2 persons, 5-year terms
(one person, 5-year term) – from Area 1
(Southern Pennsylvania, Middle Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic)
Districts not represented the past 5 years are shown in italics.
Atlantic Northeast is not eligible because ANE already has two representatives on MMB.(one person, 5-year term) – from Area 2
(Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio/Kentucky, Northern Indiana, South/Central Indiana, Michigan, Illinois/Wisconsin)
Districts not represented the past 5 years are shown in italics.
5-year term on the board that oversees the worldwide ministries of the Church of the Brethren, providing resources to strengthen individual Brethren and congregations, offering service opportunities, and partnering with churches within the global Brethren family and beyond to carry out Christ’s mission.
See www.brethren.org/mmb and www.brethren.org/ac/ppg, ch. 1, III.E. and ch. 2, section I.
Composition of the Mission and Ministry Board
The Mission and Ministry Board consists of seventeen voting directors. Ten are elected by Annual Conference, two from each of five geographic areas, although each represents the entire denomination rather than a specific area. Five additional directors are elected at-large by the board and affirmed by Annual Conference. The chair and chair-elect are also directors, serving a separate 4-year term, while their unexpired terms are filled according to the category from which they were elected. There shall be no more than two directors from a district and only one director from a congregation, except that directors who move continue to serve as if living in the original area.
Eligibility
Any active member of the Church of the Brethren may serve on the board except persons who are employed by the Church of the Brethren, Inc., persons employed by or serving on the board of an agency reportable to Annual Conference, or an executive/minister or associate executive/minister of a district. A director cannot serve as a congregational or Standing Committee delegate to Annual Conference. (Minutes 2008, p.1194).
Qualifications
Persons considered for election to the board shall exhibit qualities of consecrated Christian living in home, church, and community. They shall be committed to the mission of the church and committed to becoming familiar with issues of the day. They shall possess competencies needed in the work of the board and be willing to give time and effort required for active participation in dealing with the concerns before the board and the denomination.
Procedure
For each area vacancy to be filled by Annual Conference, the Nominating Committee of Standing Committee obtains nominees and presents two to four nominees to Standing Committee, which votes to reduce the ballot to two nominees to present to Conference. The 1979 Annual Conference instructed the Nominating Committee of Standing Committee to: “. . . work to provide a fair and equitable participation of all our people, including various ages, racial and ethnic minorities, rural and urban segments of our church. They should work also for a more equal balance of men and women on the board.” (Minutes 1970-1974, p. 572)
Term and Schedule
The normal term of office shall be five years. Directors shall not be eligible for another term until two years after completing the prior term, except that a director who serves less than half of an unexpired term may serve a subsequent full five-year term (Minutes 2015, p. 238). The board meets in-person three times a year: in the fall, in the spring, and during the week before Annual Conference. In-person meetings usually begin on Friday and conclude on Sunday, unless otherwise scheduled. Directors attend virtual meetings and respond to email correspondence for asynchronous voting on urgent matters. Directors also serve on committees that have virtual meetings throughout the year as needed. Visit this link for future Mission and Ministry board meeting dates: https://www.brethren.org/mmb
Expenses
Expenses for board meetings and Annual Conference are covered. Reimbursement includes double occupancy for lodging. Members can pay the difference for single room.
For more specific information about this position you may call the office of the General Secretary of the Church of the Brethren at (800) 323-8039.