One new church plant and one new fellowship were welcomed into the Church of the Brethren denomination during the opening business session of the 2026 Annual Conference on Monday, June 29.
International guests received a warm welcome from the 2026 Annual Conference. On Monday morning, June 29, during the opening business session Global Mission executive Sharon Brugger Norton introduced the guests from the stage. She noted that this might have been the first time that Annual Conference has welcomed international guests from Vietnam.
It was already a timely topic when it was scheduled as one of the Equipping Sessions at the 2026 Annual Conference—but the events of the past few days led “Loving Our Immigrant Neighbors: Legal Updates, Ally Resources, and US Militarism” to be a standing-room-only session, with the seats filled and many people leaning on walls and sitting on the floor.
The Brethren Disaster Ministries and Child Disaster Services breakfast at Annual Conference always has the feel of a reunion, looking backwards, and a planning committee, looking forward. This year was no different as the past and future were celebrated.
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board in its pre-Annual Conference meeting on Sunday, June 28, adopted two statements on Supreme Court decisions.
The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries held its annual Revelation 7:9 Award presentation during the Mission and Ministry Board meeting on Sunday, June 28. Intercultural director Founa Augustin Badet presented the award, which recognizes church members and congregations for their contributions to a vision of intercultural ministries in their communities, within the denomination, and in the world at large.
The Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference held meetings from Thursday evening, June 25, through Saturday afternoon, June 27, in Fort Wayne, Ind. Annual Conference moderator Don Fitzkee presided, assisted by moderator-elect Dennis Beckner and Conference secretary David Shumate.
The Supreme Court on Thursday, June 25, 2026, issued a decision undermining the humanitarian protection afforded to individuals from Haiti and Syria with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Justices Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson-Brown dissented from the 6-3 decision in the case “Mullin v. Doe.”
The Kairos Center, which coordinated an amicus brief in which the Church of the Brethren joined with other denominations and faith groups, has issued a press statement on the case “Mullin v. Al Otro Lado.”
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.”
