Monday, July 2

Moderator Phill Carlos Archbold guides delegates through business.

WEATHER: Sunny and cooler with highs in the upper 70s.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: Business enters the main part of the agenda with several key items considered by delegates; meal events include the Brethren Press breakfast, Cross-Cultural Ministries Luncheon, Denominational Deacons Luncheon, the "Un-Luncheon," and the Outreach Dinner; Bible studies, insight sessions, and spiritual formation events continue; children visit the National Aquarium and junior highs to the Maryland Science Center, while senior high youth go on service projects and young adults for a tour of Camden Yards ballpark.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "It's a whole lot easier to throw darts than it is to catch them." – Chris Bowman, pastor of the Martinsburg (Pa.) Memorial congregation, expressing hopes for unity in the church during debate on the Annual Conference Review & Evaluation Committee report.

"Anyone willing to serve on a structure committee in the Church of the Brethren should be loved up." – Susan Stern Boyer of the Manchester congregation, North Manchester, Ind., commenting on the hard work of those who served on the Review & Evaluation Committee.

"I don't know if he eats locusts and wild honey. . . but I wouldn't be surprised." — Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF) leader Jim Myer, comparing Annual Conference moderator-elect Paul Grout to a modern-day John the Baptist in the denomination prior to Grout's address to the BRF.

Sermon Text

BUSINESS: Delegates passed the query on ethnic representation in denominational leadership with an amendment for each Annual Conference agency to report the number of people of ethnic minorities called to leadership each year. Also passed were the report of the Annual Conference Review and Evaluation Committee, which includes the formation of a new Annual Conference Council, and a resolution on the Brethren Church, which was accepted as a study paper for 2001 and will return as a business item for the 2002 Conference in Louisville, Ky.

The query concerning evangelism and church planting was also passed, with an amendment that "discussions be undertaken to explore the inclusion of New Life Ministries as an agency reportable to Annual Conference," with Standing Committee to report progress on this in 2002. A 3.6 percent upward revision of the pastoral salary scale, consistent with the Consumer Price Index, was approved for the coming year.

Other highlights included the welcoming of international guests from several countries and a short message from Baltimore Archbishop Cardinal William Keeler.

WORSHIP: The voices of children and ethnic minorities created a charged atmosphere for the evening service, with music from the First Haitian Church of the Brethren choir of Brooklyn, N.Y. and the Youth Praise Team of the Carlisle (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren, a litany performed by children from the Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren, worship leadership by Marilyn Montauban of the Brooklyn Haitian church, "Voices of the Spirit" in several languages, dancers, trumpeters, and a ringing message by Baptist pastor Harold Carter of Baltimore.

A dance troupe adds movement and creativity to the evening service.

The Holy Spirit was emphasized throughout the service, including Carter's message (after he thanked Brethren for introducing him to shoo-fly pies). Speaking with vigor and in lilting tones, Carter proclaimed, "Our God is not dead; He's alive!" He warned against watered-down, "palatable" gospel in the church, and said "Those who know they're on the winning side have every reason to break out."

Eliciting "Amen's" and "Hallelujah's" at various points of his sermon, Carter repeatedly came back to God's ability to revive and energize the church. "Only the word of God can take a no-good sinner and make a Holy Spirit saint out of them," he said, later adding "We've got to have some fires breaking out" in the church rather than settling for the status quo. "Nothing, nothing, nothing is too hard for the Lord. He's got the power!"

NOTES: Total official registration topped 4,700 through Sunday night; senior high youth leaders were excited to have more than 200 youth now registered for activities. More than 5,100 attended the Sunday morning worship service, but registrations were not required of those attending for the morning only. ... Don Parker of West Salem, Ohio was called as chair of the Church of the Brethren General Board for 2001-02 during reorganizational meetings Monday night. Mary Jo Flory-Steury concluded three years as board chair. ... A large basket of flowers on the stage were presented to moderator Phill Carlos Archbold and the Conference by the Atlantic Northeast District office and staff, Archbold's home district.