By Frances Townsend
The delegates to the Church of the Brethren 2025 Annual Conference voted to continue the agency status of Eder Financial (formerly Brethren Benefit Trust or BBT). This allows Eder Financial to continue as an agency reportable to Annual Conference and authorized to use the Church of the Brethren name.
In 2022, Annual Conference approved the Update Regarding Polity for Annual Conference Agencies. Part of this new polity required establishment of covenant agreements between the Standing Committee of Annual Conference and organizations wishing to be Annual Conference agencies.
Currently there are three Annual Conference agencies: Eder Financial, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace. Each has been through the process of establishing a covenant agreement. The next step is approval of agency status at this Annual Conference, as separate items of business. The renewal of agency status for Eder Financial was approved on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
— Frances Townsend is a pastor in Michigan and a volunteer member of the Annual Conference Press Team.
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