Does the Church of the Brethren plant churches in other countries?
The Church of the Brethren partners with national churches in their church planting efforts by providing grants, theological education and relational support. The U.S. Church of the Brethren does not send church planters to countries where there are no local people leading the effort.
Does the Church of the Brethren combine humanitarian aid or community development with church planting?
Yes, the Church of the Brethren is known for its holistic ministry, often quoting the phrase, “offering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name” to symbolize both humanitarian aid and spiritual aid. Global churches who have chosen to relate to the Church of the Brethren carry out this same kind of combination of service and evangelism, because it is their understanding of doing mission Jesus’ way.
Does the Church of the Brethren send mission workers to other countries?
Yes, if there are local partners inviting them to join them in their ministries.
Does the Church of the Brethren give grants to global churches?
Yes, for those who are members of the Global Church of the Brethren Communion or are in the process of becoming members. These are small grants, meant to increase their capacity to carry out their mission work in their communities, not as grants that create dependency.
When did the Church of the Brethren start engaging in global mission?
In the late 19th and early 20th century in Denmark, India and Nigeria and subsequently in other locations.
In what countries is the Church of the Brethren currently active in mission work?
South Sudan is our primary mission location. In other locations, we support existing Church of the Brethren national churches.
Does the Church of the Brethren Global Mission partner with other denominations or work ecumenically?
Yes, in different ways. We have representatives who relate to the World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches and other ministries through our Office of Peacebuilding and Policy. We work with Church World Service in disaster and emergency relief, and our Church of the Brethren Global Communion is an affiliation of independent churches around the world in the Anabaptist/Pietist stream.
See the Church of the Brethren statement on Ecumenical and Interfaith Engagement.
What types of mission work do you do?
We support global churches who are engaged in church planting, leadership development, income generation projects, clean water, agriculture, theological education, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, peacebuilding.
Has the US Church of the Brethren repented/grappled with critiques of its paternalistic, colonial styles of mission in the past?
Yes, to some extent. Evidence of this can be found in Annual Conference statements:
- 1981 Statement, World Mission Philosophy and Program
- 1989 Statement, World Mission Philosophy and Program Review
- 1993 Statement, Structure to Deal with Global Denomination
- 1998 Statement, World Mission Philosophy and Global Church Structure
- 2018 Statement, Vision for a Global Church of the Brethren
How does US Church of the Brethren work at addressing issues of dependency in global ministries?
This is not easy work because the U.S. church loves to give responsively to our partner’s needs. However, at times this generosity has led to dependency. Currently we are working at income-generation projects in each country so that they can fund their own ministries.
What kinds of relationships do U.S. churches have with global churches?
We have formed the Global Church of the Brethren Communion as an organization that exists for fellowship, encouragement, mutual sharing of gifts and collaboration in projects. We also have Country Advisory Teams that are made up of one or more U.S. church members who have either served in that country or wish to relate closely to that country. They provide relational support and keep the Global Mission office apprised of developments.
How do I become Church of the Brethren in my country?
There is not a specific process for affiliation. The best way to prove your sincerity is to live by the Church of the Brethren values for a number of years before asking to affiliate. There is little to no financial benefit to affiliating with the Church of the Brethren, but it is a way to relate to other global churches who have chosen this identity for mutual sharing of gifts and experience, a sense of belonging to something bigger and encouragement.
What does the Church of the Brethren believe about the 10/40 window?
We recognize that God is moving around the world, in all places at all times throughout history. While some mission organizations have focused on that geographic area, the U.S. Church of the Brethren has chosen to focus primarily on churches affiliated with us in ways that strengthen their own call to mission, wherever that may be. Churches in that region include the First District Church of the Brethren in India and the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria.
What else should I know about the Church of the Brethren?
Marcos Inhauser, GM staff in Brazil, has created an eight-minute YouTube video explaining the beliefs and practices of the Church of the Brethren. It is in both Spanish and English. We invite you to view it here: