Continuing The Conversation: What Can You Do?

Write
  • Begin email discussions on the COB-L, COB-YYA, and/or VOS listservs.
  • Write articles/opinion pieces for Messenger.
  • Suggest alternative names and send them to Messenger.
  • Encourage members to lead local discussions at churches. Invite congregations or individuals to write their thoughts down and send them to Messenger, Femailings, or other publications that are seeking to continue the dialogue.
  • Collect stories about experiences with the current name and send them to us, Messenger, or share them on one of the email discussion lists above.
  • Write to Standing Committee and encourage them to officially study the denominational name.
  • Compile a list of churches/groups that have removed "Church of the Brethren" from their name or now use it as a 'subtitle'. Write to the leaders of these churches/groups and ask them why they no longer use the Brethren name prominently (or at all). Disseminate their responses in a story for Messenger or another publication.

Talk
  • Ask others to share their personal experiences with the current name.
  • Invite people to talk about their own name.
  • Invite people to brainstorm words that are important to them, rather than focusing on a definitive name.
  • Find ways to frame the discussion beyond the debate of "change/no change." Frame discussions around dialoging. Discuss who we are, what we hope to become, and invite people to share their stories.
  • Discuss the denominational name in ways that do not polarize liberals and conservatives.
  • Offer a workshop on the history and future of the Denominational Name at NYC, NOAC, NYAC, etc.
  • Frame discussions as a process -- a process of becoming.
  • Discuss the history of our denomination's many names.

Study With Others
Start the Query Process
  • Begin the query process in your congregation
  • Invite congregations to submit queries to their District Conference.
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