Regional Assembly Draws 400 to Purdue
Congolese cloth and a Congolese talking drum adorned the worship space for the 2008 Regional Assembly at Purdue, October 10-11.
More than 400 Disciples from across Indiana gathered at Purdue University on October 10 and 11 for the 2008 Regional Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana. The West Lafayette campus was host to Hoosier Disciples for worship, study and fellowship.
Gathering under the theme, “Did You That … Nothing Is Impossible with God!”, Indiana’s Disciples received challenging messages from Rev. Elizabeth Myer Boulton, minister of discipleship at Boston’s Old South Church, and from Regional Minister Richard L. Spleth.
The new mission partnership between the Christian Church in Indiana and the Mbandaka District of the 10th Community, Disciples of Christ, in the Democratic Republic of Congo took center stage at the assembly. This partnership was prompted by the Disciples Division of Oversees Ministry and was finalized last May when a delegation of nine Hoosier Disciples visited Mbandaka. DOM will also give oversight to the partnership.
Congolese cloth, a gift received from Rev. Illumbe, Principal Supervising Pastor for the Mbandaka District, decked the table at the focal point of the worship space. Sounds of the talking drum, a Congolese instrument, called attendees into worship. Overseas Ministry loaned the drum for use at the Assembly.
The Assembly opened on Friday afternoon with a lunch gathering for clergy and their guests, sponsored by the Pension Fund of the Christian Church. Dr. TImothy James, Associate General Minister and Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation, addressed the clergy. Dr. James drew on the theme of the assembly to remind clergy that we serve a God who specializes in the impossible.
The business and plenary session on Saturday morning featured reports from various ministry areas withing the life of the church. Absent from this assembly were any resolutions for consideration. The election of officers for the 2009-10 biennium was the only item of business requiring a vote from the assembly on the agenda. The report of the Nominating Committee was approved by unanimous voice vote.
The business session concluded with a report from the Congo Partnership Task Force. Bob Shaw, chair of the Task Force, and Cheryl Cloar, staff minister for mission and women’s ministry, discussed the partnership and presented a 12-minute video on the experiences of the delegation that visited the Mbandaka DIstrict last May.
