Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- June 8, 2007 Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN ANNUAL CONFERENCE TO CONVENE IN CLEVELAND
June 8, 2007 (Elgin, Ill.) -- The Church of the Brethren's 221st Annual Conference will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Cleveland Convention Center from June 30-July 4, Saturday evening through Wednesday morning. "Proclaim the Power of God" is the theme.
Some 3,000 people including approximately 800 congregational and district delegates are expected. The conference also includes international and ecumenical visitors. The event, which is held in a different US city each year, is marked by spirited debate and decision-making and includes worship, spiritual growth, church business, and Christian fellowship.
Moderator Belita Mitchell will serve as the first African-American woman to preside over the annual meeting. She is pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa.
Church of the Brethren congregations in the greater Cleveland area include Brook Park Community Church of the Brethren (16845 Holland Rd., Brook Park; 216-433-1515). Other congregations around northern Ohio are mostly clustered in the Akron area and surrounding communities. The church's Northern Ohio District Office is located in Ashland, where John Ballinger serves as executive minister (419-281-3058).
Worship will be the focus of the conference. The public is welcome to attend the daily services in the Public Auditorium of the Convention Center. The opening service on Saturday evening, June 30, beginning at 7:15 p.m. will feature a local choir, the Adult Ensemble Choir of Antioch Baptist Church of Cleveland. Other worship services will follow on Sunday at 10:20 a.m., Monday at 7:20 p.m., Tuesday at 7:10 p.m., and Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.
In business sessions, several hundred delegates from the Church of the Brethren's 1,000-plus congregations across the US and Puerto Rico will gather "to seek the mind of Christ together," said Lerry Fogle, executive director of the conference.
Business highlights include recommendations on how to become a multicultural church, discussion of how a health insurance program for pastors and church leaders can remain financially viable, a query on strengthening child abuse prevention measures in churches, and a recommendation to join the new ecumenical organization Christian Churches Together. Business sessions are in the Public Auditorium on Sunday afternoon and evening, July 1, and continue each morning and afternoon through Wednesday morning, July 4.
A press packet will arrive by mail shortly. More information is available at the Annual Conference website www.brethren.org/ac
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. 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 US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, the DR, Brazil, Haiti, and India.
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CONTACTS:
Lerry Fogle Executive Director Church of the Brethren Annual Conference P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776 800-688-5186 lfogle_ac@brethren.org
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org