Church of the Brethren General Board October 18-21, 2003, Meeting Report

The Church of the Brethren General Board faced a light agenda and few decisions to make as it met in a season of uncertainty Oct. 18-21 in Elgin, Ill.

Only issues related to the agency’s 2004 budget required action by the 20 elected members of the board, chaired by Donna Shumate of Southeastern District. Otherwise, the fall agenda instead was filled with worship, updates, reports, forums, and opportunities for fellowship, conversation, and discernment.

“I expected a business meeting. What I found was a worship experience,” said Valerie Healton, one of a group of Bethany Theological Seminary students attending the meeting. “I appreciated the intentional way God was made the focus.”

The budget did occupy a significant part of one day, as financial figures continue to raise caution flags. General Board treasurer/chief financial officer Judy Keyser acknowledged that challenges lie ahead but assured the board that the agency remains “a financially solid organization.”

The 2003 budget is running only slightly behind projections through the end of September, but the parameter for the 2004 General Ministries Fund budget had to be raised $37,000, to $5,263,000, due to sharply increasing medical insurance costs and other adjustments. Board members authorized an additional $50,000, if needed, to meet the insurance increase.

Wil Nolen of Brethren Benefit Trust, which administers the insurance plan, said the estimated 39 percent increase comes due to “extraordinarily high” claims in the first three quarters of 2003. He warned that another boost in premiums may be necessary on July 1.

The 2004 budget, which board members approved, includes a shortfall of $231,000 that will be covered by funds that had been set aside for other special projects. This “patch” was approved to prevent further staff cuts in the coming year, and to give the board time to increase funding or weigh other alternatives.

“I see us as an organization that is being stretched,” Keyser said. “The fabric is thinner, but still wearable.”

Board members, staff, and visitors spent another afternoon gathered in forum discussions to share thoughts around some of the questions before the board. Board vice chair Glenn Mitchell said it was an opportunity to “share face-to-face out of our concerns for the board” in an atmosphere of trust and respect and in a spirit of prayer. Topics covered included ministry priorities, funding issues, office location, and the needs of the larger church.

In other business, Kevin King of Mennonite Central Committee shared about the work his organization is doing to rebuild schools in war-torn Iraq. While no formal action was taken at this meeting, the General Board plans to engage in a cooperative venture with MCC to carry out the rebuilding. Plans for that effort will be announced soon. It will build on previous General Board gifts to ministries in Iraq through Church World Service’s “All Our Children” campaign and other endeavors.

Southern Ohio District executive Mark Flory Steury provided an report on an ecclesiology consultation process that was born out of the Council of District Executives and is now being developed in cooperation with a variety of other agencies. Events will begin in 2005.

General Board staff also presented a variety of reports, including plans for a new children’s curriculum from Brethren Press and for a future denomination-wide mission conference. Robert Johansen of the Committee on Interchurch Relations said that the committee is continuing discernment on the associated relationship with American Baptist Churches USA and on the new Christian Churches Together effort. New general secretary Stan Noffsinger noted that he senses “tremendous energy and faithfulness among Brethren for the future of the church.”

Citations were read for outgoing staff Glenn Timmons (Congregational Life Ministries) and John and Janet Tubbs (Global Mission Partnerships, Nigeria), while employees—led by Steve Bickler of Brethren Press with 25 years of service—were honored for tenure milestones at an afternoon reception.

Worship services opened and closed the meetings, with an additional service Sunday morning. Each business session also began with devotions built around the theme “For Everything . . . There is a Season,” from Ecclesiastes 3.

The Executive Committee, meeting on Oct. 17, affirmed the appointments of Brandy Fix to the Committee on Interchurch Relations and Nelda Rhoades Clarke as a World Council of Churches representative. Jay Carter and Tim Harvey were named to the board’s Audit and Investment Committee, Vickie Whitacre Samland to the Personnel Relations Committee, and Jaime Diaz to the Companeros en Ministerio board. Executive Committee members also approved a new $30,000 Emergency Disaster Fund grant to Liberia to support a Church World Service appeal.

The full General Board next meets March 13-15, 2004, in Elgin.

© 2008 Church of the Brethren General Board