A special track of workshops has been developed for deacons and explores issues of spirituality, peace, health communication, aging, mental health, and grief. Chaplains can participate in their own track of workshops and luncheons. Other elements of the conference will include intentional times of silence for prayer, reflection, and times of rest. Pastors will be eligible to receive some continuing education credits and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering a seminar for TRIM students.

Registration continues to be open and will be available on site. Registration is $125 for the full conference, or $65 per day. For more information visit www.brethren-caregiver.org.

Source: 8/3/2005 Newsline
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