First virtual Annual Conference will feature worship, business, Bible studies, concerts, insight and equipping sessions, networking groups, and more

The 2021 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren will be held online June 30 to July 4–the first-ever fully online annual meeting.

The theme is “God’s Adventurous Future.” Moderator Paul Mundey will preside, assisted by moderator-elect David Sollenberger and secretary James Beckwith. Also on the Program and Arrangements Committee are Emily Shonk Edwards, Carol Elmore, Jan King, and Conference director Chris Douglas.

Registration is required for delegates and nondelegates to attend the full Conference. Worship services will be free and open to the public and will not require registration. Business and worship will be live-streamed in both English and Spanish. A number of Conference events will offer continuing education units for ministers.

Register and find detailed information at www.brethren.org/ac2021. #cobac21

The preachers are:

— Moderator Paul Mundey on Wednesday, June 30, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on “A Future Grounded in Jesus” (Revelation 1:1-9)

— Richard Zapata of Anaheim, Calif., a pastor of Santa Ana Principe de Paz Church of the Brethren, on Thursday, July 1, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on “A Future Informed by Scripture” (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

— Virginia-based siblings Chelsea Goss and Tyler Goss on Friday, July 2, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on “A Future Sharpened through Risk” (Matthew 14:22-33)

— Beth Sollenberger, executive minister for South Central Indiana District, on Saturday, July 3, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on “A Future Dependent on Prayer” (Ephesians 3: 14-20)

— Patrick Starkey of Cloverdale, Va., chair of the Mission and Ministry Board, on Sunday, July 4, at 10 a.m. (Eastern), speaking on “A Future Filled with Promise” (Revelation 21:1-6).

Offerings

Offerings will be received via credit card payments at a link that will appear during the live-stream of worship. Also, checks may be mailed to Annual Conference, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

Wednesday’s offering will support church rebuilding in Nigeria in collaboration with Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), which continues to suffer violent attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram. At least 1,668 churches or church branches have been burned or abandoned, affecting nearly 70 percent of the EYN properties.

Thursday’s offering will help pay for the expenses of volunteers who lead and staff the children’s activities at Annual Conference, encouraging more families to bring their children to participate in the annual meeting. Next year, for the first time, through a partnership with Outdoor Ministries Association, camp staff will be assisting with each age level of children’s activities.

Friday’s offering will help pay Conference expenses for translation into Spanish including the documents for business sessions and worship services and the live, simultaneous translation that takes place during worship services and business sessions.

Saturday’s offering will help upgrade the furniture and supplies used for the Conference children’s activities. New children’s tables and chairs, cribs, pack-n-plays, changing tables, and the shipping containers used to carry furniture to each Conference location, have not been purchased for more than 30 years.

Sunday’s offering will go to the Church of the Brethren’s Core Ministries Fund, for financial support of core denominational ministries.

The plenary on Friday, July 2, at 10:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. (Eastern), will led by Tod Bolsinger, vice president and chief of leadership formation at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and the author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.

Bible studies will be led by Michael Gorman, the Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md., and the author of books on biblical theology.

Concerts

Christian recording artist Fernando Ortega, a Dove award winner whose hits include “This Good Day” and “Jesus, King of Angels,” will give a concert on Wednesday, June 30, at 9:15 p.m. (Eastern).

An organ recital will be given by Robin Risser Mundey on Friday, July 2, at 2 p.m. (Eastern).