Sunday, Page 2

A special exhibit highlights Messenger's sesquicentennial.

Events connected with the 150th anniversary celebration of Messenger, the denominational magazine, hit full stride during Annual Conference, highlighted by Sunday evening's dinner with keynote speaker Walter Wink.

Wink, a professor of Biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York, presented attendees with the challenge of "Nonviolence for the Violent."

An author, minister, and internationally known workshop leader, Wink guided dinner attendees through his traditional participative style of Bible study, complete with audience input and laughter-inducing role plays.

Basing his message on the text of Matthew 5:38-41, in which Jesus instructs his followers to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile, Wink led his audience through three situations to demonstrate the need to meet evil creatively and nonviolently.

"Don't become like evil," he explained. "Find a different way to react that puts power on a different footing." There is a third option to fight or flight, Wink suggested, and as one of the historic peace churches, it is the Brethren's position to find that alternative solution to problems and preserve the world.

"Peace churches have a tremendous gift to give to the world," he said in closing. "This is your hour. Can we literally save the world?"

Also at Conference, the publisher, editor, and a special guest will offer their tributes to Messenger during Tuesday morning's session. The presentation will also include a video retrospective.

Banquet keynote speaker Walter Wink enacts a role play with Carrie Weller of Girard, Ill.

The Give a Gift campaign in connection with the sesquicentennial encourages readers, Conferencegoers, and other supporters to offer financial support to help microfilm the Gospel Visitor, an early version of the magazine; to supply a gift subscription; and to invite 5,000 more potential readers to subscribe to the periodical.

The April and May issues of Messenger focused on the history and future of the magazine and the church. Those themes are continued in the special exhibit on the third floor of the Baltimore Convention Center.

The display includes opportunities for children to write their own miniature version of Messenger; quotes, photographs and cover art from the many years of publication; magnets and pins for visitors to take; and a table-size jigsaw puzzle of one of the magazine's covers.

Conference attendees can have their photographs taken behind wooden prop boards dressed in all manner of "vintage" clothing, including everything from plain black and white garb to tie-dyed T-shirts and bell-bottom jeans.

The display also offered visitors the opportunity to weigh in on a question taking shape within the denomination, much the way Messenger allows the dissemination of ideas and opinions among the entire body of churches. Those casting a purple stone feel the church must change its name; those choosing to add to the jar of green stones want the name to remain unchanged. As of Sunday afternoon, the jars appeared to be roughly equal.