The above title was the name of the 76th BC Conference that Walter and Brenda attended in Salmon Arm. Although now a little "old history", it gives some personal impressions of this event...

God’s Spirit was alive in and through our prayer, bible study, table discussions, panel speakers, and ordination of candidates.

We reflected on our witness to Christ in the world both as the gathered community of faith and as individuals.  We talked about the struggles of faithful witness.  From Luke 4:14-30  we reflected when in our corporate and personal lives responding to our call led into conflict.  A highlight of the Conference for me was listening to Omega Bula ( GC Minister for Racial Justice) and Derek Evans ( Exec. Dir, Naramata Center) reflecting upon their struggles with their sense of call.  Omega (from South Africa) struggles with invisibility because of her gender and colour.  Derek talked about when we let our power fall away and do not speak our truth.  “As witness to Christ we should not allow it to be easy for the world to be destructive. “

The mission of the BC Conference Executive is:  Healthy congregations and ministries; Effective leadership; Faithful public witness.  This conference focused on Faithful public witness.  We heard about our presence at the Woodward Squat, and the temptations faced by churches in residential school settlements.

Petitions to General Council:
• Lay Administration of the Sacraments:  Carried
• Companion to Voices United:  non-concurrence
• Sabbatical leave for pd. Accountable ministry:  Carried
• Endorse Earth Charter:  Carried
• Cover insurance costs for Outdoor Ministry:  Carried

Resolutions:
• Assist victims of government policies and bear active witness in our communities to justice:  Carried
• Provide ministry in First Nations villages:  Carried
• Support BC Hydro:  Carried
• Question abuse of female children at Bountiful:  Carried
• Encourage Beads of Hope Campaign:  Carried
• Consider staff position for Learning and Leadership: Carried
• Develop guidelines to help congregation develop security and abuse policies to protect children:  referred to Conference

Petitions (green) and resolutions (blue) are on the announcement board in the foyer.

10 Top Criteria for testing choices (from the 500 delegates)
1. Prayer
2. Discernment
3. What would Jesus do?
4. Listen
5. Scripture
6. Trust
7. Creed
8. Fear (tied)
9. Love (tied)
10. Cost (tied)
 

BRENDA WAS ELECTED TO ATTEND 38TH GENERAL COUNCIL, THIS AUGUST 10-17th, IN WOLFVILLE, NS.

Four “Denominational and Faith Shaping Issues” will be discussed: Building right relationships, Mission and its Funding, What next - Remit 7 (church restructuring), Interim Report on new Statement of Faith. Denomination and Faith Shaping issues are areas which have significant impact on the following criteria:  our church’s theological or missiological directions; our denomination as a whole; our financial resources and polity.
 

It was a pleasure to be a part of BC Conference.

Yours in Christ,

Brenda and Walter.