Days to District Conference!

57th Annual District Conference

October 2-3, 2026

Moderator Dave Sollenberger invites you to participate in the upcoming District Conference this October. Our worship service will take place at Living Faith (Wyomissing) Church of the Brethren in Wyomissing, PA, on October 2. The business session will once again be in the KAV at Elizabethtown College on October 3.

Theme: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4

Please read the latest articles from Dave in our recent newsletters:

March/April: Theme
May/June: Does your Jesus drop bombs?

Moderator David Sollenberger is a videographer from Annville, Pa., and a member of Mount Wilson Church of the Brethren. He has documented decades of conferences and programs of the denomination, including Annual Conference and National Youth Conference, where he has been a speaker. He is known at National Older Adult Conference for the humorous NOAC News. He has produced numerous documentaries about church ministries and history and has traveled to missions and sister churches in Nigeria and South Sudan, among others. He has served on the former General Board and on the Vision Interpretation and Implementation Committee for the Church of the Brethren Vision Statement 2012-2020. He served as the 2022 Moderator for the Church of the Brethren.

Moderator Dave Sollenberger, Mt. Wilson COB

2026 Offering

Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Fund

Every year, we collect monetary donations to help people locally or abroad. This year, our offering will go to the Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Fund. 

The Deportation Defense Response (DDR) Team was initiated by four Church of the Brethren Districts (Atlantic Northeast, Atlantic Southeast, Virlina, and Pacific Southwest), working in partnership with On Earth Peace and the Church of the Brethren Office of Intercultural Ministries. The work of the DDR Team is to exhort the church to care for our siblings and neighbors under threat of immigration-related detention and deportation. 

Intended uses of the Deportation Defense Legal and Mutual Aid Fund are to facilitate mutual aid to cover personal and legal expenses related to costs incurred for immigration, asylum, and related application fees (“papers”), immigration-related travel, airline fees, family support when a deportation has occurred, and more. Church members and congregations have given generously, but the need is still great.

You may donate to this fund during the Worship Service, Business Session, or online when registering. Would you like to donate now? Use this link to do so, and thank you!

Learn more about the DDR Legal and Mutual Aid Fund

Service Project

Central PA Food Bank (CPFB)

This year, we will collect non-perishable food donations for the Central PA Food Bank
(CPFB) in Harrisburg, PA. Service Project Flyer.

CPFB is a nonprofit organization committed to ending hunger in 27 counties across central Pennsylvania. By working with nearly 1,100 local agencies and programs (including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency food providers, and more), they serve nearly 268,000 people in need each month.

We encourage each of our ANE congregations to collect items between now and October and have your delegates bring those donations to the designated area in the lobby of the Brossman Center on the day of the District Conference Business Session. 

Most-needed items include canned vegetables and fruits, soups, pasta, rice, peanut butter, cereal, granola bars, and juice. Please check expiration dates and ensure items are unopened.

Or, you can make a monetary donation. Checks may be made payable to ANE District with CPFB in the memo line or pay via PayPal by clicking this link. Individuals can also make a donation when registering for District Conference.

Every donation, big or small, helps provide meals and relief to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Thank you for your generosity and support!

Learn more about CPFB

District Conference Events

Computer Screen with online meeting showing many faces

Delegate Briefing

Tuesday, September 8; 6:30pm, Online

District Leadership will provide background and review business items as well as provide a time for delegates to ask questions regarding those business items.

Zoom link
Bible with Online meeting with faces

Bible Study

Thursday, September 24; 7pm, Online

Nicki Habecker (Cornerstone) will lead a District-wide Bible Study focused on the theme of Conference. 

Zoom link

Worship Service

Friday, October 2; 7pm, In Person or Online

Open to all, no registration needed. Join us at Living Faith (Wyomissing) COB for a time of worship and to recognize ministry activity of the year. A link to access the livestream is forthcoming. 2026 ANE Moderator Dave Sollenberger, Mt. Wilson COB, will bring the message. Living Faith pastor Josh Tindall and others will lead music. The offering focus is the Deportation Defense Response Legal and Mutual Aid Fund. Spanish interpretation available for those in attendance. Directions.

Business Session

General Information

Saturday, October 3: Business Session, Elizabethtown College, The KAV, Brossman Commons 8:15am - 4:30pm: Registration Required. There is a limit of 200 people in attendance. In-person participation only.

Join us for a day of information, singing, learning, and sharing! In addition to voting on business and hearing updates, you will participate in table discussions regarding ANE Ministries and District leadership opportunities. 

Start your day with a complimentary buffet breakfast at 7am and visit with representatives from many organizations affiliated with the Church of the Brethren at our Expo available throughout the day!

In lieu of insight sessions, the afternoon brings an in-depth update on the Deportation Defense Response and congregational sharing from Mountville, Hatfield, and Alpha & Omega. We continue to offer an open microphone question and answer time with District Executive Pete Kontra and Board Chair Jim Grossnickle-Batterton. You may submit your question now, or ahead of time the day of Conference. We will also hear a reflection from 2026 Annual Conference Moderator Don Fitzkee.

Spanish interpretation available.  

Directions and Parking:

  • Campus Map with Parking; Google Map
  • There will be assistance available from the parking lot to the doors for those that need it. Please notify a parking attendant upon arrival.

 More details and registration link forthcoming.

Childcare Available

Childcare is available through the District at Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren for a nominal fee. Registration for childcare is required by September 15.

Childcare information
Hosting Opportunity

Consider opening your home to those participating that travel from a long distance. Several attendees need overnight accommodations between the worship service and business session. No need to provide breakfast, as it is part of their registration. Contact the office at (717) 367-4730 with your interest.