Church of the Brethren regional delegates reject amended same-sex marriage policy amendment

Delegates to the Atlantic Northeast District conference of the Church of the Brethren voted against an amendment to the denomination’s same-sex marriage policy. The amendment would have required pastors who officiate at same-sex weddings or promote homosexuality as a God-approving lifestyle to lose their credentials. The measure received 108 votes in favor, 78 against, and 11 abstentions, but failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed for approval.

The amendment, proposed by the Chiques Church of the Brethren’s official board, aimed to address concerns about pastoral conduct regarding same-sex marriage. Pastors in the denomination are not authorized to perform such marriages, but there is currently no policy in place to revoke credentials for those who do. Misty Wintsch, conference moderator, explained the district board’s decision to require a two-thirds majority for such a significant policy change.

Rev. Greg Davidson Laszakovits, pastor at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, expressed opposition to the amendment. He noted that while he has not officiated at a same-sex wedding, the proposed policy targeted progressive churches, including his own. Laszakovits criticized the amendment as a departure from the denomination’s historical approach of forbearance and dialogue.

Congregations within the Church of the Brethren operate with a high degree of autonomy. Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren, for example, amended its constitution several years ago to accept all people regardless of race, creed, or sexual orientation. Laszakovits viewed the amendment as a threat to the denomination’s ministry approach, emphasizing the importance of unity and mutual understanding.

The Church of the Brethren plans to revisit the issue at its 2019 Annual Conference. In 2017, church leaders formed two teams to guide the denomination through a process of conversation and discernment. The ongoing dialogue reflects the denomination’s commitment to navigating complex social and theological issues with care and deliberation.

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