August 30, 2010

ELGIN, IL – Some Church of the Brethren districts have begun to hold hearings on issues of sexuality at their district conferences, and others are beginning to plan for such hearings this fall and winter, led by district delegates to the Standing Committee of the denomination's Annual Conference.

The hearings are a central part of a "Special Response" process that will lead up to a decision by the 2011 Annual Conference on two items of business: "A Statement of Confession and Commitment" which originated in the 2008 Standing Committee, and "Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships" which originated in the church's Northern Indiana District.

Hearings in each of the denomination's 23 districts will provide feedback to the Standing Committee as it meets prior to the next Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 2-6, 2011, to frame a recommendation on the two business items.

In Southern Pennsylvania District, for example, the District Conference on Sept. 17-18 will include two insight sessions on the Special Response process. Also, the district plans to offer "Zone Hearings" on the two items of business.

At least one district is providing training for church leaders to hold Bible studies in congregations, which also is a recommended part of the Special Response process. The Bible study resource may be downloaded from: http://www.cobannualconference.org/pdfs/special_response_resource.pdf.

Shenandoah District will offer opportunities for pastors and church leaders to receive training and resources for congregational Bible studies. The opportunities included an evening of training for church leaders on Aug. 28 at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway, Va. "Minister's Bookshelf" events in September and October will review resource documents and books to assist with facilitating the conversations.

Illinois and Wisconsin District has announced regional listening sessions in the northeast, northwest, south, and central parts of the state of Illinois. District churches also are encouraged to engage in the Bible study to provide a foundation for the listening sessions.

The Middle Pennsylvania District has announced three hearing sessions, with a memo reviewing the Special Response process and noting, "This attempt to discern the mind of Christ through the members of the Church now comes even closer to home." The district also is encouraging members to prepare for hearings using the Special Response Bible study.

Northern Plains District hopes to have five hearings around the district some time during October and November, with members welcome to attend whichever hearing bests suits their schedules. "It is hoped that these hearings will provide a wide range of persons for the listening and input to Standing Committee," the district newsletter noted. "Most of all, these events will let us as Brethren grow with respect and grace through our tensions and differences."

For more about the Church of the Brethren's Special Response process see: http://www.cobannualconference.org/special_response_resource.html..

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 123,000 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