Progressive Brethren Online

SAVE THE DATE: 2012 Progressive Brethren Gathering -- October 26-28, 2012 in La Verne, California!

2012 Song & Story Fest Information and Registration now available!

Latest News

Feast of Love Begins Search for Ongoing Leadership Board Members

The Interim Organizational Team of Feast of Love has begun to search for members of a permanent Leadership Board. A full Board Member Description and more information is available at the Feast of Love website. If you feel called to serve or nominate another to serve, a board member application/ nomination form is available here.

On Earth Peace Offers Background and Explanation of Recent Statement of Inclusion

During On Earth Peace's 2011 fall meeting, the OEP board of directors issued the following statement of inclusion:

"We are troubled by attitudes and actions in the church which exclude persons on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other aspect of human identity. We believe God calls the church to welcome all persons into full participation in the life of the faith community."

On Earth Peace has recently released a letter providing some background and an explanation of the statement of inclusion. You can read the Letter here or at On Earth Peace.

Bethany President to speak at 2012 Womaen's Caucus Annual Conference Luncheon

This year's Caucus luncheon speaker will be Dr. Ruthann Knechel Johansen, president of Bethany Theological Seminary. She will be speaking on "The Love Poem." For more information, click here.

New Progressive Brethren eBoard is online!

A new eBoard designed for progressive Brethren is now online and available to progressive Brethren individuals, pastors, and congregations.

Designed to offer a safe online space where progressive Brethren can share ideas, resources, and news about what their Congregations are doing, the eBoard differs from existing list serves in that it is designed to be a place of support and sharing specifically for Brethren who self-identify as progressive.

To learn more about the eBoard and how to apply for membership, click here.

Womaen's Caucus Offers Insight into Why We Wear Rainbow Scarves.

When Womaen's Caucus began to facilitate the Rainbow Handcraft project, we had no idea how many people would embrace the making and wearing of rainbow handcrafts in support of lgbtq persons in the Church. As more and more people have worn rainbow colors at church functions, there have been questions, complaints, and criticisms of the project. The most common is that the wearing of rainbow colors is an act of division in the church.

In our new resource Why We Wear Rainbow Scarves, we offer insight into why people wear rainbow colors and an explanation of why it is not an act of division but an act for unity and wholeness in the church. Download the pdf here.

Save the Dates

2012 Progressive Brethren Gathering -- October 26-28, 2012 in La Verne California. More information and registration to come.

2012 Song & Story Fest -- July 1-7, 2012 at Camp Emmanuel in Astoria, IL. More information and Registration now available here.

2011 Progressive Brethren Gathering

WEBCASTS

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Opening Worship -- 6:30 pm view recording

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Morning Worship -- 8:45 am view recording
Keynote Address: Dr Sharon Welch -- 9:15 am view recording
Action Ideas and Plans: Presentations -- 10:30 am view recording
Talk On -- 2:00 pm view recording
Banquet at General Offices -- 6:30 p.m. view recording

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Sunday Worship at Highland Ave. CoB -- 9:30 am view recording
Concluding Conversations -- 11 am view recording

Courtesy of the Church of the Brethren/Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

BMC approved for a Booth at Annual Conference and as a BVS placement site!

In recent months, BMC has been accepted as a placement site for BVS volunteers and has been approved for exhibit space at the 2012 Annual Conference. Read more from BMC's executive director here.

NEW VIDEO:
On the Male Side of Middle

A story of love, honesty and integrity, this film about female-to-male transgender Mennonite Calvin Neufeld, captures a special moment in time between him and his family. Filmed a year after he began transitioning and a year after marrying his partner Sharon, this story shows how strong a family can be when they love, care and listen to each other. In collaboration with BMC. Writer, Director, Editor Paul Neudorf. Watch it here.

NEW VIDEO: Our Journey To Becoming A Welcoming Congregation

Portland Peace Church of the Brethren shares their story as a resource for other individuals and congregations during the CoB Special Response process. Current and past members of Peace Church share their own individual stories and feelings of how they dealt with the issues of homosexuality. As a result of their leadership, their church became a “welcoming congregation” to all, regardless of their “age, gender, race, ability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.” Learn more about the video and order here.

Who Are We?

Who are Progressive Brethren?

We are a very diverse community of progressive groups and individuals who identify with the Church of the Brethren. We recognize God’s Spirit at work in the church and are open to the new directions that Spirit may be leading us in. We embrace diversity, want genuine hospitality for all people, and respect those who hold differing opinions.

Some of us are in formal leadership in our congregations, districts, and the denomination. Others of us have been excluded from membership and leadership due to discriminatory church policies and decisions. Many of us are somewhere in the middle, wrestling with what it means to be Brethren and Christian in this time. We come from all across the country. We are urban, rural, and everything in between. We come from all races, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Progressive Brethren Online is a joint venture of Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Interests (BMC), Voices for an Open Spirit, and Womaen's Caucus. 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.