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.
Annual Conference
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.
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.