Wednesday, July 3

Harriet Finney and Chris Bowman are consecrated as moderator and moderator-elect for the coming year.

WEATHER: Sunny and warm, highs around 90.

KEY EVENTS: Final business session, closing worship service, consecration of new moderator Harriet Finney, recognition for outgoing Annual Conference executive director Duane Steiner, post-Conference Ministers' Association meetings.

TODAY'S QUOTES: "The issues are complex, and the answers are not always clear." — Standing Committee member Beth Middleton, introducing the General Board recommendation on India

BUSINESS: The final session proceeded at a frenzied pace as officers and delegates tried to plow through the remaining items in the allotted hour. Annual Conference Program & Arrangements Committee gave its report and announced that the 2007 Conference site will be Cleveland, Ohio, meeting June 30 to July 4 that year.

Standing Committee gave a recap of its meetings this week, and shared an update from the Annual Conference Council that included consideration of a request from New Life Ministries for reportability to Annual Conference. The council "was not of one mind" according to secretary Cathy Huffman, and did not reach any decision. They will discuss the matter again in August.

Delegates then turned to the last remaining item, the General Board recommendation for working with two groups in India -- maintaining its partnership with the Church of North India while also seeking to build relationships with Brethren who have separate from CNI and wish for separate recognition. Long lines again quickly formed at the microphones, but with time running down a delegate rose to a point of privilege and moved to lay the item on the table for further study. The motion received the necessary majority, and the India recommendation was tabled.

The Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren presented quilts to moderator Paul Grout, Huffman, and Annual Conference executive director Duane Steiner, who was also recognized by Grout and all present for his 10 years of service. AACB representative Rachel Brown told Steiner, "For all you've done for us, this one's for you!"

WORSHIP: Moderator Paul Grout and Emily Shonk Edwards led the closing worship, emphasizing a theme of coming home. Grout used several works of art as illustrations and talked about his own childhood and He expressed the pain that some have felt in being excluded and said, "You see, my invitation to this table . . . your invitation to the table is not dependent on the grace of others." He closed by inviting people to the communion table, urging Brethren that "we must come out and invite one another to the table."

"There is a place for everyone at the table, or there is a place for no one," Grout said. He portrayed the table in Heaven as one where all of his friends, as well as all of his enemies, will be present.