{"id":26648,"date":"2026-02-20T17:57:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=26648"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:57:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T17:57:20","slug":"spirit-of-power-and-love-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2026\/spirit-of-power-and-love-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A Spirit of Power and Love\u2019: A statement from the Church of the Brethren Inter-Agency Forum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Church of the Brethren\u2019s Inter-Agency Forum (IAF) met in Florida on Jan. 27 and has issued the following statement. The IAF includes officers of the denomination\u2019s Annual Conference; the general secretary of the Church of the Brethren and the chair of the Mission and Ministry Board; representatives of the Council of District Executives; and executives and chairs of the boards of the three Annual Conference agencies: Bethany Theological Seminary, Eder Financial, and On Earth Peace:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Spirit of Power and Love<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From its founding in 1708, the Church of the Brethren made costly decisions about faithful responses to state power and decided to live by the words of Peter and the apostles in Acts 5:29, \u201cWe must obey God rather than any human authority” (NRSVue). May we be so brave today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a gathering of denominational leaders in late January, we grappled with the terror and disorientation that many of our churches and communities are experiencing. At this writing, 21 members of the Church of the Brethren have been detained or deported. People in the United States are losing their lives in detention and in public, at the hands of the authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We write now to members of the Church to remind all of us: In the face of brutal immigration enforcement, misinformation, and political violence, \u201cGod did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline\u201d (2 Timothy 1:7, ISV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of our own Church of the Brethren members have experienced immigration enforcement directly or are living in fear. Others are concerned and want to stand in solidarity. Others are still learning the gravity of what is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We understand the value of law enforcement that follows the law, protects the innocent, and affords due process to the accused. But all of us are harmed when acts of state violence become the daily norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our concern is for the humane treatment and dignity of God\u2019s children. All God\u2019s children are beloved. All members of the Church of the Brethren are brothers and sisters, and what affects one affects all. Members of our churches are responding to the present moment in many courageous, loving, and creative ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n