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"LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
Membership Newsletter Brotherhood of St. Andrew
Welcome to Our Bi-weekly Newsletter
Volume 114, "LEAD LIKE ANDREW"
Here's our latest edition with important meetings and other news you can use! Take a look ...
Please share news, tidbits, or notices of upcoming events in your area so we may include them. We also value your feedback on this newsletter and how we may better serve you. Don't hesitate to contact:
The Brotherhood hosted its first Sunday night, 9 p.m. (Eastern) Compline this past Sunday. A near completely new crowd attended, and younger members among them. Come join us and get in a peace-filled zone for the week ahead. Share this link with others:
The Feast of the Epiphany. Do you have a story and photos to share of Brotherhood “Kings” who appeared at your church? Send them to us.
·Verse Three, Wednesday
Tonight, we have a first-time special guest at our monthly webinar.
The Bishop Suffragan to the Armed Forces & Federal Ministries, a Marine veteran, is with us. See the link below. How’s that for a great start to the New Year.
A Message Regarding the Brotherhood's Racial Reconciliation Committee
by Brotherhood President Roy Benavides
After much discussion and review of one of our men’s ministries, Racial Reconciliation Committee, the committee membershave concluded that the committee, previously a task force committee, has reach a point that calls for a modified direction and emphasis.The member agreed that we should continue the work of racial reconciliation but with a focus and emphasis on“Becoming Beloved Community.”
This ministry will continue as a Brotherhood Committee to be known as “Becoming Beloved Community.”
Let me present the stated purpose of the episcopal church regarding Becoming Beloved Community:
“In the Episcopal Church, we are guided by the vision ofBecoming Beloved Community, our church’s long-term commitment to racial justice, healing, and reconciliation. We’re all on a lifelong journey toward God’s dream, taking intentional and faithful steps as if moving through a labyrinth.”
“Becoming Beloved Community” is driving my initial thoughts and efforts of the Brotherhood ministry in this area. As we talked, we focused on the ongoing need to promote the Sacred Ground program and to support our brothers in this essential Christian formation. Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles are a key element in our effort toBecome a Beloved Community.
It is my understanding that we would continue the work of the past few years with a renewed effort in racial reconciliation, and it seems appropriate that we change the title of our committee to the Brotherhood’sBecoming Beloved Community Ministry.
“Truth-telling: Telling the Truth about Our Churches and Race
Proclamation: Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community
Justice:Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions”
As a men’s ministry in the Angelica communion, it is most appropriate that we use these elements as our basis for moving forward, keeping our Baptismal vows.
I appreciate your thoughts on this matter, and I urge you to call me to guide and advise me on how to move this message forward to our Brothers. We should continue and build on what has been accomplished over the past few years.
We will schedule a meeting for January 2026.
It's Membership Renewal Time!
Directly Speakingby Executive Director Tom Welch
This time of year the Service Center is swamped with membership renewals in addition to the new member applications. Thanks for your patience as we respond to your service requests. Most days the office is staffed by our Office Manager Libby Craven, our only full-time employee. My time is nearly fully remote and half-time. Next week I will be in Louisville with a board member or two to help out the renewal process.
While we had an all-time high since 2017 in NEW memberships in 2025 (up 40% from 2024) we count on membership renewals to help meet the needs of the field with our very modest budget. Br. Roy, our National President, has previously shared with you that over 80% of our income goes directly to field support. THANK YOU for your timely, faithful membership renewals and the many brothers among our Sustaining Membership ranks. Those extra recurring monthly contributions make it all happen.
Lastly, we are looking forward to issuing a big "atta boy" to all our 2026 Houghteling Chapters in a few weeks. Named in memory of our Founder, James Houghteling, those are chapters where 75% of the members on the roster have paid dues for 2026 AND have filed a 2025 Annual Chapter Report, all by Jan. 31, 2026.
Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries of the Episcopal Church
JOIN US!
NEWLY SCHEDULED ACTIVITY
Brothers, in addition to our weekly Mid-Day Mid-Week Prayers, we are scheduling a weekly end-of-day Order for Compline each Sunday at 9 PM Eastern Time.
The monthly seminar is always on the second Tuesday of each month at 8 pm/Eastern.
Hosted by: President Roy Benavides & Sr. VP Jeff Butcher
PRISON MINISTRY NETWORK MEETING
Brothers who are interested in being a part of the Brotherhood's prison ministry are invited to join a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 9 p.m. (Eastern).
The hour-long meeting discussion will include:
·A database of those involved and how we will use it
2025 ANNUAL CHAPTER REPORT AND 2026 MINISTRY DUES NEEDED BY JAN. 31
There are several ways to pay dues.
Some chapters use a November meeting to collect the next year's dues, update their rosters, and send in their 2025 annual report to our national service center in Louisville, Kentucky. The same meeting is also an ideal time to rededicate the chapter to the purposes of the Brotherhood.
Another way to renew your annual ministry dues is to mail a $50 check directly to the Brotherhood of St. Andrew at P.O. Box 1382, Louisville, KY 40201.
The Membership Committee and the National Council recognize chapters who strongly support our ministry by presenting them with the Houghteling Award, named after our founder. The award criteria requires:
making sure 75% of the chapter membership pay dues for 2026 in a timely manner by January 31, 2026, AND
providing a *NEW*2025 annual chapter report*NEW* including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails of members and an officer roster, available either ONLINEor printed, completed and postmarked no later than January 31, 2026.
For 2025, 26 chapters met the criteria and were so recognized.
Additionally, the National Service Center has begun assembling a complete list of chapters' Zoom and Hybrid meetings specifically targeted for a MAL's benefit. Listed below are chapter meetings available to engage in fellowship.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW HAS BEEN PART OF THE MEN’S STUDY SERIES KNOWN AS PROJECT 12 FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
Please consider the series as a potential opportunity for your chapter or group of men to study and interact on one of the topics in the Lifeline Series.
“It started on a patio. Two men sat there talking about what God was doing in their lives and ministries. Diverse in more than just age and geography, these two men discussed how building men was not a cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all approach There was a desire expressed to gather a group of effective men’s leaders from all over the country to share what God was doing. This was the beginning of the A-Team.
Fast forward to 2014, and over 25 men gathered in the Midwest at a retreat center to learn from each other and celebrate how God was working in their lives to change their communities. One of the outcomes of these conversations was to gather a list of great faithful resources to point men towards to help, teach, and grow.
The Project Twelve concept emerged. Twelve guys following Jesus. Twelve months in a year. Perhaps this group could help men follow Jesus year-round like the original twelve guys did. Welcome to Project Twelve.”
The programs can be found at www.projecttwelve.net. They are called Lifelines. They were just recently released. They are faith-based roadmaps for every generation. According to the outline, each of the six segments has six blocks. If you did one per week, it would last at least 36 weeks. Each is based on the Serendipity Bible.
We are part of the original group that established Project Twelve five years ago. There are seven different denominations/ministries, and 13 individuals who contributed to the writings. There is no charge for tapping into the various programs.
JOIN US IN PRAYER EACH WEEK
Mid-Week, Mid-Day, "12:00 Central Time"
What better way to level set during the middle of the week? We will hold a weekly Wednesday noon (Central) prayer time over ZOOM that is open to all brothers and guests. Let's pray for the Brotherhood, for our Brothers, and even share some stories of how Prayer has impacted you or someone you know!
We can all spare 20 minutes in prayer. It's like stopping at the faith service station to fill your prayer tank!
Please join us every week when you can to recharge your prayer batteries!
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, The Brooklyn and Queens Assemblies, and The Diocese of Chicago wish to remind you to join the weekly Bible Study on Thursdays, 8 p.m. EDT/ 7 p.m. CDT/ 6 p.m. MDT/ 5 p.m. PDT. Joining this group will allow you to continue to gain deeper knowledge, awareness, and understanding of the Bible.
BIBLE STUDY ID: 448 502 7479 (no password necessary)
2. By PHONE:
646-876-9923
ENTER ID#: 448 502 7479, THEN PRESS #
'Wow! That was nice to get a call!'
New members to receive "welcome call" from
their Province President and/or Diocesan Leaders
New members are starting to receive email notification from the Service Center when their complete and funded applications are processed. Packets are also sent via USPS. Often, our Executive Director Tom Welch, makes a welcome call. Our senior leadership wants to take it a step closer to the ground. Each member of the Brotherhood has a Province President, and many have a Diocesan Coordinator contact. These Brotherhood leaders are tasked with reaching out to new members. They actually have fun building connections. It's something a text can't do nearly as effectively. "What province am I in?" A map is below.
Every month province presidents receive a list of the new members in his province. You should have already received a welcome call from him by now or will in the near future. It's all about building connections so we may build community and leadership. One or more of our leaders will be calling new members by phone, so you may see an odd phone number show on your phone. Take a chance and see if it is a new Brotherhood friend on the other end. They would like to get to know you.
Likewise, every month for those new members who have indicated an interest in one or more of our seven ministries, that Ministry VP will also receive your name and plug new members into that ministry silo.
If new members aren't able to answer the call, our leaders will leave a message for a call back opportunity from our new members. What makes a new member join? What does their parish look like? What would they share to others about the Brotherhood? These are the type of questions we want to learn so we may grow in the Lord together.
A special welcome to these new members joining since Dec. 23:
The membership committee and the National Council wish to recognize chapters who strongly support our ministry by presenting them with the Houghteling Award, named after our founder. The award criteria required:
making sure 75% of the chapter membership had paid dues for 2025 in a timely manner, AND
providing a 2024 annual chapter report including names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails of members and an officer roster no later than January 31, 2025.
This year 26 chapters met the criteria and are so recognized:
Advent #5454S, Sun City West, Arizona
Christ #5068S, Pensacola, Florida
Christ #2219S Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Church of Ascension #5206S, Knoxville, Tennessee
Church of the Good Shepherd #5041S, Silver City, New Mexico
Church of the Good Shepherd #5259S, Friendswood, Texas
Church of Our Savior #5121S, Palm Bay, Florida
Church of Transfiguration #5392S, Opa Locka, Florida
Holy Comforter #4706S, Spring, Texas
Holy Trinity #5461S, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Holy Trinity #0079S, Gainesville, Florida
Holy Trinity #2225S, Decatur, Georgia
Holy Trinity by the Lake #4699S, Rockwall, Texas
St. Georges #5136S, The Villages, Florida
St. Johns #4854S, Naperville, Illinois
St. Johns #3816S, Tulsa, Oklahoma
St. Joseph #5173S, Boynton Beach, Florida
St. Marks #1552S, Islip, New York
St. Marys #2187S, High Point, North Carolina
St. Pauls by the Sea #1770S, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Kathy Copas, our editor, would like to include more news of chapter events and ministry meetings or events. If you have something to share, please send it to
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