Denomination's new Vision Committee holds first meeting.

The committee called to help the Church of the Brethren discern a vision for the current decade held its first meeting March 29-31 at the church's General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The Vision Committee is considered a committee of the denomination's Standing Committee of district delegates.

The Vision Committee is gathering data in order to prepare a vision that will provide the general direction for denominational mission in the next decade. Committee members will be present at several Church of the Brethren gatherings this year including the Young Adult Conference in late May, National Youth Conference, and Annual Conference this summer in Pittsburgh. The committee also will be accepting input through various web-based, social media outlets.

The committee discussed creating a statement that will inform not only church-wide agencies but also districts, congregations, and individual church members. The committee is seeking ways of creating the statement that include means to implement it within the life of the church.

Committee members appointed by Standing Committee are Frances Beam, Jim Hardenbrook, Bekah Houff, and David Sollenberger. Members appointed by the four Annual Conference agencies are Steven Schweitzer of the Bethany Theological Seminary faculty, Jonathan Shively of the Church of the Brethren denominational staff, Jordan Blevins representing On Earth Peace, and Donna Forbes Steiner representing Brethren Benefit Trust.

The Vision Committee invites input through e-mail at vision@brethren.org or to the Vision Committee, c/o Annual Conference Office, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

-- David Sollenberger, a member of the Vision Committee, provided this report.

Source: 4/7/2010 Newsline