Photo by Ken Wenger Moderator Belita Mitchell, assisted by moderator-elect Jim Beckwith, led the business sessions.

Photo by Ken Wenger Delegates considered business items with the help of overhead projection screens.

Photo by Ken Wenger Sam Bowman (left) speaks to a business item as Eric Bishop (right) awaits his turn at the mike.

Conference adopts first recommendation of Review and Evaluation report
The Annual Conference today voted by a two-thirds majority to adopt the first recommendation of the report from the Review and Evaluation Study Committee, with one amendment.

The recommendation is for the merger of the General Board and the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) into an entity called “The Church of the Brethren (USA)” with the new board also replacing the roles and functions of the current General Board and the Annual Conference Council, uniting them into a single body. The amendment struck “USA” from the end of the name of the new entity.

The recommendation also encourages On Earth Peace to consider joining. The other two Conference-related agencies, Bethany Theological Seminary and Brethren Benefit Trust, will continue in their present structures.

The executives of ABC and the General Board both expressed support for the recommendation, saying that the two agencies already have been in conversation. “We’re looking forward to a new day, to a day when the ministries of the General Board and ABC work together,” said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board. “I’d like us to look denominationally at what we need...to help churches,” added Kathy Reid, executive director of ABC.

The Conference will name an implementation committee to examine how the merger will be carried out. The implementation committee will include the executives of the General Board, ABC, On Earth Peace, and Annual Conference, and three members elected by the Conference.

A regularly scheduled review of the program work of the denomination is carried out every decade by a Review and Evaluation Committee. This Conference received the report of the committee elected in 2005. In previous decades, the review was limited to the work of the General Board. With reorganization of the board in 1997 and the expansion of agencies reportable to Conference, this year’s review evaluated total denominational organization, structure, and program, including the ABC and On Earth Peace along with the General Board.

The committee was chaired by Paul Hoffman and includes Michaela Camps, Rebecca Baile Crouse, Craig L. Gandy, and James Edward Martinez. Committee members explained to the Conference that their recommendations respond to feedback they received from church members concerned about the layers of bureaucracy in the denominational structure, stewardship of resources, multiplication of funding requests, and duplication of efforts among church agencies.

The report’s other recommendations address issues such as enhancing orientation for and care for church leaders, and promoting the core values and heritage of the Church of the Brethren, among others. The remaining nine recommendations will be addressed when business sessions resume tomorrow, Monday, July 2.

Photo by Ken Wenger A youth participant at Christian Citizenship Seminar spoke about her experience lobbying in Washington, D.C., for national health care.

Photo by Ken Wenger Pam Reist was one of those speaking at the microphones during Sunday business.

Photo by Keith Hollenberg Conferencegoers study the business for the week.

Photo by Regina Roberts The On Earth Peace report featured witty repartee between Esther Frey (left) and James Myer (center), moderated by Annie Clark, On Earth Peace staff (at podium).

Photo by Regina Roberts The moderator greeted members of the Review and Evaluation Committee following their report.

Overview of other business
A statement from moderator Belita Mitchell opened the 2007 business sessions. “The church of the Brethren is still alive, and has tremendous potential,” she told the delegate body as she welcomed them and led them in prayer.

Two new fellowships and one new church were introduced and consecrated: Harvest Fellowship in Wabash, Ind.; Latino Community Brethren Church Fellowship in Fresno, Calif.; and Community of Joy Church of the Brethren in Salisbury, Md.

Pastor Alexandre Goncalves of the Campo Limpo Church of the Brethren in Brazil brought greetings, aided by his translator and Brethren mission worker Katie O’Donnell. Leaders of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) were not able to come to the Conference this year because of difficulties in obtaining visas.

On Earth Peace presented a report highlighting its work in the areas of peacemaking and reconciliation. A dialogue between Brethren Revival Fellowship leader James Myer and Standing Committee member Esther Frey expressed their common commitment to the church despite often being on opposite sides of issues. Their witty repartee was greeted by waves of laughter from the Conference, although Myer and Frey talked about a serious topic: the friendship and respect they have developed. To get along together in the church “we need personal integrity, we need mutual respect, a strong commitment to Christ and the Bible...and a sense of humor helps,” said Frey.

The Conference approved constituency selected nominees to the On Earth Peace board: Doris Abdullah and Don Mitchell.

Living Peace Church reports followed, with a time for open sharing from the microphones on the Conference floor.

Passport to Wellness was introduced, a program for Conferencegoers to engage in activities for fitness and health during the Conference. With sponsorship by the Association of Brethren Caregivers, Brethren Benefit Trust, and the General Board, participants receive “passport” books and collect stamps for the activities. Some Conferencegoers who are staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel even received stamps in their passports for walking down many flights of stairs on their way to worship Sunday morning, when the elevators were shut down during a false fire alarm.

The wellness program also issued a challenge to Brethren to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the church by doing something to improve their wellbeing on 300 days of the next year, before the anniversary Conference to be held in July 2008 in Richmond, Va.

--Business reports are written by Frances Townsend and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

[Highlights | Feature | Photo | Worship]