2023 District Conference

Post-Conference Resources:

Slideshow – Moderator Visits to Northern Plains District Congregations
District Conference Photo Album
Conference Minutes

Conference Resources:

Livestream Schedule:
Friday Worship – 6:30pm, facebook
Saturday Worshipful Work – 8-3:30, facebook
Saturday Worship – 6:30pm, facebook
Sunday Worship – 10am, youtube (South Waterloo’s Channel)

Reference:
Conference Booklet
2023 Standing Committee Delegate Written Report

Forms:
Discernment of District Leadership
Assessment-Evaluation

Share your photos & videos of conference:
Add to our District Conference Photo Album
Or text photos to Hannah (515-460-5365)

Also: Check out a preview of our new website

Logo Created by Joanna Erbaugh (used with permission)

2023 District Conference, August 4 – 6
South Waterloo Church of the Brethren
Theme: “LOVE – There is More Love Somewhere”
Moderator: Barbara Wise Lewczak

Registration Forms – Due to Ida July 20:
Please register one of two ways

1. Print and fill out a Paper Registration Form (includes child/youth activity registration) and mail along with a check to Ida:
– Paper Registration Form

2. Register and pay using our online form, with separate child/youth activity form:
– Online Registration Form
– Child/Youth Activities Form

Already Due – Delegate Certifications (sent in from the church Pastor/clerk)

District Conference Fees:
Delegate certification @ $35.00/delegate (the church is expected to pay for this.)
Registration fees @ $10.00/per non-delegate over 30 years of age

Speakers
Friday evening: Barbara Wise Lewczak, Northern Plains District Moderator
Saturday evening: Youth and others from our District 
Sunday morning: Madalyn Metzger, 2023 Annual Conference moderator

2023 District Conference Schedule

Hotels in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids
There is a large Irish celebration in Waterloo the same weekend of District Conference.  I will advise you to get your hotel reservation sooner than later if possible. Limited housing with South Waterloo Church of the Brethren members may also be provided.

Waterloo:
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Waterloo
1809 Laporte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 427-6046
Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels – Waterloo/Cedar Falls
LaPorte Rd, 1825,1825, Waterloo, IA, 50702
855-516-1090 
Baymont by Wyndham Waterloo
1945 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 486-1164
Comfort Inn & Suites Waterloo 
2011 Laporte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 234-5452
Hampton Inn Waterloo
2034 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-2044
Suburban Studios Waterloo
2056 LaPorte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
1-800-760-7718
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Waterloo
2134 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-2500
Holiday Inn Express Waterloo
2127 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 493-7996
Motel 6 Waterloo, IA – Crossroads Mall 
2141 LaPorte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-9191

Cedar Falls:
Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls IA – University
7515 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 553-6868
Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls
7213 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 266-6611
Comfort Suites Cedar Falls
7402 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 273-9999
Holiday Inn & Suites Cedar Falls
7400 HUDSON ROAD, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 260-2600
Suburban Studios Cedar Falls
300 Viking Rd, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 268-2222
AmericInn by Wyndham Cedar Falls
5818 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 277-6166
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Waterloo/Cedar Falls
3052 Marnie Avenue, Waterloo, IA, 50701
(319) 883-4381

Upcoming District Equipping Sessions:

Rick Polhamus-“Peace, Reconciliation, LOVE”
May 16th, 7pm

Rick Polhamus’ work as a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams is a testament to how one can effect change in war-torn regions of the world through nonviolent means.

 “So many situations and events in today’s world provoke us and others in ways that divide us and that challenges our faith. Hebrews 10:24 tells us we should ‘consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,’” said Polhamus, who will share stories from his life experiences and his work in conflict areas around the world with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) — “and how the choices we make can lead to a different response.”

Polhamus’ 18 years of work with CPT span extended stays in Israel/Palestine, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and Iraq. He has served on CPT’s steering committee and was its representative to the World Council of Churches. He coordinated CPT’s “Adopt-a-Detainee” program in Iraq, which dealt with abuses of Iraqi detainees, especially at Abu Ghraib prison.

Also, he led numerous international CPT delegations that explored issues of conflict in Iraq and Israel/Palestine.
Polhamus has been active in providing a social justice perspective at churches, schools, colleges and universities. He works with Black Lives Matter to find nonviolent ways to address and transform situations of racial injustice. He has been involved with the Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

His presentation topics have included Theology of Nonviolence and Peacemaking, Living in a Global Community, Humor in Peacemaking, Living a Theology of Love, Conflict Transformation and Resolution, and Undoing Racism. In 2014, the Dayton International Peace Museum presented Polhamus with its Peace Hero Award.

A member of Pleasant Hill (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, he and his wife, Margie, reside on a horse farm in Miami County.

Tim Button Harrison
June 6th, 7pm

Tim will share his thoughts, learnings, etc. on his trip to reconnect with a black family from Carrollton MS with whom he stayed as part of Heifer Project in 1970 and Grundy/Carrol County Pig project.  Tim will also visit other historical sights and museums learning more about the multi-cultural history and varied influences of the civil rights movement. 

Tim Button-Harrison works out of his home in Ames, Iowa as part-time District Executive, aligning the District around five key areas: LEADERSHIP, OUTREACH, RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNICATIONS and STEWARDSHIP. Tim says, “I am privileged to work with church leaders who are spiritually growing and faithfully joining hearts with those in their congregation and beyond. Inspiring a shared vision, modeling the way, encouraging the heart, and challenging the process are leadership traits I am developing in myself and others to help the District grow spiritually and numerically.”

Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82989471740?pwd=dUpSaCtRMS9LTmY3L3VLbmVKUElJZz09
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,82989471740#,,,,*545498#
Dial in: 1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 829 8947 1740
Passcode: 545498

Did you miss out on the last sessions?
Video Link to May session
Video Link to April session
Video Link to March session
Video Link to February session
Video Link to December session

Resources:
Messiah’s Birth in Matthew: Hebrew Bible Connections and Contexts – Powerpoint
Steven Schweitzer, Academic Dean and Professor, Bethany Theological Seminary
Messiah’s Birth in Matthew: Faithfulness in a Fearful World – Powerpoint
Dan Ulrich, Wieand Professor of New Testament Studies, Bethany Theological Seminary