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

Index	Theme	Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Wrap Up

Deborah DeWinter, program executive for the US Conference of the World Council of Churches, spoke at the Ecumenical Luncheon. - photo by Jesse Reid

Christina McPherson and Margaret Bortner, Members of the Youth Peace Travel Team, spoke at the Outdoor Ministry Association luncheon. - photo by Jesse Reid

Ludovic St. Fleur spoke about the church's new Haiti mission at the Brethren World Mission breakfast. - photo by Jesse Reid

ECUMENICAL CITATION PRESENTED AT LUNCHEON
The Committee on Interchurch Relations (CIR) held the Ecumenical Luncheon in Hy-vee Hall. The event opened with a presentation of the 2006 CIR Ecumenical citation to the Hanover (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.

The citation is given every other year to a congregation that seeks to live out what it means to be followers of Jesus and celebrates Christian witness. Deb Stambaugh accepted the award on behalf of the congregation.

Deborah DeWinter, program executive for the US Conference, World Council of Churches gave an overview of the movement of Christianity from the northern to southern hemisphere. She described the changing faces of the National Council of Churches as an explosion of color and diversity. Another change is the increased number of women in leadership positions. DeWinter also shared her appreciation for the active involvement the Church of the Brethren has had in the Decade to Overcome Violence.

In addition to DeWinter, six other ecumenical guests were in attendance: Joan Fumetti, Foods Resource Bank; Marshall Peters, executive of Mid-American Baptist Churches, USA; Richard Pleva, conference minister for the United Church of Christ; Don Hiscox, associate regional minister, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Basil Hickman, parish priest, Greek Orthodox; Tim Detweiler, pastor of Central Plains, Mennonite Church.

–Kathleen Campanella is director of Public Relations and Hospitality at the Brethren Service Center

OUTDOOR MINISTRY ASSOCIATION RECOGNITIONS
At its luncheon today the Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA) presented five awards.

An OMA Lifetime Achievement Award went to Bill Hare, camp director at Camp Emmaus in Mount Morris, Ill., for more than 40 years. Camp Emmaus is a camp of Illinois and Wisconsin District.

Three OMA Volunteer Staff Recognition Awards were presented to Alvin Walbridge of Camp Mardela in Denton, Md., a camp of Mid Atlantic District; Lynn and Betty Kreider of Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind., a camp of Northern Indiana and South Central Indiana Districts; and Arthur and Shirley Crane of Camp Peaceful Pines in Dardanelle, Calif., a camp of Pacific Southwest District.

Nancy Knepper received the Four Horsemen Award, OMA’s highest honor given only periodically, about once every five years. The award was given in honor of Knepper’s lifetime of service and leadership development in outdoor ministries for the Church of the Brethren. She has worked as denominational staff person for OMA and as a staff person at Camp Blue Diamond in Petersburg, Pa.; Camp Eder in Fairfield, Pa.; and Ithiel Camp and Retreat Center in Gotha, Fla. Currently she is coordinator of District Ministry for the Church of the Brethren General Board.

SKILLS AND IDEAS FOR CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION PRESENTED AT INSIGHT SESSION
People with all ranges of knowledge about the denominational study process on the nature of the church called “Together: Conversations on Being the Church,” gathered at an insight session.

With a range of experience with Together, from just learning about the study process, to having been trained to used it, the group gathered for further discussion Tuesday night.

The session started with a review of the study guide for the conversations, which consists of six chapters on the themes of images of church, stories about the church, coming to terms with history, models of church, scriptural models and metaphors of church, and construction, putting our ideas on paper.

Discussion then moved to feedback from conversations that have already happened. The facilitators shared suggestions for timing future conversations in ways that build trust and relationships. Tips and strategies for including children in Together conversations include many hands-on activities. A strategy for beginning the conversations with youth and young adults include using video clips as discussion starters.

Watch for “Together: Conversations on Being the Church” activities in your district and congregation.

--Karen Garrett is a student at Bethany Theological Seminary and a school teacher

ON EARTH PEACE BREAKFAST HEARS ABOUT WORK AGAINST MILITARY RECRUITMENT
The annual On Earth Peace Breakfast was held on th theme, “Recruitment for Another Way of Living.” The theme was addressed by three speakers: Matt Guynn of On Earth Peace; Denique Conner, who was recruited to serve in the military in Afghanistan and recently graduated from Juniata College; and Deb Oskin, member of Living Peace Church of the Brethren and a peace minister in Central Ohio.

The three speakers addressed their experiences with counter-recruitment. Guynn encouraged those in attendance to consider counter-recruitment as not just opposing the work of military recruiters, but also creating or making accessible alternative paths for the young people being recruited.

Conner shared that from enlisting in the military she gained a plan, a purpose, and a future and shared the work she is doing currently with young people to find other means of obtaining a future and the skills to do so.

Oskin presented the opt-out form, which prohibits schools from sharing students’ information with military recruiters. The sharing of student information with the military is required in the federal No Child Left Behind Act. To find out more about how to opt out, visit www.leavemychildalone.org.

On Earth Peace also shared about a few of its new programs, including a series of booklets dedicated to practical reconciliation entitled the Shalom Series. A video project focused on Brethren Volunteer Service after World War II, particularly service done in Europe, will make its debut at this year’s National Older Adult Conference.

--Jill Kline is a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill.

UN-LUNCHEON KICKS OFF PROGRAM TO SUPPORT GULF COAST CHURCHES
The Brethren Witness/Washington Office sponsored the annual “un-luncheon.” No food is served, in order to remind attendees of others around the world who do not have enough to eat. Fair trade chocolate from Equal Exchange was placed on the tables, and office director Phil Jones prayed that the poor cocoa farmers be remembered while the chocolate was eaten.

The speaker at the un-luncheon was David Jensen, who was active during the Civil Rights movement, working alongside such people as C.T. Vivian and Martin Luther King Jr. Jensen unveiled his newest project, “Churches Supporting Churches,” a project working to connect churches in hurricane-ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi. The project connects groups of ten churches in other areas of the country with churches in the Gulf in order to lend moral and financial support.

However, this is more about simply rebuilding churches, Jensen said. According to Jensen this area of the country is one of the most “backward, unjust, and poor regions of the nation,” and he is beginning what he calls a “nonviolent war on racism and poverty.” Jensen said that nonviolence is not enough, that Christians must fight against social and racial injustice.

He also emphasized the importance of congregations becoming a part of this. “If the faith community doesn’t accept this nonviolent war on poverty and social justice then we’re going to be closing up our doors too.”

Attendees were moved by Jensen’s words and accepted the new program with open arms. Many people took interest in getting their own congregations involved. The un-luncheon ended with a prayer circle and an inspired, impromptu rendition of “We Shall Overcome.”

--Jake Blouch is a Ministry Summer Service intern with Messenger magazine

BRETHREN WORLD MISSION BREAKFAST HEARS ABOUT HAITI AND SUDAN MISSIONS
Members and supporters of Brethren World Mission (BWM) joined together Tuesday morning to discuss BWM’s work and to welcome Haitian pastor Ludovic St. Fleur.

The morning began with some introductory words from the chair of the BWM board, Bob Kettering, who briefly explained what BWM is and how BWM’s foreign ministry is not in opposition to that of the General Board. He said it is instead a group working alongside the board to help the Annual Conference mandate for the Church of the Brethren to become a world church. “We see ourselves as an auxiliary group,” said Kettering.

Interim Director of Global Mission Partnership’s Sudan Initiative, Jim Hardenbrook, showed up during breakfast to deliver a short address. He encouraged those at the breakfast to keep “agitating” the church to do mission. “We are organized to not do mission,” said Hardenbrook, “The structure (of the church) stifles it.”

Hardenbrook said that the church has a four-and-a-half year window of opportunity to make a strong foundation in southern Sudan. The government of Sudan has allowed for a vote of secession by the south after that period of time, and Hardenbrook believes that no matter how that vote turns out, war will erupt in Sudan. This is why Hardenbrook believes that the Church of the Brethren needs to makers a strong foundation in southern Sudan now, he said.

Keynote speaker was Ludovic St. Fleur, who is currently working with the new church plant in Port au Prince, the capitol city of Haiti. St. Fleur explained how he became a part of the Church of the Brethren, meeting up with deacons from the church after he first came to the US and learning about Brethren teachings and practices. St. Fleur said that shortly after he was baptized into the church, he decided to plant a church in Haiti.

The church plant in Haiti is growing quickly. It also is dreaming of starting a number of “preaching points” in different neighborhoods of Port au Prince. “I have a dream and my dream is fulfilled,” said St. Fleur.

He also invited his friend, Fradet Pharicien, to say a few words. Pharicien led to group in a lively rendition of “This Is the Day,” in Creole and English. The breakfast closed with some questions to St. Fleur as well as a more in depth discussion of BWM’s work.

--Jake Blouch is a Ministry Summer Service intern with Messenger magazine

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.