wfn.org | Church of the Brethren begins study of stem cell research.

[COBNews@aol.com]

Date: Oct. 27,	2005
Contact: Cheryl  Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com)

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN BEGINS STUDY OF STEM CELL RESEARCH

Oct. 27, 2005 (Elgin, IL) --  The Church of the Brethren General Board	has
affirmed a plan for its staff to work on a study of stem cell research, in
cooperation with the Association of Brethren Caregivers. The study will be
presented to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, the denominationâs
highest decision-making body, as a report and/or study guide for
discussion or
affirmation as a denomination-wide study.

Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger and Association
of 
Brethren Caregivers executive director Kathy Reid initiated the study out of
"concern about helping the church think in theological and ethical ways about
this whole area" of bio-ethics and bio-medical advances.

Del Keeney, executive director of Congregational Life Ministries, will
work 
on the study with Scott Douglas, director of Older Adult Ministry. The two
staff  members will lead a group of three to five Church of the Brethren members
with  expertise in bio-ethics to develop the report and/or study resource.

The last Church of the Brethren Annual Conference statement on issues of
bio-ethics and medical technology was made in 1984 and does not directly address
stem cell research. Keeney and Douglas hope to be able to provide "an
informed  offering to the church," Keeney said, commenting that "there are people in
our  congregations who are waiting for help and hope."

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing 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
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its  300th
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil,
the 
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.

# # #

For more information contact:

Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org)

*****************************************************************
The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,
 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board.
Newsline  stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source.
To  receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_
(mailto:cobnews@aol.com)  or call 800-323-8039 ext.  260.