wfn.org | Journal

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      July 1, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Journal
The daily information sheet of the 
213th Church of the Brethren Annual Conference
Thursday, July 1, 1999
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
produced by Fred Swartz

1) Speaker Tonight Attests To Bond Of God's People

Tonight's worship service speaker, the Rev. Patrick Mellerson,
pastor of Butler Chapel A.M.E. Church, Orangeburg, S.C., is living
evidence of the bond that Christ prayed might exist among the
people of God who care for one another's needs.  The deep ties of
friendship between the Church of the Brethren and Pastor
Mellerson's church developed after the Brethren Disaster Response
helped rebuild the Butler Church following a fire that was an act
of racial hatred.  The Committee on Interchurch Relations announced
today during the Conference business session that conversations are
taking place this week with representatives of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church to explore "other partnerships in
cross-cultural cooperation..."

2) Hospitality Booth Has Timeline Showing Place Of Church In
History

The host district, Illinois/Wisconsin, invites you to visit their
Hospitality Booth in the exhibit area of the Midwest Express
Center, if you have not already done so.  One of the features is a
timeline depicting the correlation among events in the wider
church, the Church of the Brethren, and the world.  It is a
creation of Dave and Judy McGlothin of Freeport, Ill.  The timeline
will be removed sometime tomorrow, so go by to see it this evening. 
The Hospitality Booth also is a good place to relax, listen to
organ music, read the daily paper, or chat with friends.  Barry and
Arlene Deardorff, members of the Highland Avenue Church of the
Brethren, Elgin, Ill., are the hospitality coordinators.

3) Who Doesn't Like A Balloon?

To celebrate its new logo, the Association of Brethren Caregivers
(ABC) is handing out balloons to "kids of all ages" at the ABC
exhibit in the Midwest Express Center.  You are invited to stop by
and get a balloon "to lift your spirit." While you are there, check
out the many resources for caring ministries ABC now has, including
deacon ministry materials.

4) Conference Music Comes Together With Behind-the Scenes
     Coordinator

One of the oft-forgotten elements of a conference the magnitude of
Annual Conference is the fact that it takes many people behind the
scenes to make it all work.  One of these special people is Gary
Graham, a member of the Onekema, Mich. Church of the Brethren and
a public school music teacher.  This week Gary is coordinating
daily rehearsals with soloists and instrumentalists for the evening
worship services. He also is a trombone player and chorister in his
home community.     

5) Long-Term Volunteer To Speak  At BVS Luncheon Tomorrow

Tom Benevento, who is well-qualified to talk about volunteering,
will be the featured speaker for the Brethren Volunteer Service
(BVS) luncheon tomorrow at the Hyatt Regency, Regency Room C.  Tom
has been a BVSer with Trees for Life since 1991.  Part of his
current BVS assignment is working as Latin America/Caribbean
Specialist under the Global Mission Partnership office of the
General Board.  Also, a collection of his reflections and artwork
from some time he spent in Guatemala is for sale at the Brethren
Press bookstore on the BVS consignment table.

6) Peg Lehman To Sing At AACB Luncheon Tomorrow Noon

Peg Lehman, noted Brethren folk singer and a member of the musical
group, "Kindling," will provide the featured program for the
Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren (AACB)
luncheon tomorrow at noon.  The event will be in the Hyatt Regency,
Regency Rooms C & D.  Peg brings her joy of music and concerns for
life and children to her programs.  The luncheon also provides a
time for AACB friends to enjoy a reunion.

Last night's worship attendance:  2,633
Registered:  3,166, including 860 delegates 

7) Taize Worship Early Tomorrow

The Spiritual Development session at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow will be a
Taize Worship in Room 202 E of the Midwest Express Center. 

8) New Item Of Business Added To Delegates' Agenda

The delegates approved the addition to their business agenda for
this week a General Board resolution entitled,  "Children and
Violence."  The paper was generated at the pre-Conference meetings
of the Board, and it was deemed timely in light of recent incidents
of conflicts involving children and youth in the U.S. and
elsewhere.  The delegates will consider the paper on Saturday
afternoon.

In other action yesterday, the delegate body approved without
dissension a query from the Haxtun Church, Colorado, asking for an
updated study of the Brethren position on litigation.  The Standing
Committee defined a comprehensive scope for a study committee,
including the biblical and historical direction, today's social
context, and how Brethren should respond to the various uses of
litigation.  The committee will have until 2001 to complete its
study.  

A committee established by the 1998 Conference to study
congregational organization was granted another year to complete
its work.  The committee reported that the results of a survey told
them that less than half of Brethren congregations are using the
board/three commissions plan that current denominational polity
suggests.

The Conference approved a 2.1% cost of living increase for pastors
for 2000, based on financial data as late as Monday.  Several
delegates alluded to the problems many congregations are having
providing pastors with adequate compensation.

Bethany Theological Seminary unveiled a new promotional video and
reported that the seminary is on a firmer footing than has been the
case for many years.  The seminary also is launching an "Institute
for Youth and Young Adults," to help pastors and churches with an
effective ministry to those groups.

In its report to the Conference, the Committee on Interchurch
Relations (CIR) presented awards to four ecumenical agencies that
were begun by Brethren: Heifer Project International, International
Christian Youth Exchange, New Life Ministries, and SERRV
International.  Following the CIR report, representatives from the
Nigerian and Dominican Republic Church of the Brethren
organizations were introduced.  

9) PB&J Luncheon Location Changed

The location for the PB&J Luncheon, tomorrow at noon, is changed
from Hyatt Regency to Kilbourn Hall in the Arena/Auditorium
complex.

10) BBT Golf Match Won In Runoff

The tenth annual Brethren Benefit Trust Golf Tournament was held
Monday in Milwaukee, the same place the tournament began in 1990. 
Two teams finished five under par, and by a score card run-off, the
team of Tony Schneiders, Patrick Starkey, David Rogers, and Joan
Deeter were declared first place winners.  The "second place" team
was Jerry Pryde, Earle Fike, Dave Witkovsky, and David Smalley. 
Individual bests included: Long drive - Dan Poole, Wil Nolen, and
Doris Coppock; Closest to the pin - Don Gordon and Joyce Nolen; and
Putting - Brian Messler and Paul Hersch.  Twenty-eight golfers took
part in this year's event.

11) Snyder, Longenecker To Sign Books

Two authors will autograph books tomorrow at the Brethren Press
bookstore, 1:00-2:00 p.m.   Gray-don Snyder will sign copies of
Common Life in the Early Church, a collection of articles written
by students and colleagues to honor Graydon upon his  retirement.

Steve Longenecker, Bridgewater College faculty member, will
autograph The Dilemma of Anabaptist Piety, a collection of essays
which he edited, and his own book, Piety and Tolerance.

11) Status Of Marriage Enrichment Ministry For Denomination
Discussed Tomorrow

Couples who have been involved in marriage enrichment are invited
to discuss activating a marriage enrichment ministry for the
denomination, tomorrow, 1:00 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency, Gilpatrick
B.  The Family Life Ministry of the Association of Brethren
Caregivers will lead the discussion.

12) Spiritual Counselors At Wellness Booth
Several Brethren experts on spiritual direction and spiritual
retreats will take turns during the day  as resource people at the
ABC/BBT Wellness Booth in the Midwest Express Center.  

13) And a BBT announcement:

The four finalists in the ClearViewSearch Mascot Contest will be
revealed during the Brethren Benefit Trust Report to Conference
delegates tomorrow morning, 9:40 a.m.