Photo by Glenn Riegel The Doing Church Business Study Committee and the Program Feasibility Committee answer questions during a hearing.

Photo by Keith Hollenberg Gilbert Romero of the Intercultural Study Committee speaks at an evening hearing.

Photo by Ken Wenger Brad Bohrer, director of the Sudan mission initiative, announces the names of the lead team of mission workers for Sudan.

Photo by Ken Wenger Conference-goers pay close attention during a hearing on upcoming business.

Committee recommends measures to work on reversing church membership decline
The Standing Committee of district delegates this morning completed a document recommending measures to begin work to reverse the Church of the Brethren membership decline, following a lengthy discussion. The recommendation will go to the 2007 Annual Conference delegates for consideration.

The recommendation quotes Matthew 28:19-20 in stating that the Church of the Brethren’s commission is clear, to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations....” It also affirms the continuing validity of a 1981 Annual Conference statement on “Diminishing Membership in the Church of the Brethren” and encourages the church to revisit that statement’s principles and recommendations.

In a section of recommendations for congregations, districts, and agencies, the document calls on congregations to study the 1981 statement, actively review “ways in which they interact with the world” and work at being an “inviting presence and witness for Christ,” identify ways they have become “an impediment to bringing others into relationship with Christ,” and to report these activities to their districts.

A section on district action calls districts to “actively create opportunities for congregations to share stories of success with an emphasis placed upon encouragement, education, and spiritual formation,” and asks districts to submit written reports through their Standing Committee delegates. It further encourages Annual Conference leaders to find ways to celebrate these reports in the Conference context.

A section directed to the denominational agencies asks each to “develop a strategy to mentor, coach, or develop tools to assist in the transformation of attitudes, actions, skills, habits, and spiritual depth,” and asks that each agency provide a written report of its strategy to the 2008 Standing Committee.

General Board sets budget parameter, does a ‘first read’ of recommendations for Brethren Service Center
The Church of the Brethren General Board set a budget parameter for 2008, gave a first reading to the report from a committee exploring ministry options at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., acted on a resolution against the use of depleted uranium weapons, acted on mission funding in Haiti, and received a report naming a lead team of mission workers for a new mission initiative in Sudan, among other business.

The 2008 budget parameter for the board was set at $5,803,000 expense, and $5,892,000 income. In funding and finance reports, the board heard that although the board experienced a good year financially in 2006, this year’s giving to date has fallen about 9.2 percent.

The board engaged in a first read-through of a report from Brethren Service Center Ministry Options Exploration Committee, presented by chair Dale Minnich. A final report and recommendations will come to the board for action in October. The report makes a foundational recommendation: “That the Brethren Service Center continue in its present location and that its ministries be strengthened and undergirded with new vision.” A recommendation directed to the General Board is to “strongly affirm its ministries based at the Brethren Service Center–Brethren Disaster Ministries, lease partnerships with other agencies, Material Resources, and the New Windsor Conference Center–and plan to support their continued development.”

Minnich also reviewed the rest of the report, which gives a context for the committee’s work, states the mission of the Brethren Service Center, reviews ministries presently located at the center, recommends enhancements to the center and organizational changes, and addresses funding. The committee will hold a series of hearings on its report at the Brethren Service Center in August, and is gathering and sharing responses to its report.

In a report on the Sudan mission initiative, director Bradley Bohrer announced the names of the lead team of mission workers who will work in Sudan: Jim and Pam Hardenbrook of Idaho, and Matt and Kristy Messick of Colorado. An assessment team also has been named for the initiative: Phil and Louise Rieman and Enten Eller. The assessment team plans a trip to Sudan from July 8-Aug. 6.

A decision with regard to funding of the Church of the Brethren mission in Haiti was made by the board, affirming a move by staff to add the mission in Haiti to the mission projects supported by the Emerging Global Mission Fund.

A resolution against the use of depleted uranium weapons was adopted by the board. It was presented by Brethren Witness/Washington Office director Phil Jones, who introduced the resolution as a partnership with Christian Peacemaker Teams and the World Council of Churches, which both have worked against such weapons. Background information in the paper states that “the primary danger of using depleted uranium in weapons comes from breathing in the DU dust created by burning or exploded weaponry, or from ingesting DU dust that has contaminated the food or water supply. A growing body of evidence suggests such exposure may increase a person’s cancer risk and cause birth defects.” The resolution declares the use of depleted uranium weapons as “a specific and compelling example of the sinfulness of war,” appeals for a halt to their manufacture, lifts up the work of CPT and the WCC, and directs the Brethren Witness/Washington Office to advocate for elimination of the weapons, among other actions.

The board also gave a first reading to three chapters of a revision of the Ethics in Ministry Relations paper, with the full document to come to the October 2007 meeting; received reports on the recent Consultation on Ministry and the first National Junior High Conference and Brethren Disaster Ministries; recognized retiring Bethany Theological Seminary president Eugene Roop; and recognized the board members who are completing their terms of service with this meeting. The retiring board members are chair Jeff Neuman-Lee, Frank Ramirez, Janet Stutzman, and Angela Lahman Yoder.

The meeting closed with prayer and consecration of the General Board exhibit.

Business notes:
The Church of the Brethren Credit Union board reorganized at its business meeting this afternoon. Ann Quay Davis will serve as chair, Nevin Dulabaum will serve as vice chair, Paul Brubaker will serve as secretary, and Dan Poole will serve as treasurer.

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