Vision Statement Coming to Annual Conference is Available Online

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
The proposed new vision statement for the Church of the Brethren was presented to the Standing Committee of district delegates in 2011, and will be considered by the delegate body of Annual Conference in 2012. Shown here, Jonathan Shively (standing at center), executive director of Congregational Life Ministries, helps present the statement to the group of district delegates.

The Vision Statement for the Church of the Brethren, slated for consideration at the 2012 Annual Conference in July, is now available for inspection and review on the Conference website. That was one of the actions taken by a committee charged with interpreting and presenting the statement to the Conference delegates.

The Vision Statement already has been accepted by the Standing Committee of district delegates, which will recommend it for adoption at the gathering in St. Louis, Mo., to take place July 7-11.

The Vision Interpretation and Presentation (VIP) Committee plans to offer additional resources to encourage congregations and members to interact with the Vision Statement prior to its formal adoption. One of the unique features of this statement is the inclusion of a four-session study guide that congregations, small groups, and individuals can use to consider what it means to live out the meaning of the Vision Statement. In addition, there a short DVD posted on the Conference website that presents the statement visually. The VIP Committee hopes to provide a variety of other resources in the near future.

Anyone interested in submitting worship resources or sermon notes associated with the Vision Statement are encouraged to do so, by sending them to the Conference Office at annualconference@brethren.org .

The vision statement, including the study guide, can be accessed and downloaded at the  Conference website www.brethren.org/ac or by going directly to www.cobannualconference.org/StLouis/Vision_document_for_SC_11-05-31_final.pdf .

VIP Committee members include Bekah Houff and David Sollenberger, from the original Vision Committee, along with Ron Nicodemus and James Sampson, appointees from Standing Committee.

— David Sollenberger is a member of the Vision Interpretation and Presentation Committee.

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