General Board sets 2007 budget, discusses immigration and stem cell research, recommends joining Christian Churches Together.

The Church of the Brethren General Board held its fall meetings Oct. 20-23 at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The board set a 2007 budget, issued a pastoral letter responding to immigration issues (see story below), considered a study paper on stem cell research, and recommended that the Church of the Brethren join Christian Churches Together in the USA.

The board also received a report about the Sudan mission initiative (see story below), and an interim report from a committee exploring options for the Brethren Service Center, among other business. Daily worship services and frequent prayer and hymn-singing marked the meetings. A prayer by board chair Jeff Neuman-Lee gave a sense of the overall tone of the gathering: "O God, you put a lot on our plate, and we rejoice in it."

Budget

A 2007 budget of expenses of $9,741,900 was approved, representing all ministries of the General Board including self-funded ministries. Matched against budgeted income for 2007, the figure anticipates a net expense of $12,800 for the year.

Christian Churches Together

The board approved a recommendation for Church of the Brethren participation in Christian Churches Together in the USA, agreeing to join with the Committee on Interchurch Relations (CIR) in recommending to Annual Conference that the denomination become a full participant. CIR chair Michael Hostetter explained that Christian Churches Together would not replace the church's membership in the National Council of Churches. The new organization is an attempt to foster ecumenical interaction that also includes those not involved in the NCC, he explained, such as the Roman Catholic Church, evangelical and pentecostal communions, and groups such as the National Association of Evangelicals. Earlier this year, 34 churches and national Christian organizations officially formed the new organization. Cost for Church of the Brethren participation will be $1,000 annually, and church leaders including the general secretary of the General Board and the Annual Conference moderator will be invited to attend the annual meeting (for more go to www.christianchurchestogether.org).

Stem Cell Research Study

A document on stem cell research was received by the board as a work in process. The document was called for by an action of the board last year, and is a joint document with the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The board recommended to ABC that the two agencies disseminate the document to the denomination as a study guide.

The study paper was prepared by a small committee of Church of the Brethren members including board staff Del Keeney, executive director of Congregational Life Ministries; former ABC staff member Scott Douglas; Joel Eikenberry, a physician; Charles Hite, an ethicist; John Katonah, a chaplain; and Marla Ullom Minnich, a physician.

Keeney presented the paper to the board, and outlined the changes requested by the ABC board, including further editing and formatting. The ABC board has approved the document pending those changes.

The study paper provides scientific background, a discussion of the ethics surrounding the issue, scriptural and theological information, case studies, and study questions. General Board members expressed affirmation for the work done so far, but also asked for more attention to balance.

Brethren Service Center Committee

In an interim report from the Brethren Service Center Ministry Options Exploration Committee, chair Dale Minnich told the board that "we have a good committee." Members are Jim Stokes-Buckles of New York, N.Y.; Kim Stuckey Hissong of Westminster, Md.; David R. Miller of Dayton, Va.; Fran Nyce of Westminster, Md.; Dale Roth of State College, Pa.; Jack Tevis of Westminster, Md.; and Minnich as General Board representative. Janet Ober of Upland, Calif., is not able to continue on the committee, Minnich announced.

His report to the board reviewed the group's first meeting at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., and the board action from March that initiated the committee.

(In March, the General Board turned away from a recommendation by the Stewardship of Property Committee to lease or sell the Brethren Service Center, and called instead for an exploration of options for ministry there. For the full report from the March 2006 meeting go to www.brethren.org/genbd/newsline/2006/mar1706.htm.)

"It's too early to give a preview of recommendations," Minnich said. He did, however, review the general thinking of the committee in some detail. He said the group is seeking to be transparent especially with the New Windsor community and staff in order to avoid a "pressure cooker" situation when it presents recommendations next October.

"It's clear that the big issues that we need to deal with relate to the (New Windsor) Conference Center," Minnich said. He outlined many options for the Conference Center, and also some possible ways to improve the financial bottom line for other General Board ministries located at the Brethren Service Center. The committee will meet again in New Windsor in November.

Other business

Several documents related to the internal organization of the board and its programs were adopted, including a new set of vision and mission statements and core values, a conflict of interest policy for board members and staff, a job description for board members, and a committee organization for the General Board member development committee. In executive session, the board also worked on envisioning for future emphases, in a process being called, "new wineskins."

The board heard reports on the Sudan mission initiative (see story below), 2006 financial reports, planning for an update of the 1996 paper "Ethics in Ministry Relations," National Youth Conference, the Gather 'Round Sunday school curriculum, and Brethren Volunteer Service visits with pastors. A report on a National Council of Churches trip to Lebanon was brought by Thomas Swain, clerk of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

An offering of $1,680.24 received during the meetings will be divided between the Emerging Global Mission Fund and the Sudan mission initiative.

Employee recognitions and staff citations, and sessions offering the opportunity for more informal conversations about ministry areas, rounded out the agenda.

After the General Board meetings, board members and staff had the option of staying for a professional growth event led by Tim McElwee, Jim Chinworth, Jack Gochenaur, and Jo Young Switzer of Manchester College.

Source: 11/3/2006 Newsline