Church of the Brethren General Board June 29, 2002, Meeting Report

Prior to Annual Conference, the Church of the Brethren General Board and its Executive Committee held meetings in Louisville to look at finances, welcome international guests, and care for other business.

The largest block of time went to financial matters, with chief financial officer/treasurer Judy Keyser and controller Dennis Kingery raising a “yellow light” for the next few years. The General Board is running a deficit so far this year, but staff said the overall picture for 2002 still looks good.

In 2003, however, the challenges begin. A 2003 budget was presented using one-time funds to “patch” some ongoing expenses. The board approved budget parameters of $5,655,000 for the General Ministries Fund--not including self-funding programs and special-purpose funds--for 2003, the first time since 1998 that the parameters were reduced from one year to the next.

The moves forestall more serious concerns to 2004 and 2005, when a combined deficit of more than $700,000 is projected if things remain unchanged. Annual salary and benefit increases, skyrocketing medical insurance premiums, and other effects of inflation on ongoing expenses are causing the crunch.

The board expects to address the issue as it continues its comprehensive planning process over the next 18 months, setting priorities and focus areas. Board members gave formal approval to vision and mission statements and a list of core values at the meeting. The vision statement says, “The General Board envisions a dynamic Church of the Brethren doing the work of Jesus in the world.”

The board also held a commissioning service for its anti-racism team, which will work in the denomination under the Brethren Witness office in an “intentiontal process of dismantling racism wherever it exists in the body of Christ known as the Church of the Brethren.”

Five outgoing General Board members, including chair Don Parker and vice chair Christy Waltersdorff, were honored for their service, and a citation was presented to Jerry and Becky Baile Crouse as they completed their term of service as mission coordinators in the Dominican Republic.

In other business, the board heard several updates on General Board ministries, welcomed international Brethren leaders, changed fall 2003 General Board meeting dates to Oct. 18-21 in Elgin, Ill., and dedicated the General Board exhibit in the Annual Conference exhibit hall.

© 2008 Church of the Brethren General Board