July 2, 2010

PITTSBURGH, PA – In a joint appointment announced yesterday by the Church of the Brethren and the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), Jordan Blevins began July 1 as the Church of the Brethren's staff for witness in a position also seconded to the NCC to serve as an advocacy officer in Washington, D.C.

Blevins will lead an ecumenical peacemaking program on behalf of the two organizations. He is a member of Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren.

Previously, he was associate director of the NCC's Eco-Justice Program, and coordinator of Poverty Initiatives and Washington internships with the National Council of Churches since Sept. 2007.

Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the NCC, praised the appointment. "It models a new form of support for the work of the NCC," he said. "The United Church of Christ already has a similar agreement with the Council that undergirds our ministry in racial justice and human rights, and we hope that other churches will follow suit. Second, this gives us staff coverage in the area of peacemaking, which has always been a crucial part of the Council's agenda. And, third, I am absolutely delighted to welcome Jordan Blevins, who has been a fine colleague in the field of eco-justice, into this new position. He is the right person for this new portfolio."

Blevin's responsibilities for the Church of the Brethren will include nurturing the denomination's witness to society and government from a uniquely Anabaptist-Pietist Brethren perspective, with a pacifist emphasis on peace and justice. He will represent the NCC member churches in advocacy for peace and provide leadership in educational initiatives with the member churches and wider society.

Prior to joining the NCC, Blevins was a legislative intern at the Brethren Witness/Washington Office beginning in Jan. 2007, where he participated in a Faith Expedition to Vietnam and did follow up reporting and helped create a Brethren Water and Sanitation project in that area through the Global Food Crisis Fund.

Additionally, he was manager of Cokesbury Bookstore in Washington, as well as a grassroots fundraiser for Grassroots Campaigns, Inc.

He holds a bachelor of arts degree in Philosophy and Religion and a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Bridgewater (Va.) College and recently graduated from American University and Wesley Theological Seminary with a master of arts degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, and a master of theological studies, respectively. He is pursuing a doctorate of ministry in Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue at Wesley Theological Seminary.

He serves on the Board of Directors of On Earth Peace, a Church of the Brethren peace education and advocacy agency, and on the Church of the Brethren's Young Adult Steering Committee. He also serves on the New Fire Task Force, a young adult ecumenical movement.

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.

Church of the Brethren Newsline