July 2, 2010

PITTSBURGH, PA – The Church of the Brethren's Annual Conference on July 3-7 will bring delegates from across the country to Pittsburgh, Pa. This will be the 224th recorded annual meeting for the denomination.

The Annual Conference will meet at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on the theme, "Taking Jesus Seriously" from the biblical scripture John 14:15. Go to http://www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cob_news, for full coverage of the Conference online.

Shawn Flory Replogle, a pastor and youth coordinator at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren, will serve as moderator of the Conference in the highest elected position in the Church of the Brethren denomination.

The Conference will welcome church members and families from across the United States and Puerto Rico, and delegates from some 1,000 congregations and 23 church districts.

Among a number of business items the delegate body will vote on a "Resolution Against Torture," which is coming from the denomination's Mission and Ministry Board http://www.brethren.org/site/DocServer/statement_against_torture_approved.pdf?docID=5321.

Also on the agenda are hearings and reports about a special two-year discussion process put in place after last year's Annual Conference began consideration of two documents related to issues of sexuality: "A Statement of Confession and Commitment" from the Standing Committee of district delegates calling the church to unity on issues of sexuality at http://www.cobannualconference.org/pittsburgh/A_Statement_of_Confession_and_Commitment.pdf, and a query on "Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships" at http://www.cobannualconference.org/pittsburgh/NB_2_Query-Language_on_Same_Sex_Covenental_Relationships.pdf.

The Conference schedule includes daily worship services, business sessions, Bible studies, numerous workshops and meal events, a variety of support groups, and programs for different age groups including children, youth, and young adults. Find more about the Conference schedule at http://www.cobannualconference.org/.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination stemming from the Brethren movement that began in 1708 in Schwarzenau, Germany, when the eight founders were baptized in the Eder River. The denomination turned 300 years old in 2008. The church is committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. It is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Peace Churches along with the Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Mennonites. The Church of the Brethren counts close to 125,000 members and 1,000 congregations across the US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Haiti, and India.

Church of the Brethren Newsline