Fourth Meeting
Tuesday Morning, 9:00 AM
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, William G. Schlonecker at 9:00 a.m. Richard T. Paashaus read from Psalm 111:1-2 and led the conference in singing O for a Thousand Tongues. He then read various verses from Psalm 86 and Jeremiah 3:15. The conference sang, My Heart is Filled, Purify My Heart and Create in Me a Clean Heart. Mark Evans (guitar) and Eric North (piano) accompanied the men as they sang. Romans 12:1-8 was read and Richard T. Paashaus closed in prayer.
David T. Allen addressed the conference with a message entitled, A Mandate to Godly Leadership: The Mission.” He noted that our mission should be guided by our core values and grows by having Godly leaders who develop Godly leaders who develop Godly leaders. David T. Allen closed in prayer.
Report of the Registrar:
The following have requested to be excused from part or all of the 125th Annual Conference: Timothy J. Bertolet, M. E. Brown, Allen Dorst, Ferdie Madara, David H. Jones, J. Mark McCreary, John C. Vandegriff, Jr., J. Richard Vroman, Thomas L. Ward, and Guy Warner.
Resolved, that the excuses be granted.
Resolved, that the following Alternate Delegates be seated: John C. Crouch, Denville, NJ; Dan Dunwell, Las Cruces, NM; Peter Everett, Cedar Crest; Charles Webb, Lagrangeville, NY.
The following were elected:
Board of Christian Education
David W. Eisenhower (3 years)
Rachel Norris (3 years)
Board of Church Extension
Robert A. Sloan (3 years)
Board of Church Health
Byron Widger (3 years)
Board of Directors, Pinebrook Bible Conference
Clyde D. Bomgardner, Jr. (3 years)
Leroy O. Herb (3 years)
Charles D. Bomgardner (3 years)
Board of Youth and Young Adults
Ronald L. Kohl (3 years)
Historical Committee
Ronald L. Kohl (3 years)
Chairman for the 126th Annual Conference
William G. Schlonecker (1 year)
Report of the Board of Directors of Pinebrook Bible Conference (see page:)
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Charles Cole led the conference in prayer remembering the ministry of Pinebrook Bible Conference and its needs to fulfill its mission for the cause of Christ.
Resolved, that the 126th Annual Conference be held at Pinebrook Bible Conference, Stroudsburg, PA, April 27-29, 2009 beginning at 10:00 AM on Monday.
Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the 126th Annual Conference.
Randall A. Grossman assumed the role of Chairman of Annual Conference due to both the Chairman (William G. Schlonecker) and Vice Chairman (Calvin T. Reed) serving on the Study Committee on the Process and Purpose of God’s Calling People to Salvation.
Report of the Study Committee on the Process and Purpose of God’s Calling People to Salvation (see page )
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
David A. Thomann, Secretary of the 125th Annual Conference reported on the results of the vote taken on the Second Reading material by the Boards of Elders of the Bible Fellowship Churches. All five resolutions received the necessary affirmative votes from the churches to be presented as Second Reading material.
Article 9 – Sin – Yes - 43, No - 9, Abstain - 1
Article 10 – Human Ability & Responsibility – Yes - 40, No - 13
Article 11 – Election – Yes 36, No - 17
Article 12 – Salvation – Yes 38, No - 15
Article 13 – Repentance – Yes - 41, No - 12
Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted at Second Reading:
§9-1 Sin, (2006 Yearbook, p. 32).
9-1. “Sin is any lack of conformity to the will of God1 or any transgression of the law of God. 2 Sin separates man from God, incurring His wrath and judgment, and is manifest in the selfishness, rebellion, unbelief and total depravity of man’s being.3 Sin is the cause of the curse on and defilement of the created universe.” 4
1 All wrongdoing is sin (1Jo.5:17a). Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins (James 4:17).
2 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness (1Jo.3:4). For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10).
3 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, (2) in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. (3) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” (Eph. 2:1-3). “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, (19) since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (20) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom.1:18-21). Also Rom. 3:10-12, Rom. 8:7-8.
4 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Rom.8:22). (See also Gen.3:17,18).
[SECOND READING]
Yes - 135, No - 22
Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted at Second Reading:
§10-1 Human Ability and Responsibility
10-1 In his original creation man was endowed with the ability to will and do good or evil and was accountable for his willing and doing.1 But through the fall of Adam man lost his ability, apart from God's grace,2 to will and to do those things necessary for a right relationship with God;3 however, he is still accountable to God for obedience to all of His commands.4 Man has not lost his ability to make decisions,5 but left to himself, he acts only in accordance with his fallen, sinful nature.6
10-2 “Only by God’s infinite grace can man will or do anything necessary to his salvation. 7 By that grace, God saves those men whom He causes to will and to do good;8 however, He does this without nullifying man’s ability to act responsibly. 9
1 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die" (Gen.2:16,17).
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath (Eph.2:1-3).
3 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God (Rom.3:11). Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God (Rom.8:8).
4 God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (Rom.2:6-10). In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).
5 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live (Deu.30:11,19).
6 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Rom.3:10,12). Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil (Jer.13:23). (See also footnote 2).
7 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy (Rom.9:16).
8 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:18) Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – (13) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)
9 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Phil.2:12,13).
[SECOND READING]
Yes - 137, No - 24
Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted at Second Reading:
§11-1 Election
11-1 Election is a free act of the sovereign God in which from eternity, 1 for reasons known only to Himself, 2 and apart from any foreseen faith and/or goodness found in man, 3 He graciously chose from among the fallen mankind a people unto salvation, 4 that they might be conformed to Christ’s image. 4 Those so chosen He redeemed by His Son5 and seals by His Spirit. 6
1 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will (Eph.1:4,11).
2 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Mat.11:27).
3 Who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Tim.1:9). For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. (Romans 8:29-30)
4 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph.4:13).
5 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth (2 Thes.2:13).
6 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Eph.1:13).
[SECOND READING]
Yes - 119, No - 42, Abstain - 1
Resolved, that we adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. as Thomas P. Shorb closed in prayer.