221st Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Theme
Proclaim the Power of God
June 30 through July 4, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio
Throughout my years of service to Christ and the Church in our beloved denomination, I have been acutely aware of the tremendous blessing God has poured out upon us. We have been endowed with many spiritual gifts. We have been inspired to ministries that have been embraced by the ecumenical community. With an evangelistic zeal, we have established missions around the world, seeing the fruits of our labor in India, China, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and now Haiti and Brazil. Our newly launched initiative in Sudan is still greater evidence of our desire to follow Christ and comply with the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
In spite of this entire remarkable mission legacy, we see many congregations in our own country that continue to decline in vitality, flounder in vision, and who face difficulty in becoming ethnically and culturally diverse. I have heard the voices of many who are asking the questions, "How do we respond to the stumbling blocks that stunt our spiritual and numerical growth?" "How do we overcome eroding energy and decreasing hope?" "When will we unite with Christ to tear down strongholds and become like the church John saw in Revelation 7:9?"
These questions and others have guided me through the Scriptures and remained a focal part of my meditations on naming a theme for our 221st Annual Conference convening in Cleveland, Ohio, June 30-July 4, 2007. As we continue our Together Conversations on Being the Church, I challenge you to join me as we Proclaim the Power of God (Psalm 68:34-35).
I envision exploring and living out this theme not only by our deeds but also by our words. Let us be bold in our proclamation of God's power that enables us to tear down barriers which separate us and build bridges that connect us in stronger ecumenical partnerships. Proclaim God's power to guide us in effective evangelistic outreach, to equip us for intercultural inclusion, to lead us in developing cross congregational relationships and to instill within us a life of fervent prayer.
I believe now is the time for us to become more ethnically diverse, more spiritually alive and more united to continue the work of Jesus across the United States and around the world. Let us prepare to come together in Cleveland celebrating the Power of God in our midst. Start by praying for a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit to illumine our hearts and minds to the need for changes that will bind us together, strengthen our resolve to work for those changes, and inspire us to be open for God to do a new thing among the Brethren.
Belita D. Mitchell
Moderator, 2007 Annual Conference
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