A release from the Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren and the executive committee of the Council of District Executives:
Partnership in prayer throughout the church is requested as the Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren and the executive committee of the Council of District Executives meet Nov. 1-2 to work on the task assigned from this past summer’s Annual Conference. The delegate body referred the concerns of the “Query: Same Sex Weddings” to the Leadership Team in consultation with the Council of District Executives “to bring clarity and guidance concerning the authority of Annual Conference and districts regarding the accountability of ministers, congregations, and districts, bringing recommendations to the 2017 Annual Conference.”
The Leadership Team and the executive committee of the Council of District Executives are asking that the church as a whole pray with them, as they plan Nov. 1-2 for January conversations that will invite all of the district executives to discern with the Leadership Team the best way for this body of Christ to carry out God’s purposes regarding our patterns of authority and accountability.
All members of the church are asked to join in listening to the Lord as well as speaking our concerns to the Lord, as we pray with confidence that God will provide the guidance and wisdom we need. Please be aware of the breadth and diversity of your brothers and sisters in this body of Christ, with whom you join in this time of prayer, especially those whom you have called to serve as your district and denominational leaders. May the Holy Spirit of the Risen Lord shape and empower our spirits to faithfully follow Jesus together, as we pray together over the coming months.
The 2016-2017 Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren:
David A. Steele, general secretary
Carol A. Scheppard, Annual Conference moderator
Samuel Kefas Sarpiya, Annual Conference moderator-elect
James M. Beckwith, Annual Conference secretary
Chris Douglas, Annual Conference director, staff support
The Executive Committee of the Council of District Executives:
Colleen Michael, chair
Kevin Kessler, vice chair
David Shetler, secretary
David Shumate, treasurer
Find the full text of “Query: Same Sex Weddings” at www.brethren.org/ac/2016/documents/business/nb1-query_same-sex-weddings.pdf