A dozen round tables filled the Ambassador West ballroom at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Mich., on the afternoon of July 4–ready for the first Congregational Life Ministry Fair at Annual Conference. The tables were topped with signs reading “Stewardship,” “Young Adult Ministry,” “Church Planting,” and several other congregational ministry areas.
From Bullets to Bibles: Brethren Ministers and Civil War Veterans
Monday night at the 2011 Annual Conference wasn’t lacking for distractions. But that didn’t prevent more than 200 Brethren from crowding together to hear Jeffrey Bach, director of the Young Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, share a few of the stories that are part of his study of the over 170 soldiers in the Union or Confederate armies during the Civil War who later became Brethren ministers.
Bob Krouse is Chosen as Moderator-Elect, in Election Results
Election results for the 2011 Annual Conference were announced in business today. Elections were held during yesterday’s business sessions. Bob Krouse, who was nominated from the floor, was elected to the position of moderator-elect. He is a resident of Fredericksburg, Pa., and serves as pastor of Little Swatara Church of the Brethren in Atlantic Northeast District
Brethren Press and Messenger Dinner Hears from Pentecostal Peacemaker Paul Alexander
For Paul Alexander, speaker at the Brethren Press and Messenger Dinner on Sunday evening, the opportunity to speak also was an opportunity to say thank you to the Brethren for the lessons that helped draw him away from the atheism he adopted during his college years, and back to a faith in Jesus.
Today at Annual Conference – Monday, July 4, 2011
Today’s page on Annual Conference offers quotes of the day, Brethren on the street responding to a question of the day, Conference by the numbers, and more.
Brethren Journal Association Reports on Strategic Plan for ‘Brethren Life and Thought’
The Brethren Journal Association (BJA) met July 4 for its annual luncheon meeting, with approximately 55 people in attendance. Announced presenter Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm had to cancel due to health concerns. The BJA board chose to use the program time for an expanded report on a strategic plan for the journal.
Conference Approves Report of Congregational Ethics Study Committee
In response to the “Guidelines for Implementation of the Congregational Ethics Paper” query adopted in 2010, a study committee brought recommendations to this year’s Annual Conference. The committee recommended that the 1993 “Ethics in Congregations” paper be reviewed, revised, and updated.
Newsline Special: Standing Committee Report and Recommendation on Special Response
The Annual Conference officers today released the Standing Committee report and recommendation on the two “Special Response” business items related to issues of sexuality–“A Statement of Confession and Commitment” and “Query: Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships.” The Standing Committee of district delegates held its discussions of the two items in closed sessions during prea-Conference meetings.
Today at Annual Conference – Sunday, July 3, 2011
Today at Annual Conference – Sunday, July 3, 2011: quotes of the day, Conference “by the numbers,” an invitation from Brethren Press to contribute to the new Inglenook Cookbook, and the daily “Brethren on the Street” interviews.
Facing the Race at Annual Conference
A light cloud cover and the cool early hour made the morning of July 3 a great time for a walk or run. The Annual 5K Fitness Challenge sponsored by Brethren Benefit Trust took place at Millennium Park, six miles outside of downtown Grand Rapids, at 7 a.m. sharp. As the sleepily–though energetic–crowd of 150 gathered at the starting line.