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The July 3-7, 2004 Annual Conference was held in the Charleston Civic Center located in downtown Charleston, West Virginia. The CCC is a megaplex of four venues: the Coliseum, the Municipal Auditorium, the Little Theater, and the Convention Center. Additionally, there are numerous conference rooms, parlor rooms, a large Banquet Hall, and a Convention Hall that offers over 50,000 square feet of exhibition space, plus on site paid parking that can accommodate up to 2,000 vehicles with adjacent paid parking for more than 4,000 vehicles within a three-block area. Spacious Hotels with nice Dining Facilities were easily within close walking distance. A huge Shopping Mall enabled Brethren to pickup traveling necessities and souvenirs. The Water Fall became a favorite meeting place. Brethren agencies displayed and interpreted their ministies in the Exhibit Hall. Art enthusiasts had an opportunity to express their ideas for peace through the Living Peace Church Art Project Worshippers had plenty of room for seating in the Coliseum. The uppermost blue section was originally roped off but the volume of attendees forced it to be open throughout the week. Talented Musicians enhanced the spiritual atmosphere of each service. A Brass Ensemble performed for the Saturday evening worship and also in the convention lobby. On Sunday morning, worshippers were blessed to hear the Palmyra Canticle Bell Choir. Tuesday evening worship offered the traditional Children's Choir and this year one song involved Coordinated Movement. Officers: Business convened under the leadership of Moderator Christopher Bowman, Moderator-Elect Jim Hardenbrook, and Conference Secretary Fred Swartz. Innovations: New for this year was a special “fragrance free” section located at the front right to accommodate persons suffering from allergies. Another innovation this year was Live Updating of business on the projection screens, allowing delegates to visualize more clearly how amendments would affect the reading of the original draft. Unfinished Business: Duties and Relationship of Moderators was accepted following minor revisions such as annulling the requirement that Moderators hold no other office in the congregation over which they preside. This would effectively hamstring many western congregations that do not have a neighboring Brethren church for hundreds of miles. Denominational Name study committee related their efforts and methods to hear the membership express their views about the denominational name (Church of the Brethren) and announced that there was overwhelming support for the current name that was established in 1908. The committee recommended that the 1988 “Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues” be updated and used as a future tool to process such controversial issues. Report was accepted though a minority of voices expressed dissatisfaction. Statistical information regarding degree of support was not revealed by the Committee. Our Voting Booth showed 79% of respondents in support of the current name. Congregational Disagreements with Annual Conference received Lengthy Discussion with many voices representing different theological and ideological perspectives vying to produce a final draft that would be more favorable to their causes. Paper was finally adopted following an amendment removing a stipulation that district conferences not seat delegates from such congregations. New Business: Standing Committees recommendation on Doing Church Business was accepted that formed a study committee to investigate alternative methods of processing denominational business while enhancing the spiritual side of things which desires to seek the Mind of Christ in ecclesiastical matters. Becoming a Multi Ethnic Church and Need for Cross-Cultural Ministries were recommended by Standing Committee to be grouped as one item of business. Several voices, including the existing Cross Cultural Ministry team, asked that each one be dealt with separately, claiming that the original intent of either query was not addressed by the recommendation. In other words, Standing Committee's approach was to deal with the issue through the existing district structure, whereas ethnic voices prefered a study committee that would help identify particular areas for improvement.
A couple of speakers expressed feelings that pockets of racism in the denomination have frustrated past efforts to attain greater ethnic harmony. Delegates finally accepted an amendment that would create a seven member culturally diverse study committee with the stipulation that one be an ex officio member of the American Baptist Church. (This denomination has achieved notable gains in cultural matters). Report of Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee was accepted that recommended a cost of living adjustment of 3% to keep pace with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Additional Notes: 
Sermons:
“They determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them,
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