The Church of the Brethren, one of the nation's historic peace churches, will seek an amicable way to discuss a divisive issue in American Christianity when it holds its annual conference in Pittsburgh starting Saturday.

It is beginning a two-year discussion over whether to uphold a past statement that same-sex sexual partnerships are unacceptable for Christians. It is also seeking a way for those on opposing sides to model love and reconciliation toward each other.

"We are struggling to find the place of agreement and unity in the midst of a culture and a nation that is really divided. And we are part of that nation and culture," said Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, news director of the 125,000-member denomination.

The annual conference is expected to bring about 3,000 people to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from Saturday through July 7. Fewer than 900 of them will be voting delegates. The denomination's heartland is in Pennsylvania, where the Brethren settled in 1729 to escape persecution in Germany. The church is best known for its pacifism.

The Church of the Brethren is among many Protestant bodies that are divided over how to interpret biblical passages about homosexuality. In 1983, the church adopted a statement that called for "open, forthright conversations with homosexuals," and advocated their equal right to jobs, housing and "legal justice." But it also said that "covenantal relationships" between persons of the same sex were "not acceptable" for Christians.

Last year, two documents on same-sex relationships came before the conference. Instead of responding directly, the conference created a new process for controversial issues. It requires two successive conferences to discuss such issues before action is taken. So while two hearings on same-sex partnerships will be held here, no vote is expected.

One of the proposals, called a "query," asks the conference "to consider whether it is the will of the church that this [1983] language on same-sex covenantal relationships will continue to guide our journey together?" Such open questions are the way that proposals are submitted from congregations to districts and the national conference.

The second is a statement from the conference's Standing Committee, calling for church members to treat each other respectfully when they debate the issue.

"Too often discussions in the life of the body on this issue are marked by disrespect, meanness and anger," the statement said. "Our ability to show respect even in our differences may draw an onlooker to Christ. Our meanness and fighting will certainly never draw anyone to Christ."

The statement reaffirms the 1983 notice, but warns against selectively quoting lines that the speaker agrees with. "It is inappropriate for anyone to quote one of these parts of the paper without also referencing the other," the statement said.

The Church of the Brethren has no creeds. Its theology is governed by the idea that the Old Testament must be interpreted through the lens of the New Testament, particularly the teachings of Jesus.

"When it comes to an issue of sexuality, you find that Jesus didn't say a whole lot about it," Ms. Brumbaugh-Cayford said of the difficulty the church has had in keeping a consensus.

The Rev. Scott Holland, a pastor at the Monroeville Church of the Brethren and professor of theology and culture at the denomination's Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., believes the debate is sometimes influenced by the more popular theology of other churches.

"Some of us feel that if we, as a peace church, can't learn to live together in the midst of some difference and diversity, it raises serious questions about how we can be peacemakers in a broken and violent world," he said.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.