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.
Tag: Annual Conference
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.
Philip Gulley Speaks for Voices for an Open Spirit (VOS) Dinner
“Justice should not have to wait until some people die. The dogmas of our quiet past are inadequate. It is time to think anew. It is time to act anew, lest God say to us what God said to our ancestors–what took you so long?”
Today at Annual Conference
Saturday, July 2, 2011 — the first day of the 2011 Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. This page features quotes of the day, “Brethren on the Street” interviews on a question of the day, initial registration figures, and more.
Genealogists Hear from Emmert Bittinger, Receive Report on Brethren Digital Archives
The Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists (FOBG) held their Annual Meeting on July 2, 2011. Featured speaker Emmert Bittinger is one of the persons working on studying nearly 300 families of Rockingham County, Va., and their experiences during the Civil War. Their research is being published in a six volume set.
Standing Committee Accepts New Vision Statement, Afghanistan Resolution, Responds to Queries
The Standing Committee of district delegates ended its pre-Annual Conference meetings today. The committee has accepted a vision statement for the Church of the Brethren for the decade, and recommended it to the 2012 Annual Conference for adoption. Standing Committee also recommended a resolution on the war in Afghanistan received from the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board. Recommendations were made on queries on climate change and proper decorum.
Pregunta: Decoro Apropiado (Annual Conference 2011 business item: Query proper decorum)
Pregunta: Decoro Apropiado (Annual Conference 2011 business item: Query proper decorum) Considerando que la Iglesia de los Hermanos tiene una historia y una práctica para buscar la mente de Cristo juntos, y Considerando que la Iglesia de los Hermanos ha comprendido su sentido de comunidad como abarcar la responsabilidad unos a otros como hermanos y hermanas de la fe misma, y ….
Offering the Table
Offering the table. Offerings taken during worship services are often assumed to be only money, but during the July 2 worship service of Annual Conference, attendees offered much more than that.
As a way of tangibly “extending Jesus’ table,” moderator Robert Alley suggested a special opportunity for Brethren to offer gifts other than their dollars to people around the world. So a special offering of comforters and school supply kits was taken during worship, and many people participated.
Conference Business Addresses Issues Related to Sexuality, Church Ethics, Climate Change, Decorum.
The 2011 Annual Conference taking place in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 2-6 will have on its business agenda items related to human sexuality, along with a report from a committee studying the need for new guidelines on congregational ethics, and two new queries on climate change and proper decorum for discussions of church business.