A host of activities keep Conference-goers busy.

A fourth of July rally following the visit of President Bush to Charleston, an exhibit of boots related to the Iraq war, as well as the usual host of insight sessions, meal events, Bible and theological studies, support groups, and age-group activities, all kept Conference-goers busy in Charleston this year.

Marching behind a banner proclaiming, "Church of the Brethren: A Living Peace Church," hundreds of Conference attendees participated in a rally to protest the policies of President Bush, who spoke in Charleston earlier in the day on July 4.

The action also involved the West Virginia Patriots for Peace and the Sierra Club. The group assembled at the US Courthouse in Charleston, where a "wall" was stretched across the steps bearing the names of more than 800 US military personnel who have been killed in Iraq since the invasion.

Among the many protesters were 18-month-old Michael Bidgood Enders--with his dad, Greg--and Dale Brown, who has led and participated in many peace demonstrations over the decades. The action was coordinated by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office.

An exhibit of combat boots bearing the names and home states of the US military killed in Iraq was set up outside the Charleston Civic Center on July 6-7, including an overnight candlelight vigil. The 10,000 plus Iraqi civilian casualties were also symbolically represented.

Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, was visibly moved as he addressed a press conference at the display. Noting the action just taken by Annual Conference to adopt a General Board resolution on Iraq calling the church to accountability, he called upon the church to be ready to embrace all who will be victims of this war: Iraqis, returned military personnel, families of the lost and wounded.

The American Friends Service Committee traveling display received sponsorship by the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office, On Earth Peace, Christian Peacemaker Teams, and West Virginia Patriots for Peace.

Enthusiasm for prayer and praise, study and discussion, also abounded in Charleston. An urban prayer walk blessed the streets of the city; the Brethren Revival Fellowship held its prayer and fasting session; Bible studies and theological studies were offered; and the many insight sessions gave opportunities to learn about current issues for the church and its members. Young adults were even escorted from the Civic Center at midnight one evening, having been discovered in the prayer room still praising God when the building was supposed to have been closed for the night.

Conference attendees also took advantage of service opportunities at the meeting. Some 2,500 Gift of the Heart kits and Clinic Boxes were brought to the Conference and collected by the General Board's Emergency Response/Service Ministries program. Brethren also donated 164 pints of blood in the annual blood drive. Three quilts and three wall hangings raised $20,400 in the 30th annual quilt auction sponsored by Association for the Arts in the Church of the Brethren.

The annual Brethren Benefit Trust Fitness Challenge 5K saw a record turnout with around 160 participants, as opposed to the usual 90. For the first time, the largest group registered were women walkers age 40-59. First place runners were Courtland Howard and Deb Morris Crouse. First place walkers were Bev Anspaugh and Don Shankster.