Page 3 - Withdrawal of Churches 2022-0514

GUIDELINES FOR CONGREGATIONAL WITHDRAWAL
FROM THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT

issue, but remains in support and in fellowship with the district
and Annual Conference;
2. a call to prayer for all congregations within the district seeking the
guidance of the Holy Spirit regarding the issue, and seeking a spiritual
anointing that would express love, tolerance and patience (Col. 3:12)
rather than judgment and avoidance.

Each district is encouraged to put in place framework for processing a
congregational disagreement with an Annual Conference action, in keeping with
these suggestions. The process should be flexible enough to allow for the wide
variations of each case, yet specific enough that it has accountability and
direction. Each district should establish such a process prior to the recognition
of the need for said process. The goal of the district response process should
be to help the congregation move to an understanding of the Annual
Conference action and willingness to support the action, or at least a willingness
to refrain from taking any action that would be interpreted as being defiant or
insubordinate. If this goal is unattainable and there is a lack of reconciliation, an
acknowledgment should be made that the congregation continues supporting
the larger church in other aspects of its life while disagreeing with Annual
Conference in the particular matter. It is expected that reconciliation attempts
will continue.

Finally, within our current polity Standing Committee continues to serve as the
appeals body. Any decision that is made by a district board or a district
conference can be appealed to the Standing Committee, and the congregation
in disagreement retains that right. The decision of Standing Committee is final.

2
D. 3. DISORGANIZING OR WITHDRAWING CONGREGATIONS
“If a congregation is disorganized by the district pursuant to the powers granted in
chapter 3 (II.E. “Disorganizing Congregations”) and chapter 4 (I.C.16.d. “Disorganizing
Congregations”) of this manual, or if it attempts by either majority or unanimous vote to
withdraw from the Church of the Brethren district in which it is located or otherwise
ceases to exist or function as a congregation of the Church of the Brethren, any
property that it may have shall be within the control of the district board and may be
held for the designated purposes or sold or disposed of in such a manner as the
district board, in its sole discretion, may direct. When assuming responsibility for the
control of disorganizing or withdrawing congregations, the district board shall give aid
and counsel to the congregation.”

_____________________
2 2016 Manual of Organization and Polity, Chapter 6, Property Holdings and Financial
Resources, I, D, 3, pg. 2. This portion establishes Denominational control of property and
restricts the use of that property for Denominational purposes.

- 3 -