Church of the Brethren May Split Over LGBTQ Leaders

Some conservative congregations within the Church of the Brethren are considering leaving the denomination over concerns about LGBTQ leaders, according to Mennonite World Review. The issue gained attention in 2017 when the denomination acknowledged that a lesbian couple was co-pastoring a church in the Pacific Northwest. This led to objections from several congregations, which voiced concerns about same-sex marriages and the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in leadership roles.

After conservative policy changes related to LGBTQ issues failed to pass at the 2018 annual conference and the topic was avoided at the 2019 gathering, more than 50 pastors, district leaders, and committee members from 13 districts met to explore forming a new denomination, Covenant Brethren Church. The group aims to create a space where congregations can remain Brethren in name and practice without being driven to independent status or another denomination.

Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele denounced the proposed spinoff, emphasizing the denomination’s commitment to unity. He urged members to engage in scripture discernment and study to address differences, stating, “Our end goal is unity.” He acknowledged diversity within the denomination but stressed the importance of working together to discern God’s voice amid it.

In a November letter signed by Brother Grover Duling and other temporary executive board members of the Covenant Brethren Church, the breakaway group expressed “great disappointment” that the Church of the Brethren was not holding individuals accountable to positions established at its annual conference. They claimed that those promoting what they called a “sinful lifestyle” were allowed to continue without restraint.

The group described Covenant Brethren as a “Brethren haven” where congregations could remain Brethren in name and practice. They also noted that the new denomination would remain open to the possibility that the Church of the Brethren could undergo renewal, making the movement irrelevant. Duling stated that the group was working on structural and doctrinal matters but was not aggressively recruiting members.

Duling, who also serves as board chair of the Church of the Brethren’s West Marva District, emphasized that if a division occurred, it would be as friendly as possible, without bitterness or rancor. The Covenant group is currently exploring property in West Virginia for its headquarters.

Source: Read the original report