{"id":16588,"date":"2021-04-08T14:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=16588"},"modified":"2021-04-08T19:39:24","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T19:39:24","slug":"first-virtual-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2021\/first-virtual-annual-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"First virtual Annual Conference will feature worship, business, Bible studies, concerts, insight and equipping sessions, networking groups, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The 2021 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren will be held online June 30 to July 4–the first-ever fully online annual meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The theme is \u201cGod\u2019s Adventurous Future.\u201d Moderator Paul Mundey will preside, assisted by moderator-elect David Sollenberger and secretary James Beckwith. Also on the Program and Arrangements Committee are Emily Shonk Edwards, Carol Elmore, Jan King, and Conference director Chris Douglas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration is required for delegates and nondelegates to attend the full Conference. Worship services will be free and open to the public and will not require registration. Business and worship will be live-streamed in both English and Spanish. A number of Conference events will offer continuing education units for ministers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Register and find detailed information at www.brethren.org\/ac2021<\/a>. #cobac21<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The logo for Annual Conference 2021. Art by Timothy Botts<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Worship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Links for the worship services in English and in Spanish, and links for the worship bulletins, will be posted at www.brethren.org\/ac2021<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paul Mundey<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chelsea Goss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Patrick Starkey<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The preachers are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Moderator Paul Mundey<\/strong> on Wednesday, June 30, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on \u201cA Future Grounded in Jesus\u201d (Revelation 1:1-9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Richard Zapata<\/strong> of Anaheim, Calif., a pastor of Santa Ana Principe de Paz Church of the Brethren, on Thursday, July 1, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on \u201cA Future Informed by Scripture\u201d (2 Timothy 3:10-17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Virginia-based siblings Chelsea Goss and Tyler Goss<\/strong> on Friday, July 2, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on \u201cA Future Sharpened through Risk\u201d (Matthew 14:22-33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Beth Sollenberger<\/strong>, executive minister for South Central Indiana District, on Saturday, July 3, at 8 p.m. (Eastern), speaking on \u201cA Future Dependent on Prayer\u201d (Ephesians 3: 14-20)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Patrick Starkey<\/strong> of Cloverdale, Va., chair of the Mission and Ministry Board, on Sunday, July 4, at 10 a.m. (Eastern), speaking on \u201cA Future Filled with Promise\u201d (Revelation 21:1-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offerings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offerings will be received via credit card payments at a link that will appear during the live-stream of worship. Also, checks may be mailed to Annual Conference, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday\u2019s offering will support church rebuilding in Nigeria<\/strong> in collaboration with Ekklesiyar Yan\u2019uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), which continues to suffer violent attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram. At least 1,668 churches or church branches have been burned or abandoned, affecting nearly 70 percent of the EYN properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday\u2019s offering will help pay for the expenses of volunteers who lead and staff the children\u2019s activities<\/strong> at Annual Conference, encouraging more families to bring their children to participate in the annual meeting. Next year, for the first time, through a partnership with Outdoor Ministries Association, camp staff will be assisting with each age level of children\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday\u2019s offering will help pay Conference expenses for translation into Spanish<\/strong> including the documents for business sessions and worship services and the live, simultaneous translation that takes place during worship services and business sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday\u2019s offering will help upgrade the furniture and supplies used for the Conference children\u2019s activities<\/strong>. New children\u2019s tables and chairs, cribs, pack-n-plays, changing tables, and the shipping containers used to carry furniture to each Conference location, have not been purchased for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday\u2019s offering will go to the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Core Ministries Fund<\/strong>, for financial support of core denominational ministries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Richard Zapata<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Tyler Goss<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Beth Sollenberger<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Business sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registered delegates and registered nondelegates will receive a link to log in to the livestreamed business sessions, available in both English and Spanish, using their computers, tablets, or smart phones. Business is scheduled Thursday through Saturday, July 1-3, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 3-5 p.m. (Eastern). Business sessions will be livestreamed from the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The business agenda will focus on the compelling vision being proposed for the Church of the Brethren, along with reports and the ballot (see www.brethren.org\/ac2021\/business\/ballots<\/a>). Business sessions also will include Bible studies and a special plenary session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tod Bolsinger<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The plenary on Friday, July 2, at 10:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. (Eastern), will led by Tod Bolsinger<\/strong>, vice president and chief of leadership formation at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and the author of Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bible studies will be led by Michael Gorman<\/strong>, the Raymond E. Brown Chair in Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary\u2019s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Md., and the author of books on biblical theology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christian recording artist Fernando Ortega<\/strong>, a Dove award winner whose hits include \u201cThis Good Day\u201d and \u201cJesus, King of Angels,\u201d will give a concert on Wednesday, June 30, at 9:15 p.m. (Eastern).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An organ recital will be given by Robin Risser Munde<\/strong>y on Friday, July 2, at 2 p.m. (Eastern).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Michael Gorman<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Workshops and networking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wide variety of insight sessions, equipping sessions, and networking groups are planned Thursday through Saturday, July 1-3, in three time slots: 12:30-1:30 p.m., 5:30-6:30 p.m., and 9:15-10:15 p.m. (Eastern). These will be offered through a Zoom platform allowing a featured speaker to present, followed by a question and answer time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the late afternoon time slot, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Eastern), Q&A sessions will be held by the board chairs and executives of the Mission and Ministry Board, Bethany Theological Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, and On Earth Peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children\u2019s activities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An online \u201cChildren\u2019s Corner\u201d is planned for ages 4-7, but available to all who may enjoy this resource. Children do not need to be registered. The three online sessions will welcome children and help them learn about this year\u2019s theme through songs, stories, and activities. Each session includes three short videos, with a downloadable song lyrics page and downloadable activity pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-Conference events<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Standing Committee<\/strong> of district delegates will meet online Sunday, June 27, through Wednesday, June 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ministers Association<\/strong> continuing education event will be held Tuesday, June 29, from 6-9 p.m., and Wednesday, June 30, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1-4 p.m. (Eastern). Keynote speaker Michael J. Gorman<\/strong> will lead on the theme, \u201cThe Church in 1 Corinthians: Challenges for Today.\u201d Registration is through the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry at www.brethren.org\/ministryoffice<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For registration and detailed information see www.brethren.org\/ac2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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