About

About us

WHAT IS BRETHREN ACADEMY?

Brethren Academy is a unique learning experience for high school student leaders to explore Brethren & personal IDENTITY, individual CALLING, & their personal WITNESS to the world. 

This annual conference affords students an opportunity to engage with pastors, professors, ministry leaders, business professionals, and broaden their community with fellow Brethren students from across North America. Brethren Academy is intended for high school students in their Sophomore year of high school, through their graduation year of high school. 

While the learning arch of Brethren Academy is built on a 3-year cycle, each year's focus stands on it's own allowing students to connect to Brethren Academy at any stage in the 3-year arch. 

 

Brethren Academy was founded with the support of Lilly Endowment Inc. to help young students better understand how faith and theology shape their everyday lives. It is open to high school students looking to deepen their understanding of the Brethren and their own spiritual leadership.

Students

Why should you attend Brethren Academy?

EXPLORE

Brethren Academy gives you an opportunity to explore challenging questions of faith and learn more about yourself and the world around you. Our sessions, activities, and spiritual formation options will stimulate your spiritual life and give you the resources to abide closely with Christ through the highs and lows of your faith journey.


EQUIP

Develop a deeper commitment to spiritual formation and learn from leaders who have gone before you in the journey that is Christianity. Learn from Brethren leaders, pastors, and students in order to be more equipped to go back to your own community and spread the Good News.


ENGAGE

Throughout your time at Brethren Academy, you will form friendships with teens and adult leaders from all over North America with shared experiences and questions. Brethren Academy gives you the opportunity to form meaningful connections with others who are on the same journey as you so that you can encourage each other along the way.

What Makes Us Different?

Why not a conference or a camp?

A conference is a time to come together with other students from all over to be inspired, worship, and connect with each other and their youth groups. Camps, likewise, have the unique small group connection time through experiencing the outdoors.


Brethren Academy is different in that it is intentionally positioned for student leadership development. It is a way that teenagers who may feel a call to ministry can explore more of their roots in Brethren Heritage and what it means to live out of their faith within their own communities. The purpose is to help cultivate life calling that is seeped in Brethren values, wherever they may end up. It also is a time to connect with other student leaders from their own regions they may not be aware of.

Our Team

Sara Moore

Sara Moore began serving as the director of Brethren Academy in 2020. She is from Williamsport, Maryland, and has been on staff at St. James Brethren Church since 2010. Sara is an active member of the Brethren Church, having served nationally with the YAC (Youth Advisory Committee) team for seven years, as a member of the Conference Planning Team for two years, and as the National Student Ministry Coordinator for the Brethren Church for a year. Sara presently serves on the Executive Board of the Brethren Church. 

 

She is passionate about helping students deepen their faith and understand the unique roles God has for them to further His kingdom on earth.


Sara enjoys spending time with her family, and when she's not at a ball field cheering on her children, you can find her cooking, gardening, and working out. Her favorite day is new sock day.


Email: sara@brethrenchurch.org

For each event, we select a team of undergraduate students who are some of the most faith-filled, outgoing, and fun individuals from across the country. These mentors have a variety of backgrounds and interests and show an extraordinary capacity to harmonize their faith with their work and studies. They are very excited to meet, guide, and walk this journey of discovery with the youth they encounter.

We are fortunate to have such a diverse pool of individuals to teach our students at Brethren Academy. Whether local pastors, university and seminary professors, business professionals, or lay leaders, students and mentors alike learn from our teachers in a variety of ways. 

Join us for Brethren Academy 2023


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