wfn.org | Wrap-up of the 213th Annual Conference

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      July 4, 1999
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Wrap-up for the 213th Annual Conference
of the Church of the Brethren
June 29 - July 4, 1999
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

1) Leadership tops AC business

A nine-years-in-the-making polity paper is approved
How to call, train, and equip leaders for the work of the church
was a topic that permeated this year's Conference. The theme
pervaded worship and insight sessions but especially business. 

Drawing from writings and discussion that spanned nearly a decade,
delegates approved a Ministerial Leadership Statement that contains
"polity and procedures for the licensed and ordained ministry,
calling to and advancement within the ministry, and receiving
ordained ministers from other denominations." 

This paper also includes revisions of previous Conference actions.
It is the result of expansive studies and feedback received over
the years and from visits over the past year to all 23 district
ministry commissions by the General Board's Ministry staff, and
from input received from the Ministry office's Web site.

Delegates adopted the statement after approving several clarifying
amendments.

"This statement establishes a far clearer set of guidelines and
moves us toward consistency from district to district," said
moderator Lowell Flory following the vote. He added, "It also
provides clearer statements about what the denomination expects by
way of preparation of the licensed ministry.

2) A clear call for nonviolence

In the wake of the tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton,
Colo., earlier this year, the General Board in its pre-conference
meetings drafted a resolution to submit to the 1999 Annual
Conference body calling congregations and members to recommit to
the denomination's heritage of nonviolence and to teach peace and
pursue it within their congregations and communities.

The delegates added discussion of the resolution to the Conference
agenda, suspending polity that would have postponed it until 2000.
Among those who spoke in favor of the paper were several National
Youth Cabinet members. They and others felt that in addition to
calling young people in the church "to turn away from the culture
of violence in its many manifestations in our society" that adults
were also called to become more involved in the lives of their
children and to teach and model peace.

Others spoke of how gun violence had touched the lives of their own
family, friends, and those in their communities. Gayle Sheller
shared that she had been called as a chaplain to respond to the
1998 school shooting in Springfield, Ore., in which two parents
were killed and 25 children were shot by a boy in the community.

Before delegates accepted the resolution they passed an amendment
that would encourage congregations to actively approach school
boards and other public policy agencies to request development of
curriculum and materials. These resources would teach and promote
conflict resolution, anger control, and tolerance.

3) Totally Milwaukee
* This year's attendance of 3,528 included 868 delegates. Other
recent Conferences:  Orlando '98, 3,509; Long Beach '97, 3,325;
Cincinnati '96, 4,973; and Charlotte '95, 4,603.
     Future Conferences will be in Kansas City, July 15–19, 2000;
Baltimore, June 30–July 4, 2001; Louisville, Ky., June 29–July 3,
2002; Boise, Idaho, July 5–9, 2003; Charleston, W.Va., July 3–7,
2004. 
     
* This year's annual blood drive produced 302 pints for The Blood
Center of Milwaukee.
     
* This year's quilt auction earned $11,925; proceeds will help
combat hunger.
     
* Brethren downed more than 50 gallons of ice cream per night at
the Hyatt. The Hilton served about 80 gallons from Tuesday to
Friday, making 2,500 cones and 1,000 sundaes.

4) More business in Milwaukee - Delegates take action, vote,
     receive myriad reports

In addition to the ministerial leadership paper and children and
violence statement, Conference delegates this week considered other
business items, elected new church representatives, and received
various reports.

New business. 
A query from the Haxtun (Colo.) Church of the Brethren asked the
denomination for "clarification regarding litigation and
appropriate Christian response." After some discussion, the
delegate body accepted Standing Committee's recommendation to elect
a study committee to present a draft position paper to the 2001
Annual Conference that would include guidance for individuals,
congregations, and church agencies. Delegates later elected Jeff
Bach, Janet Mitchell-Dix, and Marty Smeltzer West to this
committee.

Delegates did not accept a Standing Committee recommendation that
would have extended the term of Standing Committee members from
three to five years.

Unfinished business. 
Among unfinished business was a query on congregational structure
that asked Annual Conference "to evaluate and study our current
congregational structures, and propose other congregational
structure options that also maintain the integrity and biblical
precedences of our Brethren heritage." In accepting the report, the
1999 delegate body granted the request of the query's study
committee for another year to complete its assessment.

Delegates also accepted Standing Committee's recommendation to
accept a new process for considering unfunded Annual Conference
mandates that will establish a review committee to determine the
financial impact of all future mandates. 

Another year was granted to the study committee reviewing the
process of calling leaders, including the denomination's methods
for electing and appointing leaders. 

Delegates also granted another year to the Caring for the Poor
study committee to further formulate ministry strategies for
congregations and the denomination. 

Elections. 
In addition to electing a 2001 moderator, delegates also elected
the following representatives --
* Marla Bieber Abe, Annual Conference Program and Arrangements
     Committee.
* Roy Unruh, General Board, at-large.
* Jill Bosler Best, General Board, Northern Indiana.
* Daniel McRoberts, General Board, Michigan.
* Winoma Spurgeon, General Board, West Marva.
* Tom Leard Longenecker, On Earth Peace Assembly. 
* Phil Flory and Heidi Loomis, Association of Brethren Caregivers.
* Raymond Donadio, Jr., Brethren Benefit Trust.
* Gene Fahs, Bethany Theological Seminary (representing the
     colleges).
* Ronald Beachley, Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Committee
     (representing district executives).
* Belita Mitchell, Committee on Interchurch Relations. 

Reorganizations. 
Following the election, two denominational boards reorganized. The
newly organized executive committee of the General Board includes
Mary Jo Flory-Steury, chair; Stafford Frederick, vice-chair; and
Bill Eberly; Christy Waltersdorff; Marty Barlow; and David Miller. 

Brethren Benefit Trust re-elected Ann Quay to a second term as
board chair. Plan members also recently elected Melvin Wampler to
represent Bethany and the Brethren colleges.

Agency reports. 
Among the reports heard and accepted by delegates was the first
presented by Association of Brethren Caregivers since becoming an
official Conference agency. ABC's report outlined its new deacon
resources, a new publication, and a forthcoming intergenerational
work camp. 

Bethany Theological Seminary president Eugene Roop shared with
excitement the launch of Bethany's Institute for Ministry with
Youth and Young Adults, an initiative to help pastors and churches
minister to those groups. 

Brethren Benefit Trust introduced two new services — ClearViewNet,
an Internet access service, and Walden/ BBT, a forthcoming socially
responsible investment option. BBT also reported that its managed
assets have quadrupled during the past 10 years. 

This year's General Board Live Report depicted a youth group using
Brethren Press curriculum that came alive via some unexpected
visitors who helped teach the youth about inviting others to
obedience and how to make choices for peace, service, and
inclusion. 

On Earth Peace Assembly, which turns 25 in October, highlighted the
importance of each individual's call to peacemaking during its
report to the delegate body. Bob Gross, director of OEPA's Ministry
of Reconciliation program, announced MoR's intent to work more
closely with congregations to increase peacemaking and
reconciliation efforts in local communities.

Committee reports. 
Among committee reports presented to delegates, the Pastoral
Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee asked conference
delegates to approve a 2.1 percent cost of living adjustment for
pastors for 2000.

5) Moderator 2001

Phill Carlos Archbold, associate pastor of First Church of the
Brethren, Brooklyn, N.Y., this week was elected to serve as
moderator of the 215th Annual Conference, scheduled for Baltimore
in 2001.

Archbold, 62, has congregational, district, and denominational
experience that includes serving as Atlantic Northeast District
evangelist and as a district representative on Annual Conference
Standing Committee. 

In the mid-1980s, he served as chair of the former Hispanic
Ministries Committee. Archbold has spoken at Annual Conference and
National Youth Conference. 

6) 2000 and Beyond

When Annual Conference 2000 gets under way with its theme of "Love
as I have loved you," Brethren will experience a new format and
focus to the yearly meeting. Conference will be shorter by a day
given the Saturday night to mid-day Wednesday schedule.
   
A stronger focus on worship, fellowship, and celebration of
Brethren ministries will set the stage for denominational
decision-making, as well as increased exposure to ecumenical
leadership. Next year, conferencegoers will hear David Haas,
director of the Emmaus Center for Music, Prayer, and Ministry;
Emanuel Cleaver, pastor of St. James United Methodist Church; and
Tom Troeger, professor at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. 

7) Snapshots

International Brethren recognized at the 1999 Annual Conference
were Daniel Dibal of Nigeria and Luis Ogando of the Dominican
Republic.

Three new Church of the Brethren fellowships were welcomed this
week -- Manos De Cristo Fellowship, South Bend, Ind.; South Creek
Community Church, South Whitley, Ind.; and PleasantDale Church of
the Brethren, Fincastle, Va.

In business conducted in Milwaukee, the General Board appointed
Barbara Cuffie to the Committee on Interchurch Relations. In other
CIR news this week, the committee at its ecumenical luncheon
recognized four agencies begun by Brethren that now are ecumenical
efforts -- Heifer Project International, International Christian
Youth Exchange, New Life Ministries, and SERRV International.

Twenty-eight golfers participated in the 10th annual Brethren
Benefit Trust golf match. First-place honors went to the team of
Tony Schneiders, Patrick Starkey, David Rogers, and Joan Deeter.
Winners of individual categories included Dan Poole, Wil Nolen, and
Doris Coppock for long drive; Don Gordon and Joyce Nolen for
closest to the pin; and Brian Messler and Paul Hersch for putting. 

A new group of ethnic minority members and others involved in
multi-cultural work have formed the Cross Cultures Ministries Team
to lend each other support and work collaboratively on finding ways
to provide training for ethnic leaders and to fund ethnic and urban
ministries.

Wrap-up was produced by the General Board's Brethren Press News
Service team: Nevin Dulabaum, editor; Regina Bryan; Nathan Davis;
Karla Hignite; Kathleen Campanella; and Walt Wiltschek.

Wrap-up is available for purchase from Brethren Press, $12.50 per
50. Call 800 441-3712.

Additional Conference coverage is available at www.brethren.org or
in the August Messenger.