{"id":1491,"date":"2026-02-13T19:23:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T19:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/?page_id=1491"},"modified":"2026-05-06T20:09:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T20:09:34","slug":"gcbc","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/global\/gcbc\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Church of the Brethren Communion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vision for a Global Church of the Brethren, 2018 Church of the Brethren Statement<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded officially in 2023 the GCBC is a fellowship of thirteen national Brethren denominations around the world: Brazil<\/a>, Burundi<\/a>, the\u00a0Dominican Republic<\/a>, Democratic Republic of Congo<\/a>,\u00a0Haiti<\/a>, Honduras<\/a>,\u00a0India<\/a>, Nigeria (general Nigeria page & history<\/a>) (Nigeria Crisis Response<\/a>), Rwanda<\/a>,\u00a0Spain<\/a>, Uganda<\/a>, United States, and\u00a0Venezuela<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rooted in Anabaptist\/Pietist traditions, the GCBC is an alliance of national churches that is devoted to teaching and preserving this identity and practices. We aspire to work together to share the Gospel and plant new churches around the world. We promote strong leadership ethics, accountability, transparency and financial responsibility, and strong organizational principles in our churches. Where invited, we may participate in mediation and reconciliation of conflicts within national churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GCBC aspires to be able to respond quickly and effectively to humanitarian emergencies that may cross borders and to work together on disaster risk reduction programs. We share resources which include knowledge, learning and experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common areas of focus include: care for God\u2019s creation, marginalized people and vulnerable groups, community development, peacebuilding, ecumenical and interfaith relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Map<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Quick Facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brazil:\u00a0<\/strong>One fellowship. Community outreach programs and family therapy.
Burundi: <\/strong>50 churches, 6000 members. Formally affiliated with GCBC in April 2026.
Democratic Republic of Congo\u00a0<\/strong>(DRC): 32 churches, 8,000 members.
Dominican Republic<\/strong>\u00a0(DR): 15 churches, 10 fellowships, 2,800 members (including two districts).
Haiti<\/strong>: 22 churches, 8 stations, 4,500 members. Haiti Medical Project.
Honduras:\u00a0<\/strong>Formally affiliated with GCBC on December 5, 2023.
India<\/strong>: 29 churches, 39 worship centers, 10,000 members.
Nigeria<\/strong>: 605 local church councils (congregations), with additional preaching points and church plants under most councils, 750,000 or more members. A full denominational program including women\u2019s and youth programs, agriculture program, educational institutions and a seminary, missions in neighboring countries. Cameroon, Chad, Niger Republic, and Togo:<\/strong>\u00a0Missions of EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria.
Rwanda<\/strong>: 4 churches, 724 members, 12 choirs, 2 schools. Significant outreach to the Batwa community, preschool, and Bible school.
Spain<\/strong>: 6 churches, 275 members. Open-air revivals, community gardens.
Uganda<\/strong>: 15 churches with 732 members. Orphanage.
Venezuela<\/strong>: 40 churches, 1,611 members. Outreach to Indigenous people.<\/a>\u00a0 Churches in Colombia have been started by refugees from Venezuela.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emerging churches and projects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the countries where churches are members of the GCBC, there are emerging missions and projects in the following places:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cuba<\/strong>: Two separate groups of independent house churches are relating to Brethren in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dominican Republic<\/strong>: Comunidad de Fe is a group of churches that formed recently as an offshoot of the original Iglesia de los Hermanos on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenya and Tanzania:<\/strong> Churches planted by the emerging church in Burundi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexico:<\/strong> Long-term Church of the Brethren-founded community project in Tijuana (Bittersweet Ministries) and emerging churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Sudan<\/strong><\/a>: <\/strong>This mission project sponsored by the Mission and Ministry Board has one full-time Global Mission staff person and several local staff working in the areas of agriculture, reconciliation, trauma healing, prison ministry, and evangelism. Five churches have been planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ukraine:<\/strong> One fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vietnam:<\/strong> Vision project for retinopathy of prematurity treatment (a former Brethren Volunteer Service location).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Communion Survey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Outcomes of the Church of the Brethren Global Communion survey<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Church of the Brethren Communion News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n