The Church of the Brethren celebrated historic connections and committed to new relationships during its annual conference July 4-8 at Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati.

The conference was attended by 1,393 registrants, including 441 delegates.

Representatives from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria — the Nigerian Brethren conference, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year — brought greetings. With a membership of more than 750,000, it is the largest body of Anabaptists in the world.

The annual conference also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Brethren Volunteer Service.

Delegates adopted a resolution recommending the denomination commit to advocacy, dialogue, education and relationship-building regarding rights of Indigenous people. The resolution recommends “Church of the Brethren consult with Indigenous organizations and tribes to develop opportunities for congregations, districts and the denomination to consider some form of reparation following the leadership of Native nations or organizations.”

Moderator Tim McElwee passed the gavel on July 7 to 2024 moderator Madalyn Metzger, who was commissioned during a worship service the next day.

Metzger introduced next year’s annual conference theme, “Welcome and Worthy,” based on Paul’s letter introducing Phoebe as a valued sibling in Christ to the church in Rome, found in Romans 16.

“Like Phoebe, each of us brings our own unique abilities, experiences and perspectives to this community,” Metzger said. “And it is through our willingness to share our faith journeys with one another — and to receive one another in the fullness of each person’s being — that we can experience and see God’s vision for us more fully.”

Other activities included a July 6 walk and prayer vigil for gun violence prevention, a time of silence for “confession and repentance concerning our mistreatment of one another in our discussion of human sexuality” and a concert by the Walking Roots Band.