Fifth Meeting
Tuesday Afternoon, 1:30 PM
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. with prayer by Wayne Chadwell.
Resolved, that the minutes of the Second Meeting be approved.
Resolved, that the minutes of the Third Meeting be approved.
Report of the Beneficiary Society (see page )
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Resolved, that the following be adopted at one reading in the appendix of the F&O under the section of the Beneficiary Society.
Resolved, that Under 701-1.3 Rules and Regulations – Membership, modify second sentence of the second paragraph to read:
“Ministers of the BFC who are working with other Christian ministries and inactive ministers are not members of the Beneficiary Society and are not eligible for benefits from the fund.”
Resolved, that the third paragraph under Membership be moved and modified to be the second paragraph under Dues, and the modified paragraph would read:
“Ministers receiving Ministers' Retirement Fund benefits, ministers on disability, and ministers under the Ministers' Annuity Fund who have retired at age 65 or later are members of the Society but are exempt from dues. Members who continue on active service are exempt from dues after they have paid dues for forty years. Ministers over age 65 who choose to continue to serve as pastors or under ministries of the BFC must pay dues until they reach the age of 72 or have paid dues for forty years. Ministers who retire before age 65 are required to pay dues until age 65.”
Resolved, that the second sentence under first paragraph of Dues be removed since it was modified and is now included in the second paragraph.
Resolved, that the following be added between the second and third sentences of the paragraph under Benefits:
“If a pastor-member of the Beneficiary Society is called home to be with the Lord, his children are covered until their nineteenth birthday. The coverage of a pastor-member’s wife shall continue after the death of her husband until her death or remarriage. Wives of ministers who were retired and receiving benefits under the MRF or MAF at the time of marriage shall not qualify for death benefits.”
Resolved, that the following be deleted from the last paragraph under Miscellaneous Rules which now reads:
“Each probationer/ordained man upon re-entering the membership of the Society must pay an equal amount of money equivalent to the number of years he was licensed up to the present year. This amount will be the total amount that was to be paid for the years that he was not a paying member of the Society.”
Report of the Ministerial Convention Committee
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Whereas, the Ministerial Convention Committee sees it necessary to add one additional member to the committee to ensure the continuity of leadership and to aid in planning multiple years ahead, be it therefore
Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted as First Reading
701.2.2 Composition and Election
(1) replace “five” with “six”
(3) Class III Two Pastors
Resolved, that Article 403-1 be amended to read as follows and adopted as First Reading:
“The Board of Elders shall appoint the chairman of the congregational meeting.”
[FIRST READING]
Report of the Study Committee on the Kingdom (see page)
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Whereas, the recommended minimum salary for a pastor serving in the BFC was set at $33,000 at the 2009 Annual Conference, and,
Whereas, the MRC recognizes the difficult financial challenges facing many of our congregations during the present economic climate of our nation, now therefore be it,
Resolved, that as of our 2010 BFC Conference, our particular churches be advised to maintain no less than the current recommended minimum salary of $33,000 while striving to give appropriate increases as finances may warrant, and further,
Resolved, that in addition to his salary, the church must provide half of the pastor’s Social Security tax, parsonage and/or housing allowance (which would include utilities, repair costs, etc.), health insurance, and provision should be made for reimbursement for allowable car and professional expenses. The church must also contribute a minimum of 3% of the pastor’s salary for retirement to the ministers annuity fund, plus an additional 1% match if the pastor is voluntarily contributing 1%.
Resolved, that Ronald C. Mahurin be ratified as Conference Pastor for another three-year term of service.
Proposed Changes to Article 512-11.2(8)
Resolved, that the following amendment be adopted as first reading:
Whereas, Article 512-11.2(8) instructs the Credentials Committee to notify the Board of Directors of the dates of pastors retiring, and
Whereas, the Board of Directors has been replaced by the Executive Board, and
Whereas, the President of the Executive Board has indicated it is not necessary to notify them of a retirement date, and
Whereas, it is necessary to inform the Board of Pensions, Beneficiary Society and the Conference Pastor of the effective date of a pastor seeking retirement, therefore be it
Resolved, that we adopt the following change as first reading:
512-11.2(8) It shall receive all requests from those seeking retirement from ministry in the BFC. It shall set the effective date of the retirement, change the status of the minister on the conference records, and notify the Board of Pensions and the Beneficiary Society and the Conference Pastor (added) of the effective date of retirement.
[FIRST READING]
Whereas, the Faith and Order makes no statement regarding Ministers and divorce; and
Whereas, it needs such a statement; and
Whereas, the New Testament usage of the term “elder’ is reflected in the F&O §204 by declaring “Elders” (ruling elders or lay elders) and “Ministers” (teaching elders, pastors) are subdivisions of the same positions; and
Whereas, BFC Conference has approved allowing “Elders” to serve despite a divorce provided certain issues have been biblically resolved; and
Whereas, request was made for Biblical evidence showing moral and spiritual qualifications for “Ministers” to be different from the moral and spiritual qualifications for “Elders” and
Whereas, the study reported that Scripture makes no such distinction (Yearbook 2006, p. 43); therefore be it
Resolved, that we approve the following for the F&O §204-2.3 (6):
(6) Because of the qualifications and dignity of the position of minister, when considering a man for ordination, the Ministerial Candidate and the Credentials Committees shall give careful consideration to ensure that a man who has been divorced or who has married a divorced woman has Biblically resolved the issues in family, the church, and community raised by the divorce, demonstrated since the divorce stability of character and is presently characterized as above reproach, and if married, faithful to and exclusively committed to his wife.”
[FIRST READING]
Yes - 112; No - 41
And further
Resolved, that we approve the following addition (bold type is the only addition) to the F&O §204-1.6: “Because of the qualifications and dignity of the position of elder, including minister, each Particular Church shall give careful consideration to ensure that a man who has been divorced or who has married a divorced woman has Biblically resolved the issues in family, the church, and community and is presently characterized as above reproach, and if married, faithful to and exclusively committed to his wife.”
[FIRST READING]
Yes - 118; No - 33
Daniel P. Allen gave an update on the situation surrounding the death of Doc M. E. Brown’s daughter. The trial has been postponed and no new date set. Brother Allen prayed for the Brown family and for the young man facing trial for their daughter’s death.
Report on the Committee on Statistics (see page)
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Report on the Committee on Auditing (see page)
Resolved, that the report be accepted.
Report on the Committee on Resolutions
Whereas, the brothers of Grace Fellowship Church of Harrisburg have been led by God to partner with the Bible Fellowship Church, and
Whereas, the Lord has confirmed this in the hearts and minds of the brethren of the Church Extension Department, and
Whereas, this is the first corporate gathering in which God has blessed us to fellowship with one another, therefore be it
Resolved, that we praise God for the brothers and sisters of the Grace Fellowship Church, for His providence in bringing us into fellowship with one another, and for their vision of reaching the lost in central Harrisburg, and be it further
Resolved, that we send our greetings as a Conference of Churches to the brethren of that local church.
Whereas, God has privileged His servants John Dunn and Robert W. Smock to join that great cloud of witnesses with Him in the glory of the heavenly places, therefore be it
Resolved, that we give deepest thanks to the Lord of the Church for their lives and service to the Kingdom of God and their example to the BFC of commitment and faith, and be it further
Resolved, that we take up the mantle of their legacies and run with endurance this race set before us, unentangled and with perseverance.
Whereas, the 127th Conference of the BFC has ratified the appointment of David T. Allen to the position of Executive Director of the BFC, and
Whereas, this is a new position for both the Conference and brother Allen, be it therefore
Resolved, that we commit to praying regularly for our brother in his new ministry.
Whereas, Mark R. Evans and Joshua P. Miller were ordained at the 127th BFC Conference and the prior ordination of Carlos G. Rodriguez was recognized, be it
Resolved, that thanks be given to God for these ministers of the Gospel and prayer be made for the success of their respective ministries.
Whereas, the following pastorates were established according to the Rules of our F&O: Church Extension – Miguel Gonzalez and Whitehall – Timothy J. Schmoyer, therefore be it
Resolved, that praise be given to our God for the provision of these pastorates, and further
Resolved, that prayer be made to God for the following churches that are seeking a pastor or additional pastoral staff: Bethlehem, PA; Camden, DE; Coopersburg, PA; Las Cruces, NM; Toms River, NJ; Walnutport, PA and Carmel, NY.
Whereas, 127th BFC Conference has ratified Ronald C. Mahurin as Conference Pastor for a term of three years, therefore be it
Resolved, that we offer up constant prayer for our brother as he diligently serves the pastors and churches of our Conference.
Whereas, the Departments, Boards, Committees, and Study Committees of the BFC have served with diligence during this past year, and
Whereas, they have reported faithfully to the 127th BFC Conference, therefore be it
Resolved, that we recognize their service and ask God to give them strength for the coming year.
Whereas, the staff and volunteers of Pinebrook Bible Conference, along with wives and family members of our pastors and delegates, have readily and cheerfully served the members of the 127th BFC Conference, therefore be it
Resolved, that we express our appreciation for their ministry to the Conference Members.
Whereas, Randall A. Grossman and Robert A. Sloan, Jr., have served this Conference in ministering the Word to us, therefore be it
Resolved, that we give thanks to the Lord for their ministry in the proclamation of God’s Word, and be it further
Resolved, that each be presented $50.00 for this ministry, and be it further
Resolved, that we will put into practice all that we have been privileged to receive from God through His precious Word.
Whereas, the BFC Conference Secretary, David A. Thomann, and his Assistants, Daniel P. Allen, Ronald L. Kohl, and Donald E. Kuntzman, have served faithfully, therefore be it
Resolved, that we thank the Lord for their service during our proceedings and, be it further
Resolved, that each man be awarded $50.00 for his labors.
Whereas, the Conference was led into worship of Almighty God and His Lamb by the musical talent of several brothers with Mark E. Barninger as Worship Leader, therefore be it
Resolved, that we commend our glorious Savior who has given gifts to His people through the power of His Spirit, and be it further
Resolved, that we thank our brothers for their musical contribution to our praise of the Great I AM.
Whereas, Overseer of the Pages: Daniel L. Williams, Head Page: Raymond L. Cole, and Pages: Joshua M. Allen, Sidney C. Fields, Robert W. Green, Justin L. Hunter, W. Scott Kappes, Jonathan H. King, Keith M. Long, Francis Podlasinski, and Ronald B. Smith have diligently, gladly, and humbly aided the work of the BFC Conference to function smoothly, therefore, be it
Resolved, that we acknowledge our appreciation for the service of our Pages on behalf of the Conference with a round of applause.
Whereas, Randall A. Grossman has served exceptionally well as Moderator of the 127th Annual Conference of the BFC, therefore be it
Resolved, that the members of the BFC Conference show their appreciation for Brother Grossman’s service with a standing ovation.
The following were appointed by the Moderator:
Registrar: Davis E. Duggins
Assistant Registrar: Jonathon W. Arnold, Jr.
Committee on Agenda and Program: David A. Thomann, Chairman; David T. Allen, Clifford B. Boone, Randall A. Grossman, Thomas P. Shorb
Committee on Arrangements: David A. Thomann, Chairman; Daniel P. Allen, Thomas P. Shorb, Davis E. Duggins, Randall A. Grossman
Committee on Examination of Minutes of Particular Churches: Ralph M. Soper, Chairman: Ronald L. Erb, Shan D. Cleck, Dean A. Stortz, Allan R. Vivona
Committee on Statistics: Leroy S. Heller, Chairman: David A. Thomann, Gregory A. Uhrich, Hugh C. Coulbourn, Jr., C. Larry Bennett
It was announced that Gregory A. Uhrich is the secretary of the Conference Judicatory and Raymond R. Dotts is the secretary of the Special Appellate Judicatory.
Dr. M. E. Brown thanked the conference for their prayers and e-mails over this past, most difficult year. Joshua M. Allen prayed for the Brown family.
It was announced that the address of the primary place of business of the corporation known as Bible Fellowship Church is 3000 Felowship Drive, Whitehall, Pa. 18052.
Resolved, that we adjourn.
The 127th BFC Conference adjourned at 4:17 p.m. as Vice-Moderator, William G. Schlonecker, closed in prayer.