TUESDAY, JULY 18

Weather: Partly sunny with a passing thunderstorm and hot, with highs in the 90s.

Key events: Continuing business, with discussion of several major papers; an "un-luncehon" in which participants gave up lunch and contributed that amount of money to Global Food Crisis Fund; Association for the Arts quilt auction, which netted more than $11,000; Ecumenical Luncheon with NCC general secretary Bob Edgar and many other lunch events; a pre-worship concert by Conference children; worship; and the ongoing Bible study, spiritual development, insight session, and age-group activities.

Conferencegoers gather for the
Association for the Arts annual quilt
auction at which $11,525 was raised.

Quotes of the day: "We extend a special welcome to the Church of the Brethren, which is holding its Annual Conference at the convention center this week." -- Missouri gubernatorial candidate Bob Holden, as he took the podium to introduce Vice President Al Gore at an early-evening rally across the street from the convention center.

"In one word, 'busy!' " -- Bruce Wolfe Sr. of Moorefield, W.Va., on the schedule of delegate at Conference.

Business: Delegates approved giving another year for the committee working on "Process for Calling Denominational Leadership" to work; approved formation of an Annual Conference Anniversary Committee made up of six members; returned a query on guidelines for district employees; heard several reports, including a skit by the Ministry Advisory Committee; and continued using "Worshipful-Work" elements.

Rosa Maria Martinez Lindo prepares to give out angels, made by the Honduran women's group Circle of Friends, specifically for the Un-luncheon.

Worship: Speaker, Emanuel Cleaver, pictured above; worship leader, Alice Martin-Adkins.

Cleaver, former mayor of Kansas City and now a Methodist pastor, brought the Brethren to their feet during Tuesday's evening worship service. After reminding the assembled Brethren that Kansas City is indeed in Missouri, he delivered a message focusing on the importance of Christians moving outside of the margins and within God's law. He said that when we live outside of the margins we forget about racial divisions we want to get to know everyone and worship with them.

Comparing Abraham and Methuselah, he said, "Abraham looked outwardly, Methuselah looked inwardly. The question to the 214th Annual Conference is: how do you look?"

Cleaver later returned with another challenge, saying "Obedience to God doesn't lead us backward, but onward and upward." In closing, he pointed out that the Christian movement has yet to come to what Jesus wants it to be because we are afraid to move. If we moved outside of the margins, we could change the world.

Worship opened with a solo dramatic dance. During the offering, a slide show portrayed Brethren around the world serving and worshipping God in settings around the world.

Patrick Bugu, Bethany student from
Nigeria, visits with Wendell and Joan Bohrer
at the hospitality booth.

Other news & notes:

• Many Brethren found their way across Central Avenue to hear Vice President Al Gore as he came for a rally in the city. Cleaver drew cheers from the crowd, then introduced Holden, who then introduced Gore. Cleaver quickly found his way over to the convention center to speak at the evening service.
• More than 100 Conference participants signed a petition calling for the lifting of economic sanctions against Iraq. The Washington Office plans to take the petition to President Bill Clinton on Aug. 6, which marks the 10th anniversary of the sanctions.
• A Conference Journal piece Tuesday evening highlighted the work of this year's music leaders. Music coordinator/songleader Leslie Lake is co-pastor and minister of youth and music at East Chippewa Church of the Brethren, Orrville, Ohio; organist Barry Deardorff taught high school English for 32 years following graduation from Bethany Theological Seminary and has been organist at Highland Avenue church in Elgin, Ill., for 10 years; pianist Denise Butler Hall plays and teaches saxophone as well and graduated from McPherson (Kan.) College; choir leader Rosalea Cox is choir director for the Big Creek church, Cushing, Okla., ad has directed church choirs for 25 years.