250429 Elder Meeting

Mark Organ

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Notes

Transcript

Call to Order/Opening Prayer: The meeting was called to order by Dan Organ at 6:03pm and opened in prayer by Mark Organ

Attendance: Elders: Dan Organ and Mark Organ and Council Members: Keith Morgan and Jeremy Simmons were in attendance

Devotions: Mark read Ezekiel 34:1-16 with an admonition to take seriously our charge as undershepherds, conforming our conduct ad oversight to that of the Chief Shepherd’s. Dan scheduled to give the next Elder Meeting devotional on May 20th.

Agenda: Additions or Corrections: Mark made a recommendation to record the recent departures of Gary and Diana Taylor and George Gans. Dan also recommended the following items be added to the agenda: 1). Discussion regarding Annual Picnic and an additional “Get to know each other event” to be hosted at the Organ’s farm, 2). Discussion involving Mothers day flowers (appx 25), 3). Insurance, reading through the policy), 4). Already listed on the agenda was to review and address concerns submitted to the board. Mark moved and Dan seconded that the updated Agenda be approved. Carried.

Minutes: Mark read the minutes from April 7th, 2025. No adjustments. Dan moved and Mark seconded that the minutes be accepted, carried.

Financial Report: As April’s figures were incomplete the discussion revolved around the Church’s financial resilience. Dan gave multiple figures regarding the ‘what-if’ scenario if the Church chose to only pay the pastor, or only utilities, or missionaries and the various amounts of time that the Church would be able to continue without any additional gifts. The conversation ended with an assessment at that at the the present rate of expenditures the Church could continue for 6 months without any additional gifts. The Council discussed giving trends, and God’s providence. Dan mentioned that during the Elder Council report after the May 20th meeting he would articulate the Church’s present need, mentioning the low giving that took place in April. As there were no financial statements presented no motions were made.

Pastor’s Report: Mark discussed positive aspects of discipleship as a young man had recently professed his faith in Jesus Christ the previous day and the ongoing progress with men he is discipling toward eldership. The various Bible studies were discussed and Mark asked the Council if the plan he and Pam prepared for restarting the Ladies Bible Study was acceptable, the consensus being that this would be a good study to restart, with Mark providing oversight to Pam as this study begins on May 7th and continues. Mark mentioned that some in his family would be participating in the IFCA National Convention and Youth Convention and there was the potential that he and Caleb Hilbert might be able to pulpit swap the Sunday immediately after Nationals. Mark made a few comments on his plans to have a Baptism Sunday this Summer once Rock Creek was dammed up. And he concluded his report by mentioning that the recent departure of Vernonia Community Church’s youth pastor may create an influx of new participants but that he had no intention of departing from the current format of the Youth Group.

Ministry Concerns: Mark summarized a text message from Rachael mentioning the recent death of Michael Skillen due to a head on collusion. He also expressed concern regarding Gail Law and her convalescence mentioning that the regularly scheduled Community Outreach event would focus on the exterior of her home.

Old Business: Old business included the following items: Reviewing topics to revise within the constitution including the pastors annual affirmation, deacon waiting period and term limits for Elders and Deacons. This was tabled but the Council committed to scheduling a Saturday workshop at our next regularly scheduled Elder Council meeting on May 20th. Not discussed was Mark’s previous commitment to sort through the various binders containing past meeting minutes and financial statements.

New Business: The Council then turned their attention to the new business of reviewing the concerns previously submitted by Mike and it was decided that it would be good to tackle this during the next meeting. The Council recognized the letters submitted by Gary and Diana Taylor and George Gans asking that they be removed from the fellowship and membership respectively. The Council decided it would be good idea to get the fellowship together on May 25th for a “get-to-know-each-other” picnic and Mark agreed to include the details in the upcoming bulletin. It was also agreed that 25 flower arrangements would be appropriate for the Mother’s day Sunday. A brief discussion was also held over the topic of insurance.

Adjourn: The meeting was closed in prayer by Dan at 8:05pm

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