Church of the Brethren General Secretary to Conclude Service

At the Oct. 2014 meeting of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, discussions began around the General Secretary’s approaching contract end date of July 1, 2016. After a several-months-long process of discovery, discussion, and deliberation, general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger and the Mission and Ministry Board members mutually decided at a meeting held March 13-16 at Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, that Noffsinger’s service will not extend beyond the end of his current contract.

Through the board’s discussions and deliberation it was clear that Noffsinger had been called “for such a time as this” 12 years ago. He has taken the Brethren message of God’s shalom and Christ’s peace around the world on the denomination’s behalf, while leading it through restructuring and shoring up financial resources.

“The board recognizes and expresses deep appreciation for Stan’s gifts, passion, and sacrificial service,” said chair Becky Ball-Miller. “We sense that the next season of the church’s life will be best served by new leadership.”

Noffsinger reflected that “I had a feeling my pontificate would be brief. … It is a vague feeling I had that the Lord chose me for a short mission.”