NEWSLINE - July 2, 1996 NEWSLINE is the weekly online newsletter of the Church of the Brethren posted each Thursday by the Communications Dept. through cobnews@aol.com. Interested persons can "hear" Newsline by calling 410 635-8738 or receive a "fax" of Newsline by calling 800 323-8039, ext. 257. Newsline by "e-mail" is available by sending an online request to cobnews@aol.com. To print this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, P To save this listing (Netscape), Press ALT, F, S To search this listing (Netscape) Hold CTRL + Tap F %%%%%%%%% = (heading of a new week) --------- = (heading of a new item) %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% NEWSLINE 07-02-96 Pre-Conference Meetings CINCINNATI -- This is the Church of the Brethren Newsline for July 2. In the news today, Standing Committee continues its pre-Conference meetings and Conference officially begins tonight. The Annual Conference Standing Committee met all day Monday, discussing a variety of issues. It approved the Ethics in Ministry Relations Statement, sending it on to Annual Conference for adoption. Because Standing Committee cannot make amendments to Annual Conference statements, which this is, Standing Committee sent a list of "considerations" that it hopes Annual Conference delegates will follow in amending the statement. The theory of a shorter Annual Conference with a Saturday through Wednesday schedule was approved. Presented by Annual Conference's Program and Arrangements Committee, these two changes are the result of the concern over the cost of producing and attending conference, which was raised to the Program and Arrangements Committee by numerous people. This proposed schedule would have Annual Conference beginning with Saturday night worship. A Sunday morning worship would follow, transitioning into a celebration about the life of the church, during which time reports from various denominational agencies would be given. Business would begin on Monday morning and would be held each day until the conference concludes on Wednesday. This new schedule, however, would eliminate all pre-Conference events except Standing Committee and General Board meetings. According to Annual Conference Executive Director Duane Steiner, the committee hopes to implement the new model at the 2000 Annual Conference in Kansas City. Standing Committee also affirmed a Program and Arrangements Committee concept of organizing special programming at the 2000 Annual Conference, and at the 2008 Conference, which will be the year the Church of the Brethren celebrates its 300th birthday. Standing Committee heard a concern raised by some members in the denomination regarding a luncheon to be sponsored this week by Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian & Concerns. The Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee was present to explain its decision in approving the luncheon request. Despite some opposition, Standing Committee affirmed Program and Arrangements' decision. To make time to address this concern, three unfinished business items were taken off the schedule and will not be dealt with. Standing Committee's discussion of the three items was optional. Standing Committee approved the End of Life Decision-Making Faith Statement, sending it to Annual Conference for adoption. The paper includes the 1995 query on Assisted Suicide. Standing Committee adopted the report of the Polity Task Group, which was written in an effort to clear some of the ambiguity concerning denominational polity. Several items mandated in the paper include drafting polity for the free ministry, reviewing the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee, and including Brethren Benefit Trust and Bethany Theological Seminary in the next major polity review. Standing Committee returned to the business item "Denominational Polity: Property and Stewardship Issues," offering more immediate direction for districts and congregations involved with this issue. Standing Committee mandated that the Polity Task Group also "review polity related to stewardship and property of local congregations." Standing Committee also issued a statement which said, "... we strongly encourage all congregations that are delinquent in their debts outstanding to their districts or the denomination ... to pay their debts in either cash or surrendering their real or other property." Standing Committee approved the distribution of three resources to Annual Conference delegates by its Develop a Dialogue Process for Homosexuality Concerns subcommittee. Delegates will receive a resource list; a review of the book, "Caught in the Crossfire - Helping Christians Debate Homosexuality;" and dialog process models. Standing Committee also approved the compilation and mailing of an extensive resource packet by the committee, which will remain as a committee for an additional year. The packet will be sent to all congregations within the year. Standing Committee agreed to join the General Board in presenting a statement concerning unfunded mandates to Annual Conference delegates in 1997. The statement was drafted in order to prevent Annual Conference from directing items to the General Board or other agencies without funding or a plan to fund the mandate. If passed by Annual Conference delegates, queries and business items coming to Standing Committee and Annual Conference would be accompanied by a feasibility and cost estimate report. Four Standing Committee members were elected to its Nominating Committee. They are Alice Adkins, Ed Garrison, Paul Schrock, and Mark Flory Steury. Annual Conference officially convenes this evening in Cincinnati Convention Center Halls A and B. Announcements begin at 7:05. At 7:15 four new Church of the Brethren congregations will be recognized, including the year-old project congregation in Cincinnati. Worship begins at 7:30. Tonight's sermon, to be delivered by Moderator Fred Bernhard, pastor of Oakland Church of the Brethren, Gettysburg, Ohio, will speak on the theme, "O give me a home." Moderator-elect David Wine of Abilene, Kan., will serve as worship leader.