NEWSLINE - July 3, 1997 Special Annual Conference Report NEWSLINE is the weekly online newsletter of the Church of the Brethren posted each Thursday by the Communications Dept. through cobnews@aol.com. Interested persons can "hear" Newsline by calling 410 635-8738 or receive a "fax" of Newsline by calling 800 323-8039, ext. 257. Newsline by "e-mail" is available by sending an online request to cobnews@aol.com. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% NEWSLINE 07-03-97 1) 3,011 Brethren are registered as Annual Conference participants. 2) No jaywalking allowed! 3) Today at Annual Conference. 4) Lowell Flory of McPherson, Kan., is elected Annual Conference moderator-elect. 5) Delegates consider several business items and reports. 6) Committee on Interchurch Relations presents its Ecumenical Awards. 7) News of the General Board's redesign, as presented to Conference delegates, will be reported in Friday's Newsline. 8) Louisville, Ky., is selected as host city of Annual Conference 2002. 9) A visit to "Dunkerland" is the theme of this year's General Board Live Report. 10) Association of Brethren Caregivers presents its report. 11) Forty-six Brethren wake up early to raise money for charity. 12) The Church of the Brethren/Habitat for Humanity house receives several setbacks. 13) Several unscheduled events are taking place at Conference. 1) 817 delegates and 2,194 non-delegates have registered through Wednesday evening as Annual Conference participants. 2) In several announcements of note, Annual Conference Executive Director Duane Steiner admonished Conference attendees to cross city streets at intersections and in crosswalks, not at midpoints without the appropriate markings. Long Beach Police Department made a personal phone call Wednesday night to Steiner in his hotel room, stating that it will start ticketing and/or arresting jaywalkers beginning today. In an unrelated matter, Steiner said that as many as 2,300 Brethen are expected to gather outside the convention center tomorrow night to join in the Brethren Family Barbecue Picnic, which will be followed by evening worship and then fireworks-viewing from the center's lawn. 3) "Count Well the Cost of Simplicity" continues the Annual Conference theme in tonight's sermon, "The simple life," delivered by Dawn Wilhelm, pastor of Stone Church of the Brethren, Huntingdon, Pa. Worship leaders are Janet and Skip Ober-Miller, pastors of South Bay Community Church of the Brethren, Redondo Beach, Calif. Other Annual Conference activities taking place today include: *Bible study electives -- "The conflict in peacemaking," "Giving up the security and the frenzy of the world; gaining peace of mind and discipleship," "Sipping from the springs," "El costo de ser un lider," and "Peace (discernment and grace)." *Children -- day trip to Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium. *Junior high -- day trip to Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park. *Senior high -- beach time and volleyball. *Young adult -- day trip to Catalina Island. *Luncheons -- CODE/District Board Chairpersons', Christian Educators, Church and Persons with Disabilities, Brethren Volunteer Service Reunion, and Youth Training Team. *Brethren Press book signing by Ken Morse, author of "Preaching in a Tavern." *The Andrew Center book signings by Steve Clapp, author of "Reaching the Forgotten"; Kristen Leverton, author of "50 Ways to Outreach to Teenagers"; and Paul Mundey, author of "Unlocking the Church Doors." *Dialog room -- "Speaking the truth in love," learning how to speak and listen as brothers and sisters in Christ. *Insight sessions -- "Partners in Nigeria," "Brethren colleges," "Following Jesus in the 21st century," "Nurturing positive pastor/deacon relationships," "Listening to the voices of isolation," "Celebrating our hymns," "Nonviolence and active peacemaking," "Second annual conversation with District Ministry Commissions," "A tale of two children," "Unlocking church doors: 10 keys to positive change," "International education at the Brethren colleges," "What the Ministry of Reconciliation can offer your congregation" and "National Youth Conference." *Dinners -- Brethren Benefit Trust Board Reorganization, Hispanic Ministries, Messenger, and Past Moderators. *Early evening concert -- Steve Engle, a ventriloquist and composer from Stone Church of the Brethren, Huntingdon, Pa. *Teen/parent dialog in a "Hollywood talk show" format discussing curfews, friends, chores, church, school, allowance, TV, music and how better to communicate. 4) Lowell Flory, McPherson, Kan., was elected today to serve as 1998 moderator-elect by Conference delegates. Flory is a professor and chairman for business and economics at McPherson College. He also manages a private law practice. Flory is a member of McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren. He will serve as moderator at Annual Conference in Milwaukee in 1999. Cathy Simmons Huffman, Rocky Mount, Va., was elected Annual Conference secretary and will serve in the position for five years. Several new General Board members were elected to five-year terms. Donald Parker, West Salem, Ohio, and Christy Waltersdorff, Lombard, Ill., were elected to at-large positions. Edward Kerschensteiner, Boise, Idaho, was elected to represent Idaho District. Martha Stover Barlow, Dayton, Va., was chosen to represent Shenandoah District. Donald Booz, McPherson, Kan., was elected to represent Western Plains District. Becky Rhodes Oliver, Roanoke, Va., was elected to a three-year term on Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee. Three people were elected to serve on the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee for five-year terms. Scott Duffey, Westminster, Md., will represent the ministry on the committee. Ron Beachley, Davidsville, Pa., will represent district executives. Laird Bowman, Boones Mill, Va., will represent the laity. Ken Kline Smeltzer, Modesto, Calif., was elected to a three-year term on the Committee on Interchurch Relations. Gregory Geisert, Harrisonburg, Va., was elected to the Brethren Benefit Trust's board for a four-year term. Two people were elected as Bethany Theological Seminary electors for five-year terms. Carl Bowman, Verona, Va., was elected to represent the colleges. Guy Wampler, Jr., Lancaster, Pa., was elected to represent the ministry. 5) The Review and Evaluation Committee presented its final report to Annual Conference delegates, who in turn accepted the report. The committee was elected at the 1995 Annual Conference to study the General Board's work over the past decade. The committee -- composed of Curtis Dubble, chairman; Joan Daggett; Andy Murray; LaVon Rupel; and Steve Reid, secretary -- concluded its report by recommending that the General Board assist the Church of the Brethren to be in mission; assist congregations in self-examination; encourage cooperative ministries and a united witness; encourage Bible study; encourage personal commitment and nurture of the Christian life; extend ministries of Christian love, service and justice; study, speak and act on issues that violate Christian principles of justice; help people discover and experience their true worth as people of God; help interpret relevance of the identity, heritage and unity of the Brethren; and continue to foster ecumenical partnerships, cooperative ministries and a united witness with other Christian groups. While the committee and the people it interviewed affirmed the work of the General Board (which has fulfilled all referrals and directives handed down through Annual Conference), the committee reported that Brethren do not always realize that certain ministries are General Board-related. The initial draft of the statement that addresses the "New Testament as Our Rule of Faith and Practice" was presented to Standing Committee during its pre-Conference meetings. Copies of the draft will be available to Conferencegoers during this week, and the unfinished business item will return for approval at next year's Conference. A progress report from the committee called to reformulate the "World Mission Philosophy and Global Church Mission Structure" statement was presented to Annual Conference delegates. The statement addresses structural problems faced by congregations that oversee new congregations outside the United States. The committee is composed of Charles Beiber, chairman; Berwyn Oltman; David Radcliff; David Shumate; and Bonnie Kline Smeltzer. The statement will return to the 1998 Annual Conference for approval. Annual Conference Delegates accepted a report from the Committee on Interchurch Relations (CIR). In presenting their report, members of the committee urged churches and individuals to continue to cultivate relationships and involvement with other faith bodies and to work at further understanding the many ways in which people relate to God. One committee member cited 1 Peter 3:15-16: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander" (NIV). 6) In a related matter, CIR presented its Ecumenical Award to Fairview Church of the Brethren, Williamsburg, Pa., and La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren in recognition of their witness in working in partnership with other church groups and agencies. CIR also announced seven ecumenical guests in attendance at the 1997 Annual Conference: *Scott Anderson, executive director of the California Council of Churches. *Albert Cohen, executive director of the Southern California Ecumenical Council. *Paul Eppinger, executive director of the Arizona Ecumenical Council. *Joyce Ewen, executive director of the Pamona/Inland Valley Council of Churches. *Ginny Wagener, executive director of the South Coast Ecumenical Council. *Sara Osgood, observer to the General Board from American Baptist Churches USA. *Donald Shoemaker, observer to Annual Conference from the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. 7) Actions on the General Board's audit report and the redesign business item was not completed by Newsline's deadline. A full report from the report and business item will be reported in Friday's edition. 8) Louisville, Ky., will be the site Annual Conference in 2002, Duane Steiner, Annual Conference executive director, has announced. Program and Arrangements Committee's report to delegates also included the introduction of Bentley Peters, a consultant to the Annual Conference officers who helps "maintain continuity during these difficult years," Steiner said. Future Conferences are: Orlando, Fla., June 30-July 5, 1998; and Milwaukee, June 29-July 4, 1999. Beginning with Annual Conference in the year 2000, Conference week will move from a Tuesday - Sunday format to one that will begin on Saturday and conclude on Wednesday. Future Conferences planned using this new format include Kansas City, July 15-19, 2000; Baltimore, June 30-July 4, 2001; and Louisville, Ky., June 29-July 3, 2002. 9) This year's General Board Live Report, held Thursday morning, revolved around a family spending a day at the Dunkerland themepark -- a less than thinly veiled takeoff on nearby Disneyland. Leads Delbert Blickenstaff, Jessica Flory Steury, Joe Helfrich and Tara Hornbacker guided the audience to various "rides" that gave glimpses into various General Board ministries. Along the way they also met historic Dunker figures, including the "Little Man," I.N.H. Beahm, who was too short for a theme-park ride until he donned the hat of "The Tall Man," John Naas; and Faith the Cow, who now enjoys a second career in ice cream sales. As in recent years the multimedia report combined live and recorded music, drama, video and appearances by Brethren engaged in mission around the world. Musical highlights included soloist Peg Lehman singing "The Touch of the Master's Hand," a song based on the well-known poem by Brethren poet Myra Brooks Welch, whose story is told in a recently released Brethren Press book; and a moving a cappella duet of "Amazing Grace" by Gerry Pence and Sanya Wiggs. "Amazing Grace" capped a segment on the story of the rebuilding of the Butler Chapel AME church building, in Orangeburg, S.C. A victim of arson in a wave of church burnings in the south, Butler Chapel is being rebuilt with the assistance of Brethren Disaster Response. Patrick Mellerson, pastor, described how the Brethren have been part of God's work of making triumph out of tragedy, likening God to one who sends a Hallmark card: "He cares to send the very best." Other General Board ministries featured included Lester and Esther Boleyn's work on the Nuer Bible translation project in Sudan, the accompaniment work of Brethren volunteer Lisa Jantzen in Guatemala, and Milciades Mendez' training of pastors in the Dominican Republic. A fast-paced video segment on the "Carousel of Caring" ride profiled 10 congregations, which in various ways are seeking to continue the work of Jesus. Among those featured were: *the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Lebanon, Pa., whose members give away free items in "random acts of kindness" to communicate that God's love is free. *the Antelope Valley congregation, Billings, Okla., which takes its worship services on the road to busy grain harvesters traveling through the area. *First Church, Springfield, Ill., whose adults and children regularly provide meals at a local shelter. *and the Open Circle congregation in Minneapolis, Minn., which uses mass mailings to invite newcomers to contemporary worship services. A slide show and video clip, set to the Brethren classic, "Move in our Midst," commemorated the 50th anniversary of the General Board. 10) The Association of Brethren Caregivers presented its report to Annual Conference in a litany-style reading, highlighting each of its programs and inviting responses of affirmation and support from conference attenders. Video clips from the most recent National Older Adult Conference were then shown. Before delegates adopted ABC's report, one conference attender asked how ABC will relate to the denomination now that ABC will become independent from the board at the end of this year. The response from ABC was that it, too, has concerns about the undefined reporting structure between the Board and ABC -- including its financial accountability with designated denominational funding -- but that ABC is committed to continuing as an agency of the denomination in some form. 11) Outdoor Ministries Association sponsored its 12th Annual Conference Run/Walk bright and early this morning. The 5k race, which led 46 exercise enthusiasts along the Long Beach waterfront, raised more than $600 in contributions that will be shared by OMA and Heifer Project International. First-place runners for men and women were Jerry Crouse, Rocky Mount, Va., and Frances Bourne, Walkersville, Md. Second-place runners were Andy Lahman, Glendale, Ariz., and Alissa Miller, Spring Grove, Pa. Runners receiving third-place honors were Aaron Lahman, Glendale, Ariz., and Marjorie McCarthy, Alexandria, Va. First- through third-place winners in the walker category for men were Dave Fouts, Lutherville, Md.; Art Hunn, Palo, Ill.; and Ruben Montoya, Johnstown, Pa. First- through third-place walkers for women were Jean Hendricks, Eudora, Kan.; Sara Bowman, Dayton, Ohio; and Bev Anspaugh, Arcanum, Ohio. 12) The houses being blitz-built this week by Church of the Brethren and Habitat for Humanity volunteers received a setback this week. Literally. As unknowingly laid out by a local Habitat representative, the house located at the front of the Seventh Street lot crossed into the city's right-of-way by 30 inches, when measured by a city inspector. Thus, the building had to be modified, with 2 1/2 feet cut off from the front of the house. Other setbacks have included delays in pouring the foundations and obtaining materials. The foundations for both houses were poured Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning respectively, and many items, such as plumbing parts, were not on hand as expected with Brethren workers showed up to begin working on the project, according to Jan Thompson, project coordinator. Thus, Thompson says Brethren are now working together with a group of local Habitat volunteers, and hopes to have both houses framed and one installed with electric and plumbing hardware prior to the end of Annual Conference. Other coordinators of the project include Bob Pittman of Blacksburg, Va., construction supervisor; Terry Becker of Mesa, Ariz., electrician; Galen Miller of Wanatchee, Wash., plumber; and crew chiefs Jim Swartz of Glendale, Ariz.; Leroy Lapp of La Verne, Calif.; Virgil Welch of La Verne, Calif., and Bob Dittmer of Fresno, Calif. 13) Several unscheduled events taking place during the 1997 Annual Conference include daily worship held during the lunch break on the convention center lawn sponsored by Womaen's Caucus, Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, Christian Peacemaker Teams and Supportive Congregations Network. The group Kindling, spawned at the 1996 Annual Conference in Cincinnati, will perform an off-site concert Friday night centering on themes of peace, justice and inclusiveness.