Today in Grand Rapids – Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Today the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference continued pre-Conference meetings in Grand Rapids, Mich., led by moderator Madalyn Metzger with moderator-elect Dava Hensley and Conference secretary David Shumate.

Standing Committee held its annual consultation with leadership of the Mission and Ministry Board and the three Conference agencies—Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace.

In addition, the district delegates addressed several items of business relating to the three agencies:

— a proposed memorandum of understanding updating polity for Bethany Seminary (new business item five),

— proposed update of polity related to On Earth Peace (new business item six),

— a proposal for a process for addressing concerns with the agencies, and

— draft covenants of understanding between the three agencies and Standing Committee on behalf of Annual Conference.

The proposed polity updates for Bethany Seminary and On Earth Peace are brought by their respective boards. Standing Committee voted to recommend their approval to Annual Conference. The documents provide interim changes to the internal polity of the two agencies, until the time that new covenant agreements are finalized.

The latter two items relating to agencies were brought by two Standing Committee subcommittees that have been working with input from the agencies. Today’s discussions included leaders of the three agencies, who were called to the microphone frequently to respond to questions and provide feedback.

On the proposal for a process for addressing concerns with the agencies, Standing Committee approved a recommendation that the subcommittee meet with representatives of the three agencies after receiving written responses from them and from other members of Standing Committee, in order to work toward a document to be submitted by Jan. 1, 2025. The document should be reviewed by Standing Committee by Jan. 31, 2025, in order to be in time to include in the 2025 Annual Conference book.

On the draft covenants of understanding with the three agencies, agency leaders expressed their feelings about how the process has gone, for the most part saying they are now satisfied with the progress being made. They called for continued work on appropriate language, underlying theological understandings, and an effort to “harmonize” the three covenants so that–in addition to sections particular to each agency—the documents will be coherent and consistent in outline for all the agencies. The subcommittee expressed confidence in being able to work with the agencies to complete the covenants by the end of the year, in order to bring them for approval by the 2025 Standing Committee.

In other business

Standing Committee received a report from the Breaking Down Barriers Study Committee (unfinished business item two) and recommended that Annual Conference approve the group’s request for an additional year to complete its work, which will include a feasibility study.

Also reporting to Standing Committee was the Standing with People of Color Committee (unfinished business item one). The group invited feedback on its work and the sharing of stories from people who had participated in its initiatives, for example small-group conversation centered on healing racism via the Seven Prompts process.

The Calling Denominational Leadership Study Committee brought an interim report as well. The committee is seeking further input through an online survey that will be shared during the Conference, and sought input from Standing Committee–in particular from members who are currently on or who have been on Nominating Committee in the past.

A letter of lament and good wishes was written to the former Puerto Rico churches following on the dissolution of Puerto Rico District. It was written from Standing Committee and includes the names of all of the committee members. The text of the letter will be made public once it is received in Puerto Rico.

Below: Bethany Seminary president Jeff Carter (fourth from left) talks with a table during the Standing Committee consultation with agencies.

Below: On Earth Peace co-executive directors Marie Benner Rhoades (third from left) and Matt Guynn (at center) at the Standing Committee consultation.