250407 Elder Meeting

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Notes

Transcript

Call to Order/Opening Prayer: The meeting was called to order by Dan Organ at 1:03pm and opened in prayer by Keith Morgan

Attendance: Keith Morgan, Dan Organ and Mark Organ were in attendance with Mike Kretschmer arriving mid-meeting

Devotions: Dan read James 3. Mark scheduled to give the next Elder Meeting devotional on April 28th

Agenda: Additions or Corrections: Dan made several recommendations involving the board meeting parameters, the future of the Adult Sunday School and voting on a new chairman of the board. Mark moved and Dan seconded that the updated Agenda be approved. Carried.

Minutes: Mark read the minutes from March 17th, 2025. No adjustments. Dan moved and Mark seconded that the minutes be accepted, carried.

Financial Report: Dan presented the March and first quarter financial statements with supplementary comments made regarding the difference between the weekly tally figures from March 9th and final deposits for the week as there appeared to have been an online gift. Dan to confirm. Additionally, Dan committed to drafting financial resilience figures to illustrate how long the body would survive without additional offerings. Mark moved with Dan seconding that the Financial Statements be accepted. Carried.

Pastor’s Report: Mark discussed his recent trip to Israel. Additionally, he discussed the status of the Vernonia School Prayer Meeting, new arrivals at during the recent worship service as well as youth group. He concluded his report by discussing efforts made to disciple several different men and to provide counseling to another in a difficult season.

Ministry Concerns: Mark expressed concern regarding Gail Law and her convalescence committing to follow up with her directly in the coming week.

Old Business: Old business included the following items. Reviewing topics to revise within the constitution including the pastors annual affirmation and deacon waiting period. Mark committed to sending Dan a list of other issues within our Constitution that may need to be reviewed. Secondly, Dan provided an updated roster and there was some discussion of a recent key that had arrived on Mark’s desk. Thirdly, Mark committed to reviewing and organizing the recently received board meeting minutes and membership meeting minutes noting that it would be good if a due date was postponed until after Resurrection Sunday. Not discussed at this time was the idea of term limits for Elders/Deacons.

New Business: Mike joined the discussion and brought a letter setting a timeline to the recent events related to the departure of several different individuals from the body - most recently George Gans and Gary and Diana Taylor. It was suggested to Mike that rather than a letter he might summarize his concerns via questions. The Elders committed to reading the copy of Mike’s letter. Due to Mike’s schedule he had to leave shortly afterward.

The elder’s began looking at setting board meeting parameters as a baseline for those who would be present during the meeting. Next Dan made a number of recommendations regarding the Adult Sunday School reverting its previous format and it was agreed that would be beneficial with possible facilitation or leadership opportunities to be afforded to Keith and Jeremy. A formal vote was also held regarding the office of Elder Chair with Mark nominating and Dan accepting the nomination for elder chair. Mark then made a motion that Dan hold the office and Dan seconded. Carried.

Adjourn: The meeting was closed in prayer by Dan at 3:29pm

Increasing the size of the elder board

It was discussed that we are to begin incorporating men into the elder board as “trainees.” Mark mentioned that he was already discipling Jeremy Simmons toward this role and recommended that we take a more rigorous approach to vetting than previously done by the Elder Board. Additionally Mark suggested that it was preferable for those that teach children to actually be elders and George agreed with that.

Requesting that Keith Morgan speak as a resource to the elder board

Keith did make a recommendation that at the next member meeting the discussion regarding Mike Kretschmer’s letter will require care so as to not exacerbate an already difficult situation

Discuss Dan Organ’s role as treasurer and whether he retains his role as an elder

Mark and George both asserted that Dan Organ’s role as treasurer is still needed and will be retained - there was some discussion as to whether or not he can remain as an elder and not participate on the elder board. Mark committed to following up with Dan possibly with a request to have him join the next scheduled Elder Meeting on March 3rd to clarify his position and whether a constitutional amendment may be necessary

Membership application for Keith and Ilene Morgan and Pam Zoeller

Mark confirmed that he had heard the testimony of Keith, Ilene and Pam and that they were pursuing membership. He committed to reaching out to Pam to confirm that she could be available on March 3rd to give her testimony on the March 3rd member meeting. George agreed that they would be a welcome part of the membership.

Upcoming travel to Israel and related pulpit supply by Dr. Steve van Horn

Mark communicated that he had reached out to Steve and he is available to preach on 03/30/2025 and that was agreeable to the elder board.

Completing the final stage of Matthew 18:17 regarding Dan and Heidi Brown at the next member meeting scheduled in April

Mark mentioned somewhat in conjunction with the discussion from Mike Kretschmer that we need to finalize the steps of Matthew 18. It was agreed upon by all that reconciliation is still desired and that the former members return.

Amending the Doctrinal Statement, Constitution and By-Laws for elements that are no longer pertinent

Mark mentioned that there were some unbiblical elements of our Elder selection process that perhaps needed to be omitted from our Constitution and By-Laws citing that nowhere in Scripture is it mentioned that to be an Elder one must be a Deacon for a year. George advised that this was typical in many churches but both Mark and George agreed that following Scripture is required. George is going to spend the next two weeks considering the doctrinal statement, constitution and by-laws to see what else might need to be trimmed or adjusted. Later both Mark and George discussed the strangeness of the annual affirmation of the Pastor and it would make sense to revisit that concept at a later time as the annual review is another year away.

Men’s Bible study update

Mark mentioned that there has been some interest and offered resources from a congregant that is likely pursuing membership to begin a Men’s Bible Study in the evening after the current Men’s Bible Study meets. Mark mentioned that his wife was okay with this additional labor and George also agreed that as long as nothing else was being impacted that this was fine. Mark’s intent is to stabilize these Men’s Bible Studies and turn over leadership which George agreed he may have time in the future to lead in this fashion.

IFCA Doctrinal statement agreement signing

Both Mark and George signed the doctrinal statement agreement letter from the IFCA and a copy was made available after the meeting to George for his records

Upcoming Regional IFCA

George intended to attend while Mark has not made up his mind as to whether his schedule will allow for it

Church member meetings for offices

Both minimum required offices of Secretary and Elder Chairman were agreed to by Mark and George respectively

Retaining keys for folks that have left the body

George committed to following up with Everett Brown, Damien Cox, Heidi Matheney and Gary Taylor regarding any keys in their possession

Scheduling our next elder board meeting in the next two weeks

It was determined that with the large amount of work to be done that our elder meetings should be scheduled at a minimum of every two weeks and the next meeting was scheduled for March 3rd 2025

Creating a new members meeting

This discussion was tabled until April’s meeting

Doctrinal statement printouts

George and Mark discussed the necessity of printing out additional copies of the Doctrinal Statement, Constitution and By-Laws. Mark to print out additional copies

Reviewing the financial statements and updating the format to change the language of Gary’s benevolent payment

See Financial Report above

Additionally, we added Mike Kretschmer’s letter to the agenda

Mike Kretschmer handed out copies of his letter and articulated that he was open to visiting the folks that had recently left the body. He mentioned the heartache that many were feeling was not going away. It was thought that it would be good to read the letter at the next member meeting in April with George and Mark both committing to answer the questions posed in the letter.

Agenda Items: George and Mark asked that the following agenda items be added