Even as the Brethren in Christ Church pushes toward completion of the Impact 2010 vision goals, the General Conference Board and Leadership Council have begun to focus attention on the second decade in the 21st century and what God has in mind for the denomination. Moderator Warren Hoffman describes the church-wide listening process of the past year and then introduces themes that have emerged from the conversation.

At a time when long-held assumptions about marriage and family life are being called into question, the church’s responsibility is to clearly articulate the biblical principles that define Christian marriage and reassert the sanctity of marriage as ordained by God. Toward that end, during the biennium since the 2006 General Conference, a task force has continued to gather feedback and refine a Statement on Marriage for the Brethren in Christ Church. Read the Statement of Marriage here (Word document).

As Christian believers in North America in the first decade of the 21st century, we find ourselves in societal context that is fundamentally redefining marriage by promoting, sanctioning, and permitting same-sex marriages or unions. As Brethren in Christ, we believe same-sex marriage is contrary to God’s plan for marriage between a man and a woman. The Manual of Doctrine and Government now states that BIC “shall not officiate at same-sex marriages or unions.” Amid increasing social and legal pressures it seems necessary to clarify in the MDG that the BIC will also not recognize such marriages or unions.

As Brethren in Christ congregations have grown and expanded, many have added a variety of church workers whose positions don’t fall easily within the standard definitions of pastoral ministry. Unfortunately, our credentialing track, which is primarily focused on ministerial leadership for preaching, teaching, and nurturing disciples, doesn’t reflect the trend in staffing patterns within our churches. In response to these changes, the General Conference Board is recommending the addition of “commissioned minister” to our established categories of credentialed leadership.

Following some conversation with Regional Conferences, the GCB would like to recommend an adjustment in the new process. The adjusted process would have the Regional Conference Board of Directors (rather than the annual meeting) present three candidates to the General Conference Board, serving as General Conference Nominating Committee. The GCB would then select one of the names as the nominee for GCB and send that name to the annual meeting of the Regional Conference for confirmation. This person would then become the GCB member from that regional conference.

Kim Phipps, president of Messiah College, introduces revisions to the Church-College Covenant and speaks with appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Messiah and the Brethren in Christ Church in Christ-centered higher education. The covenant between Messiah and the Brethren in Christ Church was last revised in 1994. Read the old version of the covenant here (Word document).

The revised covenant agreement between Paxton Ministries in Harrisburg, PA, and the Brethren in Christ Church comes before the General Conference as a reminder of our mutually supportive relationship in compassionate ministry since 1981. The covenant between Paxton Ministries and the Brethren in Christ Church was last revised in 1994.

Bill Strausbaugh, assistant provost at Messiah College (Grantham, Pa.) and a member of the General Conference Board, summarizes proposed refinements to a 2006 GC action that addressed the structure and function of the board for World Missions as it relates to the General Conference.

When changes are made in a one section of the Manual of Doctrine and Government, adjustments are often needed in other sections to bring them into conformity with the primary change. The recommendation regarding general church administrators is one of these secondary adjustments.

In the almost three years since the denomination’s Brotherhood Health Plan was discontinued due to declining participation, BIC churches (or pastors themselves) in the United States have been on their own in securing health insurance, and for many churches, this has been a difficult thing. Now, at the upcoming General Conference, delegates will be asked to vote on the concept of a denominationally sponsored health care plan that carries with it an expectation of participation by all eligible churches/persons.