Delegates to the national conference of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches voted unanimously today to become a charter member of the Charis Alliance, the international network of Grace Brethren churches. In addition, they endorsed the Charis Commitment to Common Identity as the identity statement of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and encouraged its use by member congregations, the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers, national and cooperating organizations, and districts to train leaders and to communicate and explain the Grace Brethren movement.
Both motions came at the end of the annual business meeting of the FGBC, which was the final session of Margins|2016, the national conference of the Fellowship, and were recommended to the delegates by the Fellowship Council, the guiding board of the FGBC.
Also in the meeting, five new member churches were added: Sterling Grace Brethren Church, Sterling, Alaska (Roger Holl, pastor); Impact Church, Coatesville, Pa. (Chandal Taylor, pastor); Bow Island Community Bible Church, Bow Island, Alberta (Oliver Edwards, pastor); Grace Ranch of Ashland, Ohio (Nathan Wells, pastor); and St. Antoine Bible Church, Detroit, Mich. (Andy Shank, pastor).
Also today, during the celebration, the conference heard from Nathan Bryant and Dr. Christy Hill. A variety of workshops were also available. The day began with breakfast sponsored by GBCanada, the Canadian church planting organization.