SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999

• REFLECTIONS ON ANNUAL CONFERENCE


1. This year's Annual Conference in Milwaukee focused on servant leadership. Moderator Lowell Flory guided the proceedings with a steady hand. The new moderator elect is Phil Carlos Archbold, a strong evangelical pastor from Brooklyn, New York.

2. Business was unusually light. The major item was an extensive statement on ministerial leadership which was approved. There is an almost frantic attempt to try and call 500 new leaders from across the denomination.

3. The radical feminist group known as Women's Caucus thinks that calling more women, and including gay people in leadership positions, is the answer. The same group is pushing for a denomination name change by the tricentennial in 2008. They don't like the male reference in the name "Brethren."

4. One of the reasons for two few leaders is because we have gone to an almost total volunteer system in licensing and ordaining leaders. With the advent of the full-time pastor, many congregations do not conduct elections, nor do they have any other process to call ordained leaders from their midst.

5. Wednesday night's sermon by Nancy Faus was disappointing and disturbing. She clearly identified herself with feminist causes and with a pro-gay agenda. The lyrics of some of the late night concerts were also pro-homosexual in bent.

6. By way of contrast, the Saturday night and Sunday morning sermons (preached by Kurt Snyder and Paul Mundey respectively), were good examples of Bible based messages that were sound and challenging.

7. Interest in BRF-sponsored events seemed to be stronger than ever. People were waiting in line to get into the rooms.

8. Next year's Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri will be one day shorter, and there will be considerable change in format.

9. There was an Insight demonstrating New Age TAIZE worship. The participants walk around a labyrinth which is spread out over the floor. The carpet looks like a maze, but differs in that it has no dead ends or trick turns. The labyrinth has only one path leading to the center and then back again. It is a powerful symbol designed to help the worshippers feel a greater sense of Oneness" (capital "O").

10. It was announced that BRF will be sponsoring a 'Brethren Alive 2000" Conference at Elizabethtown College on July 28-30, 2000. BRF will underwrite much of the expense.


• BVS-BRF CONTINUES IN 1999/2000


We are gratified that volunteers have come forth to serve in Maine again this year. Those who have served in 1998/99 end are returning home--are Dennis and Doris Bender (Blue Ball CoB/Atlantic Northeast District), Ben Barlow (Montezuma CoB/Shenandoah District), Jolene Lehman and Denise Negley (Upton CoB/Southern Pennsylvania District), and Corby Russell White Oak CoB/Atlantic Northeast District). --James F. Myer