June 15, 2009

ELGIN, IL – An Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren on June 26-30 will bring delegates from across the country to San Diego, Calif. This will be the 223rd recorded Annual Conference for the Church of the Brethren.

The Annual Conference will meet on the theme, "The old has gone! The new has come! All this is from God!" (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).

David Shumate of Roanoke, Va., will serve as moderator of the Conference, which is the highest elected position in the church. He also serves as executive of the church's Virlina District.

The Conference will welcome church members from across the US and Puerto Rico, and delegates from the Church of the Brethren's 1,000 congregations and 23 districts. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend, including church members and families, pastors, denominational officers, and church staff.

Eric H. F. Law will bring the Sunday morning message on June 28. An Episcopal priest and consultant in the area of multicultural ministry, he is author of a number of books including "The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb: A Spirituality for Leadership in a Multicultural Community" and "Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear."

Business for the delegate body includes "A Statement of Confession and Commitment," which is a paper from the district delegates addressing a call to unity on issues of sexuality; a paper offering "A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues"; queries from congregations on the issues of "Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships" and "Secret Oath-Bound Societies"; and revised bylaws for the denomination, which last year underwent a restructuring. Also on the agenda are reports from church programs and elections of church officers.

Programs for the children, youth, and young adults plan to take groups around the San Diego area to do community service projects during the Conference. The 3rd through 5th grade children plan a "Caring for Creation" service project on the beach; the junior high and high school youth plan a day of "Ministry, Calling, and Discipleship" participating in different ministries around San Diego; and the young adults plan a service project for San Diego's homeless.

In addition, in witness events, the youth group plans a peace and justice event focused on immigration concerns at the US/Mexico border; and the young adults plan a "Beach Walk for Peace."

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination stemming from the Brethren movement that began in 1708 in the village of Schwarzenau, Germany, when the eight founders were baptized in the Eder River. The denomination turned 300 years old last year. The church is committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. It is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Peace Churches (along with the Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Mennonites). The Church of the Brethren counts about 125,000 members and 1,000 congregations across the US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Haiti, and India.

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service