wfn.org | Newsline: Church of the Brethren welcomes invitation from German church

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN WELCOMES INVITATION FROM GERMAN CHURCH

(Sept. 25, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The Leadership Team of the Church of the Bret hren in an Aug. 19 meeting has responded to a communication from a church i n Germany. The group provided counsel to general secretary Stan Noffsinger  regarding an invitation for dialogue and relationship with the Evangelische  Kirche von Westfalen (the Protestant Church of Westphalia) in Germany.

A leader of the Westfalen church, Ingo Stucke, addressed the celebration of  the 300th anniversary of the Brethren movement that was held in Germany la st August. He invited the Church of the Brethren to continue dialogue on "o ur differing understandings of baptism and our differing practices of child  and adult baptism." Additionally, he expressed hope that conversations may  lead to "a reconciliation among us in our diversity ... as a testimony to  the world ... of Christian unity."

The Leadership Team welcomed this opportunity for further dialogue and rela tionship, and informally identified members of the Church of the Brethren w ho might take part in a delegation to the German Church. The church's Commi ttee on Interchurch Relations and the Mission and Ministry Board will be as ked to ratify and follow up on the interchange.

In other business, the team reviewed decisions of the 2009 Church of the Br ethren Annual Conference, continued development of a Moderators Manual, and  reviewed suggestions for a revision of the by-laws of the Church of the Br ethren.

Members of the 2009-10 Leadership Team are general secretary Stan Noffsinge r, Annual Conference moderator Shawn Flory Replogle and moderator-elect Rob ert Alley, and secretary Fred Swartz, who provided this report.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 125,000 members across the Unit ed States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria,  Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org