{"id":17087,"date":"2021-06-30T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=17087"},"modified":"2021-06-30T21:09:40","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T21:09:40","slug":"board-sets-priorities-for-denominational-ministries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2021\/board-sets-priorities-for-denominational-ministries\/","title":{"rendered":"Mission and Ministry Board sets new priorities for denominational ministries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held its pre-Annual Conference meeting on June 26-27. A handful of board members attended via Zoom while the rest gathered at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This was the last meeting of Patrick Starkey\u2019s term as chair. Assisting him was chair-elect Carl Fike, who takes leadership as chair following Annual Conference 2021, and general secretary David Steele.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among other business, the board spent a significant amount of time continuing its work to align denominational ministries with its new Strategic Plan. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Mission and Ministry Board uses a consensus style decision-making process, shown here displaying green cards to signify agreement with a proposal. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Other top agenda items included a 2022 budget parameter for Core Ministries, recommendations from a team \u201cre-imagining\u201d Brethren Press, and the calling of a new Executive Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, the board meeting included worship, devotions, the reading of scripture, and prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preamble prayer for the Strategic Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following preamble prayer was adopted, to appear with the Strategic Plan\u2019s four \u201cbackground vision\u201d statements (see www.brethren.org\/strategicplan<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs we envision beyond the horizon for the Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren, we pray that\u2026<\/em>
God\u2019s Holy Spirit will inspire us as we gather around the Word together,
We will faithfully follow God\u2019s direction as we minister in Jesus\u2019 name,
Christ will be at the center of all we do\u2026
\u2026to make fearless disciples who willingly articulate their faith in him,
\u2026to courageously seek out and love our neighbors in word and deed,
\u2026to become a community of nations and languages living together in God\u2019s presence,
\u2026to give of our lives and resources to eradicate needs, transforming our global community.
May we build on our Brethren values of peace, simplicity, and community as we live and work alongside Jesus in the Neighborhood.
May the Holy Spirit empower us as we respond to God\u2019s dream for all creation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The current members of the Mission and Ministry Board, in photos displayed at the Church of the Brethren General Offices. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Priorities for denominational ministries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board\u2019s work to align denominational ministries with its new Strategic Plan continued with the adoption of recommendations from three \u201cforeground vision initiative\u201d proposals, numbered 4, 5, and 6. The recommendations were made by the Executive Committee and task teams made up of board members and staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cforeground vision initiative\u201d proposal 4 came from the Executive Committee, which with the help of the general secretary, carried out an assessment of how current program and resources align or do not align with the Strategic Plan. A report outlined a variety of findings from that assessment. The board adopted the following six-part declaration of priorities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelop a prominent, comprehensive, sustained framework for equipping evangelism.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelop a program about healing and reconciling relationships within the church and transforming conflict, including the intentional construction of a network of members who understand the dynamics of conflict and who are called to serve in a ministry bringing healing to our brokenness.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelop, in consultation with the Council of District Executives, a pilot program to help provide additional resources needed for effective ministry placement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDevelop IT staff both to help other staff navigate the changing landscape of technology and to consult with and resource the wider church.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRealign stewardship emphasis to go with the next version of Mission Advancement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRealign care of pastors programs to go with the next version of the Office of Ministry.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The board approved an additional recommendation from the Executive Committee, to appoint a new Stewardship of Properties task team<\/strong> to consider questions about property management at both the General Offices and Brethren Service Center, including further assessment of Material Resources and to bring recommendations to the board. The Executive Committee will appoint the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board approved \u201cforeground vision initiative\u201d proposal 5 delineating a \u201cgame plan\u201d or set of steps to help congregations define their neighborhoods, <\/strong>with the goal of meeting and sharing \u201cJesus in the neighborhood.\u201d Promotion of existing resources to help congregations, from within the denomination and beyond, will be done by Discipleship Ministries and the Office of Ministry, or their successor departments, with help from communications staff and districts. Also in the plan is the creation of cohorts of congregations located in similarly defined neighborhoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The task team for \u201cforeground vision initiative\u201d 6 was to create a \u201croad map to seek God\u2019s racial justice\u201d<\/strong> perhaps including development of a new curriculum. However, the team responded that \u201cwe believe it is important for the board to begin this work within its own house, that is, among the members of the board and staff.\u201d The board adopted the recommendation of a four-step process within the board and staff to: 1. identify<\/strong> \u201cwhiteness and racialized hierarchy\u201d in order to allow leadership \u201cto see barriers that previously were invisible\u201d; 2. critique<\/strong> the information gathered; 3. confess and repent<\/strong>, using a formal, spiritual process; and 4. dismantle<\/strong> \u201cthe barriers and structures that inhibit and harm.\u201d The board re-appointed the task team to implement the first step by the time of the March 2022 board meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reimagining Brethren Press<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The board affirmed the intent of recommendations from the Brethren Press Reimagining Team and will explore their financial implications prior to taking final action in October. The team was created to address financial concerns about the Church of the Brethren publishing house, which worsened during the pandemic, and to recommend a proposal for sustainable operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team recommended that Brethren Press no longer be self-funded and be moved into the Core Ministries, which would remove certain financial burdens. With that shift, Brethren Press would be considered the \u201cin-house publishing partner\u201d working collaboratively with other departments, enabling their reach into the life of the denomination to be expanded, and the mission focus would be \u201cfacilitating and fostering the mission of the Mission and Ministry Board and its strategic plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The book publishing of the press would be redefined in consultation with the general secretary, or their designee, who would approve all significant book projects. All publishing projects would be \u201cheld to a litmus test of \u2018does this publication capture a unique aspect of our faith or strongly forward our ideas?,\u2019\u201d which the team said may mean some traditional projects or \u201cmarginal\u201d projects may not be carried forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recommendations encouraged Brethren Press staff to \u201cconsider and present other creative ideas as they work to facilitate this new mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recommendations also included two expectations, that Brethren Press grow its customer base in Church of the Brethren congregations by 25 percent, and that it generate 7 percent positive revenue over expense. Some board members questioned whether the 25 percent expectation was reasonable when the church is losing members and congregations. The 7 percent expectation for revenue over expense was described as an attainable alternative to the current practice that transfers 9 percent of gross sales into the Core Ministries Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brethren Press Reimagining Team was convened by board chair Patrick Starkey, with general secretary David Steele, and included church members with denominational leadership experience, previous experience with Brethren Press, or connections to publishing and marketing: Don Fitzkee, Jess Hoffert, Todd Marcum, Russ Matteson, Belita Mitchell, and Carol Scheppard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Budget parameter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A balanced, break-even budget parameter of $4,983,000 for the Church of the Brethren Core Ministries in 2022 was approved. Treasurer Ed Woolf reviewed the rationale for that figure, including, among other factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Giving projections based on 10-year trends. A projection of $1,611,000 in congregational giving was based on a downward trend of approximately 4 percent per year. A projection of $582,000 in individual giving was based on an upward trend of close to 1.5 percent per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— No draw percentage changes in the annual transfers from the denomination\u2019s savings fund, endowment fund, bequest quasi-endowment fund, and Brethren Service Center quasi-endowment fund. The annual draws are based on five\u2010year averages of the investment balance specific to each fund and the percentages are reviewed each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— A distribution of $148,000 from the Zella Gahagen Trust for expenses related to youth and young adult activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Use of up to $233,000 from designated funds, as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— A 2 percent cost-of-living increase in employee salary and benefit cost increases, estimated to be about $54,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chair-elect Carl Fike (standing at left) and general secretary David Steele (standing at right) lead a time of recognition and thanks for the work of the board members who are concluding their terms on the Mission and Ministry Board: chair Patrick Starkey, Marty Barlow, Thomas Dowdy, Lois Grove, and Diane Mason. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— A projected 8 percent increase in the cost of medical insurance benefits for employees, estimated to be about $44,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2010\u2010 If there are any changes to the approved budget parameter as a result of the Brethren Press Reimagining Team recommendations, a revised parameter will be brought to the board\u2019s October meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Executive Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board members Dava Hensley, Roger Schrock, and Lauren Seganos Cohen were called to serve on the Executive Committee for a term of one year, through the 2022 Annual Conference. As incoming board chair, Carl Fike will chair the Executive Committee. Also on the committee is Colin Scott as the incoming chair-elect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other business<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new communications policy was adopted, <\/strong>replacing one put in place by the former General Board more than 30 years ago. The new policy was created by the Executive Committee with the intention to clarify authority and responsibility for denominational communications, to improve standards and marketing and branding efforts to increase the visibility of ministries, and to decrease miscommunication and \u201cmixed messages.\u201d A major portion addresses the authority to make statements. Board discussion focused on a sentence that no department or staff other than the general secretary \u201cis authorized to release or issue statements.\u201d That sentence was amended to read: \u201cStatements by departments and staff need the approval of the general secretary.\u201d Also adopted was a request for a definition of the word \u201cstatement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A financial update for year-to-date income and expenses<\/strong> was received from treasurer Ed Woolf, indicating that many areas of denominational ministries are slowly returning to pre-pandemic financial patterns. A report of an \u201cunmodified, clean audit\u201d for 2020 was received from the Audit and Investment Committee of the board. The report quoted a comment from the auditors that the Church of the Brethren\u2019s financial situation last year that was similar to many other organizations in the nonprofit sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updates were made to the financial policies,<\/strong> most for clarity or consistency to bring the policies up to date with current practice. No substantial changes were made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New positions descriptions<\/strong> for the chair and chair-elect and the board committees were approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A capital expenditure<\/strong> of up to $270,000 was approved to upgrade the air conditioning system and purchase and install a new \u201cchiller\u201d at the General Offices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tim Binkley was appointed to the Brethren Historical Committee<\/strong> to serve a four-year term beginning July 1. Currently archivist at Berea College, he is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members completing their terms on the board were recognized and thanked<\/strong> for their service including chair Patrick Starkey, Marty Barlow, Thomas Dowdy, Lois Grove, and Diane Mason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his closing remarks, Starkey recalled his 10 years on the board, during which time he has served alongside more than 70 board members. \u201cWork hard and have fun,\u201d he told the continuing board members, quoting his sister\u2019s words. \u201cThe joy of the Lord gives us strength\u2026. And there is joy to be discovered in each task.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find the full agenda and background documents for this meeting of the Mission and Ministry Board at www.brethren.org\/mmb\/meeting-info<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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