Two ordained pastors at Bridgewater reduced to commissioned minister status

Two pastors of Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren—David R. Miller and Jennifer K. Scarr—have had their ordinations terminated by Shenandoah District. However, the district Leadership Team has credentialed them as commissioned ministers. A letter from the Leadership Team to the congregation said that “this classification allows David and Jennifer full privileges and responsibilities for pastoral ministry solely in the Bridgewater Congregation rather than in the district or denomination.”

In July, the Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference held a “listening session” with the Bridgewater congregation about its conflict with Shenandoah District. The two pastors along with pastor Erin Rinaca and congregational moderator Ted Flory presented about the situation (go to www.brethren.org/news/2025/standing-committee-meeting and scroll down to the final item).

The full text of the Aug. 26 letter from the district Leadership Team to the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren congregation:

“The District Leadership Team of the Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren recognizes that the district and the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren are not in harmony in understanding and practice related to theology of same sex marriage. The District’s current polity was established by majority vote at the 2016 District Conference with significant disagreement from the floor. Brokenness and hurt have followed for those across the theological spectrum. The decision of pastors David Miller and Jennifer Scarr to perform a same sex marriage on November 16, 2024, has once again brought our differences to light.

“It is the desire of the District Leadership Team to find a way forward that is appropriate to district polity as well as cognizant of Bridgewater’s hurt. The Ministerial Leadership Team recommended to the District Leadership Team that the ordinations of David Miller and Jennifer Scarr be terminated. The District Leadership Team affirms the polity that underlies the decision of the MLT. It is our desire to remain true to polity in a way that acknowledges Bridgewater’s theological position. It is our further desire to invite the Bridgewater congregation to reengage with the district in a manner that returns that respect.

“The recommendation from the MLT was to terminate the ordinations of David Miller and Jennifer Scarr, which would have led to them being classified as “pulpit supply” for the Bridgewater congregation. As a show of good faith, the DLT has decided not to adopt the recommendation from the MLT, but has decided instead to terminate the ordinations of David and Jennifer and credential them as “commissioned ministers.” This classification allows David and Jennifer full privileges and responsibilities for pastoral ministry solely in the Bridgewater Congregation rather than in the district or denomination.

“In response to our show of good faith, the District Leadership Team respectfully asks that the Bridgewater congregation and her pastors refrain from performing same sex weddings or allowing same sex weddings on their property until the Review and Evaluation Committee has given a response to the “Concerns about Current Practices Related to Matters of Sexuality” query and the “A New Model of Denominational Structure” query. We feel that this request is in keeping with the spirit of what was decided at the 2025 Annual Conference as we wait on the Review and Evaluation Committee to give further guidance.

“In the interim, the District Leadership Team invites Bridgewater Church of the Brethren to join with us on shifting our focus to several initiatives that are moving forward in the district in areas of church development/renewal, intercultural relationships, and gifts discernment/leadership development.

“Grace & Strength,

“Kevin Daggett, DLT Chairperson
Jan Orndorff, Interim District Executive Minister
Phil Stone, Jr., Ministry Leadership Team Chair”

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