June 25, 2003

Boise State to Host Church Of The Brethren Annual Conference

About 3,500 members of the Church of the Brethren are expected to attend the church’s 217th annual conference July 5-9 at Boise State University, with a pre-conference on July 4. Events will be held all across campus, including the Student Union, The Pavilion and the Hemingway Center.          It is the single largest room night conference the city of Boise has ever seen, with 5,000 rooms rented over the course of the event (1,000 rooms for five nights).     “We’re very excited they’re here,” said Terry Kopp, director of sales for the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s wonderful for the hotels.”     It’s also one of the largest conferences ever hosted by Boise State. The university normally hosts 50-60 conferences each summer, ranging from sports camps to orientation to outside agencies such as Idaho Fish and Game.     Leah Barrett, Student Union director, said conferences are a great way to showcase the campus and surrounding area. “It’s an opportunity for people from all over the country to experience Boise State and the city and all that we have to offer,” she said.     Conference executive director Lerry Fogle said the conference attracts families from across the country and beyond. Although church members are predominantly from the United States, a few will also travel from places such as the Dominican Republic, India and Iraq. Fogle said conference is a time for members to come together as a denomination to worship and transact business such as setting policy and discussing issues of the church.              This is the second time the event has been held in Idaho. The first time was in 1937, when it was held in Nampa. Since most church membership is concentrated in the eastern United States, the conference is held in the western states only once every six years, and in the Northwest only once every 12 years.     Business sessions are only open to delegates but the public is invited to all worship services. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 10 a.m. Wednesday in The Pavilion. -30- Contact Leah Barrett Boise State Student Union 426-1988 Media Contact Kathleen Craven Boise State communications and marketing 426-3275

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