Third Meeting
Monday Evening, 6:30 PM
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. as Robert C. Kaatz led in prayer.
Resolved, that the minutes of the first meeting be approved.
Report of the Board of Missions
Dana E. Weller introduced the following missionaries under the care of the Board of Missions: Matt & Sukey Lynskey, Kim Knaub, Becky Masessa and Carrie Ziegenfuss, Tanzania; Mark Wimble, Thailand, Joe Walsh, Reading, PA; Marc and Elizabeth Hoyle, France; Chris Merick, Reading, PA; Carolyn, Jerry, Peter and Samuel Moyer, France; William C. Aukamp, South Dakota; Byron Barnshaw, Reading, PA; Frank E. Lenahan, central NY; John C. Studenroth, Kutztown.
Resolved, that Dana E. Weller be ratified as Director of the Board of Missions for a three year term.
Matthew and Sukey Lynskey gave an update on the Tanzania Project. Dana E. Weller prayed for the missionary family at large and Calvin T. Reed prayed for Matthew and Sukey Lynskey (his daughter and son-in-law) and their upcoming ministry in Tanzania.
The vignette entitled “We’re going to write a doctrinal statement” was viewed.
Resolved, that the lay elders who have been elected to the Executive Board be recognized and seated within the Conference Bar and further
Resolved, that the rule of exception be used to allow the sweating at this conference.
Robert T. Evans and Charles A. Lavigna were seated into the Conference Bar.
Report of the Bible Fellowship Church Homes, Inc.
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Michael D. Roberts addressed the Conference explaining the concept of Fellowship Bible Institute which will begin offering non-credit certificate courses and pastoral seminars in September 20029.
Dean A. Stortz offered prayer for the ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church Homes.
Report of the Board of Directors of Pinebrook Bible Conference
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
David A. Thomann prayed for the ministry of Pinebrook Bible Conference which has seen countless people come to know the Lord over the years and many more dedicating their lives to His service.
Report of Directors of Victory Valley
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Douglas Manweller was introduced as the new interim executive director of Victory Valley. He will serve through the summer camp season. Harold E. Snyder led in prayer for the ministry of Victory Valley and its new interim executive director Douglas Manweller. He also prayed for Scott Ott and his pursuit of pubic office in the Lehigh Valley.
Report of the Joint Committee on Ethnic Church Planting
Their year was highlighted with a Chartering service held in the BFC in Merida, Mexico. Several members of the Ethnic Church Planting committee travel to Mexico to present the BFC Charter and to rejoice with the people there. The committee presented a video of that event.
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Report of the Board of Communications
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Resolved, that the cost of the 2009 Yearbook be $9.00 per copy.
Resolved, that a contribution of three-hundred-fifty dollars ($350.) for the conference year 2009 be given the Board of Communications from each agency to help underwrite the cost of printing and distributing the Fellowship News.
Payments are to be made to the Board of Communications by December 31, 2009
Resolved, that $1.85 per member of the Bible Fellowship Church for 2009 be forwarded to the Board of Communications from each church to help underwrite the cost of printing and distributing the Fellowship News.
Payments are to be made to the Board of Communications at the 126th Annual Conference.
Resolved, that Scott G. Ott be ratified as the Web Servant for a three-year term.
Report of the Board of Christian Education
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Report of the Board of Higher Education
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Resolved, that the Annual Conference ratify the election to the Pinebrook Educational Foundation of Gary E. Karch and Karen Stull for terms to end in 2012.
Report of the Board of Pensions
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Whereas, the MRF annuity rate for 2009 is $218 per year of service, and
Whereas, partial cost-of-living adjustments are part of the long-term-phase-out strategy of the MRF, therefore be it
Resolved, that the MRF annuity rate for calendar year 2010 be $221 per year of service.
Whereas, churches outside of the United States are becoming recognized churches of the BFC, and
Whereas, newly-recognized churches are required to support the MRF, and
Whereas, the assessment could be an undue and disproportionate burden on these non-American churches, and
Whereas, both private and government retirement programs vary from nation to nation, therefore be it
Resolved, that these churches be exempt from supporting the MRF, and be it further
Resolved that each of these churches be encouraged to make provision for the ultimate retirement of their pastors commensurate with typical retirement plan programs of churches in their respective countries.
Resolution Relating to Rental/Housing Allowances for Retired or Disabled Ministers of this Conference for Calendar Year 2010
Whereas, the religious denomination known as The Bible Fellowship Church has and functions through Ministers of the Gospel who are duly ordained or licensed; and
Whereas, the practice of The Bible Fellowship Church is to provide a parsonage or a rental allowance as part of the gross compensation for each of its active ordained or licensed ministers; and
Whereas, pensions paid to retired and disabled ordained or licensed ministers of The Bible Fellowship Church are considered as deferred compensation and are paid to said retired and disabled ordained or licensed ministers in consideration of previous, active service; and
Whereas, the Internal Revenue Service has recognized that The Bible Fellowship Church is the appropriate organization to designate a housing/rental allowance for retired and disabled ordained or licensed ministers who are members of this Conference, therefore be it
Resolved
1. An amount equal to 100% of the pension payments received during the year of 2010 be and is hereby designated as a rental/housing allowance for each retired and disabled ordained or licensed minister of The Bible Fellowship Church who is or was a member of the Bible Fellowship Church Minister's Retirement Fund.
2. This rental/housing allowance shall apply to each retired and disabled ordained or licensed minister who has been granted the retired relationship or placed on disability leave by the Bible Fellowship Annual Conference and whose name and relationship to the Conference is recorded in the Yearbook of the Annual Conference of the Bible Fellowship Church and in other appropriate records maintained by the Conference.
3. The pension payment to which this rental/housing allowance applies shall be the pension payment resulting from all service of such retired or disabled ordained or licensed minister from all employment by any local church, Annual Conference or institution of The Bible Fellowship Church or of any former denomination that is now a part of The Bible Fellowship Church, or from any other employer who employed the minister to perform services related to the ministry and who elected to make contributions to the pension funds of The Bible Fellowship Church for such retired minister's pension.
Note: The rental/housing allowance which may be excluded from a minister's gross income is limited to the lesser of (1) the amount of the rental/housing allowance designated by the minister's employer or other appropriate body, (2) the amount actually expended by the minister to provide his or her housing, or (3) the legally-determined fair rental value of the parsonage or other housing provided. As specified in Rev. Rul. 71-290 C.B. 92, "the only amount that will qualify for exclusion under section 107(2) of the Code as a 'rental allowance' is an amount equal to the fair rental value of the home, including furnishings and appurtenances such as a garage, plus the cost of utilities."
Report of the Historical Committee
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Report of the Conference Judicatory
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Resolved, that the Nominating Committee determine, by lot, the terms of office for the newly elected Executive Board.
The conference viewed the vignette called “In Insurance We Trust.”
Report of the Board of Youth and Young Adults
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Resolved, that we adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 8:47 p.m. as Ronald Erb closed in prayer. He prayed for Kermit K. Gehman who is in failing health that the Lord would be gracious to our brother.