Annual Conference 2005 - Saturday Features Page

MINISTERS’ ASSOCIATION REVISES CONSTITUTION
During the Ministers’ Association annual meeting on Friday and Saturday, July 1-2, the organization approved substantial changes in its constitution and by-laws. Formerly, officers served single three-year terms; now they will serve four years and be eligible to serve two terms. Also, one officer will be added so that the leadership team will have five members. New officers will be named through a process of discernment and affirmation rather than a competitive ballot.

The group’s description of purpose was amended to clarify the organization’s aims, including to offer continuing education to ministerial leaders, to serve as an advocate voice for ministry issues within the denomination, and to support the work of the Ministry Assistance Fund. An offering of $1,112.33 was received to support the fund, which helps pastors with crisis needs.

David W. Miller, pastor of West Richmond (Va.) Church of the Brethren, was affirmed as the newest officer of the association.

Wendy Miller, assistant professor of Spiritual Formation at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, led the ministers’ continuing education event. Entitled “Sustaining the Life and Ministry of God’s Servants,” it was based on her book, “Jesus, Our Spiritual Director.” The Ministers’ Association pre-conference event next year will be led by Shane Hipps, on how to present Anabaptist and Pietist values to the 21st century world.

At the International Welcome Dinner, pastor and past-moderator of the Dominican Church of the Brethren was welcomed. Anastacia Bueno Beltre will preach at worship Tuesday.
Photo by Hannah Edwards

Toma Ragnjiya, of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, was welcomed at the dinner as well.
Photo by Hannah Edwards

AN INTERNATIONAL WELCOME
The atmosphere of the International Welcome Dinner at the Pere Marquette Hotel was lively as Merv Keeney, executive director of Global Mission Partnerships, welcomed special guests from Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. Anastacia Bueno Beltre, former moderator of the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic, and Toma Ragnijya, former president of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria (EYN–Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria), brought greetings from their congregations.

Music filled the room as the Praise Band from Christ Connections Church of the Brethren in Oswsego, Ill., shared the message of God’s love, led by worship director, Annette Golz. Greg and Karin Davidson Laszakovits, Brazil representatives for Global Mission Partnerships, were the keynote speakers. Witnessing their faith in a new environment has created opportunities they could have never imagined. They encouraged everyone to be open to the adventures that God has in store for them. The church plantings in Brazil are supported by the General Board’s Emerging Global Mission Fund.

CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN CREDIT UNION HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL MEETING
The first annual Church of the Brethren Credit Union meeting and dinner was held on Saturday evening, July 2. Under its new name, logo, and image, the credit union made the decision to start holding annual business meetings at Annual Conference to be more accessible to all its members.

Eric Kabler, a financial consultant for Kabler/Thomas Financial Group, a member of the Brethren Benefit Trust board, and a member of Westmont Church of the Brethren in Johnstown, Pa., delivered the keynote address. He shared some of the ways he uses his financial work as a ministry in his address, “Ten Personal Finance Tips for Brethren.” Kabler emphasized that the educational system in our society does not provide much practical financial education. “Providing this education to its members is a part of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union’s mission statement and one of the things that sets it apart from its competition,” said Dennis Kingery, director of Credit Union Operations. He shared that the credit union also is unique in that it works to counter the cultural drive for members to overextend themselves financially.

Some may not be aware that the credit union made the decision to open services to all Church of the Brethren members. To encourage new members, the credit union will donate $5 to Heifer Project for each new account opened from now until next year’s Annual Conference.

The credit union is planning to add home equity loans and online banking services within the next year. The credit union is offering an insight session on debt management on Tuesday, July 5, at 12:30 pm.

Nancy Faus directed an alumnae choir at an early evening concert celebrating Bethany Seminary’s centennial.
Photo by Regina Roberts

A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH
As part of Bethany Theological Seminary’s ongoing centennial celebration, about 100 alumni, current students, and faculty presented an Early Evening Concert. A wide variety of ages were represented from as young as 27, a current student, to 90 years old, Mary Elizabeth Wieand, wife of a past professor. The earliest class represented was 1958.

The concert consisted of two choir anthems, and duets and solos. The opening anthem was the centennial song commissioned by the seminary especially for the centennial. The hymn/anthem, “A Pilgrimage of Faith,” was composed by Steve Engle and Frank Ramirez, and reflects the broad diversity in the Church of the Brethren over Bethany’s 100 years and across the denomination. The choir closed the concert with the anthem, “The Joy of Us All,” by Harriet Ziegenhals, a Bethany choir favorite that was sung on many past tours.

Between the choir numbers, Jean Hendricks played a piano solo, Bryan Miller and Donald Miller performed a clarinet duet, and David Frantz introduced his original piece for cello, “Unfolding,” in its first public performance. Vocal solos were performed by Erin Matteson, Joe Detrick, and Dave Miller.

For Saturday evening worship the choir again sang the anthem, “A Pilgrimage of Faith,” and will lead out during the Bethany Seminary report on Sunday evening, July 3, as the gathered Brethren sing the hymn for the first time.

Micah Stapleton received a Caregiving Award at the Recognition Dinner for the Association of Brethren Caregivers.
Photo by Jesse Reid

TEENAGER RAISES MONEY TO DRILL THREE WELLS IN AFRICA
Micah Stapleton, a teenager and president of the youth group at Woodbury (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, was recognized this evening at the Association of Brethren Caregivers Recognition Dinner. The following is taken from his nomination written by Nancy Barton:

“Would you think a teenager could raise enough money to drill a well for clean water in Africa? Micah Stapleton raised enough to drill not one, but three wells! His story is how one teen can be a caregiver and make a global impact with God’s help.

“Micah’s family has for many years recycled aluminum cans in hopes of saving enough money for a well in Africa through Life Outreach International. He and siblings Ryan, Vicki, and Ginger would gather soda cans–even combing the roadsides for throw-aways–crush them, and help their parents haul them off to a recycler. It was an exciting day when they could finally send a check for $3,600 to Life Outreach.

“Excited by the results of years of volunteering in this way, Micah expanded the family idea for his high school Senior Project. His goal was to raise enough money for one well. Realizing he would need some help, Micah developed a presentation that he would take to churches to ask for donations.

“Micah, who has overcome the stutter of his childhood except when he is nervous, told his mother that he wasn’t sure he could speak in front of people. She showed him Exodus 4:10-12, where Moses tells God “I have never been eloquent...I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Armed with the knowledge that God would give him the same help given to Moses, Micah spoke before 12 church groups. As he stood before congregations to state his purpose, his presentations moved many adults to tears. Sunday school and Vacation Bible School children were awed by this six-foot-three teen who would sit and talk with them on their level. Young and old rallied behind Micah’s cause and donated over $12,000–enough for more than three wells!

“This experience is an example of Christian unity in a small community. Following the leading of this teen who put his faith in the Lord, several denominations pulled together to support Micah’s cause. Five Brethren congregations and people at Camp Blue Diamond in the Middle Pennsylvania District made contributions. Bags of aluminum cans appeared at the Stapleton home. Envelopes of anonymous donations and checks from strangers marked ‘For Micah’s Well’ were dropped off or mailed.

“Micah learned that a small community will respond generously to a need, and that even if you’re a little afraid to take on a big project, you can do it with God’s help.”

NEW COMMUNITY PROJECT DIRECTOR BICYCLES TO PEORIA
David Radcliff, director of the New Community Project, bicycled to Peoria from his home in Elgin, Ill., to highlight alternative transportation and the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. He rode for 11 hours, 150 miles, “all uphill,” Radcliff said. “As Americans we seem to have a fixation with oil, but we don’t have an idea of how that affects the native peoples, their life, culture, and ecosystem,” he said, adding that according to the World Health Organization there will be 160,000 deaths this year due to global warming. If Brethren drive 1,000 cars to Annual Conference, each driving an average of 1,000 miles round trip, another one million pounds of CO² will be put into the environment, he said.

Members of the 2005 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Regina Roberts, Jesse Reid, Hannah Edwards, and Sarah Kovacs, photographers; Kathleen Campanella, Karen Garrett, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Sarah Leatherman Young, and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, writers; Amy Heckert, technical support; Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford and Becky Ullom, editors.

219th Annual Conference Peoria, Illinois July 2-6, 2005