The 219th Annual Conference (July 2-6, 2005) of the Church of the Brethren was held in the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Avenue, Peoria, IL 61602. The Center comprises three separate venues under one roof: the Carver Arena with a total seating capacity of 12,145, an Exhibit Hall providing 63,668 square feet of display space, and a Performing Arts Theater, plus additional small Meeting Rooms. Business and worship convened in the large Carver Arena, also home of the Peoria hockey team the Rivermen. Some conference attendees joked about sitting in the penalty box. It is the largest convention facility anywhere in mid-state Illinois. Peoria is the third most populated city in the State, and the largest on the Illinois River. It was named after the Peoria Tribe. Because of references to Peoria in Horatio Alger's novel “Five Hundred Dollars” and perceiving Peoria to be a good representation of an average American city, Vaudeville entertainers would often say that succeeding in Peoria, meant succeeding anywhere. That phrase or question “Will it play in Peoria?” has now become common place in American mainstream conversation. Peoria is also known as the home of Caterpiller, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel engines, and gas turbines.
Leisure activities were plentiful along the riverfront, including a flea market with local Artisans demonstrating their trade, Street Musicians entertaining passersby, and children jumping around in this animal Air House. Especially refreshing to Adventurous Brethren was the afternoon cruise on the resident paddle wheeler The Spirit of Peoria that offered Comfortable Seating, refreshing mist from the Paddle Wheels, calm river breezes, and Friendly Faces, lots of Friendly Faces. Can you see Mother Duck? This female mallard sat quietly and motionless as People Waited to board the Paddle Wheeler. The Convention Center Grounds was more like a city park, with ample room to sit on the warm grass or under an Umbrella Table. Families and Special Groups frequently used the ornate Pedestal Clock as a meeting spot.

SPECIAL NOTES:

Special words of greeting were expressed to the delegate body on Tuesday afternoon from Ken Hunn, Executive Director of The Brethren Church, especially remarking that their past Conference theme centered on Evangelism, and their current theme centers on Evangelism, and that their next theme will center on Evangelism. Also during the Tuesday evening worship the traditional Children's Choir blessed worshippers with several songs. Immediately before each worship service the Christ Candle was lit. A new technological innovation for the deaf and hearing impaired this year was the use of Closed-Circuit Captioning instead of Sign Language. Meals were served at lunch and dinner from a buffet. There was a large area of tables and chairs, where Brethren had no difficulty in Fellowshipping with other Brethren.

REPORTABLE AGENCIES:

Bethany Theological Seminary celebrates their 100th Anniversary with a large exhibit of archived material including former student desks, paraphernalia, and numerous photographs covering their different ministry phases: Hastings Street Mission, Bethany Bible School (1905-1909), Bethany Bible School (1909-1931), and the Bethany Biblical Seminary (1931-1963) on Van Buren Street. Brethren Benefit Trust, the people with the green logo, encouraged us to Think Pink, in an effort to create awareness concerning good health (taken from the common slogan of being “In the Pink”).

OFFICERS:

2005 Conference Officers were Moderator Jim Hardenbrook, Idaho District Executive; Moderator-elect Ronald Beachley, Pennsylvania Western District Executive Minister; and Secretary Fred Swartz.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

• Doing Church Business Study Committee and the Intercultural Study Committee were granted one year extensions for additional time that would enable them to deliver a more complete report.
• Cross Cultural Ministries Team presented a report as requested by AC 2000. The Delegate Body gave the team another year extension in order to complete their work and then present their findings at AC 2006.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Review and Evaluation Committee: New Mandate, created in 1971 to evaluate and report on the work of the General Board, was handed another and much larger responsibility. Delegates expanded their scope to include an examination of the entire denominational structure. This committee (presently) meets every ten years for a two year review process.
• General Board Polity Revisions were numerous changes in wording that would make all documents and subsections conform to current practice. Functions of the General Board were amended to “provide leadership in prophetic social policy development for the denomination.” Annual Conference Polity Revisions included expanding the rotating location of Annual Conference from the current three geographic areas (Eastern-Southeastern, Central, Western-Pacific) to six:

  1. EAST 2. MIDWEST (east of the Mississippi) 3. MIDWEST (west of the Mississippi)

  4. SOUTHEAST 5. MIDWEST (east of the Mississippi) 6. FAR WEST (alternating between north and south)

• Also see the new Rotation Map. This rearrangement offers greater traveling consideration to the heavier concentration of Brethren in the eastern half of the nation. Duties of the Moderator to convene and review were also curtailed since program agencies are now conducting their own reviews as well as the Review and Evaluation Committee.

OTHER BUSINESS:

• Brethren Benefit Trust announced continued disappointing growth in the Brethren Medical Plan (a health insurance plan for pastors, church employees, district staff, and affiliated institutions or agencies) that has moved the Plan beyond a financial crossroads to a “death spiral.” Various reasons were cited such as a steady increase in health care costs and specifically younger pastors choosing lower costing and more competitive plans which unfortunately diminishes the pool of payers into the Brethren Medical Plan that increasingly supports older pastors whose utilization is generally higher. BBT had previously asked the twenty-three Districts to target a minimum of seventy-five percent enrollment to keep the Plan financially solvent. In an effort to resolve the current financial crisis, Brethren Medical Plan Resolution called for a one year study committee that would examine the situation in greater detail.
• Report of Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee was accepted that recommended a cost of living adjustment of 2.8%.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Total registered attendance was 3,341 comprised of 858 Delegates and 2,483 Non-Delegates.
• Belita D. Mitchell, pastor at Harrisburg COB, Pennsylvania was elected as Moderator-elect who will serve as Moderator at Cleveland in 2007.
• Keith (pastor at York First COB) and Beth Hollenberg Coordinated Music with organist Marilyn Mason. The Adult Choir performed under the direction of Joan Fyock Norris.
• Quilt Auction of the Association for the Arts Church of the Brethren raised a total of $21,450 from two twin-bed size quilts and five wall hangings. Some of the money raised benefits the Global Food Crisis Fund.
• Program & Arrangements Committee announced that PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, will be the location for AC 2010.

WORSHIP SERMONS:

• SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 2 :
• Moderator Jim Hardenbrook, I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY, Pastor of Nampa COB in Nampa, Idaho
• SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 3 :
• Galen Hackman, BY FAITH . . . EXPERIENCING THE SMILE OF GOD, Pastor of Ephrata COB, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
• MONDAY EVENING EVENING, JULY 4 :
• Sandy Bosserman, DUTIES, DEVILS, & DISTRACTIONS, Executive Director of Missouri and Arkansas District
• TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 5 :
• Anastacia Bueno Beltre, LET’S LOOK TOWARD OUR HEAD, WHO IS JESUS CHRIST, Pastor in the Dominican Republic
• WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 6 :
• Chris Douglas, ABUNDANT LIFE - DISCIPLESHIP - DON'T LOSE HEART, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry