Progressive Brethren Online
Welcome to
Progressive Brethren Online
We are an online community of progressive groups and individuals that are members and friends of the Church of the Brethren. A joint venture of Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS), Womaen's Caucus, and Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests (BMC), this site aims to collect in one place all the information progressive Brethren need to network, inform and resource themselves, and work for change in the Church and world.
If you are a progressive Brethren and would like to have your blog, site, ministry, etc., linked to Progressive Brethren Online, please contact our WebMaestra.
Wear or make a Rainbow Handcraft in support of glbtq persons in the CoB
Help the La Verne CoB Youth take Rainbow Scarves to National Youth Conference (NYC)
Work to renew the Denominational Name
Help the La Verne CoB Youth take Rainbow Scarves to National Youth Conference (NYC)
Work to renew the Denominational Name
CoB Alt-News
Alternative News for the Church of the Brethren in a blog created by Travis Poling.
Jeff Neuman-Lee's Blog at The Huffington Post
Jeff works as ministry coordinator at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Littleton, CO.
Liberal Preacher
Pastor Jay Steele's blog. Jay pastors at Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Minneapolis, MN.
Living the Word
Pastor Ken Miller Rieman's blog from Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren in Seattle, WA.
Coming Out Strong
A blog from BMC especially for glbt young adults and allies.
The Feminist Review
A blog with Brethren contributors that calls patriarchy as they see it and contains reviews of books, movies, articles, and other media and messages in our culture.
Alternative News for the Church of the Brethren in a blog created by Travis Poling.
Jeff Neuman-Lee's Blog at The Huffington Post
Jeff works as ministry coordinator at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Littleton, CO.
Liberal Preacher
Pastor Jay Steele's blog. Jay pastors at Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Minneapolis, MN.
Living the Word
Pastor Ken Miller Rieman's blog from Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren in Seattle, WA.
Coming Out Strong
A blog from BMC especially for glbt young adults and allies.
The Feminist Review
A blog with Brethren contributors that calls patriarchy as they see it and contains reviews of books, movies, articles, and other media and messages in our culture.
Would you like to see your blog here? Send your information to our Webmaestra.
Resources for the Special Response Process
Taking a New Look: Why Congregations Need GLBT Members
by Lifequest Publications
What the Bible Says, and Doesn't Say, About Homosexuality
by Rev. Mel White
Disagreement with Annual Conference Decisions
by William R. Eberly
Creating Safe Spaces in our Churches
a Single Sheet resource from Womaen's Caucus
The official COB Special Response Process Resource
see Special Response Timeline here
See more resources under Human Sexuality on our Resources page.
2010 Progressive Brethren Gathering
Forward Together
Conversations Toward
an Enlivened Community
November 12-14, 2010
Manchester Church of the Brethren
North Manchester, IN
register online
For Life is a Journey: Reflections on Living
by Ralph McFadden
Ralph McFadden was married and raised two children. But in the mid-1990s, he decided that living with integrity meant living authentically, "coming out" as the gay man he was. In For Life is a Journey, McFadden, a former pastor, denominational executive, and hospice chaplain, explores his own journey as he confronts the church's blindness to the damaging injustice of homophobia.
Are you trying to figure out how your church can talk about lgbt-related issues in a responsible way? Download these recommendations from BMC.
Inclusive Language
A quick summary in a single page + information on Bibles
How we talk about God and each other matters. Our words communicate who belongs, whose lives and experiences are taken seriously, and who shares in the powerful work of God and the Church. Download this Single Sheet on Inclusive Language & Bibles and give it to your church leaders. It's designed to explain what inclusive language is and how to use it, this Single Sheet also reviews modern Bible translations for inclusivity.
A quick summary in a single page + information on Bibles
How we talk about God and each other matters. Our words communicate who belongs, whose lives and experiences are taken seriously, and who shares in the powerful work of God and the Church. Download this Single Sheet on Inclusive Language & Bibles and give it to your church leaders. It's designed to explain what inclusive language is and how to use it, this Single Sheet also reviews modern Bible translations for inclusivity.