InterAgency Forum receives Brethren agency reports, discusses Annual Conference.

The InterAgency Forum (IAF) of the Church of the Brethren met Feb. 5-6 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Annual Conference, the Association of Brethren Caregivers, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, the Council of District Executives, the General Board, and On Earth Peace were represented. Harriet Finney, immediate past Annual Conference moderator, served as chair.

The agenda afforded time for receiving reports from each agency regarding program and financial status. Especially noted were the words of the purpose of the IAF--"to promote congeniality and mutuality among participating Annual Conference agencies"--taken from the 2001 Review and Evaluation Committee that established the annual consultation.

Also on the agenda was a report of a meeting of agency executives held in Nov. 2003, where the executives discussed several ways that the agencies can combine efforts in areas of communication, reporting, exhibits, and support of each other's functions. In addition, the consultation received a report on the progress of updating the Church of the Brethren polity manual, which will include statements of organization for each agency.

In relation to Annual Conference, a debriefing from the 2003 Conference produced suggestions for improvements in exhibit services, consultation with Standing Committee, and agency reports. In 2004 the former "live report" and the agencies' oral reports will be combined. The group recognized the Ecclesiology Consultation spearheaded by the Council of District Executives, and the Standing Committee's Implementation Committee that will work at using consultation time with agencies to start envisioning for the denomination. The IAF also approved a plan for introducing agency appointees to Conference for approval, including a photograph and biographical material.

At the meeting, there was a sense that the denominational program is much more defined and that there is more respect and cooperation within its components, according to a report from Fred Swartz, Annual Conference secretary.

Source: Newsline 3/19/2004 top