Meeting in Elgin, Ill., Feb. 29-Mar. 2, the Annual Conference Anniversary Committee continued to plan for the 300th Anniversary of the Church of the Brethren, to be celebrated in 2008. A highlight of the meeting was the selection of a logo to illustrate the anniversary theme, "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit." The logo, designed by Becky Goldstein of Boise, Idaho, will be unveiled at Annual Conference this summer.
In other business, the committee continued collaboration with Brethren Press about anniversary publications; met with Chris Douglas, the General Board's director of youth and young adult ministry, to discuss ways in which youth might be engaged in celebrating the anniversary; and began designing an anniversary website. Brethren Benefit Trust is offering technical assistance and funding the development of the site. A call was issued earlier this year for musical submissions (hymns, anthems, folk songs, children's songs, etc.) based on the anniversary theme. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2005. Calls for other types of resources will be forthcoming. The committee's next meeting is scheduled for October in Ashland, Ohio, with the Tercentennial Committee of the Brethren Church to further define cooperative efforts, including some joint events at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in 2008. Members of the committee are Jeff Bach, Don Durnbaugh, Dean Garrett, Leslie Lake, Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, and Lorele Yager, with Lerry Fogle, Annual Conference executive director, serving ex-officio. |
Source: Newsline 3/19/2004