{"id":25496,"date":"2025-07-02T22:29:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T22:29:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25496"},"modified":"2025-07-03T01:03:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T01:03:33","slug":"standing-committee-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/standing-committee-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Standing Committee makes recommendations on queries, holds listening session with Bridgewater congregation, among other agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference held meetings from Sunday evening, June 29, through Wednesday morning, July 2, in Greensboro, N.C. Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley presided, assisted by moderator-elect Don Fitzkee and Conference secretary David Shumate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations on queries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The district delegates spent several hours discussing two queries coming to the Annual Conference and made recommendations on both: \u201cQuery: Reducing Harm: Interim Steps to Reduce Suffering\u201d (new business item 4), and \u201cQuery: Concerns about Current Practices Related to Matters of Sexuality\u201d (new business item 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Standing Committee recommendations will be presented to the full delegate body during Conference business sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley (at center) presides over the Standing Committee assisted by moderator-elect Don Fitzkee (at right) and secretary David Shumate (at left). Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Find a full photo album from the meetings of the Standing Committee, and more Annual Conference photos, at https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/coverage\/ac2025\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cQuery: Reducing Harm: Interim Steps to Reduce Suffering,\u201d<\/strong> from Arlington Church of the Brethren and Mid-Atlantic District, raises concerns about the treatment and suffering of LGBTQ+ people and asks what can be done about outdated language and science in three statements of Annual Conference: \u201cHuman Sexuality from a Christian Perspective\u201d (1983), \u201cLicensing\/Ordination of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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing Committee recommended that the query be adopted and recommended the following two-fold answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c1. We lament that conversion therapy was considered a safe or viable option in previous Annual Conference statements, and do not endorse \u2018conversion to heterosexual orientation [as] another option\u2019 (Human Sexuality from a Christian perspective, 1983).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c2. We acknowledge that Annual Conference\u2019s position statements should reflect \u2018the denomination\u2019s current best discernment of the way of life God calls us to live\u2019 (2025 Annual Conference booklet, p.66), and recognize that some existing position statements on human sexuality appear out of step with current realities and merit further discernment. In the interest of unity and care for all in the body we await the Spirit\u2019s leading for renewed study. While the current statements on human sexuality remain on record, we seek to honor and love all in the body by lifting up guidance that builds safer and more compassionate communities, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n