July 21, 2008

ELGIN, IL – A "Resolution on Slavery in the 21st Century" has been adopted by the Church of the Brethren, during meetings of the denomination's Annual Conference in Richmond, Va., on July 15.

The resolution reaffirms the historic opposition of Brethren to slavery, and references Luke 4:18-19 as a gospel mandate. It notes that the church "has spoken out strongly and repeatedly in opposition to slavery and the slave trade, passing antislavery resolutions in 1797, 1812, 1813, 1837, 1845, 1853, 1854, and 1857."

Although slavery is illegal in every nation, the paper calls people of faith to work against the many forms of slavery that continue, such as child labor, sexual slavery, and debt bondage. The resolution confesses "our complicity in the global network of slavery through consumption of goods and services...produced by slave labor." The Church of the Brethren makes a commitment to education and action through the resolution, and invites Brethren organizations and members to join in the work along with ecumenical and interfaith partners.

The resolution first appeared as a paper of the Church of the Brethren General Board, which brought the document to the Conference for its approval.

The delegate body adopted the document as an Annual Conference statement, including an amendment made by the Standing Committee of district delegates adding a phrase "to change our personal lifestyle habits that support it (slavery)."

A Church of the Brethren Study and Action Guide on Modern-Day Slavery provides resources to accompany the resolution. Go to http://www.brethren.org/ to download the online resources.

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 more than 125,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

Church of the Brethren