Last Wednesday, April 23, 2008, Brighton Brethren Chapel, 5445 N. S.R. 3, Howe, Indiana, voted unanimously as a congregation to apply for membership in the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.
Brighton Chapel is a healthy church of around 200 members and attenders. It’s located six miles east of Howe, Indiana on U.S. 120, about six miles south of the Michigan line.
Dr. Ken Bickel, faculty member at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Indiana, and director of the seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program, says, “Brighton Chapel is the church my wife and I have been serving since 2005. For some 50 years she has been associated with the Ashland Brethren Church group. The church now intends to dissolve her association with the Ashland group and join the FGBC.
“As part of the procedure of being accepted by the National Fellowship, Brighton Chapel intends to seek membership in the Heartland District as well.”
Bickel says, “In both theology and practice the church aligns very well with the Grace Brethren, thus the decision to take this step.”
In a message to pastors of the Heartland district, Bickel continued, “The people of Brighton look forward to getting to know you better in the days to come and hope to become better known by you as well.”