Church of the Brethren General Board June 30, 2001, Meeting Report

The Church of the Brethren General Board held meetings in Baltimore prior to Annual Conference, tackling several items of business and saying farewell to five members.

Picking up on the Conference theme of "Revive Us Again," board member J.D. Glick opened the meeting in devotions, asking "How can we ... bring life back into the church?" Ultimately, he said,
revival is God's activity and requires "being open to God's movement in our midst."

Agenda items included a show of highlights of the General Board's work, an update on reconciliation efforts in India, a presentation of the new LabOra worship planning software from Brethren Press, and the official launching of the new Emerging Global Missions Fund.

Significant time was given to finances, including approval of a budget parameter of $5,747,000 for the General Ministries budget for 2002. Balancing the budget for 2002 required a $50,000 reduction from 2001, not including special one-time funds. It marked the first time since 1997 that budgets were reduced. The Funding office reported that while overall giving is up, giving to the General Ministries Fund is down by 3 percent compared to 2000 and 5 percent below budget.

Board members also approved cooling tower replacement for the air conditioning system at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The new structures, which take heat away from the system, will replace 43-year-old wood construction. A paper recommending ways to be more welcoming to international guests at Annual Conference and better use their time and gifts while there was also approved. Board chair Mary Jo Flory-Steury said that while there is no guarantee that recommendations to other bodies will be implemented, it is a way of "starting a conversation."

Citations were presented to retiring General Board staff member Shantilal Bhagat and to five General Board members finishing their terms: chair Mary Jo Flory-Steury, J. Paul Wampler, David R. Miller, J. Wayne Judd, and Marie Willoughby.

The meeting concluded with board members and staff gathering at the General Board exhibit in the exhibit hall for a time of dedication and prayer, followed by a "tour" of the expansive exhibit.

Following elections later in the week, the General Board called Don Parker of West Salem, Ohio, as chair. Parker's term ends in 2002. Christy Waltersdorff of Lombard, Ill., was called as vice chair. Other executive committee members for 2001-02 are: Marty Barlow, Warren Eshbach, Donna Shumate, and Jan Thompson. The board also appointed Robert Johansen to the Committee on Interchurch Relations.

© 2008 Church of the Brethren General Board