July 30-August 1, 2021
Faith Mennonite Church, Newton KS
Woven into God’s Story
The WDC Annual Assembly will be held July 30-August 1. This will be a “hybrid” event – some parts will be only virtual, other parts will be only on-site, and much of it will be hybrid with people on-site and virtual sharing together. The on-site parts will be held at Faith Mennonite Church, 2100 North Anderson, Newton, KS.
The Assembly theme will be “Woven Into God’s Story” using Scripture themes from Colossians 2:2-7. Michele Hershberger, Bible and Ministry Professor, Hesston College, will be our keynote speaker and storyteller. We look forward to other storytellers throughout the weekend, as well.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEKEND
Friday, July 30
7:00 pm – Worship (On-site or Livestream)
Saturday, July 31
7:45 am Morning Prayer (Online only)
8:30 – 10:30 am – Delegate Session (Zoom only)
11:00 am – 4:30 pm – Seminars (On-site and online options, more specifics to come!)
12:00 – 1:30 pm – Lunch
4:30 – 5:00 pm – Free Time (Options: Resource Library book sale under the tent, display tables and institutional partner videos in sanctuary)
5:00 pm – Food trucks, Love Feast worship around supper tables
7:00 – 8:00 pm – Storytelling Festival (On-site or Livestream)
Sunday, August 1
10:30 am – Worship (On-site or Livestream)
Note that the delegate session on Saturday morning, July 31, will be online only. Each delegate will need to have the ability to join via Zoom on their own (not shared) device. With this format, as was done last year, delegates may only carry one vote. Congregations are eligible for one vote for every thirty members or fraction thereof (ex: a congregation with 32 members has two votes).
There will be a good assortment of seminars representing the work of WDC Task Forces and Committees, as well as some guests from beyond our conference.
Saturday meal options: You are welcome to order a box lunch as part of your registration. Food trucks will be on-site to offer supper options. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and/or supper, if you wish. We will be sharing communion around the supper table and virtually, so we hope you will join us for the evening meal.
Childcare available for children age 3 and under. Childcare will be offered on Friday from 7:00-8:30 pm, on Saturday from 11 am-12 pm, and 1:30-4:30 pm, and on Sunday from 10:30-11:30 am. Just let us know on the registration form if childcare is needed.
Cost: By donation. (Suggested donation: $85/person – participating on-site or $35/person – participating virtually.) Congregations that will gather for a virtual “viewing party” could consider sending a donation of ~$300 for the group. Please give as you are able in order to cover the costs of this event. Thank you!
Pandemic protocols will be in place. Fully-vaccinated attenders will not be required to wear a mask. Unvaccinated persons are asked to wear a mask when indoors. Tents outside will provide safer spaces for meals and snacks. The registration form includes a Covid-19 waiver form that registrants are asked to read and agree to.
Special Annual Assembly Storytelling Opportunity! WDC’s Assembly theme July 30-August 1 is “Woven into God’s Story.” When was the last time you really listened to the story of someone who doesn’t see the world as you do? The folks at One Small Step have invited WDC to partner with their storytelling project, One Small Step, to share and record our own stories within WDC. One Small Step is an initiative to facilitate conversations across differences, between people who may disagree politically. It’s not a debate. It’s a chance to spend time virtually with someone different than you and discover the stories behind each other’s beliefs. It’s up to the two conversation partners if they choose to share their recording or not. If so, it would become part of WDC’s oral history. This would be an added gift to us. To join another WDC member for an online conversation, sign up at https://onesmallstep.storycorps.org/wdc/. The registration deadline is June 25 and virtual recordings will be scheduled July 28-30 (space is limited). Here are some examples of One Small Step stories.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
CHURCH DELEGATE LIST Churches – use this FORM to submit delegate names.
INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES
(POST ASSEMBLY) MINUTES, BUDGET, ELECTION RESULTS, DELEGATES
RESOLUTIONS POLICY: Resolutions must be submitted a minimum of 120 days prior to Annual Assembly (in 2021, that date is April 2). Send to: WDC Executive Board, PO Box 306, North Newton KS 67117