To the decision of the 2002 Annual Conference on
Licensing/Ordination of Homosexual Persons to the Ministry in the Church of the Brethren

Introduction & Instructions

Origin and plan:  This statement began in discussions at the gathering of Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS) at Camp Mack in Indiana, November 22-24, 2002. The Camp Mack participants asked the VOS coordinating council to refine it and present it as a VOS statement. The council believed that many people in the Church of the Brethren share the concerns of the VOS movement. Therefore, the council decided to present this document more widely as a statement that many may wish to sign rather than simply as a statement from VOS as an organization.

The initial plan was to present the statement and its signers to the Standing Committee of the 2003 Annual Conference, not as a business item but as an indication of the concern of many Brethren. Accordingly the statement was given to the Annual Conference moderator with the request that it be given to the members of Standing Committee. At that time there were 689 signatures, representing 92 congregations in 19 districts.

What happened at the 2003 Annual Conference:  The officers of the 2003 Annual Conference decided not to give the statement and signatures to the members of Standing Committee. There were also statements and petitions from other groups that the officers did not present to the Standing Committee members. Two members of the VOS coordinating council spoke with the moderator, asking that this decision be reconsidered. The moderator received this request in good spirit and gave the response of the officers the next day, which was to stand by the original decision not to give the statement to the Standing Committee members. The officers did, however, report to Standing Committee, near the end of Conference, that petitions had been received.

The Statement continued:  The VOS coordinating council wrote a letter to the Annual Conference officers, expressing their disappointment. The officers wrote back defending and explaining their action and outlining their guidelines for next year's Conference. Again this exchange was carried out in good spirit.

Because the statement was not officially received, VOS kept it open for signatures and was successful at bringing it to the attention of Standing Committee at the 2004 Annual Conference in Charleston, West Virginia At that time the statement had 880 signatures (281 online and 599 on paper) from 106 congregations in 21 districts). For a more complete history of the statement and for an account of how Standing Committee received it in 2004, see "The VOS Journal" Page 3 and the accompanying update Page A.   [The VOS Journal]   [p.3]   [p.A]

The Statement now:  Since the statement has been acknowledged, no further efforts will be made to bring it to the attention of church leaders, but it will remain on the website and may be signed by those who affirm the concerns it expresses. Also, additional signatures on paper may be sent to the VOS office and will be kept on file.

Read the statement.

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How to Sign the Statement on Paper

Printable copies of this statement are offered in two ways:

1. On this website. The statement is available in three formats: HTML (web page), PDF, and Microsoft Word document.
   
2. By mail. If you want a printed copy and cannot obtain it from this page, write to
   Voices for an Open Spirit, 9 N. Union Street, Elgin, IL 60123.

To submit hard copies of this statement with signatures, please mail them to
Voices for an Open Spirit, 9 N. Union Street, Elgin, IL 60123.

How to Sign the Statement On-Line