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Annual Conference 2023 July 2-4

The logo for the 2023 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren

Reporting so far from 2023 Annual Conference

Follow news as it is posted and see the latest photos on the Annual Conference 2023 news coverage page.

Mission and Ministry Board adopts 2024 budget parameter and much more

Standing Committee makes recommendations

Context and language for the short time of confession and repentance

EYN visitors meet with the Annual Conference moderator and moderator-elect

Hotel issues unpacked

People seated at tables with two screens in front. Sheila Wise Rowe speaks from a lectern.
2023 Ministers’ Association pre-conference event with guest presenter Sheila Wise Rowe. Photo by Jan Fischer Bachman.

Picture this

Find photo albums from Cincinnati at www.brethren.org/photos/annual-conference-2023. New albums will be added throughout Conference at this link.

Opening worship

Auditorium full of people. The screen shows the Annual Conference logo.
Opening worship July 4, 2023. Photo by Glenn Riegel.

Quotes from Annual Conference moderator Tim McElwee, preacher

“…the focus of this first letter of John is on remembering and following Jesus’ words and life.”

“We (Brethren) have emphasized a balance between local autonomy and denominational authority.”

“It is time to stop trying to resolve differences on matters of homosexuality through Annual Conference Statements.”

See photos from the opening worship service

Annual Conference by the numbers

In-person attendance as of 10 p.m. on July 4 included:

Delegates – 440
Non-delegates – 917
Total – 1,357

Virtual attendance at worship on July 4 numbered the following:

  • 214 peak live viewers for English worship stream
  • 18 live on YouTube
  • 37 live on Facebook
  • 10 live on the Spanish worship stream

Total – 279 live logins, likely 350 people live.
Total views, however, were already up to nearly 500 by 9 p.m.

Tuesday in-person offering for Annual Conference translation expenses – $5,872.22

Online offering for translation expenses – $185

Online offering for webcasting expenses – $175

July 4 there was an ice cream social after worship, sponsored by Eder Financial. Photo by Donna Parcell. Enjoy more ice cream social photos.


The Annual Conference press team includes photographers Glenn Riegel, Donna Parcell, Keith Hollenberg, and Laura Sellers; writers Frances Townsend, Frank Ramirez, and Karen Garrett; website staff Jan Fischer Bachman and Russ Otto. Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren, was not able to attend conference because of illness. Newsline is the email news service of the Church of the Brethren. Inclusion in Newsline does not necessarily convey endorsement by the Church of the Brethren. All submissions are subject to editing. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Please send news tips and submissions to cobnews@brethren.org . Find the Newsline archive at www.brethren.org/news . Sign up for Newsline and other Church of the Brethren email newsletters and make subscription changes at www.brethren.org/intouch . Unsubscribe by using the link at the top of any Newsline email.

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