News Release
June 2004
(Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)— The Moravian Church
will host a synodical conference for the Eastern District at Moravian
College from June 16-19, 2004. A synod is an assembly of church delegates,
including clergy and lay people, who are called together every four
years for discussion, decision, and policy-making regarding church
matters.
This year’s synod, themed “Our All to Give, Our Faith
to Live,” will include times of worship, plenary sessions, committee
meetings, and fellowship. There will also be on-site displays of various
Moravian organizations for the sharing of information and ministry
ideas.
Approximately 220 delegates, pastors and members elected by their
congregations, from Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey,
New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada will be attending
the event.
The Moravian Church was founded in Germany more than 500 years ago
and at that time was officially called the Unitas Fratrum, or Unity
of the Brethren, which remains the church's official name today. The
Moravian Church is one of the oldest Protestant denominations dating
back to 1457 in Europe and first coming to America in 1735. Moravians
have a strong tradition of ecumenical work and are best known for their
missionary work and rich musical heritage. The Moravian Church in North
America is comprised of the Northern and Southern Provinces. The Northern
Province has approximately 28,000 members in 102 congregations in 13
states in the U.S. and two Canadian provinces. The Southern Province
includes nearly 20,000 members in 58 congregations, which are located
primarily throughout the Southeast. Moravians now number more than
789,000 worldwide and are spread across five continents and more than
20 jurisdictional provinces.
All delegates and guests will participate in a special worship service
at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 19, to conclude the conference. The service
will include the installation of the newly elected Eastern District
Executive Board as well as Holy Communion. Weather permitting, the
service will be held outside of Reeves Library on the Moravian campus.
In case of inclement weather, the worship service will be held at College
Hill Moravian Church, 72 West Laurel St.
For more information contact Deanna Hollenbach Director of Communication,
Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in North America
at 610.867.0593 or E-mail: deanna@mcnp.org
