{"id":25181,"date":"2025-05-01T22:47:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:47:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25181"},"modified":"2025-05-01T22:47:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T22:47:49","slug":"annual-conference-business-items","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/annual-conference-business-items\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Conference business items are announced"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the Annual Conference returns to the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C., on July 2-6. Register and find out more at www.brethren.org\/ac2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfinished business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Query: Standing with People of Color:<\/strong> In 2022, Annual Conference approved a \u201cStanding with People of Color\u201d two-year study\/action process with leadership from Southern Ohio-Kentucky District and On Earth Peace. A committee was formed to coordinate the process and provide resources. This year, the committee brings its final report.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Query: Breaking Down Barriers\u2014Increasing Access to Denominational Events: <\/strong>The 2022 Annual Conference elected a study committee to examine the theological, philosophical, and practical implications of the query and to do a feasibility study. The committee brings its final report including several pages of recommendations and suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Request for an Annual Conference Study on Calling Denominational Leadership: <\/strong>The 2023 Annual Conference elected a study committee that focused its work on Annual Conference leadership selection including nominations, ballot, and elections. This final report makes recommendations for improving the process and increasing diversity of leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations for renewal of the agency status of Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace<\/strong> are brought by the Standing Committee of district delegates in response to the implementation guidelines for \u201cUpdate to Polity Regarding Annual Conference Agencies\u201d adopted by the 2022 Annual Conference. Standing Committee has approved an Agency Covenant with each of the three agencies of Annual Conference. Also included in the Conference booklet for information are relevant reports from subcommittees of Standing Committee. One lays out a \u201cProcess for Addressing Concerns with Annual Conference Agencies\u201d and the other reports on the work done to negotiate and draft the Agency Covenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Query: Reducing Harm: Interim Steps to Address Suffering:<\/strong> Brought by Arlington Church of the Brethren and Mid-Atlantic District, the query cites 1 Corinthians 12:26a in raising concerns about the treatment and suffering of LGBTQ+ people. It identifies three statements of Annual Conference\u2014\u201cHuman Sexuality from a Christian Perspective\u201d (1983), \u201cLicensing\/Ordination of Homosexual Persons to the Ministry in the Church of the Brethren\u201d (2002), and \u201cReport of the Leadership Team and the Council of District Executives on the Authority of Annual Conference and Districts regarding the Accountability of Ministers, Congregations, and Districts\u201d (2017)\u2014as containing language, science, and practices that are outdated. Acknowledging that the church is not of one mind, it asks: \u201cTo help the denomination make progress towards the goal of respecting and preserving one another\u2019s humanity, dignity, and deeply held spiritual convictions in our collective statements and practices, what can be done at the present time about the outdated language and science, and one now-illegal recommendation, contained within the three cited Annual Conference statements?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Query: Concerns about Current Practices Related to Matters of Sexuality: <\/strong>Brought by Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren and Illinois and Wisconsin District, the query cites the lack of significant progress on matters of sexuality in the more than 40 years since passage of the 1983 statement. It quotes that statement and \u201cUrging Forbearance\u201d (2008) as recognizing the personal nature of such matters and the call to avoid enforcement. It also cites the Church of the Brethren approach to governance that typically balances local autonomy and denominational authority. It names the \u201csignificant latitude\u201d that has been given for congregational decisions on other matters, as well as that \u201cdistricts have been uneven at best in their decisions to enforce policy related to sexuality.\u201d Citing Romans 14:13 it asks, \u201cHow can we move forward in a manner that reflects greater mutuality and space for differing understandings among individuals and congregations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommended Cost of Living Adjustment to the Minimum Cash Salary Table for Pastors: <\/strong>The Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee will bring a recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find links to download full texts of all the business documents at www.brethren.org\/ac2025\/business<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about the Conference schedule, fees, and other details, as well as a link to register, at www.brethren.org\/ac2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

———-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n