The 220th Annual Conference (July 1-5, 2006) of the Church of the Brethren was held in the Iowa Events Center, 730 Third Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309, a four-time “All American City.” Finished only about two years ago at a price tag of $217 million, this complex is the most costly public project in the state's history. It consists of the renovated 7,200 seat Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the 250,000 square-foot Hy-Vee Hall, and the 17,000 seat Wells Fargo Arena. When the Auditorium was first constructed in 1954, it was one of the largest auditoriums in the nation, rivaling those of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Especially appropriate for the gathering of a peace church was the Veterans Peace Memorial which stands just outside the Auditorium. Two Hands reach skyward beckoning passersby to pray for peace. Worship services and business sessions were held in the Auditorium. Registration, Exhibits, Insight Sessions, Message Boards, and the Cash Buffet were located in Hy-Vee Hall.

HISTORICAL NOTES:

It was in 1908 Des Moines that the German Baptist Brethren decided to change their name to the Church of the Brethren. The divisions of twenty years earlier had left them groping for a new identity. The conservatives departed in 1881 and the progressives two year later. Few members spoke German anymore and their agrarian subculture was slowly disappearing. They simply were not who they used to be. No longer distinctly German and eschewing the word baptist, the label Brethren was the only thing left, so, they became the Church of the Brethren. In 1958 in this Same Auditorium, the Church of the Brethren celebrated its 250th Year of Existence and 172nd Annual Conference. Several Brethren who had attended that 1958 Conference posed for a commemorative Group Photo. Madison County to the southwest has many Covered Bridges that have been featured in books and movies.

SPECIAL NOTES:

Iowa leads the nation in the production of corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs. Alternative fuels proponents will be happy to know that at 1.2 billion gallons annually, Iowa produces more ethanol per year than any other state. Just a few miles south is the little town of Winterset, birthplace of television and movie star John Wayne. The house is, naturally, located on Wayne Drive. The capital of Iowa is Des Moines and boasts nearly Three Miles of enclosed climate-controlled, overhead walk-ways called Skywalks. You see them all over town. There are Short Spans, Long Spans, and Inside Building spans. It was especially nice for Conference Goers to be sheltered from both rain and traffic. It's the most extensive such system “per capita” in the world. After Monday evening services, a beautiful Rainbow blessed worshippers as they walked back to their hotels. Conference is also that time of year when Brethren are blessed with the opportunity of renewing friendships. In addition to regularly scheduled agency luncheons and dinners, many Brethren arrange private group get-to-gathers such as the members of Southern District, Northern Zone at the Spaghetti Works. Tuesday evening is the traditional time for the Children's Choir. Of special appreciation were the Shuttle Buses that operated on a regular loop from all hotels to the Auditorium. Lunch and dinner were again served with a Cash Buffet which permits good dining without leaving the convention complex. This year Brethren had the opportunity to post special prayer requests on the Prayer Square board. A small textual change to the Conference Theme added Spanish to the common English version.

EXHIBITS:

The spaciousness of HY-Vee Hall provided Ample Room for Exhibits. Brethren agencies and related organizations were well represented such as Church World Service. At the booth of Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists Thomas Liby explains their work and provides tips on research. Northern Plains District was the host district which typically provides a Hospitality Center. SERRV had a special table for Nativity Scenes.

REPORTABLE AGENCIES:

Association of Brethren Caregivers sponsored a wellness campaign this past year called Lighten Up, Brethren! It challenges members to re-examine their lifestyles and adopt behaviors that would promote better physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Posters throughout the complex reminded Brethren to consider healthier living practices. Brethren Benefit Trust promoted this theme by constructing a working Miniature Golf course in their exhibit area. Bethany Theological Seminary president Eugene F. Roop will be retiring after fifteen years of leadership.

OFFICERS:

2006 Conference Officers were Moderator Ronald Beachley, District Minister of Pennsylvania Western District; Moderator-elect Belita Mitchell, pastor of Harrisburg First COB, Harrisburg Pennsylvania; and Secretary Fred Swartz.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

• Doing Church Business study committee overwhelmed Delegates with a report filled with sweeping changes and suggestions including a return to the previous Annual Conference (pre-Kansas City, 2000) schedule. In immediate response, a representative of the Annual Conference office reminded delegates that planning and arrangements for AC 2011 is already in place and that a return to the previous schedule before that time would be difficult. Several delegates spoke in affirmation of the report but questioned the complexity and cost of implementation. The report was referred to the Annual Conference Program Feasibility study committee for reconsideration at AC 2007.

NEW BUSINESS:

• Brethren Benefit Trust to revise their Articles of Organization was adopted. Moderator Beachley guided the delegate body through this large item of business that would permit BBT to provide additional services to the Brethren Medical Plan and assume oversight of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union. Standing Committee requested that the ability of BBT to seek funding beyond fees might lead to conflicts of interest and privacy violations with other Brethren agencies.
• Call to Stewardship Education was referred to the General Board.
• Together: Conversations on Being the Church invited delegates into four half-hour Small Group Conversations to Discuss Reflections on what it means to be a part of the church.
• Resolution on an End to the War in Iraq: from the General board calling for an end to the war in Iraq was narrowly accepted with a strong negative vote. It called upon all nations to implement other ways of bringing peace to that region.
• Resolution on Divestment: from the General board was accepted calling for companies to refrain from selling products that would be used as weapons of war in Israel and Palestine. The resolution also asks individuals to reconsider their own investments goals, to not include weapons of war or related matters.
• Resolution on A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger from the General Board was accepted calling on all Brethren to pursue the Millennium Development Goals developed by the United Nations.
• Resolution on Commitment of Accessibility and Inclusion: from Association of Brethren Caregivers was adopted that calls on congregations and organizations to be more intentional about be fully accessible to the handicapped. ABC had introduced a similar resolution in 1994 calling upon the denomination to make facilities more accessible to the physically disabled but most congregations have not followed suit. A good example of one congregation that has constructed a new facility that is completely accessible is Bunkertown COB in Pennsylvania Southern District.

OTHER BUSINESS:

• Annual Conference Council responded to the Michigan District which presented questions in the query Clarification of Confusion at AC 2003. The matter centers on an incident in that District where a practicing homosexual man was seeking ordination, but the AC 2002 decision on the query Licensing for Ordination of Homosexual Persons resulted in delegates accepting Standing Committees recommendation that it violated the spirit of the 1983 Human Sexuality paper: “...it is inappropriate to license or ordain to the Christian ministry any persons who are known to be engaging in homosexual practices.” The Annual Conference Council stated that the AC 2002 decision was based on polity. Delegates received this as a report without discussion.
• Review and Evaluation study committee gave an interim report.
• Intercultural and Brethren Medical Plan study committees were both granted one year extensions.
• Report of Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee was accepted that recommended a cost of living adjustment of 4.2%.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Total registered attendance was 2,996.
• Kathy Johnson and Jim Jones were the musical coordinators, offering Vocal Groups (Johnson, center) and Instrumental Groups (Jones, right).
• Ken & Gita Gresh staffed the Blood Drive which garnered 253 pints for the American Red Cross.
• James Beckwith, pastor of Annville COB, Pennsylvania, was elected as Moderator-elect to serve in 2008 at Richmond, Virgina.
• Association for the Arts Quilt Auction raised a total of $13,240 from twin-bed size quilts, wall hangings, and worship tapestries. Some of the money raised benefits the Global Food Crisis Fund.
• Wallpaper 2006 summarizes the essence of this years experience.
• Program & Arrangements Committee announced that GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan, was announced as the venue for the 2011 Annual Conference.

WORSHIP SERMONS:

• SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 1 :
• Kelly Burk, IN LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE, Pastor of Richmond COB in Richmond, Indiana
• SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 2 :
• Moderator Ronald Beachley, WOVEN TOGETHER BY PRAYER, Executive Minister of Pennsylvania Western District
• MONDAY EVENING, JULY 3 :
• Myrna Long Wheeler, AEROBICS FOR THE SOUL ... NO PAIN, NO GAIN, Chaplain at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, California
• TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 4 :
• Dennis Webb, WALKING BY FAITH...AGAIN, Pastor of Naperville COB, Naperville, Illinois
• WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 5 :
• Brian Maguire, RUNNING HOME, Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Xenia, Ohio