wfn.org | Newsline for July 4, 1998

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Newsline
July 4, 1998

Orlando—

1) The final tally for registered Conferencegoers in Orlando tops 3,500.
2) Delegates vote on a few remaining business items, hear a series of reports
and 
   finish business early.
3) New leaders are called to serve on three study committees as a result of 
    Conference business this week.
4) Conferencegoers celebrate 75 years of Church of the Brethren presence and 
   partnership in Nigeria.
5) Moderator Elaine Sollenberger is recognized by the Association for the Arts
in 
   the Church of the Brethren.
6) AACB’s silent auction and quilt auction together raise more than $11,000
for 
   projects in Nicaragua, North Korea and Washington, D.C.
7) Throughout the week, Brethren Conferencegoers helped repair area homes 
   damaged by storms and raised nearly $13,000 to support efforts of the
American 
   Red Cross assisting victims of wildfires that continue to blaze throughout
East-
   Central Florida.
8) Godspell brings dramatic closure to the final full day of Annual Conference
in 
   Orlando.
9) The 212th Church of the Brethren Annual Conference concludes tomorrow in
the 
   same way it convened — by gathering for worship.

1) As of noon today, the final tally of registered Conferencegoers reached
3,509, including 893 delegates.

2) Among the final business Conference delegates approved this week was
Standing Committee’s recommendation to accept the intent of the paper “Annual
Conference Process Regarding Unfunded Annual Conference Mandates.” The paper
was referred to Standing Committee for revision in line with current
organizational life and structure. The recommendation was made in light of
other Conference business that would potentially — and did — increase the
number of agencies reportable and accountable to Annual Conference. Standing
Committee will report back to the 1999 Annual Conference.

Delegates also accepted the report of the Polity for Free Ministry task force
and voted to adopt its statement on Plural Non-Salaried Ministry. The
statement seeks to clarify the authority and status of set-apart free
ministers and speaks to raising awareness of the possiblities for expanded use
of the free ministry model. Several delegates affirmed the statement and
expressed hope that it would not get lost in the minutes but would be referred
to and used by congregations.

In the Ministry Advisory Council report, director of District Ministry Nancy
Knepper highlighted the partnership between CODE, Brethren colleges, Bethany
Seminary and the General Board’s Office of Ministry to call 500 new church
leaders in five years. The council is in the process of rewriting guidelines
for licensed and ordained ministers with the hope of bringing new “Ministerial
Leadership” guidelines to Conference next year. 
The Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee indicated that it
finished 1997 with a $128,500 deficit, due in part to lower-than-expected
attendance in Long Beach and additional facility costs there. The budgeted
deficit is down to $20,500 this year. At present, the committee is not
prepared to announce the site of the 2003 Conference, saying it hasn’t yet
found the cost-effective site it’s looking for. East and West Coast locations
are becoming almost cost-prohibitive, said Annual Conference executive
director Duane Steiner. As a result, the committee is reviewing the current
rotation of Conference sites to see how that might impact Annual Conference
budget.

Richard Speicher, delegate to the National Council of Churches in Christ,
delivered a report for that group, saying that the agreed-upon priorities for
NCCC at this time are racial harmony, ending poverty, religious liberty and
campaign finance reform. He also noted the 50th anniversary of NCCC will be
held November 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Delegates also heard informational reports from Standing Committee and the
Council on Interchurch Relations.

3) As a result of Annual Conference business this week, three new study
committees will form to work on the assignments outlined in those queries.
Today delegates elected leaders to serve on those committees. Serving on the
Congregregational Structure study committee is Wanda Will Button, Sam Detwiler
and Robert Kettering. The Review of Process for Calling Denominational
Leadership study committee is composed of Janine Katonah, Shawn Replogle and
David Shetler. Forrest Collier, Orlando Redekopp and Roberta Rinker make up
the Caring for the Poor study committee. A call for study committee member
suggestions garnered more than 20 names for each committee.

Earlier in the week, Standing Committee added four new members to its
Nominating Committee: Ruth Dilling, Gene Knicely, R. Douglas Jones and J.
Michael Fike. They join Marlene Neher, Pat Royer, Fred Swartz and Sandy
Bosserman, who is the new chair.

4) During this morning’s business session, Conferencegoers celebrated 75 years
of Church of the Brethren presence and partnership in Nigeria. Nigerian church
officials Bitrus Tizhe and Bitrus Bdlia took the stage along with some 80
former Nigerian missionaries, workcamp and study tour participants and others
who have been members of a delegation to Nigeria. Merv Keeney, General Board
director of Global Mission Partnerships, thanked all who were on stage for the
sacrifices they made over the years, including separation from loved ones. An
afternoon reception also marked the anniversary. 

5) At the close of this morning’s business session, Rachel Brown of the
Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren presented moderator
Elaine Sollenberger with a quilted wallhanging in honor of her service on
behalf of the denomination this past year. During Annual Conference last year
in Long Beach, Calif., Sollenberger received a phone call asking if she would
fill the vacancy of then moderator-elect Jimmy Ross, who resigned for health
reasons.

6) In addition to its annual quilt auction, this year the Association for the
Arts in the Church of the Brethren also held a silent auction of some of its
Art for Hunger display selections. The combined total from both auctions was
$11,611. The auction of three quilts and three quilted wallhangings totaled
$10,200, with one quilt selling for $3,300. Silent aution sales combined with
regular art sales for approximately $3,500 in raised funds. All totaled,
nearly $14,000 was raised for the Mulukuku Nutrition Project in Nicaragua, the
North Korean Hunger Project and the Washington, D.C. Soup Kitchen.

7) Throughout this week in Orlando, 38 Brethren Conferencegoers contributed a
combined 57 volunteer days assisting Project LOVE by repairing houses in the
nearby Winter Garden area damaged by storms that swept through Central Florida
in February. Emergency Disaster Response coordinated the volunteer effort.

In a separate response to local disaster, Conferencegoers donated $12,835 to
support efforts of the American Red Cross assisting victims of wildfires that
have blazed throughout East-Central Florida this week. The money will go first
to Emergency Disaster Fund and then to Red Cross.

8) In a dramatic performance tonight for all Conferencegoers,  individuals
from the Bethany community share their musical talents through “Godspell,” a
production based on the Gospel according to Matthew. Participants include
Johnny Barr, Liz Bidgood-Enders, James Bowyer, Brian Flory, Heidi Gardner,
Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, John Harvey, Holly Hathaway, Shawn Kirchner, Christen
Miller-Rieman, Barb Saylor and Shad Scarrette. 

9) After four full days of Conference business discussing issues of
denominational and congregational structure, discerning the role of the New
Testament and world mission philosophy, and raising questions about caring for
the poor and calling denominational leaders, the 212th session of the Church
of the Brethren Annual Conference concludes tomorrow. While some may stay to
vacation and visit in the Orlando area, Conference officially ends with Sunday
morning worship. Robert Alley, pastor of the Bridgewater (Va.) congregation
will deliver the message, “Going with a promise.” National Youth Conference
workers Brian Yoder, Emily Shonk and Joy Struble will lead the closing
worship, which includes a consecration service for the new moderator and
moderator-elect.

Newsline Orlando is produced by the Church of the Brethren General Board’s
Communication Team -- Nevin Dulabaum, Karla Boyers, Kathleen Campanella,
Fletcher Farrar and Walt Wiltcheck. Newsline stories may be reprinted provided
that Newsline is cited as the source and the publication date is included.

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