Church of the Brethren Newsline
November 27, 2007
The 300th Anniversary Committee has given updated information about changes in planning for a “service blitz” and an exhibit of historical artifacts at the 2008 Annual Conference, to be held in Richmond, Va., on July 12-16. The Conference will celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement, which began in 1708 in Germany.
A “service blitz” is scheduled for two days of the Conference, both Saturday, July 12, and Monday, July 14. The service projects will take place in Richmond, Va., and will be sponsored by the Church of the Brethren. Members of the Brethren Church who are interested also may participate. The planning committee for the service blitz includes Rhonda Pittman Gingrich of the 300th Anniversary Committee, along with Brethren Disaster Ministries director Roy Winter, outgoing director of the General Board’s Workcamp ministry Steve Van Houten, and Wayne Garst. Participants will be required to register in advance, and there will be a modest registration fee to cover expenses such as materials. More information will be available soon.
The planning for an exhibit of historic Brethren artifacts at the Conference also has changed. The 300th Anniversary Committee approved the change at a meeting last week. Instead of soliciting submissions of artifacts from Brethren individuals, congregations, and districts, the committee has decided to invite each district to bring a display reflecting its history, with a focus on how the history of the district has affected the Church of the Brethren denomination as a whole. In addition, a few select agencies and organizations whose mission is directly related to preserving and sharing Brethren heritage will be invited to bring an exhibit, such as the Brethren Historical Library and Archives and the CrossRoads Valley Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center.
For more information about the Church of the Brethren’s 300th Anniversary celebration, go to http://www.churchofthebrethrenanniversary.org/.
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The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. Rhonda Pittman Gingrich contributed to this report. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. To receive Newsline by e-mail go to http://listserver.emountain.net/mailman/listinfo/newsline. Submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.