2023 South/Central Indiana District Conference Report (by 2023 district moderator, Mark Stahl)
The 52nd Annual District Conference of the South/Central Indiana District Church of the Brethren was held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the Creative Financial Centre in Kokomo, Indiana. Ninety-nine persons attended with 68 serving as delegates and 24 congregations represented.
Pre-conference activities were held on Friday, August 19, 2023 at the Kokomo Church of the Brethren. Friday afternoon, Jan Largent from the Union Grove CoB and a Circuit-Rider for the denomination’s Part-Time Pastor, Full-Time Church program led a Continuing Education Unit event on Ministry in Small Churches which was well-attended and very informative. A Pastor Appreciation Supper followed with good food and fellowship. An awesome concert by Friends with the Weather capped off the day.
Saturday’s activities began with conference registration and breakfast provided for by Central Section congregations and members of the Program & Arrangements Committee. This year’s Singing/Gathering Music was led by the Kokomo CoB Praise Team followed by a worship service with Moderator-Elect, Bruce Dunk, serving as the Worship Leader and Moderator, Mark Stahl, preaching on Cross-Training from Luke 9:18-27. As part of our worship, an offering for the Ministerial Excellence Project received $960.
As usual, this year’s conference business included attendees sitting at round tables to listen to a variety of reports on how God has been at work in our District this past year as well as reports from our beloved denomination, denominational agencies, and denominational affiliations. Opportunities for Table Talk, (a time for folks to discuss current business items which included the 2024 Budget and new District leadership before a vote was taken, to celebrate Christ’s work in our congregations, and to plan ways to share Christ’s work in our District with those back home), were significantly increased from past conferences. (See the 2023 District Conference minutes for complete coverage of this year’s business agenda.)
Timbercrest donated cookies for a mid-morning break and a catered boxed lunch was served by members of the Kokomo CoB. The afternoon Pie Auction for the Brethren Leadership Institute brought in $1,500.
This year’s conference ended with prayers of blessings for new leadership as 2024 Moderator, Bruce Dunk, and 2024 Moderator-Elect, Tim Troyer, sat in the center of the room while persons gathered around them for the laying on of hands and prayers led by Mark Stahl and DEM Laura Stone. Mark Stahl then passed the Moderator’s gavel on to Bruce Dunk who offered some closing remarks and brought our conference to an end.
Conference attendees were asked to evaluate this year’s District conference. Following are some highlights:
- Out of 43 responses, the Worship Service was rated Excellent or Very Good by 93% of respondents with the music/singing being a highlight for many.
- Out of 45 responses, the Business Sessions were rated Excellent or Very Good by 87% of respondents with staying on time being important.
- Out of 45 responses, the Food was rated Excellent or Very Good by 73% of respondents with some appreciating the vegetarian option and others feeling the boxed lunches created too much trash.
- Out of 45 responses, the Facilities were rated Excellent or Very Good by 87% of respondents with many commenting that the facilities were “very nice” but too cold for some.
- Out of 44 responses, the Exhibits were rated Excellent or Very Good by 84% of respondents with some wishing there were more exhibitors.
- Out of 35 responses, the most meaningful part of the conference for many was:
- Worship (including singing/music before and during worship),
- Fellowship (being with/seeing old/new friends/District family),
- increased Table Talk,
- the Reports and Insight Sessions,
- being centrally located, among many other things.
- Out of 22 responses, ways to improve future conferences include: Table Talk (longer/fewer sessions, facilitators for discussion with reporting back to District); hold Conference in churches or Camp Mack; and, shorten conference to ½ day.