wfn.org | Newsline: Brethren in the DR celebrate 18th Annual Conference

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

DOMINICAN BRETHREN CELEBRATE 18th ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(March 20, 2009) Elgin, IL -- "Without faith, it is impossible to please Go d!" (Hebrews 11:6). With this challenging theme, moderator José Juan Mé ndez opened and guided the18th Annual Conference of the Church of the Breth ren in the Dominican Republic. The conference was held in Santo Domingo on  Feb. 20-22.

Two new congregations were received into the denomination and prayer was he ld for five new preaching points. The 74 delegates also approved a new cons titution for the church, elected leaders for the national board and other p ositions, approved the 2009 budget, and dealt with some challenging issues  of discipline.

Jay Wittmeyer, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships for the Ch urch of the Brethren in the United States, presented plaques to national le aders recognizing their excellent work during the past year and led the del egates in a closing service of bread and cup communion.

Pastor Jorge Rivera, associate district executive for Puerto Rico, in Atlan tic Southeast District that also encompasses Florida, presented a moving tr ibute following a time of silence in honor of the late Rev. Guillermo Encar nación for his many years of service in the DR, Puerto Rico, Texas, and P ennsylvania.  Also representing the Puerto Rican Brethren was Severo Romero .

The Church of the Brethren in Haiti was represented by pastor Ives Jean and  Altenor Gesusand, a church deacon.

Nancy Heishman, director of the Church of the Brethren's theological educat ion program in the DR, led morning Bible studies on the theme of faith, uti lizing the talent of some of her students as co-teachers.

Irvin Heishman, co-coordinator of the DR mission for the Church of the Bret hren, commented, "It's a joy to see the Dominican church emerging from seve ral difficult years with such vitality and health."

In other news from the Dominican Brethren, the Arroyo Salado Church constru ction project has begun. For over a year, Arroyo Salado Church of the Breth ren has been holding worship services in the open air "ruins" of its old bu ilding. The government condemned and tore down half of the old church build ing to make way for improvements to the highway that runs in front of the b uilding. The remains of the old building formed a rough "band shell" that t he congregation has been using for outdoor worship in good weather.

Pastor Cristian Aquino Encarnacion expressed excitement that the constructi on of the new church and parsonage is now finally underway. The work is sch eduled to be completed within 90 days. The project is being supervised by a  local contractor with the work being carried out by laborers and a number  of volunteers from the church. The construction cost of RD $2,000,000 pesos  (about US $58,000) will be paid in full with funds given by the government  to compensate the national church for the loss of its old building.

The national leadership of the Church of the Brethren in the DR now require s that title for land be obtained before construction is authorized. This e mphasis on getting clear title to the land represents a change in policy fo r the Dominican Brethren. The change in policy by the Dominican church has  been made because the church has run into some difficulties with church bui ldings built on land without title.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing 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 t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000 members across the  United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nig eria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

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>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org