Standing Committee recommendations on ‘Query: Reducing Harm’ are adopted by Annual Conference

By Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

The Standing Committee of district delegates’ two-fold recommendation in response to “Query: Reducing Harm: Interim Steps to Reduce Suffering” (new business item 4) was approved and received more than the two-thirds majority vote that was required. The vote was 301 for, 77 against.

The query from Arlington Church of the Brethren and Mid-Atlantic District raises concerns about the treatment and suffering of LGBTQ+ people.

It asks what can be done about outdated language and science in three statements of Annual Conference: “Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective” (1983), “Licensing/Ordination of Homosexual Persons to the Ministry in the Church of the Brethren” (2002), and “Report of the Leadership Team and the Council of District Executives on the Authority of Annual Conference and Districts regarding the Accountability of Ministers, Congregations, and Districts” (2017).

*A delegate speaks at the microphone during Annual Conference business sessions. Photo by Glenn Riegel*

Standing Committee member Tim Hollenberg-Duffey presented the recommendations, reporting that they received broad and strong support from the district delegates. He said that Standing Committee felt it could do two things: first provide a comment on previous years’ statements, and also express that the denomination is not ready to act. He characterized the recommendations as what the church can do in the meantime.

Discussion on the business floor was lengthy and passionate, with many people speaking at the microphones and numerous points of order and questions of clarification. There were personal, very vulnerable sharings about individuals’ sexuality and stories of painful rejection and hurt as LGBTQ+ people in the church. And there were statements of conviction that scripture calls for “one man and one woman” in sexual relationships.

Some asked for more decisive action to be taken in support of LGBTQ+ people. Also expressed from the microphones was weariness with the 40-plus years of conflict in the church since the adoption of the 1983 paper, and a few calls for that paper to be revised or abandoned.

Leadership emphasized that the recommendations do not change the 1983 paper or any of the other previous statements identified in the recommendations, but simply provide comment about them from a current perspective as the 2025 Conference.

Much conversation focused on conversion therapy and was directed to the first recommendation: “We lament that conversion therapy was considered a safe or viable option in previous Annual Conference statements, and do not endorse ‘conversion to heterosexual orientation [as] another option’ (Human Sexuality from a Christian perspective, 1983).”

An attempt to remove recommendation one failed when a strong majority voted against that amendment.

The full text of the Standing Committee recommendation that was approved by the 2025 Annual Conference:

“1. We lament that conversion therapy was considered a safe or viable option in previous Annual Conference statements, and do not endorse ‘conversion to heterosexual orientation [as] another option’ (Human Sexuality from a Christian perspective, 1983).

“2. We acknowledge that Annual Conference’s position statements should reflect ‘the denomination’s current best discernment of the way of life God calls us to live’ (2025 Annual Conference booklet, p.66), and recognize that some existing position statements on human sexuality appear out of step with current realities and merit further discernment. In the interest of unity and care for all in the body we await the Spirit’s leading for renewed study. While the current statements on human sexuality remain on record, we seek to honor and love all in the body by lifting up guidance that builds safer and more compassionate communities, including:

‘challenging openly the widespread fear, hatred, and harassment of [people in the LGBTQ+ community],’
‘advocating the rights of [LGBTQ+ people] to jobs, housing, and legal justice,’ and
‘engaging in open, forthright conversations with [people in the LGBTQ+ community]…stop alienating one another and instead venture toward understanding.’

“(All quotes from Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective, 1983)

“As Paul counseled a divided church, ‘If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it’ (1 Corinthians 12:26, NIV).”

— Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford is director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren.

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