From October 12th through October 15th, District members from throughout Washington and Oregon—as well as across the country through our online congregation, Living Stream Church of the Brethren—came together online and at Camp Koinonia in Cle Elum, Washington, for our 2023 District Conference.

The conference theme this year was “Living Love in Action,” drawing on 1 John 3:18, which reads: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” Our gathering explored, through discussion, worship, open-hearted sharing, and discerning the business of our district, how we as a church body and as individuals might live out the truth of the love that the divine calls us into. 

This year’s conference was the District’s first fully hybrid event, and the first District gathering in-person since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The conference began with a session engaging ministry leaders. A group of nine pastors, licensed ministers, and leaders from across the District came together Thursday afternoon to explore love-in-action in the context of ministry leadership. John Fillmore, a Church of the Brethren Circuit Rider in the Part-Time Pastor/Full-Time Church program, joined the group to lead a workshop in how family systems theory can fruitfully applied in congregational and ministry group contexts, to help foster loving relationships and nurture a thriving environment. The pre-conference group also shared in deep discussions about managing stress and navigating with love and compassion through the stormy and at times traumatic weather of the times we live in. 

Friday afternoon, folks began arriving at the beautiful Camp Koinonia, nestled amongst the shifting autumnal colors. After settling into cabins and campsites—and hopping into the District Zoom room—the conference began in full! Our time together as a conference body began with exploring the conference theme and scripture, considering together what “Living Love in Action” and the words of the Johanine letter might mean in our lives, our congregations and local communities, and our world at large. Gathered members also shared congregational stories of experiences from the past year, from challenges and difficulties to breakthroughs and moments of love-in-action. 

On Saturday morning, our conference body turned to the work of the denominational “Standing with People of Color” study/action committee. As part of their ongoing work, the committee has created a program of “Crucial Christian Conversations,” with seven prompts to guide sharing and listening about what it means for us to truly stand with people of color. These seven prompts, as well as the BELOVED model of sharing and listening that guided our time together, can be found at https://www.brethren.org/swpoc/

Barbara Daté, who has been deeply involved in the development and implementation of the seven-prompts program, helped to adapt the program for the District’s time together and facilitate the program itself, along with Harriet Koscho and Daniel Klayton. Both in triad small-groups and as a full conference body, those gathered shared and listened to experiences, stories, and commitments with vulnerability, empathy, and deep love. With heart-centered engagement, the gathering spent Saturday morning and Saturday evening walking together through the seven prompts.

On Saturday and Sunday morning, District Conference was also home to a silent auction, with proceeds supporting our District Disaster Response work. Frosty Wilkinson, the District’s Disaster Co-Coordinator, organized, set up, and led the auction. Though there was a hurdle in space logistics that prevented the auction being set up until a day late, the auction raised $905 for the ministry of disaster response. 

On Saturday afternoon, District Board Chair and acting Moderator Peggy Liley led the conference gathering through the business session of District Conference. District Executive team member and Area Minister Carol Mason led a discussion of the consensus decision-making model that guides District discernment processes. After reviewing the minutes of last year’s District Conference, the gathering heard reports from District leaders. Those reports included the Salkum church building having been sold to a Mennonite group, the District hiring a bookkeeper, the thriving growth and successes at Camp Koinonia, home rebuilding work led by the District Disaster Relief, the continuing work of Standing Committee delegate Debbie Eisenbise and District member Barbara Daté serving on the Mission and Ministry Board, the transfer of the District Office from the Olympic View Community Church to the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren, and Liz Ullery Swenson being affirmed for ordination—an ordination held the afternoon following District Conference. District Conference was also joined by denominational representatives, including Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey sharing about the work of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, Lynnae Rodeffer sharing about the work of Eder Financial, and Stan Dueck sharing about broad denominational news.

District Conference was also joined by Pastor Brandon Grady, to share about the work of the “Breaking Down Barriers” study committee on which Pastor Brandon was elected to serve. With the “Breaking Down Barriers” query coming from Living Stream Church of the Brethren, our District has been deeply committed to and hopeful for the work of this ongoing study committee. Pastor Brandon shared about the focuses, insights, and plans of the committee, and took time for questions and answers with the conference body. 

The conference gathering also discussed the District’s leasing relationship with Camp Koinonia, which will possibly be renewed in advance of the current lease arrangement’s conclusion in 2027. Kent Verbeck shared that the Camp board is hoping to develop a more detailed and comprehensive lease agreement more fully covering possible scenarios.

After approving a proposed budget for 2024, the conference body then considered new leadership terms. The conference affirmed the District Board’s recommendations that Debbie Eisenbise serve a second term as Standing Committee delegate, and that Howard Ullery serve a term as District Executive team member. Conference moderator Peggy Liley noted that the Board was not able to call a committed volunteer to serve as either Moderator or Ministry Team chair for the District. After a time of reflection and discussion, the conference body was in consensus to have these positions be vacant at the conclusion of District Conference, which then grants District Board the prerogative and duty to fill said positions for interim terms until consideration again at the 2024 District Conference. 

The business session of District Conference concluded with a time of remembrances and recognition. Among those who have passed in the year behind us, the District remembered Owen Wright’s congregational and District service, as well as Cecilia Alonzo, a church leader at the Larchmont Community Church of the Brethren and mother of Larchmont pastor David Ortega. The District also recognized Liz Ullery Swenson upon her ordination, Sam Brackett for his service in the District and at Springfield Church of the Brethren and his upcoming ministry service in Belize, Dane Breslin and Mike Rumley-Wells for their new ministry in Wenatchee, and Glenn Brumbaugh for his years of pastoral service at Olympic View Community Church as well as service in District leadership.

On Sunday morning, Carol Mason led our conference gathering in a worship service. Debbie Eisenbise, pastor with Living Stream Church of the Brethren and our District’s Standing Committee delegate, shared a message around the conference theme of “Living Love in Action.”

In the days following District Conference, there has been a shared spirit of joy in our District’s gathering—including great joy at our first in-person gathering in years—and passionate commitment to continuing the work of our District, as together we put our love into action.