A letter has been written to the Church of the Brethren by Annual Conference moderator Carol Scheppard and general secretary David Steele, calling the church and its members to renewed discipleship to Jesus Christ on Christ the King Sunday, Nov. 20. The Sunday between Thanksgiving and the start of Advent is called “Christ the King” or “Reign of Christ” Sunday in the church calendar and invites Christians to be reminded–before a season of waiting–of whom we await.
Annual Conference
Partnership in Prayer is Requested Throughout the Church
Partnership in prayer throughout the church is requested as the Leadership Team of the Church of the Brethren and the executive committee of the Council of District Executives meet Nov. 1-2 to work on the task assigned from this past summer’s Annual Conference. The delegate body referred the concerns of the “Query: Same Sex Weddings” to the Leadership Team in consultation with the Council of District Executives “to bring clarity and guidance concerning the authority of Annual Conference and districts regarding the accountability of ministers, congregations, and districts, bringing recommendations to the 2017 Annual Conference.”
Newsline for October 7, 2016
NEWS
1) ‘Risk hope’ is a recurring chorus: Annual Conference moderator shares monthly reflection
2) Hurricane Matthew update: Mission staff to assess damage in Haiti, BDM monitors Florida
3) Disability ombudsman serves at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference
4) Atlantic Southeast holds 10th Annual Family Peace Camp
5) Christian, Muslim leaders agree to stand against religious extremism
UPCOMING EVENTS
6) October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
7) Bridgewater College to hold symposium on ‘Anabaptist Nonresistance in Age of Terror’
8) Brethren bits
Preachers Are Announced for Annual Conference 2017, Nominations Are Sought for the Ballot
The preachers have been announced for the Church of the Brethren’s 2017 Annual Conference, which will be held Wednesday, June 28, through Sunday, July 2, in Grand Rapids, Mich. The Conference Office also is accepting nominations for all offices to be elected at next summer’s Annual Conference.
Legacy of the Church of the Brethren Mission in China
It has been 60 years since Church of the Brethren missionary work ended in China. However, the Brethren presence there is not only remembered by a few people, the fruits of that mission are still active today. At a Brethren Historical Society insight session at Annual Conference this summer, hosted by Brethren Historical Library and Archives archivist Bill Kostlevy, Eric Miller and Ruoxia Li along with Jeff Bach shared photographs and information.
Brethren Couple Carry out Mission in China Focused on Hospice Care
Ruoxia Li and Eric Miller, Church of the Brethren members who are living in Pinding, China, spoke about their work at the Global Mission and Service Dinner and related insight sessions at Annual Conference this summer.
Creation Care Study Committee is Named
The Standing Committee of district delegates to Annual Conference has concluded its work of electing a Creation Care Study Committee. Three members have been elected to the new study committee.
BRF Annual Dinner Receives Message to ‘Carry the Light into the Workplace’
The Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF) held its annual dinner meeting in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday evening July 2, during the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The room was well filled and the sounds of fellowship abounded. Special music shared by the Glory Girls from the area of White Oak Church of the Brethren in Atlantic Northeast District preceded the evening’s message.
Standing Committee Recommendation on ‘Query: Same Sex Weddings’ Fails to Gain Two-Thirds Majority
After a morning of spirited discussion among delegates, “Query: Same Sex Weddings” continues to be on the business floor of Annual Conference. A Standing Committee recommendation on the query failed to gain a two-thirds majority vote. A motion to return the query was made immediately before the end of the morning business session.
Un punto de referencia y de refugio
Los Líderes de la Iglesia de los Hermanos, ante las olas de tiroteos, y violencias que ha sacudido nuestra Nación, pronunciaron las siguientes declaraciones’ firmada por Carol A. Scheppard, quien es la Moderadora de la Conferencia anual, Samuel Sarpiya, Moderador electo de la conferencia anual, y Dale E. Minnich, Secretario general interino de la Iglesia de los Hermanos