The Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren on Wednesday evening, June 17, approved a Statement of Intent regarding the future of the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., which is the denomination’s headquarters.
The statement announces that “the board is exploring options for relocation of the denominational headquarters and will be pursuing the responsible sale of the current headquarters property.”
The decision follows years of discussion by the board and other denominational leadership about the changes affecting the Church of the Brethren in terms of congregations and membership, questions of how best to carry out the ministry of the denomination, and what responsible stewardship requires.
Board chair Kathy Mack presided at the Zoom meeting that was open only to elected board members, with all but two present. The statement was approved with one abstention.
Also in the Zoom meeting were selected staff: David Steele, general secretary; Shawn Flory Replogle, executive director of Organizational Resources; Shannon McNeil Smith, executive administrative assistant in the General Secretary’s Office; and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services, who was asked to attend in order to report on the meeting.
The Statement of Intent was prepared by the board’s Facilities Stewardship Committee and was edited and approved by the Executive Committee before being presented to the board for approval. It emerged from a discussion held during closed session at the board’s March 2026 meeting in Modesto, Calif.
The timing of the June 17 decision was intentional in order to disseminate the information in the days leading up to Annual Conference and give Conferencegoers the ability to bring informed questions, suggestions, and dreams to the event, according to board leadership. The board’s pre-Conference meeting is on Sunday, June 28, in the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Discussion during the June 17 Zoom meeting noted that consideration of details related to a sale of property or relocation of headquarters and staff has not yet begun.
Three areas where specific concern is anticipated include the wellbeing of the staff, the Brethren Press inventory that is housed in the warehouse section of the building, and the Brethren Historical Library and Archives collection that occupies a large part of the building’s lower level.
The board discussed how its members may receive and respond to questions during the denomination’s upcoming Annual Conference, and also heard a brief report about a meeting at the General Offices on Monday, June 15, where employees were informed of the impending decision.
There will be no immediate changes to staff roles, jobs, or locations. The process that has been put in motion with the Statement of Intent is expected to take a significant amount of time.
The board “will be dealing with this for years” said Mack, who expressed the intention for the board’s handling of the matter to be “as transparent as possible.”
Following is the full text of the statement:
Statement of Intent
Regarding the Future of the Denominational Headquarters known as the General Offices
The Misson and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren is committed to faithful stewardship of the resources entrusted to it for the advancement of the denomination’s mission, ministry, and long-term vitality.
The Board acknowledges that the General Offices in Elgin, Illinois, home of the denomination’s headquarters and surrounding property, has served the denomination well. After prayerful discernment and careful consideration, the Board recognizes that changing missional realities, operational needs, and fiduciary responsibilities require periodic reassessment as to how physical assets best support the present and future work of the denomination.
Accordingly, the Board is exploring options for relocation of the denominational headquarters and will be pursuing the responsible sale of the current headquarters property. This work will align with the denomination’s mission, financial sustainability, and organizational effectiveness. The Board’s intent reflects neither a disregard for the historical significance of the property nor a departure from the Church of the Brethren’s heritage, but rather an affirmation that assets exist to support mission, not constrain it.
In carrying out this intent, the Board commits to:
- Acting with transparency, diligence, and appropriate legal and fiduciary oversight
- Honoring any applicable donor restrictions, covenants, or historical considerations
- Engaging professional expertise to ensure fair value and responsible disposition
- Communicating clearly and pastorally with stakeholders throughout the process
- Stewarding any proceeds in a manner consistent with denominational purpose and strategic priorities
This Statement of Intent represents the Board’s willingness to authorize, if warranted, the sale of the General Offices as part of a broader effort to align the denomination’s physical assets with its calling, mission, and future direction.
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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