Tuesday, July 6, 2004
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The committee on "Congregational Disagreements With Annual Conference Decisions" brought its report Tuesday photo by Regina Bryan

Nancy Swartz of Bridgewater, Va., was one of the tellers busy Tuesday tallying the count for some close votes photo by Regina Bryan

Quote of the Day:

“Your support and encouragement through these years and the years to come is very much appreciated. Indeed, the Church of the Brethren has been with us and supported us with all your mind, heart, and materials. Peace is coming.” – Haruun Ruun, head of the New Sudan Council of Churches and church leader in civil war-torn Sudan, to the delegate body that welcomed him to the Conference with a standing ovation

Business reveals deep divide in delegate body

Extensive discussion and an extremely close vote on a substitute motion revealed a deep division in the delegate body over the report from the committee on “Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference Decisions.” The report gave a suggested process for congregations and districts as well as biblical insights, historical background, an analysis of the present situation that led to the query, and observations of the committee. The delegates voted to adopt the paper with an amendment to delete a suggestion that in extreme cases of disagreement district conferences not seat congregations.

Without discussion, the delegates voted to adopt the report giving functions and qualifications of local church moderators.

The General Board’s resolution on Iraq was adopted with minimal discussion as well. The resolution called on members and congregations to be “a constant witness to Christ as a living peace church of today against all war and the violence of its nature.” The resolution also called on the US administration and Congress to take responsibility for their involvement in the war.

During business sessions Tuesday the delegates also elected two study committees: for “Doing Church Business” Joe Detrick, Matt Guynn, Verdena Lee, Dale Posthumus, and David Shetler; for “Becoming a Multi-Cultural Church” and “The Need for Cross Cultural Ministries” Darla Kay Bowman Deardorff, Nadine L. Monn, Ruben D. DeOleo, Neemita Pandya, Gilbert Romero, and Asha Solanky.

Children sang for the worship photo by Regina Bryan

photo by Regina Bryan

Worship calls Brethren together around the love feast

Worship pulled the Brethren together on Tuesday evening under the theme of loving each other. Tim Button-Harrison, pastor of Ivester Church of the Brethren, Grundy Center, Iowa, used love feast as the unifying symbol of the church.

He posed the question of how Brethren are doing with loving one another beyond the local congregation, symbolized by sharing love feast together. He related stories of love feasts in Northern Plains District that have brought together people from different congregations and various theological stances.

One story was about the district board’s triennial thousand-mile bus trip to visit its Montana and North Dakota churches. Button-Harrison challenged his listeners, saying, “Like never before, today we are called to go extraordinary distances, to overcome great divides, to practice Jesus’ command that we love one another.” Recalling that Annual Meeting once began with celebration of love feast, he asked listeners to imagine doing that now, and invited them to a time of confession and repentance as in preparation for love feast.

Election results

Moderator-elect: Ronald D. Beachley

Annual Conference Council:

* District staff: Joan Lawrence Daggett

Program and Arrangements Committee: Joanna Wave Willoughby

Committee on Interchurch Relations: James O. Eikenberry

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Herman Kauffman

Association of Brethren Caregivers board: Diane Harden (delegates also affirmed appointed members Eddie H. Edmonds, John Katonah, and John Wenger)

Bethany Theological Seminary board: David B. Eller (delegates also affirmed appointed members Jerry A. Davis and John D. Miller Jr., and Charles Boyer, elected by the alumni)

Brethren Benefit Trust board: John A. Braun

General Board, At-Large: Michael Benner (delegates also affirmed district appointees Ken Wenger, Mid-Atlantic District; Dale Minnich, Western Plains District; and Susan Kinsel Fitze, Southern Ohio District). The General Board selected Donna Shumate as chair, Glenn Mitchell as vice chair, and David Sollenberger, Doug Price, J.D. Glick, and Jeff Neuman-Lee to serve on the executive committee.

On Earth Peace board: Robbie Miller (delegates also affirmed appointed members David Jehnsen and Bev Weaver)

Tidbits

Tuesday's Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren quilt auction raised $20,400 from the auction of three quilts and three wall hangings.... Through Tuesday, registration stood at 4,038.... Monday's worship was attended by 2,788 people; the offering was $8,474.25.... This year's Ecumenical Citation from the Committee on Interchurch Relations went to Kira Marriner of the Live Oak (Calif.) Church of the Brethren.... Other appointments and election results: The Minister’s Association elected Christy Dowdy as chair, Ron Faus as vice chair, Tim Sollenberger Morphew as treasurer, and Lisa Hazen as secretary; Standing Committee elected its Nominating Committee for 2005–Tim Button-Harrison, Lee-Lani Wright, Nathan Polzin, and Karen Walter–and for 2006–Bruce Hostetler, Kathryn Ludwick, Ron McAdams, and Sue Ellen Wheatley; Standing Committee elected its Appeals Committee of Richard Kyerematen, Donna Ritchey-Martin, David Rittenhouse, and alternates Frances Beam and Mary Ann Sedlacek.

Members of the 2004 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Regina Bryan and Jesse Reid, photographers; Kathleen Campanella, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, and Sarah Leatherman Young, writers; Amy Heckert, technical support; Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, editor.