Hosler succeeding Blevins

as NCC/COB advocacy officer

Washington, February 8, 2012 -- Nathan Hosler, who with his wife Jennifer has been teaching theology and peace at Kulp Bible College in northern Nigeria, has accepted a joint position as advocacy officer with the National Council of Churches and the Church of the Brethren, effective March 1.

Hosler succeeds Jordan Blevins, who served in the position since July 2010.

Located in Washington, D.C., the advocacy officer provides approximately equal hours of service to the Church of the Brethren and the NCC, with seasonal variations due to events and emphases of each organization.

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

While serving with his wife Jennifer in northern Nigeria, Hosler also assisted in implementation of the Peace Program of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Previously he served a ministry internship and held various leadership roles with Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, Pa.

Hosler holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., and a bachelor’s in Biblical Language from Moody Bible Institute. He has done various training courses in peacebuilding, trauma awareness, and restorative justice.  

During Blevins' tenure in the position, the NCC actively supported the ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, passed a General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan, and pursued a United States conversation following the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence.

His role also gave the Church of the Brethren a new kind of witness and presence in Washington. More than 450 Brethren have called on their members of Congress to support policies more reflective of Brethren values and voice on issues including poverty and hunger, creation care, and issues of violence.

Previously, Blevins served the NCC’s Eco-Justice Program and Domestic Poverty Initiative.

Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.

NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell), pjenks@ncccusa.org