Leadership and daily themes for 2006 Annual Conference are announced.

The Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee has announced preachers, worship leaders, and other leadership for the 2006 Annual Conference, as well as daily themes. The conference will take place July 1-5 in Des Moines, Iowa.

The daily theme for the first day of the Conference, Saturday, center on the Conference theme, "Together: Exercise Daily in God" and the theme scripture 1 Timothy 4:6-8 along with Philippians 1:3-7. "The Light That Guides" will be Sunday's theme, with reference to Deuteronomy 11:18, Psalm 119:97-112 and 129-136. On Monday conference-goers will be asked, "How Many Exercises Can You Do?" with reference to Joshua 1:6-9, Psalm 1:2, and Matthew 6:16-18. Tuesday's theme is "Faith Is Not Being a Couch Potato," referring to Philemon 1:4-7 and Matthew 28:18-20. On the final day, "Holding on to the Solid Rock" will serve as theme with Luke 21:19 and Hebrews 10:19-25.

Kelly Burk, pastor of Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren, will preach for the opening service Saturday evening, with worship leader Clara Glover, pastor of Stover Memorial Church of the Brethren in Des Moines. On Sunday morning, Annual Conference moderator Ronald Beachley will preach, with moderator-elect Belita Mitchell leading worship. On Monday evening, Myrna Long Wheeler, chaplain at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif., will preach with worship leader Ruben DeOleo, director of Hispanic Ministry for Atlantic Northeast District. Tuesday evening the message will be brought by Dennis Webb, pastor of Naperville (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, with worship leader Joy Zepp, pastor of Manor Church of the Brethren in Boonsboro, Md. The closing service on Wednesday morning will hear from Lisa Hess and Brian Maguire, who will serve at the Conference as consultants for Together: Conversations on Being the Church. David Shumate, executive minister for Virlina District, will lead the service.

In other leadership positions, Rosanna McFadden of Goshen, Ind., is worship coordinator. The music coordinator will be Kathy Johnson of Dallas Center, Iowa. Carolyn Fitzkee of Manheim, Pa., will direct the Conference Choir and Denise Oneal of Adel, Iowa, will direct the Children's Choir. Earla Reffner of Roaring Springs, Pa., will serve as organist and Connie Burkholder of Ankeny, Iowa, as pianist.

Bible study leaders also have been announced: Jim Lehman of Elgin, Ill.; Christy Waltersdorff of Lombard, Ill.; Bill Waugh of Greensburg, Pa.; and Hector E. Perez-Borges of Bayamon, P.R., as Hispanic Bible study coordinator. The theological studies will be led by Tara Hornbacker, assistant professor of Ministry Formation at Bethany Theological Seminary.

For more about Annual Conference go to www.brethren.org/ac/.

Source: 10/12/2005 Newsline
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