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The July 15-19, 2000 Annual Conference was held in Bartle Hall of the Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, Missouri. This huge multiple convention center houses six differnet multipurpose facilities which encompasses over eight city blocks and nearly 400,000 square feet of column-free space. Conference goer's adjusted to a new schedule that began with Saturday night worship and continued with business sessions, luncheons, and insight activities commencing on Sunday, and closing ceremonies on Wednesday. Brethren Ministries Live was a first time attempt to incorporate all AC reporting agencies in one live stage production to emphaize the work that has been accomplished over the past year. New business offered several queries. The Virlina District Board asked the delegate body to reaffirm the intent of the 1981 "Diminishing Membership" report which Standing Committee recommended be returned. Delegates affirmed its intent but voted to return it. A query from the Pacific Southwest District Board asking for additional enlightenment on the role between District Executives and the Council of District Executives plus a query on district staff guidelines was also returned. The conference delegates voted to approve: a motion to form a 2008 Anniversary Committee, a request to join the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence, and a query to update the discipleship and reconciliation polity.

Unfinished business included the 1996 query on "Congregational Structure" that was initiated "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". It was approved with provision that congregations may adjust it to fit their own requirements. Caring for the Poor was adopted with a few changes. The Calling Denominational Leadership study committee was extended another year and their current information received as an interim report.

Additional Notes:

• Paul Grout, pastor of Genesis COB in Putney, Vermont, elected as Moderator who will serve as Moderator at Louisville in 2002.
• Association for the Arts Church of the Brethren Quilt Auction raised $11,525 from seven twin-bed size quilts and wall hangings.
• Final registration was 883 delegates and 2,575 non-delegates for a total of 3,458.
• PEORIA, Illinois, announced as venue for the 2005 Annual Conference.

Sermons:

• Saturday Evening, July 15 :
• Emily Mumma, “The Most Excellent Way”, Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
• Sunday Morning, July 16 :
• Joel Nogle, “Brand New Thing, Same Old Me?”, Pastor of Gettysburg COB, Pennsylvania.
• Monday Evening Evening, July 17 :
• “Walk In Love”, Los Angeles, California>
• Tuesday Evening, July 18 :
• Emanuel Cleaver, “Wide Margins of Life”, St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City, MO
• Wednesday Morning, July 19 :
• Thomas Troeger, “Seeded in the Stars”, Professor at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado