Northern Indiana District Discipleship and Reconcilation Committee
	"All this is from God, who through Christ, reconciled us to God, and has given us the Ministry of Reconciliation." -- 2 Corinthians 5:18

What is a D&R Committee?

Discipleship and Reconciliation Committees were established throughout the Church of the Brethren in response to the 1976 Annual Conference paper "Discipleship and Reconciliation." The D&R is a district committee entrusted with the responsibility of providing assistance in resolving problems and facilitating reconciliation of broken relationships in the local church and district.

Part of the D&R Committee's responsibility is to be a healing presence in the life of the congregation and the district by being involved with congregations during times of stress or conflict. The D&R Committee may also help congregations develop structures, resources, and procedures to manage disagreements in a positive way through workshops, informational materials, or publicity of training events offered by other groups.

The D & R Committee can be a vehicle that brings the reconciliation of relationships and wholeness that God envisions for our community of faith.

 

D & R Committees are not

• judges, juries, arbitrators, or decision makers
• fixers of problems
• just well-mannered people

D & R Committees are

• decision-enablers
• facilitators helping congregations walk through their own decision-making
• trained ministers of reconciliation

D & R Committees also

• bring a calm, non-anxious presence
• perform preventative maintenance through education
• assist in times of transition
• educate even in the midst of conflict
• model and share skills that they have learned
• leave behind a legacy of increased ability to deal constructively with conflict

How does the D & R Committee Work?

The Northern Indiana District D&R Committee is available to serve congregations throughout the District. Requests for the services of the D&R Committee should be directed to the District Pastor, District Board Chair, or District Moderator. These requests may be made by a congregation or fellowship through its appropriate administrative body or by the District Board or its Executive Committee or by the District Pastor.

When a request is made to the Committee, the Committee will meet and send a team of two or three of its members to meet with those in the congregation making the request. The team will help the congregation develop a plan of action and provide for follow-up sessions.

 

Who is on the Committee?

The D&R Committee is made up of six people called by the Northern Indiana District to serve a five-year term. In addition, the District Pastor, District Board Chair, and District Moderator are ex-officio members.

• Doug Archer (Mt Pleasant), Chair (2005)
• Amy Gall Ritchie (Florence) (2004)
• Julie Bontrager (Middlebury) (2006)
• Roger Eberly (Wakarusa/Turkey Creek) (2006)
• Dennis Beckner (Columbia City) (2007)
• Margaret Pletcher (Lincolnshire) (2003)
• Carol Spicher Waggy (Rock Run), Secretary (ex-officio)
• Phyllis Davis (North Winona) (ex-officio)
• Herman Kauffman (Union Center) (ex-officio)

Northern Indiana District Church of the Brethren
357 East Market Street, Nappanee, Indiana 46550
Phone: (574) 773-3149 / Fax: (574) 773-2815

Northern Indiana District