Western Pennsylvania District meets on theme, ‘Go, Run Your Race.’

Western Pennsylvania District held its 143rd District Conference on Oct. 24 at the Fred M. Rogers Center on the campus of Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa. Moderator William A. Waugh challenged the 218 participants with the theme "Go, Run Your Race." The district comprises 68 churches and two fellowships with a membership of over 9,300.

Insight sessions were held in the morning. The subjects included an overview of the work of two agencies of the denomination, the Church of the Brethren and On Earth Peace; a presentation on preparations for the Annual Conference to be held in Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 3-7, 2010; and a presentation about congregational ethics.

In a business session, a district budget of $189,824 for 2010 was adopted by 187 delegates representing 54 congregations. The delegates also approved a query to be presented to Annual Conference concerning guidelines for implementation of the Congregational Ethics paper. The delegates accepted a revised and updated version of the District Constitution that will be implemented when the accompanying by-laws are updated and approved.

New leadership was called. Ruby F. Mader was installed as moderator of the district for the next year. Wesley J. Berkebile was named moderator designate. Six people were called to three-year terms on the District Leadership Team: Betsy J. Statler, chair; Erin E. Marker; Joel A. Wilcher; William R. Frey Sr.; Jane Wolfhope; and Carol J. Walker. District treasurer Carole J. Horner was appointed to another three-year term.

Dottie H. Grew and Linda K. Stoner were called to three-year terms on the District Conference Program and Arrangements Committee. Christopher A. Forry was called to a three-year term and Gerald R. Baxter was called to complete an unexpired term on the District/Camp Charitable Trust Board. Marie Camut and Donna L. Ramer were named to five-year terms on the Board of Trustees for the Brethren Home Community in Windber. Called to three-year terms on the board of directors of Camp Harmony were Erin E. Marker, Harold "Bill" Miller, Jack Harrison, and Priscilla Haines. Frank P. Young was called to serve a four-year term on the district’s gifts discernment team.

Worship and music were interspersed throughout the business of the day. A highlight of the conference was an auction of three hours of time by the district’s Children/Youth Ministries coordinator Abby Shaffer and Camp Harmony program director Dan Shaffer. The couple donated their time to encourage attendance at the district’s fourth annual Auction that took place Nov. 7. Congregations and individuals also brought enough "Gifts of the Heart" hygiene and school kits to send a full van load to be distributed by the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

-- Suzanne Moss is administrative assistant for Western Pennsylvania District.

Source: 12/30/2009 Newsline Extra