Church of the Brethren Newsline
January 20, 2017
By James Beckwith
Partnership in prayer is requested Jan. 22-27 as the Council of District Executives, the Church of the Brethren Leadership Team, and the Inter-Agency Forum hold their annual January meetings.
The Leadership Team and the Council of District Executives will work further on the task assigned by this past summer’s Annual Conference when the delegate body referred the concerns of “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.”
Please join in praying that the consultation will be able to discern 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 praying 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.
The 2016-17 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, 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
— Submitted by James M. Beckwith, Annual Conference secretary.
Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.