Review and Evaluation Committee brings an interim report

By Frances Townsend

For some time, the Church of the Brethren has undertaken a periodic review every decade to evaluate the denomination’s organizational structures and procedures, with a committee assigned to bring recommendations to Annual Conference for possible changes. This decade’s Review and Evaluation Committee, elected in 2025, presented its first interim report.

Their list of tasks is large and comprehensive. In addition to that list, last year’s Annual Conference referred the concerns of several queries to them as well.

Before the committee reported on the conference floor, it held a hearing on the first evening of the 2026 Annual Conference where people had the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions. The many ways the committee is soliciting conversation and feedback from various groups in the church was noted, including the hearing and table talk among the delegates during the business session on Wednesday, July 1. Districts may contact the committee to set up meetings as well.

Reporting to the delegate body, the committee announced that they will not wait until the last year of their term to bring business items but will do so each of the next three years.

They also have made one decision, which is not to recommend any changes to the process of calling denominational leaders.

*Dan Rudy serves as chair of the Review and Evaluation Committee. Photo by Keith Hollenberg*

The committee’s study has been broken into three broad areas: Annual Conference, Church of the Brethren, Inc. (the denominational organization and processes of the Mission and Ministry board and staff), and the programs and structure of districts. Each of these areas will be studied with input from the leadership of each area.

Tweaking structure and organization is never the entire answer, the committee noted. “Nothing will be effective without meaningful relationships among us,” said committee member Anna Lisa Gross. “We seek the Holy Spirit’s nudges and invitations whenever they come.”

Chair Daniel Rudy introduced questions for table talk among the delegates, reminding participants of the Church of the Brethren understanding that the Holy Spirit works when the body of Christ is gathered together. Answers were collected electronically as delegates were asked to pay attention to the Spirit’s leading as they shared their answers to three sets of questions:

Where do you see your congregation most connected to the denomination? What has helped your congregation to be connected in that way?

Where does that connection feel weak, unclear, or missing? What obstacles has your congregation experienced when trying to connect with the denomination?

What would strengthen your congregation’s relationship with the denomination? What changes to how we are organized as a denomination might help?

To contact the Review and Evaluation Committee, email reviewandevaluation@brethren.org

— Frances Townsend is a member of the Annual Conference Press Team.

———-

Find more Church of the Brethren news: