2. While some of the delegates were anything but bashful, and picked away at lots of small pieces of the business—when the votes were counted, the decisions pretty well kept the Church of the Brethren on a steady course consistent with recent years' directions. This means among other things that homosexual practice is still not acceptable in the Church of the Brethren. We are grateful to God for this.

3. The "Denominational Name" study committee's final report was approved with overwhelming evidence that there is still widespread affirmation given to the name Church of the Brethren.

4. The Committee studying the "Congregational Disagreement with Annual Conference Decisions" query amazingly completed its work in one year. There was considerable opposition expressed on the Conference floor because it contains some mild restraints for congregations that choose to be in opposition to the Annual Conference. But it finally passed by a strong vote.

5. It is clear from some of the discussion of the issues, that there are some Brethren who want no boundaries, no accountability, and no discipline in the church. While Matthew 18 has been a long-standing doctrine of the Brethren as a way to deal with wayward members, it is deployed very little in these days.

6. The Conference accepted a recommendation to study, and to begin to implement, a greater attempt at reaching out to the multi-ethnic and cross-cultural communities in places where we are living. An annual report on progress in this area is to be given for five consecutive years.

7. This year the tickets for seats at the BRF meal events were grabbed up faster than in any previous year. We will need to consider if we want to enlarge the capacity for BRF events at future conferences.

8. It is very clear that BRF's "Get Back to the Bible" emphasis is still very much needed in the Church of the Brethren. Numerous comments were heard that if it were not for BRF's influence and emphasis, some Brethren would have left the church long ago.

9. Recently, in response to the question, "Which way are the theological winds blowing in the Church of the Brethren?" Stan Noffsinger, the new Church of the Brethren General Secretary, said, "The church is becoming more conservative." While this is encouraging to hear, it does not mean that all is well in the Brotherhood.

10. One of the most disturbing things that was seen at Annual Conference this year, was a wedding photo of a male homosexual couple. This was on display at the Womaen's Caucus booth. One of the men in the picture was dressed in a typical woman's white wedding gown. And underneath the upper part of the gown, it was clearly obvious that artificial breasts had been constructed on him, enabling him to have a woman's figure! No wonder some imagine hearing the monkeys say, "The human race surely didn't descend from us."

11. Ron Beachley, the District Executive/Minister from Western Pennsylvania, was elected to serve as Moderator Elect. He will assist Moderator Jim Hardenbrook as he leads Annual Conference at Peoria, Illinois, July 2-6 in 2005. We pray God's blessing on them as they give leadership to the Brethren.