ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026

The 2026 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference was held June 28-July 2 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the downtown Grand Wayne Convention Center. Moderator Don Fitzkee led the event with the theme “Imagine!” 

The days included worship, business sessions, equipping sessions, meal events, service project opportunities (including a morning of “Sparking, Serving, and Stirring”), age-group activities, exhibits, a peace witness event, and more. A total of 1,675 people attended, either in person or online, a bit more than in recent years due to the central location.

Amy Gall Ritchie of North Manchester, Ind., was called as moderator-elect. Others called to positions included Natasha Beaumont (Lebanon, Pa.), Program & Arrangements Committee; Chad Whitzel (Madison, Wis.), Pastoral Compensation & Benefits Advisory Committee; Terri Welch Luzynski (Dayton, Va.), Mission & Ministry Board Area 3; Gretchen Zience (Seattle), Mission & Ministry Board Area 5; Adelia Lucatorio (Cranberry Township, Pa.), Mission & Ministry Board At-Large; Leslie Bolser (Richmond, Ind.), Drew Hart (Harrisburg, Pa.), Keri Ladouceur (Raleigh, N.C.); Steve Longenecker (Bridgewater, Va.), Dominick Peruso (Huntingdon, Pa.), Jeff Sheridan (Richmond, Va.), and Ben Walters (Cincinnati), Bethany Theological Seminary Board of Trustees; Kevin Boyer (Plymouth, Ind.), Eunice Culp (Goshen, Ind.), and Randy Yoder (Huntingdon, Pa.), Eder Financial board; Susuyu Lassa (Troy, N.Y.), Anesu Makufa (Leeds, U.K.), and Emmett Witkovsky-Eldred (Spruce Creek, Pa.), On Earth Peace board.

Other business included adoption of a resolution on weapon transfers, adoption of the resolution “Walking Together” related to supporting immigrants and refugees, adjustments to ministerial polity for licensed and commissioned ministers, updates from the Review and Evaluation Committee, and conversation about the ongoing Eder Financial-Everence merger, among other reports. Delegates approved a 4.2 percent cost-of-living adjustment to the pastoral salary scale for 2027. Find a full report at https://www.brethren.org/news/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/AC2026-WrapUp.pdf.

District congregations who sent delegates included Canton, Cerro Gordo, Dixon, Freeport, Highland Avenue, Lanark, Mount Morris, Naperville, Neighborhood, Polo, Springfield First, and York Center, plus our Standing Committee delegate, Kevin Kessler.

The 2027 Annual Conference will be held later than usual, July 28-Aug. 1 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Find more details at www.brethren.org/ac.