November 3, 2009

ELGIN, IL – A "Resolution Against Torture" has been adopted by the Church of the Brethren's Mission and Ministry Board, at a meeting last month at the church's General Offices in Elgin, Ill.

Chair Dale Minnich led the board in a consensus model of decision-making. "Hearers and Doers of the Word" provided the theme for the meeting, based on James 1:22.

The "Resolution Against Torture" was adopted after lengthy discussion and numerous revisions to a document originally presented by a small group of board members and staff. The resolution will be passed on to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference for its consideration next July.

One question that motivated the small group presenting the resolution was, "Why didn't we act sooner?" said board member Andy Hamilton as he presented the paper. He noted that it has been close to 10 years since questions about the use of torture have begun to rise in the United States.

The short resolution includes four sections: an introduction from the Church of the Brethren's experience of persecution and violence at times in its 300-year history, a biblical basis represented as "foundational for our conviction regarding the sanctity of life," a section headed "Torture Is a Violation of Word and Life" stating the church's awareness of growing occurrences of torture throughout the world and attempts to legitimize it, and a section calling the church to confession and action in response. An additional page of references accompanies the resolution.

Go to http://www.brethren.org/site/DocServer/statement_against_torture_approved.pdf?docID=5321, for the full resolution.

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 celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 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.

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service