A reflection from Annual Conference moderator Tim Harvey: “During this past year (and especially during the week at Grand Rapids) I’ve learned how deeply you love the church…. I’ve also learned that although we love the church, we have a lot of work to do–more than we expected–to learn what it means to love one another…. I pledge to you that as I travel around the denomination over the coming months, I am willing to have any conversation with any person about any aspect of life and ministry. I will do what is in my power and ability to make those conversations safe. Already, some of you have reached out to me to continue these conversations.”
Tag: Annual Conference
Open Roof Award Is Presented to Oakton Church of the Brethren
Mark 2:3-4 (the story of people breaking through a roof to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus) was the inspiration for the creation of the Open Roof Award in 2004, established to recognize a congregation or district in the Church of the Brethren that has made great strides in its attempt to serve, as well as be served by, people with disabilities.
Annual Conference Attendee Receives Death Threat
A credible death threat was received by an attendee of the 2011 Annual Conference. The recipient of the threat is a gay person, and the threat made reference to the person’s sexuality. A statement about the threat was shared with the Conference at the start of the extra evening business session on July 5, which was made necessary by the length of time taken for Special Response discussions related to human sexuality.
La Conferencia Anual de 2011 ha actuado sobre dos artículos relacionados al tema de la sexualidad
La Conferencia Anual de 2011 ha actuado sobre dos artículos relacionados al tema de la sexualidad: “Una declaración de Confesión y Compromiso” y “Pregunta: Lenguaje sobre relaciones de acuerdo entre individuos del mismo sexo”. Los mismos han sido tema de un proceso de Respuesta Especial durante los últimos dos años en la Iglesia de los Hermanos.
Newsline Overview of the 2011 Annual Conference
The overview of the Conference includes the following stories: Delegates return Special Response business items, reaffirm 1983 paper (including a sharing about a serious situation of threat made during the Conference); Bob Krouse chosen moderator-elect, more election results; Resolution on war in Afghanistan calls for withdrawal of troops; Congregational Life Ministries to facilitate revision of congregational ethics; Conference adopts query on climate change, returns query on decorum; Standing Committee accepts new vision statement; Board adopts Afghanistan resolution, reduces budget parameter for 2012; Ministry of Reconciliation offers post-Conference insight session; Offering the table; Conference by the numbers.
Today at Annual Conference – Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The final “today” page for the 2011 Annual Conference features quotes of the day, photos, an announcement from MoR, and “Conference by the numbers.”
Conference Adopts Query on Climate Change, Returns Query on Proper Decorum
The 2011 Annual Conference acted on two queries brought to the delegate body on Tuesday, July 5. The Conference returned the “Query: Proper Decorum” brought by Mountain Grove Church of the Brethren and Shenandoah District, and adopted the “Query: Guidance for Responding to the Changing of Earth’s Climate” brought by Circle of Peace Church of the Brethren and Pacific Southwest District.
Global Ministries Dinner Hears from Rita Nakashima Brock
“It took Jesus a thousand years to die.” Rita Nakashima Brock, director of Faith Voices for the Common Good, began her presentation with this startling statement. What she meant, she said, is “there is an absence of his image hanging on the cross dead until the year 960.” Brock said that thanks to her study of early Christian art, “We began to see an entirely different message of Christian faith.”
Today at Annual Conference – Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The “today” page for July 5 includes quotes of the day, photos, Conference by the numbers, and a question of the day for six lucky “Brethren on the street.”
In Stitches!
Over 100 nimble hands, equipped with needle and thread, participated in the quilting project of the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren (AACB). The quilting began on Friday, July 1, and continued through the afternoon of July 5, each stitch made to raise money to feed hungry people.