Embrace Community
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren was established by 27 members in 1899. We are now a community of just under 400 members, some of whom are employees of the Church of the Brethren General Board offices in Elgin. In our congregation you will find people of varied ages, occupations, backgrounds and ideas who together genuinely seek to follow Jesus and practice what he taught.
As a community of seekers and disciples, we support and encourage each other in simple, day-to-day ways: gathering to worship God, delighting in one another’s gifts, sharing fellowship meals, studying the Bible together, caring for each other in times of sickness and trouble, enjoying thoughtful companionship, and reaching out in service to the community and the world.
Pastors’ Profiles
Pastor Joel Kline came to the Highland
Avenue congregation in July, 2002. He was born in Dixon,
Illinois, the son of a Church of the Brethren pastor. He
is a 1971 graduate of Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania,
where he majored in sociology. Joel went from college to
Bethany Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from seminary
in 1975, Joel accepted a call to the Hanoverdale Church of
the Brethren in Pennsylvania. Joel’s interest in a
deeper spiritual life led him to begin a Doctor of Ministry
program at Bethany, which he completed in 1983. His doctoral
study was entitled, "Journey of the Spirit: Church of
the Brethren Spirituality." In 1986 he accepted a call
to the Beacon Heights congregation in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
where he served for sixteen years.
Joel has served on a district board, chaired a district ministry commission, served as a district moderator, chaired the Annual Conference committee on ministerial ethics, led worship at Annual Conference, served as an officer of the Brethren Minister’s Association, been secretary of the Brethren Journal Association, and written two books for “Passing on the Promise”— Reaching Out in Word and Deed and Growing in Christian Discipleship.
Joel lives in Elgin, Illinois, and has three grown children.
Associate Pastor Audrey deCoursey joined the Highland Avenue staff in October 2008, after graduating from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, with a Masters of Divinity and a Certificate in Women’s Studies in Religion. Before coming to Elgin, she served as Pastor-in-Training at the El Sobrante United Methodist Church in El Sobrante, California. She interned as a Beatitudes Society Fellow at the California Interfaith Power & Light campaign in Oakland, California. She served two terms as an AmeriCorps member in Portland, Oregon.
She has been a member of the steering committee of the Womaen’s Caucus of the Church of the Brethren since 2005. She has presented workshops and lectures at a variety of ecumenical and secular events, including the American Academy of Religion (2008), Progressive Brethren Summit (2008), Pacific School of Religion Earl Lectures (2008), Plymouth Center Emerging Leaders Conference (2007), Young Adult Ecumenical Forum (2006), Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education meeting (2006), and the Lewis & Clark College Gender Studies Symposium (2003).
Governance
All members and associate members of the congregation are eligible to vote in regular congregational business meetings, which function as the final authority and ultimate governing body of the church. An elected church board is invested with administrative powers to act on behalf of the congregational business meeting. The board appoints individuals to ministry groups that are empowered to carry out the programs of the congregation. Current church governance groups are:
- Church Board
- Personnel Committee
- Christian Education Ministry Group
- Worship Ministry Group
- Congregational Nurture Ministry Group
- Witness Ministry Group
- Stewardship Formation Ministry Group
- Building & Properties Ministry Group
- Outreach & Growth Minstry Group
Congregational Nurture
Fellowship Meals: Everyone is welcome to Common Meal, every Wednesday starting at 5:30 p.m. from October through May. A small donation is accepted. Potlucks and picnics are scheduled at various times throughout the year. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is a program of occasional in-home get-acquainted dinners. Men’s Breakfast meets every Tuesday at 7am at the Colonial Cafe in Elgin; all men are welcome.
Older Adults: Seasoned Servants, for adults over 50, meets regularly for activities, service and fellowship.
Miracles Groups: Support for individuals recovering from mental illness and their families, including a group for youth and young adults.
Gifted Hands: Meets monthly for hand-crafts (knitting, crocheting, embroidery) and informal conversation.
Music: Choirs are available for singers of all ages: Adult Choir, Hallelujah Choir (K through 2nd Grade), Choristers (3rd to 5th Grade), and Agape Singers (6th through 12th Grade). We also share musical gifts in special music events, particularly in the summer months.
Summer Activities: The Brethren-run Camp Emmaus in Oregon, Illinois, offers summer camp for children and youth. Family camps are offered Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend. Vacation Bible School is offered one week each summer for all ages.
Youth Group
Highland Avenue youth meet regularly for Bible study, fellowship and service projects. Youth activities are planned by the Highland Avenue Youth Cabinet.
Brethren Links
Brethren.org is the official website for the Church of the Brethren.
- Church of the Brethren News links to current news articles posted at brethren.org
- Church of the Brethren Youth Ministry provides information on youth programs including:
- Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), a major Brethren program since 1948, provides an avenue for people to give their time and skills to help a world in need.
- Church of the Brethren Credit Union (CoBCU) serves Church of the Brethren members, relatives and employees of Church of the Brethren organizations.
Church of the Brethren Network (COB-NET): Ron Gordon’s wonderful and extensive (unofficial) Brethren resource. A real treasure-trove: please visit!
Illinois/Wisconsin District Youth—Church of the Brethren. Information about events for youth in the Illinois/Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren.
Camp Emmaus is an area retreat, camp and outdoor ministry center located in Mt. Morris, Illinois.
Pinecrest Community (Mt. Morris, IL) is a Brethren-affiliated retirement community.
Brethren Colleges and Seminaries
- Bridgewater College (Bridgewater, Virginia)
- Elizabethtown College (Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania)
- Juniata College (Huntingdon, Pennsylvania)
- University of La Verne (La Verne, California)
- Manchester College (North Manchester, Indiana)
- McPherson College (McPherson, Kansas)
- Bethany Theological Seminary (Richmond, Indiana)
Other Links
Community Crisis Center (Elgin, IL)