220th Annual Conference Des Moines, Iowa July 1-5, 2006

Index	Theme	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Wrap Up

Together conversations were held around the tables at a dinner celebrating the denominational study focus titled, "Together: Conversations on Being the Church." - photo by Jesse Reid

Quilters began their work on the Annual Conference quilting bee, including Janet Ryman from Goshen, Ind. - photo by Dale Seese

Kelly Burk, pastor of Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, preached for the opening worship service. - photo by Keith Hollenberg

Young adults held an ice cream social. - photo by Jesse Reid

Dena Lee and Joe Detrick, members of the Doing Church Business Study Committee, helped present the paper at a hearing. - photo by Regina Roberts

QUOTE OF THE DAY
"There’s something about the air in Des Moines that produces good preaching.” -- Jim Hardenbrook, speaking to the General Board about the sermons that called the church to mission at the Church of the Brethren’s 250th anniversary celebration in Des Moines in 1958

“I have grown from admiring the packaging on the outside to trusting the wisdom on the inside.” -- Kelly Burk, Saturday evening preacher and pastor of Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, speaking about the Bible

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY
Today several Church of the Brethren groups held or continued their pre-Annual Conference meetings, including the Standing Committee of district delegates, the Council of District Executives, the General Board, the Ministers’ Association, the Church of the Brethren Credit Union Board, the Fellowship of Brethren Homes, and the Fellowship of Brethren Genealogists.

The Exhibit Hall opened at 3 p.m. featuring booths and exhibits from the Annual Conference agencies, the Brethren colleges, and many other Brethren-related organizations, as well as a Brethren Press bookstore, and a Greater Gift/SERRV store.

Meal events included a dinner celebrating Together: Conversations on Being the Church, an International Welcome Dinner, and the annual dinner and meeting of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union.

An Early Evening Concert featured the handbell choir of Panther Creek Church of the Brethren in Adel, Iowa.

Evening worship was led by Kelly Burk, pastor of Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, who gave a message titled “In Light of Scripture.” Clara Glover, pastor of Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines, served as worship leader.

Following worship, hearings were held on two business items: “Doing Church Business” and “A Call to Reduce Global Poverty and Hunger.” The Brethren Medical Plan Study Committee also held a listening session. Bible studies were offered in English and Spanish. Other evening gatherings included the junior high and senior high youth and young adults. Other Conference-goers enjoyed an ice cream social.

A REPORT FROM OPENING WORSHIP
I was ten years old when I received my first Bible,” recalled Kelly Burk, pastor of Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, preaching for Saturday night worship. That Bible was a gift from her grandmother, a beautiful volume with wooden covers. She earned the gift by memorizing a verse of her choice, in this case John 3:16. Burk invited the congregation to recite it along with her.

“I have grown from admiring the packaging on the outside to trusting the wisdom on the inside,” she added. However, she admitted she has grown to prefer “…jogging to arguing over scripture when it comes to getting a cardiovascular workout.”

People react with frustration, Burk noted, “when someone interprets the Bible in sharp contrast to the way we understand it.” She told of incidents in ministry and life when differences in scriptural interpretation led to alienation.

On the other hand, “The Psalmist is open in the broadest sense to God’s instructions. A deeper look at the honest wrestling the Psalmist was engaged in revealed an openness and a depth of faith I wasn’t expecting.”

Burk invited all of us to avoid preconceptions about all who speak on scripture, including those who step to the microphones during deliberations at Annual Conference. “Memories of earlier encounters with each other drown out our capacity to listen.... I suspect if we dig deep we stop listening when we’re afraid, afraid of each other.”

She recalled a story about a woman who, as she approached death, took comfort from the Psalms. “The beloved texts she heard through her life served as a light for her path to life eternal.”

“On paths such as these,” Burk concluded, “does it make any difference what version of the Bible was read, or how we interpret the particulars of these passages? Not really. What matters is what light the scriptures offer to (our paths). …God’s word is stronger than our fears.”

---Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren

"THE LOCAL ANGLE”: THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO GO IN DES MOINES
Des Moines can be a very busy and interesting place. This weekend finds jet loads of athletes and coaches arriving for Special Olympics in nearby Ames. The event is expected to attract about 25,000 people from across the country.

If Special Olympics isn’t exciting enough, Champions on Ice is sharing the convention complex with the Church of the Brethren this evening.

Dining: Des Moines offers a wide variety of ethnic restaurants. Try Hessen Haus (German); Noah’s Ark (Italian); or Cajun/Creole at Buzzard Billy’s Flying Carp Café. Lunch at Riverwalk Café and stroll through the Des Moines Botanical Center. The Downtown Farmer’s Market at Court Avenue and Locust Street is a melange of produce, arts and crafts, ethnic food, and people of all sorts. Take a stroll and enjoy the variety.

Shopping: There’s Merle Hay Mall, Southridge Mall, and Valley West Mall within a short drive. If you prefer the mega mall and don’t mind driving you might want to try Jordan Creek Town Center west of the city. For a trans-cultural shopping experience pay a visit to the Asian Foods store on Sixth Avenue.

Churches of Interest: The Basilica of St. John at 1915 University Avenue features stained glass windows that symbolically depicts the entire Book of Revelation Four downtown are considered central city landmarks and work together as The Bridge to provide services for the community. St. John’s Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, St. Ambrose Catholic Cathedral, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, are generally open during the day (except July 4) and welcome visitors.

History and Culture: The East Village, Court Avenue, and Roosevelt Neighborhood provide lively entertainment, historic structures, and cultural activities. Living History Farms on Hickman Road at 111th St. provides 300 years of history. Historic Jordan House features a stop on the Underground Railroad. Salisbury House is an English Manor. Visit the Iowa Governor’s mansion, Terrace Hill, or the Iowa Capitol. Blank Park Zoo is a good family excursion that you might combine with a visit to the Fort Des Moines Museum. The new Science Center of Iowa features “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” along with an IMAX theater and interactive exhibits.

Parks: Union Park offers a ride on the Heritage Carousel along with a giant slide and other playground attractions. Stroll the riverwalk at Grey’s Lake Park, rent a paddleboat, enjoy the beach or a swim. While you’re there you might want to go across the road to Water Works Park and check out the world’s largest collection of crab apple trees and take a leisurely drive by the river. North of town is Saylorville Lake, where you find camping and boating along with a community butterfly garden. Saylorville Lake abuts Jester Park with buffalo and elk that will eat out of your hand (through the fence, of course). If you want to see the elk and buffalo at a bit more distance you might visit Neil Smith Prairie Learning Center in Prairie City.

--Clara Glover is pastor of Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines

Members of the 2006 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the Church of the Brethren General Board, contributed to the Annual Conference web pages: Jake Blouch, Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, Kathleen Campanella, Eddie Edmonds, Karen Garrett, Clara Glover, Amy Heckert, Keith Hollenberg, Jill Kline, Sarah Kovacs, Frank Ramirez, Jesse Reid, Regina Roberts, Frances Townsend, and Becky Ullom.