The Fall 2003
Annual Gathering
of
Voices for an Open Spirit
in the Church of the Brethren
Fostering openness and inclusion,
building bridges, and seeking common ground
Best Western Plaza
Hotel and Convention Center
Elgin, Illinois
November 7-9, 2003
"Grounded in Christ, Living in the Fullness of God."
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that suprasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. –Ephesians 3:14-19
Rooted and Grounded
The presentations and the discussions are designed to help participants understand and deal with difficult and divisive issues in the Church of the Brethren at the denominational, district, and congregational levels and to develop approaches for creating dialogue and for making connections with those who seem to be on the “other side”
Come and connect with people who share your concerns for the church, who want to live in the inclusive love of God in Christ, who want to call the church to embody that love, and who want to live out that love by reaching out across the divides in the church and finding the connections that bind us together as the body of Christ.
Exchange of ideas and action
The intent of this weekend is to bring Brethren together to talk and listen to one another, to examine ourselves and the church, to seek the leading of the Spirit, to find common ground, and to strengthen one another to act.
The sessions will alternate presentations by invited resource people with intense sharing and interaction. There will also be times for rest and quiet sharing. A place will be reserved throughout the weekend for reflection and prayer. The Best Western Plaza has a pool that will be available to participants.
Arrangements
Shuttle service will be available from Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway.
If children or youth come with their parents, there will be an effort to provide activities and/or childcare.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2003
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6:00
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Registration
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|
6:45
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Welcome & Announcements
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7:00
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Worship
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|
7:30
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Opening Addresses--the view from the church
Two church leaders will address the following questions: We know what the vocal groups in the Church of the Brethren are saying, including VOS supporters, but what are the thousands of people in the local congregations saying and thinking, those who are not engaged in wrestling with controversial issues? And how do we build bridges across the deep differences in the church and make connections with those quiet ones in the middle?
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9:00
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Social time
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2003
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8:45
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Worship
|
|
9:00
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Keynote Address—Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
President, Chicago Theological Seminary
Dr. Thistlethwaite will bring her experience as president of a very diverse student body and her knowledge of many different denominations to give insight into how other Christians are dealing with diversity and deep differences in the body of Christ.
|
|
9:45
|
Respond and discuss with Dr. Thistlethwaite
Brief triads to focus questions/discussion
Question/answer time
|
| 11:15 |
LUNCH |
| 12:30 |
Panel of District Executives
This panel will focus on the same questions addressed by the Friday night speakers, only from the standpoint of the specific realities in the panelists’ districts. |
| 1:45 |
Break-out discussion sessions |
| 2:45 |
Full-group dialogue with District Executives |
| 3:15 |
Free time |
| 5:45 |
Dinner |
| 7:00 |
Meditation |
| 7:15 |
Four Break-Out Resource Sessions
“ Ordination in a Time of Controversy”
Leader: Melissa Bennett, Pastor, Beacon Heights (IN) CoB
“ Spirituality for the Long Haul”
Leader:
“ Polity 101”
Leader: Bill Eberly, retired professor, Manchester College (IN)
“ Common Ground”
Leader: Jim Lehman, writer/publisher, Elgin (IL) |
| 8:30 |
Back together—discuss, report |
| 9:00 |
Late-Night Singing and Sharing
For night owls and those with energy left |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2003
|
9:00
|
Worship
|
|
10:00
|
Looking to the Future
|
| 11:15 |
Closing
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