“We hope you will join us this summer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 3-7, 2024, for the 237th recorded Annual Conference,” said an invitation from the Conference office. This article provides a preview of the Conference including business items, special events, and more.
As part of their final processing of potential business items for the 2024 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference (www.brethren.org/ac2024), the Annual Conference officers (www.brethren.org/ac2024/leadership) have returned the Illinois/Wisconsin District’s query titled “Regarding Greater Congregational Latitude on Matters of Sexuality” back to the district for further revision and potential resubmission in 2025.
The Program and Arrangements Committee is once again holding a silent auction at Annual Conference in Grand Rapids this summer. The idea emerged during a discussion about how we could intentionally contribute to the vitality of and increase traffic in the Exhibit Hall. However, it also offers us an opportunity to raise some additional funds.
During their meeting on March 18, 2024, the Church of the Brethren’s Leadership Team issued a clarification around their May 2020 statement related to On Earth Peace (www.onearthpeace.org) joining the Supportive Communities Network.
ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela) held its annual conference in Cucuta, Colombia, on March 12-16 with about 120 church leaders and families in attendance. The conference was led by Roger Moreno, who is president of ASIGLEH.
The Standing with People of Color Committee continues to seek to involve congregations, districts, and families in learning and growing together in ways to enable the Church of the Brethren to welcome believers from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Revelation 7:9).
Resources to facilitate learning and growth from the Church of the Brethren Standing with People of Color Committee are part of the three-year denomination-wide study/action process. Kindly read through and share within your own congregation or district.
The April and May offerings from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be: on April 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m. (central time), “Introduction to Afrofuturism and Theology” presented by Tamisha Tyler, visiting assistant professor of Theology and Culture and Theopoetics at Bethany Seminary; and, on May 7 and 9, 7-8:30 p.m. (central time), “Becoming a More Loving and Inclusive Church” presented by Tim McElwee, who served as moderator of the 2023 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference.
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering “Listening for the Sound of the Genuine” on July 2-3, led by Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey as facilitator, as a directed independent study unit (DISU).
Belita D. Mitchell, the first Black woman to be ordained in the Church of the Brethren and the first Black woman to serve as moderator of the Annual Conference, passed away Feb. 10 at her home in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
