wfn.org | Newsline: Business at Church of the Brethren Annual Conference to include items related to human sex

[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 ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS BUSINESS ON ISSUES RELA TED TO HUMAN SEXUALITY

(April 24, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference  will address new business when it meets on June 26-30 in San Diego, Calif.,  including two items on issues related to human sexuality: "A Statement of  Confession and Commitment" from the Standing Committee of district delegate s, and a query titled "Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships."

Also on the agenda are a revision of a church document offering "A Structur al Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues," revised bylaw s for the Church of the Brethren, a query titled "Secret Oath-Bound Societi es," elections for denominational offices, and reports from agencies of the  church and committees of the Conference.

The Conference will meet on the theme, "The old has gone! The new has come!  All this is from God!" from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. The moderator of the 20 09 Annual Conference is David Shumate, district executive of the Church of  the Brethren's Virlina District.

"A Statement of Confession and Commitment" was adopted by Standing Committe e at last year's Annual Conference. The one-page document addresses the iss ue of homosexuality as one that "continues to bring tension and division wi thin our Body" and confesses that, "We are not of one mind on this matter."  The statement declares that the Church of the Brethren's 1983 paper on Hum an Sexuality "remains our official position," but also acknowledges tension  between different parts of the 1983 paper. The Standing Committee confesse s "meanness and fighting" over the issue, and calls the church to stop unch ristian behavior.

"Query: Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships" was initiated by Bea con Heights Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne, Ind., and approved by the  Northern Indiana District. Stating in part that the denomination "has a hi story and practice of seeking reconciliation" and that it "has experienced  deep division and brokenness related to the language from the 1983 Human Se xuality Paper that same-sex covenantal relationships are not acceptable," t he query petitions the Annual Conference "to consider whether it is the wil l of the church that this language on same-sex covenantal relationships wil l continue to guide our journey together."

The revision of the document for dealing with strongly controversial issues  follows up on a decision of the 2002 Annual Conference, which referred an  update of the original 1988 document to the Annual Conference Council. The  council in turn appointed a committee to update the paper and present a rev ision. The revision gives guidelines for how Standing Committee and Annual  Conference will identify and deal with queries that may generate adversaria l stances. The proposed three-year process includes appointment of a "Resou rce Committee" representing diverse perspectives to develop study materials ; facilitated hearings at Annual Conference and in districts; and a special  procedure for presenting such queries to the Conference.

Revised bylaws for the Church of the Brethren follow on the decision of las t year's Annual Conference approving merger of the former Association of Br ethren Caregivers with the former General Board to form a new entity called  the Church of the Brethren.

"Query: Secret Oath-Bound Societies" was initiated by Dry Run (Pa.) Church  of the Brethren and approved by Southern Pennyslvania District. Citing a nu mber of scriptures, among others 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 8:31-32, Matthew 5 :33-34, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17, and Ephesians 5:7-17, the query states in pa rt that "it is clear that membership in these societies constitutes a dual  allegiance" and that there is confusion among Brethren about secret oath-bo und societies. The query requests the Annual Conference to take action to g ive clarity to the issue.

The Annual Conference schedule has been posted online, go to www.cobannualc onference.org. Online registration ends May 8. Contact the Annual Conferenc e Office at 800-688-5186 or 410-635-8740.

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 more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, 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