Saturday, December 01, 2007

District Conference 2007

Welcoming and hospitable are two words that describe the Freeport Church of the Brethren, hosts for the 2007 District Conference held November 2-4. Greeters welcomed conference-goers as they entered the Masonic Temple where the conference was held. And great effort was given to making everyone feel comfortable and cared for. Kudos to the folks at Freeport for their responsiveness to the task of hosting this year's conference.

Moderator Joyce Person and Moderator-elect Jerry Sales provided excellent leadership during the business session. A 300th Anniversary celebration was enjoyed by all on Saturday afternoon. And a concert by "Sapphire Song" wowed the audience on Saturday evening. Joyce Person and Dennis Webb provided inspiring and challenging sermons during the Friday evening and Sunday morning worship services. The conference culminated with the commissioning of Jerry Sales as Moderator and Gil Crosby as Moderator-elect for 2008.

Business items of interest during the conference consisted of:
  1. The affirmation and commissioning of persons to positions of leadership and ministry within and beyond the district. The positions and persons called are as follows:

    Moderator-elect
    • Gil Crosby

    Financial Secretary
    • Duane Steiner

    Program and Arrangements Committee
    • Sunita Christian

    Leadership Team
    • South/Central Region
      • Bob Champlin
      • Bill Pocklington
    • Northeast Region
      • Sharon Rice

    General Board (District representative)
    • Willie Hisey Pierson

    Pinecrest Community Board
    • Jerry Griffin
    • Joel Kline
    • Gene Schmidt

    Pleasant Hill Board
    • Allen Krall
    • Barry Liss

    Camp Emmanuel
    • John Renken
    • Leon Swigart
    • Dorothea Wood

    Camp Emmaus
    • Heidi Gerdes
    • Sue Blankenship
    • Elvira Lawdenski

    New Church Development Board
    • Lisa Fike
    • Jack Flores

    Manchester College Board of Trustees, at large
    • Samuel Gunnerson
    • Jose Cardenas
    • Kyle Hupfer
    • Ruthann Knechel Johansen
    • Eugene F. Roop

  2. Approved the Study Committee Report that discerned protocols of the New Church Development Board and the Leadership Team as well as how the two teams will continue their efforts for a common purpose with separate but equally important tasks.

  3. Approved a budget for 2008 of $92,000.00.

  4. Received reports from various district and denominational agencies. Overall evaluation of the conference is that it was a good one. The First Church of the Brethren congregation in Peoria is looking forward to seeing everyone in 2008 as they will be hosting the conference November 7-9.