wfn.org | 224th Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

224th Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- July 3, 2010

Resolution on gun violence, 2011 budget on agenda for denominational board

A "Resolution on Ending Gun Violence" and a budget 2011 Budget 
Parameterparameter for 2011 topped the agenda at today's meeting of 
the Church of the Brethren's Mission and Ministry Board. The group 
held its pre-Annual Conference meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa., led by 
chair Dale Minnich.

Other business included financial reports, and approval of financial 
policies that have been revised to bring church nomenclature up to 
date and allow for technological developments like donations via 
electronic transfer. The board also nominated trustees to a trust in 
India and approved a large grant to continue disaster response in Haiti.

Reports were received on the board's strategic planning process, the 
work of the denominational Vision Committee, progress toward a major 
revision of the Ministerial Leadership Paper, and from general 
secretary Stan Noffsinger on his visit to the White House earlier this week.

> Resolution on Ending Gun Violence

The board adopted a Resolution on Ending Gun Violence that endorses a 
similar resolution by the National Council of Churches (NCC). The 
board's resolution echoes the NCC document in encouraging church 
members to engage in action on the issue.

A recent Supreme Court decision on gun rights "really should not 
discourage us from this resolution," said Noffsinger as he presented 
the document. "If we do anything we ought to approach this with more 
vigor and determination to add our voice against handgun 
violence."Mimi Copp of Heeding God's Call

Invited to speak was Mimi Copp, a Church of the Brethren member 
living in Philadelphia, who has been part of the Heeding God's Call 
movement for responsible gun sales and against the "straw sales" that 
provide guns to criminals.

Reviewing shocking statistics on deaths by gun violence in the United 
States--such as that since 9/11, 25 times the number of Americans 
have been killed by gun violence in the US than have been killed in 
Iraq and Afghanistan--she outlined the urgency for church action. "I 
am inspired by your willingness to look at this very touchy issue and 
pray for you in your deliberations," she told the board.

After some questions from board members, Noffsinger clarified that 
the resolution is not addressing guns used for hunting, and that the 
NCC resolution (which is attached to the board resolution) makes a 
clear distinction about the type of gun that is the focus. He also 
noted that the Church of the Brethren does not yet have an Annual 
Conference statement solely addressing gun violence, and commented 
that he views this resolution as "an intermediate step" until such a 
document may be created.

> Budget parameter for 2011

The board approved a 2011 budget parameter of $5,426,000 for the 
Church of the Brethren's core ministries. The decision includes 
permission for up to $437,000 to be drawn from a bequest quasi 
endowment to cover an expected shortfall in income from other sources.

The shortfall reflects the continuing effect of the recession on the 
church's investment income, as well as an expected 20 percent 
increase in the bill for employee health insurance, and a decrease in 
giving from individuals to core ministries. Wages will be frozen for 
a second year in a row.

However, report forms from congregations show that the churches who 
expect to contribute to the work of the denomination are committed to 
increase their giving by 4.5 percent for next year. "We are indeed 
blessed," commented Ken Neher, director of Stewardship and Donor Development.

"Our goal is to get to the point where our income matches our 
expense," said treasurer Judy Keyser, who characterized the funds 
from the bequest quasi endowment as a "short-term plug" and 
emphasized that it is not a solution to longterm issues affecting the 
church's finances.

General secretary Stan Noffsinger explained that with the board 
having just started a strategic planning--or "appreciative 
inquiry"--process, executive staff did not want to make decisions 
such as reconfiguring staff or programs before the board has an 
opportunity to consider long term goals.

"Everything I hear is directed at systemic organizational change," 
vice chair Ben Barlow responded, adding that he hopes the 
denomination understands the seriousness of the situation.

Chair Dale Minnich countered with an emphasis on the positive. "We're 
not furloughing (employees), we're not doing a round of employee 
cuts... but that's with considerable struggle."

> EDF grant to Haiti disaster response

An additional grant of $250,000 from the Church of the Brethren's 
Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) was approved by the board following a 
video report on the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries and Global 
Mission Partnerships in Haiti. Prior EDF grants to the earthquake 
relief work in Haiti have totaled $300,000.

The direct relief phase of earthquake response, such as feeding 
programs and the building of temporary shelters, ends this summer, 
reported Brethren Disaster Ministries executive director Roy Winter. 
After that the focus of the work will turn to construction of 
permanent homes, trauma recovery, a medical effort, and agricultural 
development.

> Nominations to the GBB Trust in India

The board nominated four trustees to the General Brotherhood Board 
(GBB) Trust in India, which is located in the Second District of the 
India Brethren. The 95th annual assembly of the India Brethren had 
provided the names of Kantilal Somchand Tandel, Nityanand Manilal 
Thakore, Darryl Raphael Sankey, and Ramesh William Makwan, which were 
approved for nomination.

The board also instructed Noffsinger and Global Mission Partnerships 
executive director Jay Wittmeyer to seek out additional nominees to 
represent the Second district of the India Brethren and the Church of 
North India, after conversation revealed that all four nominees are 
from the First District.

Noffsinger explained that this is a second trust--along with the 
Church of the Brethren General Board (CBGB) Trust--to which the 
Church of the Brethren in the US has the responsibility to nominate 
trustees. The nominations will be given to the Charity Commissioner.

The nominations need to be made to ensure that the trust does not 
revert the state, Noffsinger said, as the single remaining trustee is 
over 90 years old and will continue to serve out his lifetime.

> General secretary's report

General secretary Noffsinger reported about the experience of being 
one of 15 US church leaders who were invited to the White House on 
Wednesday to discuss Israel and Palestine with Denis McDonough, 
National Security Council Chief of Staff to President Obama. All 
three of the historic peace churches were represented, along with 
other Christian traditions who are members of Churches for Middle East Peace.

Noffsinger said that the reception the group received at the White 
House was excellent. "We were there to voice our concern over a 
sustainable peace," he told the board, adding that "it was a lively 
conversation."

The church leaders transmitted several messages to the US 
administration, including that the US has an important role to broker 
a peace for all peoples of the conflict. The group urged moving the 
peace negotiations into direct talks between the parties, the free 
flow of non-lethal goods between Gaza and Israel, and the immediate 
resumption of full humanitarian aid shipments.

The group also touched on the status of the city of Jerusalem. "Any 
peace that is brokered will need to allow free access to Jerusalem by 
peoples of all three faiths--Christian, Jewish, and Muslim," Noffsinger said.

The board also thanked retiring members for their service, including 
Vernne Greiner, Bruce Holderreed, John Katonah, Dan McRoberts, and 
Chris Whitacre.

--Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford is director of News Services for the 
Church of the Brethren

--------------------------------------------------

The News Team for the 2010 Annual Conference includes writers Karen 
Garrett, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend; photographers Kay Guyer, 
Justin Hollenberg, Keith Hollenberg, Glenn Riegel; website staff Amy 
Heckert and Jan Fischer Bachman; and news director and editor Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford. Contact cobnews@brethren.org .

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the 
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