Mission and Ministry Board adopts statement on the Doctrine of Discovery

The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board, meeting March 10-12 in Elgin, Ill., approved a statement lamenting the Doctrine of Discovery and recommended its adoption by Annual Conference. The Church of the Brethren statement grew out of years of background work by the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy and Discipleship Ministries.

People singing in a stone chapel with a cross

Standing Committee approves time of silent reflection and confession

At a March 3 online meeting, Standing Committee decided on a path forward responding to a recommendation from the 2022 Annual Conference. They voted to read the recommendation of the 2022 Standing Committee and provide for a time of silent personal reflection and confession. Four other subcommittees presented progress reports on their tasks.

Screenshot of Standing Committee members on Zoom

On Earth Peace launches Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team

A new Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team launched in January 2023, with the purpose of encouraging the Church of the Brethren to be faithful as an effective force for reducing gun violence in our neighborhoods and wherever it occurs.  On Earth Peace is convening this action team as part of a broader campaign to activate advocates for gun violence prevention.

Washington City supports asylum seekers bused to nation’s capital

Due to numerous humanitarian crises around the world, thousands of people are seeking asylum in the United States, some of whom make perilous journeys to the southern border. In April 2022, the state of Texas began sending many of these asylum seekers in buses to Washington, D.C., without plans for their care or in coordination with the city government or others in the area.

General secretary signs interfaith letter on reparations

Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele is one of the American faith leaders who have signed a letter to President Biden urging that the president “issue an executive order to establish a Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.”

Taking a ‘balcony view’ of pastoral ministry and its challenges

With just under two years remaining for the grant, the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry gathered a group of circuit riders, advisory team members, district executives, and others at the denominational offices in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 24-26, to take a “balcony view” of the program to date and consider possibilities and direction going forward.

Brethren bits for March 2, 2023

In this issue: Remembering Bob Richards and Joanne Nesler, Lower Miami Church responds to hateful incident with love, job opening, Global Peace Prayer on March 22, WCC involvement with the 67th Commission on the Status of Women, and more

Prayer support requested for Lower Miami Church

Leaders at Lower Miami Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Ohio, have reached out for prayer support from the wider church following an incident directed at the congregation and its pastor. A special service will be held at the church tomorrow, Wednesday, March 1, at 5 p.m. (Eastern time), in response.