Monday, July 1
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For 10 years, the steady hand of Annual Conference executive director Duane Steiner has guided the yearly meeting of the Church of the Brethren through both the storm and the calm. Monday afternoon, old friends and new ones filed through a reception to thank Steiner for his service and wish him well in retirement.

"He was easy to work for, but able to get a lot done," said Jerry Ruff of the Staunton church in Mt. Sidney, Va. Ruff and his wife, Bernice, first met Steiner and his wife, Jeannine, while the four were serving in Puerto Rico through Brethren Volunteer Service in the mid-1960s.

A stream of Brethren line up to express their gratitude to outgoing Conference executive director Duane Steiner.

"He was a real jokester, a lot of fun," said Bernice. "But he could be serious if he had to be."

Phill Carlos Archbold, moderator of the 2001 Annual Conference in Baltimore, admired Steiner's ability to accomplish whatever task he was asked to take on, seemingly without a glitch.

"He had the administrative and organizing skills to get it done," said Archbold. "You could say X-Y-Z to Brother Duane, and he did it.

"He loves the church, he believes in it, and he took his job as administrator as a ministry. He worked behind the scenes for the Lord, and I'm glad he did, and I was blessed to work with him."

Archbold, who did not grow up in the Brethren tradition, appreciated the help of someone "steeped in Brethrenism," at the helm to organize Conference.

General Board members have also had the opportunity to see Steiner in action during the planning stages of Conference.

"I told Duane earlier today I thanked him for 10 years of service," said Warren Eshbach of Thomasville, Pa., who was elected chair of the board Monday night. "He has brought diplomacy, administrative skills, graciousness and congeniality to this position.

"He always spoke with grace and kindness. He was a class act."

Outgoing board member Martha Stover Barlow of Dayton, Va., agreed.

"He's a classy guy," she said. "He's shown so much ability to convey and inspire trust. That's such an important personality trait to have."

Steiner will continue to work through November and will be joined in October by his replacement, Lerry Fogle of Frederick, Md. Fogle assumes the duties of executive director of Annual Conference in December.