Wednesday, July 4
Highlights of the Day

[Business | Photo | Worship]

Photo by Glenn Riegel Three years of Annual Conference moderators pose for the camera: (from left) 2008 moderator Jim Beckwith, 2007 moderator Belita Mitchell, and moderator-elect David Shumate, who will serve as moderator in 2009.

Photo by Glenn Riegel Mitchell and Beckwith extent a blessing to the congregation during the closing worship service of the annual meeting.

Photo by Genelle Wine The 2007 Conference was graced by the attendance of Clair Throne, of Brook Park, Ohio, who will turn 99 this August. He attended with daughters Bonnie Smith and Marilyn Barkdoll.

Quotes of the Day

“We are meant to be filled with the very power of God.”
--Ataloa Woodin, pastor of Community Brethren Church in Fresno, Calif., preaching for closing worship

“With hope and love we shall only grow in many ways from this point forward.”
--Jeff Payne, pastor of Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren, speaking to the Conference from the floor

A Bit About Cleveland
"1952--Alan Freed, Cleveland radio DJ, coins the term ‘Rock n’ Roll.’ First rock n’ roll concert, The Moondog Coronation Ball, is held in Cleveland.”
--From the website of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, www.travelcleveland.com.

Overview of the Day
The closing day of the 2007 Annual Conference began with Bible studies, a theological study, children’s activities, and a final business session. Preaching for closing worship was Ataloa Woodin, a pastor in Fresno, Calif. A consecration was held for the new 2008 moderator Jim Beckwith, and moderator-elect David Shumate.

Registration
A total of 3,578 people registered for the 2007 Annual Conference, including 831 delegates and 2,747 nondelegates.

Results of the Quilt Auction
The annual Quilt Auction sponsored by the Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren raised $7,558.58 for hunger relief. Wallhangings and quilts were auctioned, and in a special auction, an autographed copy of the 300th anniversary calendar was sold.

Results of the Blood Drive
The Annual Conference blood drive collected a total of 212 units of blood over three days. The drive is in cooperation with the American Red Cross.

Conference meets in a historic venue
As attested by the photos that cover the walls of the Stage Manager’s Office in the Cleveland Convention Center, this year’s Conference has been held in a historic venue. The moderator has led business from a stage that has seen the likes of world renowned celebrities since that part of the convention center was built in 1922. Ozzie and Harriet performed on the stage in 1922, and the list of other celebrities who have performed there in the years since includes Frank Sinatra, Marion Davies, Bette Davis, Judy Garland, Arthur Treacher, Liza Minelli, Carol Channing, Lena Horne, Abbot and Costello, and Peter, Paul and Mary, among others.

Photo by Regina Roberts Moderator Mitchell displays gifts received from her home congregation: First Church of the Brethren in Harrisburg, Pa.

Photo by Regina Roberts Jim Beckwith displays a bottle of water from the Eder River in Schwarzenau, Germany, in anticipation of leading the 300th anniversary celebration of the church.

[Business | Photo | Worship]