Southern Pennsylvania District conference 'attracts Ivan.'

"For the second year in a row, district conference attendees were faced with a tropical storm," reported Georgia Markey, associate executive for Southern Pennsylvania District. "This year, tropical storm Ivan found its way into central Pennsylvania causing some persons to experience travel concerns, flooded basements, detours, or having to cancel their attendance at conference. For those persons, the 2004 district conference theme, 'It is well...' may not have been accurate," she commented.

Out of a possible 157 delegates from congregations, 133 attended the conference Sept. 17-18 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Up to 124 non-delegates attended. A pre-conference workshop drew 53 people in addition to staff and presenters. The conference featured worship, business sessions, and six insight sessions. The opening worship service featured Bob DeSalvio preaching on "Where Is the Peace?" and his personal story of ministering to a mobster. Nineteen district ministers were re-licensed during the service.

"Business began with a joyous note as conference delegates received into fellowship two delegates from the Trinity Church of the Brethren," Markey reported. The congregation is a "daughter church" of Upton Church of the Brethren outside of Greencastle, Pa. Reports were received from district and denominational agencies and congregations responded to the conference theme. Three ministers were recognized for 50 years of service: Paul Ritchey, David Wilson, and J. Donald Plank. Delegates examined revised by-laws "that have been several years in the reworking," Markey said. "After much discussion, delegates accepted the revised by-laws, only after voting to return the suggested 'slate' process back to a ballot process."

Delegates affirmed the conference ballot calling Paul Holtry as moderator elect; Julian Dunnick, Kenneth Stewart, Galen Heckman, George Martin, Kenneth E. Boyer, Frank Leaman, and John F. Hess to the district board; Larry Dentler to Standing Committee; Bonnie Colantoni-Owens, Clarence Stouffer, Carole Crusey, and Arthur Lewellen to the Nominating and Personnel Committee; Ruth Cook and Wanda Smith to the Program and Arrangements Committee; Mel Fleming, Abe Fisher, Eric Longwell, and Mary Jo Stevenson to the Camp Eder board; Harold Yeager and William Hartman Jr. to the Elizabethtown College board; David E. Miller and Victor S. Norris to the Children's Aid Society board; and Richard Godfrey, Gary Meyers, and David Wampler to the Brethren Home Foundation board. The district board called John Hess as chair and Wilmer Horst as vice chair.

A Church of the Brethren pastor, Dan Lehigh, was introduced as the Carlisle Trucker Traveler Ministry Chaplain. Discussion of the ministry included gratitude for the opportunity to "have one of our own ministers serving in this capacity" and concern about lack of financial support, Markey said. Southern Pennsylvnia District is a partner in the funding of this ministry. "However, only half of the needed resources is being received, thus not allowing the Pennsylvania Council of Churches and the Truckstop Committee to offer the position as fulltime," Markey said. Two plank-bottom chairs were auctioned for $325 to benefit the ministry.

Source: 11/19/2004 Newsline