News Release
June 11, 2012

Collegeville, MN (BRIDGEFOLK) – As Bridgefolk meets for its 11^th annual conference in July, the grassroots movement for dialogue and sharing between Mennonites and Roman Catholics will mark its hopes for a second decade by welcoming Darrin Snyder Belousek of Lima, Ohio, as its new executive director.

Snyder Belousek will replace long-time director and Bridgefolk co-founder Gerald Schlabach of St. Paul, Minnesota. Schlabach has been encouraging fellow Bridgefolk leaders to begin nurturing a new generation of leaders that brings fresh insights into the difficult and changing church scene that is challenging all Christian traditions.

A member of the Bridgefolk Board for six years, Snyder Belousek agrees.  One of his hopes for a second decade of Bridgefolk, he says, is to “solidify what’s been accomplished in the first decade and put in place ways of handing that work over into the stewardship of a ‘next generation’ of leaders.”

Snyder Belousek has been actively engaged in Bridgefolk since its first summer conference in 2002.  He has made significant contributions to the movement as a board member, as a presenter at summer conferences, and as writer.  At the local level, he served as coordinator of the Michiana Bridgefolk group from 2005-2008 and also as one of the planners of the Mennonite Catholic Theological Colloquium, which met at Notre Dame in 2007. Continue reading “Darrin Snyder Belousek to become next Bridgefolk director” →

 

Bridgefolk, an organization committed to ecumenical dialogue and sharing between Mennonites and Roman Catholics, seeks a part-time Coordinator to work eight hours per week assisting the Executive Director with administrative tasks, including financial bookkeeping, grant writing, fundraising appeals, and database management.  The Coordinator will also assist with communication needs, including correspondence, website postings, and editing work, as well as event planning.

The ideal candidate would bring a collaborative spirit, an ability to work independently, enthusiasm about ecumenical relations, and good communication and logistical skills. The Bridgefolk Board welcomes applicants who can volunteer their time; as funding is available, the Board aims to provide an honorarium for this role.

To apply for this position, or request more information, write to search[at]bridgefolk.net.

 

Dear friends,

The season of Advent is a time of hopeful expectation and prayerful reflection.  At Bridgefolk, we share in this spirit of hope for what is to come, as well as gratitude for what has been.  The past year has brought many blessings to the Bridgefolk movement:  A successful conference at MCC Welcoming Place challenged and enriched us.  New friends have broadened our circle.  Developments in ecumenical dialogue have given us cause for hope and renewed opportunities for progress.  We have much cause for praise and celebration.

At the same time, we are aware that we rely on the support of committed friends of Bridgefolk to continue to pursue the vision set before us.  In the coming year, we hope to devote resources to adjusting our administrative structure, developing our annual conference and encouraging participation in local and broader Bridgefolk activities.  To meet our aspirations, we will rely on your support.

We invite you to take a moment during this busy time to consider making a financial contribution to the ongoing work of Bridgefolk.  Your contribution will help ensure that the work of Bridgefolk moves forward in the coming year.

Bridgefolk is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.  Your contributions will be tax deductible. Please consider sending a check of $50, $100, $250 or more to Bridgefolk, Saint John’s Abbey, Collegeville MN 56321.  You can also donate online by going to http://bridgefolk.net/howtohelp.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

In deep gratitude,

 

Marlene Kropf and Abbot John Klassen,
Bridgefolk Co-Chairs