The 222nd Annual Conference (July 12-16, 2008) and the 300th Anniversary of the Church of the Brethren was held in the Richmond Coliseum, 601 East Leigh Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. The facility opened in 1971 at a cost of $24 million with 10,000 seats and was upgraded in 1993 with additional seating for 2,500, all on Five Levels. Nearly 180,000 square feet was available for Brethren Exhibits that were displayed in the Greater Richmond Convention Center, located just across the street from the Coliseum at 403 North 3rd Street. Registration took place in the massive front lobby. The second floor Food Court was one of several on site eateries. Smiling Faces and happy tummies were easy to find. As in other years, Contracted Buses assisted Brethren moving back and forth from their hotels and the Conference site.
HISTORICAL NOTES:
This year marked an historic event as two of the largest Brethren denominations that emanated from the original Schwarzenau Brethren, the Church of the Brethren and The Brethren Church, jointly worshiped and fellowshiped in a spirit of unity. A unity that had not occurred at the denominational level since the year 1882 when H.R. Holsinger was repudiated or disowned by Annual Conference (then Annual Meeting). His progressive wing of Brethren members quickly joined together the very next year to establish The Brethren Church.
It was auspicious that this Conference of Unity took place in the historic city of Richmond, Virginia, for it was here that Abraham Lincoln came on April 4, 1865, immediately following the evacuation of the Confederate government and only five days before the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox Court House. Then, it was a time and place for healing national wounds. Now, both the Church of the Brethren and The Brethren Church would seek to heal denominational wounds that have left scars since their split more than a hundred years ago. Lincoln's visit was more symbolic than substantive. Some residents looked upon Lincoln with disdain. He was greeted mostly by Freed Slaves. Much of the city Lay In Ruin, either from bombardment or set afire by fleeing Confederate soldiers. The mercantile Shockoe District (pronounced SCHOCK-ohh) was immediately rebuilt and still retains the same pre-war appearance. Shops along its Cobblestone Streets make it a great walking tour. It is especially noted for shopping, dining and entertainment. You'll be greeted by an occasional Cannon Barrel which now serves as a depository for cigarettes. President Lincoln came to Richmond “To Bind Up the Nations Wounds.” It would be many years before genuine reconciliation occurred between the North and the South, but Richmond was a beginning. Likewise, it will be many years before both Brethren denominations stand in full reconciliation with each other, but Annual Conference 2008 in Richmond was a step in that direction.
SPECIAL NOTES:
Also sharing space in the front lobby was the 300th Anniversary Quilt, composed of 4,779 two inch squares made from 223 different fabrics, intricately pieced together by artist Rachel Brown. On a Convenient Table was a large book detailing all the submitted Patch Work. This quilt represents the Colors and Textures of people that are bound together by common threads. The more diverse are the colors the more beautiful the overall appearance. Brown reflects on her project: “At every step of the way, I found myself wondering how grand the church of Jesus Christ could be if we would begin to treat each other as pieces in a quilt ... If a block seems out of place, think about the people in your community that might feel out of place in your church ... The church needs to be the model for a world unraveling.”
Wide Pedestrian Areas between the Coliseum and the Exhibit Hall provided room for spacious exhibits such as the Eyes Wide Open peace exhibit. Each pair of boots represented a fallen US service man or women and each pair of shoes represented a civilian Iraqi casualty. The presentation was organized by the American Friends Service Committee and sponsored by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and On Earth Peace. This wide area also gave opportunity for presentation of The John Kline Horses. Newly released Business Session Delegates happily stopped to enjoy some “hands-on” interaction with the horses, even Little Hands. Tuesday evening is the traditional time for the Children's Choir, and solid color T-shirts are an instant give-away that Our Youth are involved in a well planned schedule of indoor and outdoor activities. The Adult Choir delivered inspiring musical selections for worship services.
UNITY NOTES:
It has been almost 126 years since members of the Church of the Brethren and members of The Brethren Church last worshipped together at their Annual Meeting in a field in Kosciusko County, Indiana. On Sunday July 13, 2008, members of both denominations worshipped together again, to mutually celebrate their 300th Anniversary. It was only appropriate that they sang that historic hymn: “Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord, our God.”
A highlight ceremony of unity was the mixing of Waters. Poured into a Common Pool was symbolic water from: the Eder River (scene of the original European baptisms), both denominations, numerous districts, congregations, agencies, and church camps. It exemplified a spirit of reunification as they mixed their differences into a Final Commonness.
First Sermon: Arden Gilmer, pastor of Park Street Brethren Church, Ashland, Ohio, titled,
“No Root; No Fruit.”
Second Sermon: Shanthi Edwin, pastor of Brush Valley Brethren Church, Adrian, Pennsylvania, titled, “Power In Unity.”
Third Sermon: Chris Bowman, pastor of Oakton COB, Vienna, Virginia, titled, “Well Grounded Grain Brings Phenomenal Fruit.”
The 2008 Annual Conference officially began the previous Saturday evening with Moderator Jim Beckwith, pastor of Annville Church of the Brethren, Annville, Pennsylvania, calling all Brethren to unity with the sermon title: “Begin With Surrender.” Beckwith spoke of the challenges faced by Alexander and Anna Mack as they sought to do the Lord's will at a time when European state churches were hostile to people seeking their faith mission outside of their established protocols. He was 27 and she was 25 but they risked everything to count the cost of radical discipleship, by surrendering all they had known and fleeing their home. Beckwith also revealed his personal genealogical connection to the original founding eight Brethren, “My great-grandmother, was a Vetter, descended from Lukas Vetter, one of the first 8 Brethren baptized in the Eder River at Schwarzenau in 1708.”
PREDICTABLE NOTES:
Brethren are partially defined by their Fellowship around mealtime. Richmond was no different. Numerous Groups related by congregation or district sought nice restaurants to celebrate another year together. Eugene had exceeded his gastronomic limits but ordered desert anyway, thinking that there was still room for Chocolate Cake. He was wrong. Several people gratefully came to his rescue. This eatery was one of several great restaurants in the historic Shockoe part of Richmond.
Technology is becoming more a part of the Brethren lifestyle. Use of personal Laptops during Annual Conference is increasing. Business sessions are accompanied by a greater dependency on the digital side of things, and occasionally you may see Two Laptops in the same row. These conference goers might be researching the history surrounding a current item of business on the conference floor, or searching for a good restaurant, or perhaps using a map program to better navigate the city -- but certainly not playing games.
EXHIBITS:
As membership of the Brethren continues to diminish, it would appear that their Exhibit Space at Annual Conference continues to increase. Much of the increase this year was certainly due to the 300th Anniversary Celebration. Brethren Memorabilia of all types from Several Collections were on display, including the first and second edition Christopher Saur Bibles. The Saur editions are actually reprints of church reformer Martin Luther's German Translation. Of special trivia note is that some leaves were reversed: Psalm 38 before Psalm 23. Note: Slideshow of exhibits is now under reconstruction.
OFFICERS:
2008 Conference Officers were Moderator James Beckwith, pastor of Annville COB, Annville, Pennsylvania; Moderator-elect David Shumate, District Executive of the Virlina District; and Secretary Fred Swartz.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Implementation of the New Denominational Structure was adopted. This resolution was presented by the Implementation Committee, elected at AC 2007, to create a plan for merging the Association of Brethren Caregivers and the General Board into one legal corporation, finally labeled Church of the Brethren, Inc., following discussion to drop the original suggestion of Church of the Brethren USA. The Annual Conference Council, created at AC 2001, is now dissolved as its functions will be included in this new organizational body that will be called the Mission and Ministry Board. Lengthy discussion surrounded the detailing and examination of articles of incorporation and modification of bylaws for the new entity. The result is one board called the Mission and Ministry Board. This does not affect Annual Conference or its reportable agencies: Brethren Benefit Trust, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace.
Selection and Function of the Process Committee for Discerning Uses of the Doing Church Business Recommendations from AC 2007 installs a one year term three-member Process Committee to work with Conference officers and the Program and Arrangements Committee, to review options for enhancing how church business is done.
NEW BUSINESS:
Update to Ministerial Ethics was adopted with amendments. It is the culmination of twelve years of following the implementation of the 1996 Statement of Ethics for Congregations in the Church of the Brethren. The new version will prohibit the intervention of former ministers into ministerial relationships of current pastors, which has apparently been a frequent issue. An amendment was adopted to permit former pastors to perform ministerial services for a former congregation with the approval of the current pastor. Supporting the amendment were several pastors who expressed their appreciation of former pastors in mentoring.
Resolution on Minister's Medical Insurance Crisis was adopted. This finalizes the action of AC 2007 to formally end the Brethren medical Plan which suffered chronic years of high draw-down from older members, coupled with low contributions from younger and healthier plan members.
Resolution on Slavery in the 21st Century was adopted with a Standing Committee amendment that added: “to change our personal lifestyle habits that support it (slavery).”
Resolution Urging Forbearance was adopted with considerable opposition. The resolution came from the Association of Brethren Caregivers, On Earth Peace, and the General Board. It is an attempt to maintain unity and civility among Brethren especially in the wake of deep and strained interchanges between individual Brethren and congregations involving wide differences concerning interpretation of scripture and practices, the latter of which had escalated to district intervention. A few of these districts, embroiled in the midst of these conflicts, questioned if this paper would rescind previous district decisions, and or, would reinterpret long withstanding denominational polity.
Conference Witness to Host City was adopted with little discussion and referred to the Program and Arrangements Committee for future implementation with hosting Districts.
Child Abuse Prevention interim report given by the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) as requested from AC 2007. ABC was disappointed with a poor response from a survey to congregations. “Out of 1,128 requests sent out by ABC, 193 completed surveys were received--only 143 congregations responded, she said. Of the congregations that responded, only 35 percent had a child protection policy in place.” A final report will be presented at AC 2009.
A Statement of Confession and Commitment adopted by Standing Committee on Monday morning (July 14) to be considered at AC 2009. The statement is the result of a plea from the Program and Arrangements Committee for guidance on how to best handle warring factions that have made the Annual Conference exhibit hall a battleground between pro and anti homosexual camps. Pro-groups want exhibit space to explain their views and anti-groups fear that such an exhibit may appear to some as legitimizing that lifestyle. The one page statement expresses “an honest tension,” over the issue and states that the 1983 Human Sexuality From A Christian Perspective remains “our official position”.
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 6,184 comprised of 864 Delegates and 5,320 Non-Delegates.
Shawn Flory Replogle, pastor at McPherson, Kansas COB, was elected as Moderator-elect who will serve in 2010 at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Leslie Lake coordinated the music during worship and also served as a member of the 300th Anniversary Committee.
Association for the Arts Quilt Auction raised a total of $19,200, much of which benefits the Global Food Crisis Fund.
Total registered attendance was 6,184 which included 864 delegates.
Blood Drive collected a total of 247 units from 275 donors.
Jim Beckwith, BEGIN WITH SURRENDER, Moderator and Pastor of the Annville COB in Annville, Pennsylvania
SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 13 :
Arden Gilmer, NO ROOT; NO FRUIT, Park Street Brethren Church, Ashland, Ohio
Shanthi Edwin, POWER IN UNITY, Brush Valley Brethren Church, Adrian, Pennsylvania
Chris Bowman, WELL GROUNDED GRAIN BRINGS PHENOMENAL FRUIT, Oakton COB, Vienna, Virginia
MONDAY MORNING, JULY 14 :
Mary Jo Flory-Steury, IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU, executive director of the General Board’s Office of Ministry
TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 15 :
Bob Neff, THE STORY OF WIND AND FIRE, Coordinator of Chaplaincy Services at The Village at Morrison’s Cove, Pennsylvania
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY 16 :
Shawn Flory Replogle, WHERE ARE WE GOING, Pastor, First Church of the Brethren, McPherson, Kansas; newly elected Moderator-Elect
Melissa Bennett, FAITH GUSHING OUT IN THE WORLD, Pastor for Youth, Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Leroy Solomon, PETER’S PERSONAL JOURNEY, Dean, Doctor of Ministry Program, Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio, The Brethren Church
“They determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them,
should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders (about this question).”
Acts 15:2
