Open Table Cooperative kicked off Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina with over 200 people gathered for a reception dinner. The love and energy in the room was overflowing with joy. The Holy Spirit was palpable as we greeted friends from all over the country and engaged in conversations around the open tables. These questions of: “What does it mean to feel at home?” “When have you felt welcomed? “Who is it hard for you to welcome?” guided our time together at the dinner and continued at our booth space. In the coming weeks we will have a visual representation of some of these conversations to share with you.
Personally I felt a shift in the energy and tenor of conference this year. The mission of conference “to unite, strengthen and equip the Church of the Brethren to follow Jesus” was lived out in a full day of worship and workshops on Sunday. I believe this day of spiritual renewal before the business sessions began set a respectful and encouraging tone that enabled honest sharing for the business of conference. Delegates gathered around round tables again this year with time for table discussion before speaking at the microphones. For more about the business of conference visit the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference wrap-up. The one piece of business that I think is really important to note is the recommendation from Standing Committee to reaffirm the 1979 paper on Biblical authority. With a very close vote, the delegate body affirmed Standing Committee’s recommendation and reaffirmed the 1979 paper which states, “Brethren affirm the value of the continued existence of diversity in our communion, emphasizing unity and love rather than judgment and rejection”. If you want to read the full 1979 paper you can click here. This action of recognizing the diversity is what I carry away from the business of annual conference this year.
Outside of the business of the church Open Table joined Womean’s Caucus in honoring Pamela Brubaker as a “Mother of Caucus” and OTC was welcomed as a Supportive Community Network as a part of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interest’s worship service Tuesday afternoon. The Progressive Brethren were active throughout conference and it always a joy to see the flashes of rainbow scarves everywhere you go.
Open Table co-sponsored an insight session with On Earth Peace on Christian Economics in which Ken Kline Smeltzer, Sara Davis and Josih Hostettler shared some ways our Christian and Anabaptist faith shapes how we view economics, finance and money. An hour was not enough time and it was clear that there are many questions around how we might approach and support our brothers and sisters in regards to social security, universal health care and student debt. I imagine this conversation will continue next year and in other arenas in the church. Open Table also sponsored a Tuesday evening Insight Session where Carol Wise, Matt McKimmy, Audrey deCoursey shared from their experience with alterative ways of being church. Matt, pastor of Richmond Church of the Brethren, talked about a gathering called “Distilled Theology” where they discuss the intersection of theology, spirituality, and current events with the help of blogs, books and videos. Audrey, pastor of Living Stream Church of the Brethren, talked about how the internet has shaped how her congregation meets, communicates, and how that changes our understanding of “church” and Carol Wise, Common Spirit COB in Minneapolis, spoke about the strength in community cultivated in a House Church style of meeting. Again, an hour was not enough time and I have heard a call for a follow-up Insight Session in Columbus next year as it is something we are all exploring.
and the
Open Table Cooperative Board,
Kathy Fry-Miller, Josih Hostetler, Aaron Ross,
Ken Kline Smeltzer, Elizabeth Ullery
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