National Conference Committees
NATIONAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEES
Amendments
Audit
Conference Relations
Delaware Region Conference Minister Evaluation
Episcopacy
Finance
2015 Budget
Futures Initiative
Proposal
Loan & Investment
Nexus
Nominating
Pastoral Compensation
Property
Stationing
Supervisory
AMENDMENTS COMMITTEE
Listed below is the schedule we’re working with:
· Now through July 30, 2014 – Proposed amendments are sent to the Amendments Committee for review.
· October 23, 2014 – National Ministry Team receives the first presentation of proposed amendments
· October 24, 2014 – March 1, 2015 – Amendment Committee studies proposed amendments.
· March 12, 2015 – National Ministry Team’s Final review of recommended amendments
· National Conference 2015 – First vote on recommended amendments
· National Conference 2016 – Final vote on amendments
Ministries which operate under the rules of the Discipline are asked to review the sections of the Discipline that apply to your organization. If there are areas of the Discipline that need to be amended to better reflect how your group works, now is the time to take action. Please write out your specific recommended amendments in specific terms and send them to both the Amendments Committee, c/o Mr. Trent Stehr, 5554 Mohawk Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017, () and EC Church Center, 100 West Park Avenue, Myerstown, PA, 17067, (). The Committee would appreciate if the proposed amendments were sent as an attachment via e-mail rather than being sent as a paper document, if possible.
I appreciate your cooperation in keeping our E.C. Discipline a functioning and missional document.
Trent Stehr
AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee met on May 29, 2014, with Shirley Carr, David Jordan, Bob Shuey, and Christie Dennis in attendance. We reviewed the following financial statements:
National Conference of the E.C. Church
Statements for the year ended 12/31/13
Audited by Hamilton & Musser, P.C.
Benefits Corporation
Statements for year ended 12/31/12
Audited by Hamilton & Musser, P.C.
The year ended 12/31/13 will be audited in July, 2014
Evangelical Theological Seminary
Statements for years ended 6/30/13 and 6/30/12
Audited by Hamilton & Musser, P.C.
New Dawn Christian Community Services, Inc.
Statements for years ended 12/31/13 and 12/31/12
Audited by Parente Beard LLC
Rock River Bible Camp
Unaudited statements for year ended 12/31/13
Prepared by Camp Treasurer
Their statements are reviewed by Robert Hale of Hale Financial Services
Camp ECCO
Unaudited statements for year ended 12/31/13
Prepared by Camp Treasurer
Their statements are reviewed by Vince Adams, of Swallen, Lawhun & Co., CPAs
We were unable to review the following:
Twin Pines
We received a copy of a letter written by Weseloh Carney & Company LLC detailing procedures performed with respect to Twin Pine’s accounting records for the year ended December 31, 2012. However, no statements were available and no audit was performed.
Historical Society
We were advised that because of limited financial activity and small financial balances an audit is no longer performed on their accounts.
Christine Dennis
CONFERENCE RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Open Session
1. The following individuals will answer the Questions for Applicants: Nicholas Eavenson, David Julian, Mark Meister, David Mennig, Robert Romig, Jeffrey Stansbury
2. We recognize Caleb Carr and David Mennig as Approved Candidates.
Executive Session
3. We recommend that Nathanael Kennedy be ordained as an Itinerant Elder.
4. We recommend that Kenneth Ogden be ordained as an Itinerant Elder.
5. We recommend that Gregory Stefan be received into the Itinerancy.
6. We recommend that Marlin Miller be transferred from Traveling Deacon to a Licensed Pastor at his request.
7. We recommend that Jonathan Brown be transferred from an Approved Candidate to a Licensed Pastor.
8. We recommend that Russell Warner be transferred from an Approved Candidate to a Licensed Pastor.
9. We recommend that Mark Meister be received as a Licensed Pastor.
10. We recommend that Jeffrey Stansbury be received as a Licensed Pastor.
11. We recommend that Robert Romig be received as a Local Pastor.
Open Session
12. We recommend that Jacqueline Iatesta be ordained as a Deaconess in the field of Parish Nursing.
13. We recommend that Ronald Bachman be transferred from Local Elder to Licensed Deacon in the field of Chaplaincy at his request.
14. We recommend that Nicholas Eavenson be received as a Licensed Deacon in the field of Chaplaincy.
15. We recommend that David Julian be received as a Licensed Deacon in the field of Worship & Music.
16. We recommend that Mark Brownson be transferred to the Supernumerary classification.
17. We recommend that Christiaan Mann be placed on inactive status within the Ordained Elder (not in the Itinerancy) classification.
18. We recommend that Robert Bast, Harry Dow, John Haag, Donald Howell, and Kenneth Schmoyer be transferred to the Superannuated classification.
19. We have granted annual renewals for the following credentialed individuals:
a. Deacon/Deaconess – Carolyn Boussum, Lisa Custer, Donna Fillman, John Haub, Kenneth Kolakowski, Marisel Mieses, Leroy Walbert
b. Licensed Candidate – Eugene Baker, Philip Bartelt, James Danielson, Rich Graham, Jr., Wayne Houck, Joshua Reinders
c. Local Candidate – Gerald Klopp, Donald Knier
d. Approved Candidate – John Martinez, James Ritter
e. Lay Preacher Certification – Robert Fritz, Donald Romberger, Kerry Watson, Ron West
20. We recommend that Ramon Mendez and Mercedes Mendez removed from our ministerial rolls at their request.
21. We recommend that Dirk Pogue be removed from our ministerial rolls at his request.
22. We recommend that Daniel DeSchoolmeester, John Ewing, Jr., and John Miranda be removed from our ministerial rolls.
DELAWARE REGION CONFERENCE MINISTER
EVALUATION COMMITTEE
The Delaware Region Conference Minister Evaluation Team completed the evaluation of the Rev. Dr. Gary Kuehner. All pastors and lay delegates of the Delaware Region received evaluation forms, and Dr. Kuehner received a self-evaluation form.
The process provided a strong affirmation of Dr. Kuehner's ministry. The Team discovered substantial agreement between Dr. Kuehner's perception of his ministry and the perception of Delaware region pastors and lay delegates.
For example in his self-evaluation, Dr. Kuehner described his perception of the most important aspects of his job. A substantial majority of pastors and lay delegates affirmed Dr. Kuehner's priorities and goals.
The process also provided a strong affirmation of Dr. Kuehner's character. For example, the word “integrity” was used many times.
The Delaware Region Conference Minister Evaluation Team commends the Rev. Dr. Gary Kuehner for his compassionate ministry to pastors and churches under his care.
Richard T. Nahodil
EPISCOPACY COMMITTEE
This committee consists of the following members: Gerald Baum, David Dennis, Jan Fryer, Bruce Hill, Marlin Lafferty, Mark Micklos, Margie Miller, and Paula Osborne. Mark Micklos has replaced Mary Wagner who asked to step away from this committee. Thank you Mary, for your years of service.
We have met with the Bishop at various times throughout the year to listen to his heart’s concerns for this denomination. It is an opportunity for him to voice his concerns knowing that what is discussed is sometimes for our ears only. We hear him, we encourage him and we pray for him. The task of bishop is a daunting one for as he has said, with all the concerns of the church, “the buck stops here”.
He has a great concern for the over-all ministries of the E.C. denomination and all the internal workings of the seminary, the retirement home, our various camps, Church Center, and of course all the individual churches and pastors. All these ministries need finances to operate correctly and efficiently and thus that is another great concern on his shoulders. All this has led to the idea of taking a long hard look at who we are and where, by God’s direction, we need to be – thus the Futures Initiative task force was formed.
With this heavy load on him he has worked hard at maintaining a balance between the ministry and his personal life. He is normally speaking in one of our churches three out of four Sundays each month. He does have a great staff team around him to assist in administering what needs to be done.
The National Ministry Team charged this committee to conduct an evaluation of the Bishop which is in accordance with the rules of Conference. This was completed in March of this year.
The findings are as follows:
Forms were sent to 8 members of the cabinet 5 responding (63%)
National Ministry Team 29 members 24 responding (83%)
Pastors & Lay Delegates 263 members 97 responding (37%)
The evaluation was designed to fit into one of following categories: Spiritual Leadership, Executive Leadership, Commission Leadership, Long Range Planning, Networking, and Personal & Professional Accountability. All responses were very positive in finding him to be a man of deep spiritual integrity, a gifted administrator, and one who provides leadership and organization to the National Conference as a whole. A detailed report of the evaluation was presented to the NMT at their March meeting.
The Long Range Planning responses were varied due to the unsettled feeling of our future and what the Futures Initiative Team develops for the Conference. Many responders commended the Bishop on presenting the realistic truths about the state of our denomination.
As this committee meets with the Bishop he freely gives us a clear accounting of his personal and professional activities. We feel that he is setting a good example of shepherding the flock God has given him. Having said that, we do feel that the load is at times too much for one person to handle. Many responders stated that some of the responsibilities placed on the Bishop could be delegated or shared with others to lessen his load. One of those areas is the reason for the following proposal.
RE: PROPOSAL
In accordance with Rule of Conference - 409.11, the Episcopacy Committee recommends that the National Conference of the Evangelical Congregational Church 2014 set aside provisions of the Discipline 424.1, regarding the Bishop’s chairmanship of Commissions and that we grant the Bishop the authority to appoint Chairmen to serve in his place and at his pleasure. He will remain an Ex-officio member of all Commissions. This approved proposal will remain in effect until National Conference 2016.
Marlin Lafferty
FINANCE COMMITTEE
FY2015 Budget Narrative
I. Revised 2014 Budget – approved by NMT on March 13, 2014
A revised 2014 budget was presented to the National Ministry Team for approval at their March 13, 2014 meeting. The revised budget was $74,000 lower than the original approved 2014 budget. The 2014 budget was revised due to ministry funds in 2013 were $73,000 below 2012 ministry funds and would have been $102,000 behind the approved 2014 National Conference budget. The budget was reduced by approximately $74,000 to more accurately reflect anticipated collected ministry funds in 2014. The revised 2014 ministry fund budget is $1,450,000 compared to the original ministry fund budget of $1,524,000. The following are the significant changes to the 2014 budget:
Reduction
Property Committee $ 5,000
Church Center Salaries 32,000
Latino Ministry Associate 6,000
Church Planting Associate 12,000
Retiree Health & Pension 9,000
Camp Funding 7,000
Other 3,000
$74,000
II. Submitted 2015 Budget
The proposed FY2015 National Conference budget decreased by $4,000 from the revised 2014 budget with ministry funds are remaining consistent at 8.82% with allocations to Twin Pines and Camp ECCO also remaining consistent at .65% and .13% respectively for those churches that currently support Twin Pines and Camp ECCO ministry funds. The $4,000 decrease is misleading due to the GLR Conference Minister vehicle purchase in 2014 and no vehicle purchases scheduled in 2015. If the $25,000 vehicle purchase budget is removed, for a cleaner year to year comparison, the National Conference budget is actually increasing by $21,000. As with the 2014 budget, there is $40,000 from the sale of the GLR Conference Minister parsonage is being used to balance the 2015 budget.
Other significant changes in the proposed budgeted expenses; changes greater than $5,000 are listed below: Incr/(Decr)
EC Church Center Salaries & Benefits $ 4,700
Bookstore 4,000
Denomination Leadership Health Salaries & Benefits 9,000
Automobile Replacement (25,000)
Evangelical Seminary Funding (5,000)
Hospitalization – Retirees 17,000
EC denominational leadership salaries and Church Center staff salaries are budgeted to increase 1.0% in 2015.
PROPOSAL
The Finance Committee recommends for consideration by the National Conference the following new item as a Special Rule of National Conference.
909 Moving of Ministers
NEW RULE 909.1.1 The National Conference will only pay for moves that are required by Stationing.
The Finance Committee recommends for consideration by the National Conference the following proposed rule change.
700 National Conference Finances
701 Ministry Funds. Each congregation will pay a percentage, set by the National Conference, of their adjusted monthly income, for its budgetary needs. Requests will be received by the Finance Committee from Commissions, Committees and other endorsed ministries of the National Conference. The Ministry Funds system will not be used to pay the costs of pastoral health insurance coverage. Churches will be billed separately for the payment of premiums. Medical premiums for pastors cannot be deducted as an item in the calculation of adjusted income. All churches are expected to contribute to the budget for all ministries, with the exception of our camping ministries, which will be supported by the churches in their given marketing area.
701.2 Maximum Ministry Fund Payment.
701.2.1 Churches with annual ministry fund eligible income, as defined by Rule of Conference 701.3, up to $1,000,000; the total annual payments for Ministry Funds to the National Conference will be the lower of $60,000 or the ministry fund percentage as defined in the National Conference approved budget. The annual payments to Twin Pines will be the lower of $4,500 or the Twin Pines percentage as defined in the National Conference approved budget and total annual payments to Camp ECCO will be the lower of $960 or the Camp ECCO percentage as defined in the National Conference approved budget. The total maximum annual payment to the National Conference will be $64,500, including the Twin Pines Camp allocation, or $60,960, including the Camp ECCO allocation.