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.
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.
The delegates to the Church of the Brethren 2025 Annual Conference voted to continue the agency status of Eder Financial (formerly Brethren Benefit Trust or BBT). This allows Eder Financial to continue as an agency reportable to Annual Conference and authorized to use the Church of the Brethren name.
The business items to be addressed by the delegate body at the 2025 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference have been announced. There are three items of unfinished business and six items of new business on the agenda, including recommendations for renewal of the agency status of Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace, and two new queries–along with numerous reports and the annual ballot.
