July 15-19, Kansas City, Missouri
(Some general, positive, and negative observations)
1) This year’s Annual Conference was one day shorter than previous Conferences, but seemed sufficiently long because there were fewer significant (or controversial) issues that needed action.
2) Lots of pauses, listening times, singing verses of choruses and hymns, pondering questions, moments of silence, etc. (called “worshipful work”) were engaged in during the business sessions. There were mixed evaluations of this style by the delegates.
3) A new Congregational Structure paper was the major item of business. Congregations are free to choose from a wide range of suggested ideas as a way of trying to put new enthusiasm into congregational life. The older commission system will likely be replaced in many congregations.
4) The Conference accepted the Standing Committee’s suggestion to return a new query requesting renewed attention to evangelism. The denomination seems tired on this subject, and has not yet come to grips with the problem of membership decline that continues each year unabated.
5) We would encourage the development of some well worded queries on the importance of the Great Commission, and how it can be given high priority in the church. The queries would need to be processed through District Conferences and sent to Annual Conference next year. Some technicalities and cloudy interpretations were partly responsible for this year’s action in deciding not to multiply an evangelism emphasis in the church.
6) Joel Nogle’s Sunday morning sermon was a wonderful example expressing concern about winning the lost, and in it he reminded us that “we never looked into the eyes of anyone who didn’t matter to God.”
7) The Conference passed a helpful statement on Caring For the Poor. One of the BRF women publicly expressed appreciation for this emphasis in light of the current craze to want to be a millionaire.
8) Paul Grout, a pastor from Putney, Vermont, was called to be Moderator-Elect. Along with Moderator Phill Carlos Archbold, who is from Brooklyn, New York, the two form a team of strong Brethren preachers to lead us over the next two years.
9) Jerry Crouse gave a stirring testimony of the work in the Dominican Republic. He shared that he is a recovering non-evangelistic person. After being trained at a Brethren college and seminary, and serving as a pastor, it was in the Dominican Republic that he learned to invite people to come to Christ. It is encouraging to hear the good missionary types of reports coming back from the Dominican Republic.
10) More people came to the BRF Dinner event than the number of meals we had ordered. And when the speaker mentioned that this event is often the high point of Annual Conference, the amens and cheers went up, indicating that many others felt the same way. BRF also sponsored a noontime prayer and fasting period that had considerably more interest than the prayer sessions of previous years.
Next year’s Annual Conference is scheduled for June 30-July 4 to be held in Baltimore, Maryland.