Two conferences, one great faith walk.

The following is taken from a reflection by Elizabeth Waas Smith on two of the denominational conferences held in April. As a young adult at Mission Alive 2005 held April 1-3 (see the April 13 Newsline), and the Cross-Cultural Consultation, Smith experienced the two gatherings as very different but complementary:

"What struck me was just how Brethren they both were. These two conferences, very different from one another in participants' race, lifestyle, age, chosen leadership, and even culture, were both representative of our denomination.

"Mission Alive 2005 focused on the mission work of the Church of the Brethren: how we can increase our mission work overseas, how we can maintain it, and how we can spread the word of God.... At the Cross-Cultural Consultation the body had no majority; it was made up of all the minorities. As a young person, I felt welcomed and valued for my opinions. There was a lot of talk about how to integrate our denomination. There was discussion about what barriers exist between the different cultures represented in the Church of the Brethren.

"For all the differences of these conferences, at the core they want the same thing. They both want to expand the understanding love of Christ. Mission Alive 2005 focused on spreading that love throughout the world and bringing it to different cultures. The Cross-Cultural Consultation focused on spreading that love among cultures in our own denomination. We are moving toward our goal in different ways, but these two routes will make one great faith walk when they come together."

--Elizabeth Waas Smith is a Brethren Volunteer Service worker at the General Board's BVS office in Elgin, Ill.

Source: 5/10/2005 Newsline
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