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Date: Sept. 15,  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
Sept. 15, 2005

MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS DISTRICT OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN HOLDS  `HEALTHYâ
AND âTASTYâ CONFERENCE

Sept. 15, 2005 (Elgin, IL) -- The Missouri and Arkansas District of the
Church of the Brethren held a District Conference with an attendance of
107 
despite an average mid-day temperature of 104 degrees at Southwest Baptist
University in Bolivar, Mo., July 22-24.

Saturday evening speaker Kathy Reid, executive director of the Association
of Brethren Caregivers, shared her hopes for a church that gives and receives
care. After delegates recognized the closure and disorganization of Rockingham
 Church of the Brethren in Hardin, Mo., Stephen Reid, academic dean of
Bethany  Theological Seminary, challenged the district to double in size
in five
years in  his Sunday morning sermon. "Since we had closed one church, we must
start two!"  said district minister Sandy Bosserman in her report of the
conference.

A concert by Church of the Brethren musician Joseph Helfrich "gave cause  for
laughter that threw some good Brethren nearly out of their seats," Bosserman
said. "Paired with Annual Conference moderator Ron Beachley's call for
spiritual  fitness through daily reading a chapter of the New Testament
and joining
leadership in fasting on the first day of the month, it made for a healthy
conference."

During the district minister's report, delegates were given a sample of
"Cherry Mash," a rich candy made in St. Joseph, Mo., and served from the
district's booth at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference this summer.  "Add
the exhibits, birthday cake from the Mutual Aid Association, and  refreshments
organized by the Dennisons, and you have a tasty conference 2005!"  Bosserman
added.

Business highlights included the calling of Gabe Garrison as
moderator-elect; Pat Dennison, Sharon Henne, and Irene Miller as lay members of  the District
Board; Thurman Andrews as a clergy member of the District Board;  Barbra
Davis to the Church of the Brethren General Board; Luci Landes to  Standing
Committee; Colleen Estep to Program and Arrangements Committee; and  Opal Andrews to
the Nominating Committee. The conference passed a 2006 budget of  $36,903. A
query to Change Method of Calling District Leadership to Slate failed  by one
vote.

Offerings received $9,124.72 for balancing the district budget in 2006;
$5,948.00 for the India Women's Fellowship Center Mission; and $200 in an  auction
of shoes worn by Don Vermilyea on his Walk Across America, to go to the
Church of the Brethren's Global Food Crisis Fund and Emergency Disaster Fund.
Over 500 baby quilts and blankets were donated for Bethany Hospital, in Chicago,
Ill., and will be delivered by Nathan and Pam Betz.

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.
Newsline  stories may be reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source.
To  receive Newsline by e-mail, write _cobnews@aol.com_
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