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Date: Sept. 1, 2005
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL: _CoBNews@AOL.Com_ (mailto:CoBNews@AOL.Com) 
 

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NEWSLINE
September 1, 2005
 
Church of the Brethren Western Plains District re-ignites its witness
 
Sept. 1, 2005 (Elgin, IL) -- The Church of the Brethren Western Plains	
District Conference met Aug. 5-7 at Colorado State University in Pueblo for a
 
weekend of fun, fellowship, business, and inspiration. More than 200 people  
attended from Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska.
 
The theme, "Reigniting Our Witness," grew out of the congregational renewal  
and transformation enterprise being launched at the Oct. 28-30 meeting called
 
The Gathering, that invites congregations into a three-year covenant with the

 district. "Storytelling and faith sharing enhanced the spirit of 
anticipation  and hope that is growing in the district," reported district
co-executive  
minister Elsie Holderread. Sharing the campus facilities with approximately 
100  military returnees from Iraq was an added opportunity for witness.
 
Moderator Parsram Venkatsammy, pastor of Ottawa (Kan.) Community Church of  
the Brethren, inspired the conference in his opening worship service. Jim  
Hardenbrook, past moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, 

picked up on the theme and challenged the conference in his messages in
Saturday  
evening and Sunday morning worship services. Stan Noffsinger, general 
secretary  of the Church of the Brethren General Board, inspired and
encouraged 
attendees  at the minister/spouse dinner.
 
Twenty youth participated in the conference and activities led by Brethren  
Volunteer Service worker Nicole Suiters, as well as doing a service project
at 
a  pregnancy caring center. "The chair of the board for the center was so 
impressed  with their work that she invited them to her house to swim when
their 
work was  completed!" said Holderread.
 
During the light business agenda, a 2006 budget was approved and new  
officers were elected. Two new church planters were recognized for their
work.  
Pastors new to the district were introduced and Milestones in Ministry awards
 were 
given to 15 ordained ministers. Spirited bidding at the Projects Unlimited  
Auction raised $3,500 for mission projects. The pre-conference workshop and  
breakout sessions on vision and mission, vitality in smaller congregations,  
peace, the new Gather 'Round curriculum, and outdoor ministries were well  
attended.
 
Consecration of new officers and leaders followed the closing worship.	LeRoy

Weddle, an ordained minister from McPherson, Kan., will moderate the 2006  
conference in McPherson July 28-30. David Smalley, pastor of Rochester
Community 
 Church of the Brethren in Topeka, Kan., is the moderator-elect.
 
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to  
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith  in 
community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith  
traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its
 300th 
anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United	
States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the  
Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
 
# # #
 
For more information contact:
 
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Director of News Services
Church of the  Brethren General Board
1451 Dundee Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
847-742-5100  ext. 260
_cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org_ 
(mailto:cbrumbaugh-cayford_gb@brethren.org) 
 
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The  Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,

 director of news services for the Church of the Brethren General Board. 
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