Indiana churches vote to discipline supporters of same-sex covenant services

The South/Central Indiana District of the Church of the Brethren, which includes churches in Wayne County, held a special conference on Saturday October, 21. Here is the issue that was voted on:

...any South Central Indiana District Church of the Brethren congregation that allows a same sex covenant service on church property or with the assistance of church ministerial leadership will have a three year moratorium placed upon their participation in elected and appointed District offices, including seating delegates at District conference. Durint this time of moratorium, the Church will also submit to work with the District Board, Ministry of Reconciliation, Annual Conference Council and other entities as directed by the 2004 Annual Conference paper - Congregational Disagreement with Annual Conference decisions - to address the issues surrounding their broken relationships with the larger church. Further, that the Church will be directed to suspend indefinitely conducting or facilitating same sex covenant services, on church property or with the assistance of church ministerial leadership.

This statement was approved 90 (for disciplining congregations who facilitate same-sex covenant services) to 35 (against disciplining). A number of those voting against this action were from Wayne County, but it is just as likely that there were residents of Wayne County who voted for this resolution as well.

The ramifications of this action are yet to be felt, in Indiana, or in the wider denomination. Will congregations openly dissent? Will they go around the rules to stay in fellowship but faithful to their sense of calling to support homosexuals in the church? Will they boycott the district? Will other districts follow the example of South/Central Indiana? Will the district be ruled out of order with national church polity? Only time will tell whether wounds will become worse, or if they will begin to heal when progressives and conservatives start to recongize the harm they are doing to each other.