On Earth Peace receives renewal of agency status in a session marked by high emotion

By Frances Townsend and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

All three of the Annual Conference agencies–Eder Financial, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace–have been going through a process of negotiating covenants with Standing Committee. The process culminates with the formal renewing of agency status with the denomination, a process initiated by a document approved by the 2022 Annual Conference. That document also outlines the process by which any new Annual Conference agencies could be approved in future.

On Earth Peace is a Church of the Brethren organization devoted to equipping leaders and congregations to work for peace and justice, in accordance with the denomination’s identity as a peace church.

The renewal of agency status for On Earth Peace was approved by the delegate body on Saturday afternoon, July 5, 2025. The Standing Committee’s recommendation for renewal was successfully adopted by the Conference with significantly more than the simple majority required. However, there also was a sizeable number of votes in opposition.

The action followed the On Earth Peace report to the Conference, which presented current programs and activities. A presentation about the Deportation Defense Response Team later sparked critical questions from a delegate at the microphone. The team is an initiative of several Church of the Brethren districts in collaboration with On Earth Peace and the denomination’s Intercultural Ministries. The team is assisting immigrant church members and their families who are threatened with detention and/or deportation, and a plea for funds to support their legal fees and expenses was made. Standing in support of the effort on stage with On Earth Peace leadership Matt Guynn and Marie Benner Rhoades was general secretary David Steele, Intercultural Ministries director Founa Badet, executive ministers of districts that initiated the work, along with others who are involved in carrying it out.

*On Earth Peace’s Matt Guynn (at left) on stage with several others representing the agency during the discussion of renewal of agency status. Photo by Keith Hollenberg*

Many statements were made in support of On Earth Peace from the microphones, but a handful of speakers expressed strong opposition saying that they represented a congregation or district where people feel that much of the division in the church stems from disagreement with past actions or statements by On Earth Peace.

A question of clarification asked about the years of difficult conversation between Standing Committee and On Earth Peace and what has changed recently to make the current recommendation possible. The explanation given was that the creation of a written covenant between Standing Committee and On Earth Peace offers a new way to ensure that both are living up to an agreement that is considered to be mutual.

The session was marked by high emotion on the part of people both supporting and opposing the renewal of agency status for On Earth Peace, as well as about the situation of immigrants. There were a few moments of sharp verbal outbursts, and a brief display of physical aggression that–although it was low key–is uncharacteristic of Annual Conference business.

Clarification

In response to requests from readers, the following brief clarification is offered for the last sentence above:

A delegate expressed concern about the agency’s support for the Deportation Defense Response and asked if On Earth Peace was openly asking people to do something illegal. A back-and-forth exchange occurred between the delegate at the microphone and Matt Guynn, co-executive director of On Earth Peace, who was speaking from the stage. At one point, another delegate moved in front of the person who was speaking at the microphone, standing with his back to him. The delegate speaking at the microphone asked the moderator to make the other delegate move away. After a few moments, the other delegate did move away. A few times during that session, there was yelling or shouting, sometimes by single voices and other times by many people in the room. Such behaviors are uncharacteristic of Annual Conference business sessions.

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