Church of the Brethren Newsline
May 25, 2018
by Terry White
Registrations are now being received for the Sixth Brethren World Assembly, to be held Aug. 9-12 in Winona Lake, Ind. This gathering happens every five years for Brethren groups descended from Alexander Mack in 1708 and it is sponsored by the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.
“Brethren Intersections: History, Identity, Crosscurrents” is the working theme for the four-day assembly, which will be hosted by the Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church. The event is open to all, and will feature some 20 speakers giving lectures, panel discussions, historical tours, worship services, and much more.
The first day of the assembly will be Thursday, Aug. 9, with several plenary sessions focusing on historical and religious intersections for the Brethren, and it will conclude with a worship service and ice cream social. The second day, Friday, Aug. 10, will include sessions that focus on the Brethren-evangelical relationship in the eras of Charles G. Finney, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham. Afternoon panels and sessions will include a bus tour of sites in and around historic Winona Lake, once home of the world’s largest Bible conference, and a central conference point for Brethren groups since the 1880s.
The third day, Saturday, Aug. 11, will focus on themes of social justice, relationship with the military, gender questions, and will include a bus tour of historic Brethren sites at Arnold’s Grove in Milford, Ind., and Camp Alexander Mack on Lake Waubee. On Sunday attendees are encouraged to worship with local Brethren congregations not of their own groups.
A modest registration fee will include seven meals, admittance to all sessions, ice cream socials, a follow-up book containing all proceedings, and more. Attendees will be responsible for finding their own lodging in the Warsaw/Winona Lake area.
Brethren Encyclopedia publishes encyclopedias and monographs of Brethren interest. The group comprises representatives of the seven groups descended from Alexander Mack, which include Church of the Brethren, Brethren Church, Dunkard Brethren Church, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches (Charis Fellowship), Conservative Grace Brethren Churches International, and two groups from the Old Order German Baptist Brethren heritage.
To access a downloadable program schedule and online registration form, log onto www.brethrenencyclopedia.org or call 574-527-9573 for more information.
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