In response to a request from the Red Cross, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) is sending two Critical Response Childcare teams to Texas to care for children affected by last weekend’s flash flooding. One team of four has arrived in Kerrville. The other team of four will be leaving in the next few days.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Standing Committee recommendations on ‘Query: Reducing Harm’ are adopted by Annual Conference
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.
Breaking Down Barriers study committee’s four recommendations are adopted
The four recommendations brought by the Breaking Down Barriers study committee (known at this Conference as unfinished business item two), were adopted by the delegate body.
Delegates adopt eight recommendations from the study committee on Calling Denominational Leadership
Eight recommendations from the study committee on Calling Denominational Leadership (known at this Conference as unfinished business item three), were adopted by the delegate body on Saturday, July 5, 2025, including one amendment.
Standing with People of Color Coordinating Committee brings its final report
The delegate body received the final report of the Standing with People of Color Coordinating Committee, following a study/action process begun by the 2022 Annual Conference.
New executive director speaks at Global Mission Dinner
There were many languages spoken around the tables at the Global Mission Dinner held during Annual Conference, as international guests from several countries joined Sharon Brugger Norton, the new executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren, under the umbrella of Rev. 21:1-5, “The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Rockingham Male Chorus rewards Conferencegoers for their hard work all week
The Saturday evening concert during Annual Conference typically rewards Conferencegoers for their hard work all week, and indeed the several hundred who stayed after worship enjoyed what director McMillan called, “a traditional choir concert with religious, Christ-based, music.”
BMC annual worship service anticipates the organization’s 50 anniversary celebration
You may have thought you walked into a youth and young adult gathering with a lot of adult chaperones. Or you may have thought you were in a community center classroom. Why were a roomful of younger-leaning people sitting in swivel chairs bolted to desks watching a flickering projector beam litanies and hymn lyrics on the screen?
On Earth Peace receives renewal of agency status in a session marked by high emotion
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.
Annual Conference agency status is renewed for Bethany Theological Seminary
Updated covenant agreements for three Annual Conference agencies came before the delegates this year. In 2022, Annual Conference approved the Update Regarding Polity for Annual Conference Agencies. Part of this new polity required establishment of covenant agreements between Standing Committee and any organizations wishing to be Annual Conference agencies.
