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(c) The continued need for greater coordination and correlation in the setting
of goals and the establishment of priorities.

(d) The need of a continuing sense of relationship by individual agencies to
each other and of their individual accountability, even though separate boards and charters exist.

(e) The need to maintain the mutual trust/partnership between the District
Board and the related mission Agencies and between the Agencies as they relate to each other.

(f) Agencies related to the District have a responsibility to report periodically
to the District Board and District Conference. Agency representatives will be invited to attend
such meetings with adequate time on the agenda for reporting.

(g) The use of tenure for Agency Board level positions is encouraged.

(h) The Agencies shall submit to the District Office, their meeting dates and
copies of their board meeting minutes. The District Staff or designated appointee shall be invited
to attend all Agency meetings.

(i) The constitution and by-laws of each Agency shall reflect the strong inter-
relationship between the Agency and the District.

(j) The District Office shall receive copies of all Agency documents at such
times as they are updated or revised.

(k) The District Executive(s) will call a meeting of the Agency heads
(Executives), the District Moderator, the District Moderator Elect, and the District Board Chair
to meet annually with the District Agency heads for the purpose of reviewing the work and
activity of those agencies and their relationship to the District and provide a printed report to the
District Board and District Conference of the nature of that relationship.

7.3 Mission Agencies.

(a) Brook Lane Health Services. Brook Lane was created in 1946 by the
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and opened its doors in 1949. It was the first psychiatric
hospital established by MCC. The vision for Brook Lane grew out of young conscientious
objectors that served during World War II in state hospitals, combined with the history of Russian
Mennonites that created a church hospital called Bethania. The concepts for providing mental
health services were: 1). In the name of Christ; 2). In a nonjudgmental way; and 3). In a
compassionate way. In 1958, MCC gave Brook Lane and its operations to a local board of directors
stating that at least fifty percent of the membership must be representatives of the constituent
churches of the Anabaptist faith. These were listed as Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, and
Brethren in Christ. By the 1980’s Brook Lane was seeking ways to strengthen its connection to
the church community. In 1984, the Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren
approved an affiliate relationship with Brook Lane. This includes having representation on Brook

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