Tuesday, July 15
Business

[Highlights | Feature | Photo | Worship]

On Earth Peace gave its report today, and received the blessing of prayer from the Annual Conference leaders. Photo by Ken Wenger

The moderator's daughter, Naomi Beckwith Kraenbring, was one of those bringing amendments during the business session. In place of the traditional greeting, "Brother moderator," she opened with "Hi Dad!" Photo by Ken Wenger

Anna Speicher gave background on the Resolution on Slavery in the 21st Century, which was adopted by the delegate body,with a call to Brethren to make personal lifestyle changes in order to help eradicate modern-day slavery. A study guide on the issue is available at www.brethren.org. Photo by Ken Wenger

Rachel Brown from the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren presented the annual moderator's gift, a quilted wall hanging. Photo by Ken Wenger

Delegates paid close attention during a long and complicated business session. Photo by Glenn Riegel

The lengthy lines at the microphones gave some delegates a unique opportunity to get to know each other while waiting for their chance to speak. Photo by Glenn Riegel

Mary Jo Flory-Steury, executive director of the Office of Ministry, presented information about updates to the Ethics in Ministerial Relations Paper. Photo by Glenn Riegel

The General Board gave its final report under its present name. Shown here are general secretary Stan Noffsinger (left) and outgoing board chair Tim Harvey. After yesterday's approval of the plan of merger with the Association of Brethren Caregivers, the new combined board will be known as the Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren. Photo by Regina Roberts

CONFERENCE ADOPTS RESOLUTION URGING FORBEARANCE
The Resolution Urging Forbearance received a lot of discussion in the business sessions. It came as a joint resolution originating from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC), and endorsed by On Earth Peace and the General Board.

The text of the short resolution begins, “We find ourselves in a world where people are driven apart by deep differences. These divisions seep into the church, pitting us against one another in action and language. Yet God has entrusted us with a ministry of reconciliation.”

Citing 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 and Matthew 5:17, and giving a brief review of scriptural references to forbearance--Ephesians 4:2 and 6:9, Colossians 3:13, and 2 Corinthians 12:6–the paper also quotes from Annual Conference statements and offers an overview of Brethren tradition and history with regard to the practice of forbearance in the church.

Concerns were raised in the delegate body, particularly from persons in districts recently involved in conflict. One person at the microphone wondered whether the intent of the resolution was to bypass decisions made by his district conference.

In response, Kathy Reid of ABC said, “This is about loving each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. It does not change polity.” She added, “First and foremost we need to love each other and treat each other civilly and in a loving way. Threatening each other is different from holding each other accountable. This is a call to remember our heritage as brothers and sisters in Christ and hold each other in love.”

Several speakers were concerned that the paper could be abused, that practicing forbearance in the way the paper suggests might keep Brethren from holding one another accountable. Another speaker said, “Forbearance should be a step in the process of holding one another accountable.”

A couple of amendments were proposed. The amendment that passed was brought by a delegate from her congregation’s peace education committee. First it added the words, “We respect those who do not agree and continue in fellowship with them.” Then it added another clause to an existing sentence: “We preach and teach peace without separating ourselves from those who choose military service or otherwise question the official position of the denomination.”

The resolution was adopted on a show of hands, although with significant opposition.

UPDATE TO THE ETHICS IN MINISTERIAL RELATIONS PAPER IS ADOPTED
The Ethics in Ministerial Relations paper, which was adopted with several amendments, was an update to the Annual Conference paper of 1996.

The updated paper received considerable discussion. Mary Jo Flory-Steury, executive director of Ministry, explained that it comes out of 12 years of experience of using the 1996 document in the districts and the denomination. The update includes more of the scriptural and theological grounding of the code of ethics for ministers. It also includes revisions in a section concerning the process of dealing with complaints of misconduct.

An amendment was adopted concerned pastors ministering to their former congregations, which was prohibited in the new version of the paper. Former pastors who interfere with the ministerial relationships of current pastors has been a point of difficulty in some congregations. The amendment changed the code of ethics in the paper to assert that ministers will only perform ministerial services in former congregations at the request of the current pastor, and if it does not hinder the ministry of the congregation and pastor. Several pastors rose to support the amendment, citing the mentoring and support they have received from former pastors, especially early in their ministries.

A second major amendment was adopted to require congregations to engage in a study of the denomination’s congregational ethics paper prior to submitting a congregational profile and at least once every five years during an extended pastorate.

Other amendments strengthened the paper’s call for ministerial leaders to live by high standards, and added a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Several speakers pointed out places where they thought the wording did not go far enough in naming specific types of misbehavior and abuse. Those concerns did not result in any amendments to the paper.

An amendment was proposed because of concern that pastors could be abused by malicious anonymous complaints. The paper allows persons to anonymously complain and initiate a grievance process. However, Flory-Steury pointed out that if the complaint is taken through the full process outlined in the paper, the name of the accuser would become known to investigators, although kept confidential. The amendment was voted down.

Another proposed amendment that did not pass concerned use of pornography. Flory-Steury suggested that the issue was covered under general statements regarding integrity of the ministerial life, exercising a lifestyle consistent with the teachings of Jesus. The amendment was voted down, but the moderator quickly stated that this was not to imply approval of pornography.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND CONFIRMATIONS
The appointments of General Board board members were confirmed by the Conference:
-- Ben Barlow of Dayton, Va., was confirmed as an at large board member.
-- Willie Hisey Pierson of Montgomery, Ill., was confirmed as a nominee from Illinois and Wisconsin District.
-- Andrew Hamilton of Akron, Ohio, was confirmed as a nominee from Northern Ohio District.
-- Wallace Glenn Cole of Winston-Salem, N.C., was confirmed as a nominee from Southeastern District.

The appointments of On Earth Peace board members were confirmed:
-- Benjamin Leiter of New Windsor, Md.
-- Joel Gibble of Lititz, Pa.

OTHER ANNUAL CONFERENCE BUSINESS
A Resolution on Slavery in the 21st Century was adopted, including an amendment made by Standing Committee that added a phrase “to change our personal lifestyle habits that support it (slavery).” A Study and Action Guide on Modern-Day Slavery that provides resources to accompany the resolution is available at www.brethren.org.

A Resolution on Ministers’ Medical Insurance Crisis was adopted. It follows up on action of the 2007 Annual Conference to end the Brethren Medical Plan for pastors, creating a crisis for some with preexisting medical conditions. Director of Ministry Mary Jo Flory-Steury spoke of hearing of churches that erroneously interpreted last year’s decision to mean that they no longer had responsibility for providing medical insurance for their pastors. The resolution reaffirms the value of congregations providing health insurance for pastors and their families. It calls on the General Board to work at the issue in several ways, and encourages Brethren Benefit Trust to extend aid through assistance funds.

The delegates adopted the concern of the Query: Conference Witness to Host City, and referred it to the Program and Arrangements Committee to coordinate with the host district so opportunities for meaningful witness in the host city are provided each year. The query from Southern Pennsylvania District asked what the denomination can do to join with ministries to assist in the work of Jesus Christ in the cities where Annual Conference is held. A chart was exhibited showing the many avenues of local witness--from food drives to peace marches--already implemented in host cities during the past few Conferences.

A revision to the Annual Conference paper on Unfunded Mandates also passed.

The Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee recommended a 4.2 percent annual adjustment to the cash salary table for pastors for 2009, which was approved by the Conference.

In other business, the Conference received reports from the General Board and from On Earth Peace, received a report of the TOGETHER Conversations process, received a report from the Committee on Interchurch Relations, welcomed ecumenical guests, and received a report from the Program and Arrangements Committee. Lerry Fogle, Annual Conference executive director, reported that the financial situation of Annual Conference is much better than a year ago, and that the sum of $40,000 is being returned to the Conference by the 300th Anniversary Committee, which did not need the full funding it had received. “We expect to end the year 2008 well into a surplus,” Fogle said.

Because of time constraints, the moderator announced that the report from the delegates to the National Council of Churches will be distributed in another way, and that the Living Peace Church stories may be made available via the website.

BOARD REORGANIZES IN LIGHT OF PLAN OF MERGER
The General Board met on Monday evening to reorganize following adoption of the merger documents transforming the General Board and the Association of Brethren Caregivers into the Church of the Brethren, Inc. The new entity takes effect on Sept. 1. Until that date the following executive committees remain in effect:

-- The General Board executive committee through Aug. 31 will include chair Dale Minnich, vice-chair Ken Wenger, Susan Fitze, Kate Spire, and Mike Benner.

-- The Association of Brethren Caregivers executive committee through Aug. 31 will include chair Eddie Edmonds, chair-elect Vernne Greiner, Dan McRoberts, John Katonah, and Chris Whitacre.

Beginning Sept. 1, the executive committee of the new Mission and Ministry Board, incorporating both the General Board and the ABC board, will be made up of chair Eddie Edmonds, chair-elect Dale Minnich, Vernne Greiner, and Ken Wenger.

-- The business pages were written by Frances Townsend, pastor of Onekama (Mich.) Church of the Brethren, and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services.

Duane Ediger, a delegate from First Church of the Brethren in Chicago, speaks to the Ethics in Ministerial Relations paper. Photo by Regina Roberts

Two business items received much discussion, with many delegates waiting at the microphones to speak: the Resolution Urging Forbearance, and the update to the Ethics in Ministerial Relations document. Photo by Regina Roberts