2007 PNMC Delegate Sessions

Albany-Corvallis – Albany, Oregon

June 22-24, 2007

Friday – June 22, 2007

Session I, 9:00 am – 10:15 am

Welcome and Moderator’s Comments

Moderator Charlotte Hardt welcomed the delegates to the 2007 business sessions and invited Jennifer Gingerich, newly licensed Youth/Outreach Pastor at Salem Mennonite, to lead in prayer.

Reception of Emmaus as a Member Church

Conference Minister Sheldon Burkhalter led a service to receive Emmaus Christian Fellowship congregation into membership with PNMC.

Approval of 2006 Minutes

Charlotte asked for any additions or corrections to the Minutes of the 2006 Delegate Sessions. Minutes were approved as written.

Recognition of Church-wide Guests

Agustin Suarez – Northwest Mexico Conference

Jim Schrag – MC USA
Marlene Kroeker – MMN
Barry Bartel – Bethel College
Russ Eanes – MPN
Beverly Keck – MMA
 

Special Seminar: Faith and Practice

Visual parables were used to spark discussion on Faith and Practice.

Friday – June 22, 2007

Session II, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Sam Adams, pastor of River Mennonite Church (MIP), opened the second session with prayer.

Roll Call of Congregations

Diane Isaak called the roll of member churches, with delegates from each congregation standing to be recognized.

Structure and Vision Task Force

The Structure and Vision Task Force made their presentation of the new structural proposal.

Comments from tables:

· What are the budget implications?

· Concern about moving from a conference minister to an administrator.

· Concern about “bishop” leadership.

· CIHAN should be part of the foundational structure (see p. 7, Foundational Team)

· What about passion-based ministries that are more foundational to our identity as a church?

· Would this free us more from delegate sessions?

· Conference Executive: who hires the CE? (response: “Board”)

· What responsibility does the CE have in hiring? (response: “the CE would lead in hiring and recruiting”)

· How will individuals connect with passion-based ministries?

· What is passion?

· The Conference Executive has a lot of power; how will conference deal with this?

· Term limits? Who evaluates the CE?

· Who would bring churches into the conference? (response: “Conference ministers”)

Friday – June 22, 2007

Session III, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Simon Rendon, pastor of Centro Cristiano Pentecostes de McMinnville and First Mennonite Church of McMinnville, opened the third session with prayer.

State of the Conference

Reports from Conference Ministers: Victor, Sheldon, Duncan

CIHAN Report: Samuel Moran

Western Mennonite School Report: Darrel White

State of the Denomination

MC USA: Jim Schrag

MMN: Marlene Kroeker

MEA: Barry Bartel

MPN: Russ Eanes

MMA: Beverly Keck

Peace Mug Presentation

Matt Friesen, chair of the Peace and Justice Committee, along with other committee members, presented the 2007 Gard Hanks Peace and Justice Award to John Gingerich, Zion Mennonite Church.

Saturday – June 23, 2007

Session IV, 9:15 am – 10:30 am

Brad Roth, pastor of Warden Mennonite Church, opened the fourth session with prayer.

Structure and Vision Task Force (continued)

Comments from Table Groups:

Table 1

· Excited about the plan, but concerned about the budget.

Table 2

· Need more time for discussion about the Conference Executive.

Table 3

· Three or four persons could not affirm the proposal as it is. The Conference Executive powers would need to be reduced, the job reduced, and be firmly ministerial.

· Committees are being transferred to passion-based ministries.

· Delegates are losing power; position nominations should be returned to delegates.

Table 4

· Ready to move forward. In favor of a good administrator.

· Conference Ministers are crying out for help, something needs to change.

· How do we get the younger people involved?

· Need to continue to provide good people on the Board.

Table 5

· Affirm (all)

Table 6

· This process is like pregnancy (further explication of the metaphor).

Table 7

· Difference of opinions, one person will not affirm.

· If committees move toward passion-based, could their work be lost?

· Conference Executive position should be handled carefully.

Table 8

· Affirm the pregnancy and labor metaphor.

· What will delegates be doing in the future?

· Does this decision get reconsidered later?

Table 9

· Is this a moment of conception or birth? Where are we? Does this go back to the SVTF?

Table 10

· All but one can affirm the proposal. Concerned about implementation. With the budget situation, they are concerned it won’t work.

Table 11

· Concern about passion-based ministries, that Peace and Justice may not get what it needs.

· Have the foundational place (?), faraway churches.

· What about CIHAN?

Table 12

· Two affirm.

· There are concerns of accountability among staff and the PLC.

· Concerns about budget.

· Any contingency for changing plans if we realize it isn’t working?

Charlotte explained that, if the proposal is approved, the Transition Team will take the counsel of the delegates and develop a plan for moving into the new structure.

Charlotte called for a vote to accept the new structure proposal. The results were 85 affirmed, 9 opposed, and 2 abstained.

Saturday – June 23, 2007

Session V, 1:00 pm – 2:45 pm

Don Bacher led in singing “Renew Your Church” and Kathy Bilderback led in prayer.

PNMC Provisional By-laws

There was a motion to accept the PNMC Provisional By-laws as stated on page 18 of the Delegate book. The motion stated the Moderator, Moderator-elect and other members of the Board of Directors and Committees will continue in their positions until the 2008 Annual PNMC Assembly. The motion was seconded and carried.

There was a motion to accept the Transition Team to do the assigned job description as read on page 18 of the Delegate book. The motion stated the Moderator-elect will serve as Chair of the Transition Team. The Transition Team plans to complete its work and present new by-laws to the 2008 Assembly. The motion was seconded and carried.

Question: Is it possible for the Delegates to receive updates from the Board of Directors throughout the year concerning this process?

Question: How will the Transition Team operate and when will it be appointed?

Answer: This Board will be an interim Board and will be appointed by the present Board of Directors.

Affirmation of Budget

Dave Hockman-Wert read the Board of Directors statement to balance the budget over the next year. The statement reads:

We acknowledge that we have not made the progress toward balancing the budget that we hoped would occur this year. While some behind-the-scenes efforts have started, they have not yet begun in earnest. As we value good stewardship of our collective resources, we commit ourselves to bring conference income and expenses into alignment, making necessary reductions while avoiding drastic cuts. By next year’s annual meeting, we will present you with a multi-year plan for achieving a balanced budget. At the same time, we are preparing to launch a capacity building effort that would generate funds and increase our ability to carry out our vision over the long term.

-- PNMC Board of Directors

Questions

· Could you define multi-year plan?

· How can you avoid drastic cuts?

· Is there another monetary well to draw on?

· Line item 5510—Is there intent to hire another conference teacher?

· How was the deficit made up last year?

· Do you plan to appoint a finance team?

There was a motion to affirm the budget as presented in the Delegate packet. The motion was seconded and carried. (1-oppossed, 2-abstained)

Transition Committee Update

Members of the Transition Team will include:

Dave Hockman-Wert, Chair

Audrey Lowen, SVTF

Ed Miller, SVTF

Duncan Smith, Conference Minister

Pedro Olvera, CIHAN

Linda Dibble, Board Rep and Human Resources

Harold Nussbaum, By-laws

Cleon Claassen, Financial

Don Bacher, Financial

Passion Based Ministries/Lingering Issues re Transition

Table Group Comments:

· What are Passion Based Ministries?

· Where accountability factored in?

· At what point do things register with the committees?

· How will the Transition Team communicate throughout the year?

· How will Conference Minister role be reconciled by conference?

· How will Passion Based Ministries be funded and by whom?

· Will there be protocol set up for Passion Based Ministries?

· Why would we do committees within the conference if there is no longer interest?

· What is the criteria for Passion Based Ministries?

· What if two Passion Based Ministries oppose each other?

Table 1

· What is criteria of financial and moral support for passion-based ministries at the conference level?

· How will it be mediated if there are opposing passion-based ministries?

· How do chaplains, schools, and camps fit in?

Table 2

· Don’t like the term, passion-based ministry.

· Need a protocol, how can something be “certified” at the conference level?

· Instead of individually-inspired, have congregation-supported.

· Conference-wide survey on interests.

Table 3

· Send out frequent updates, have congregations get together before next meeting.

· Peace and Justice, Nurture, and Outreach are core.

Table 4

· Evangel updates and email (use for TT communication and budget progress).

· Peace and Justice, Outreach, and Nurture – it’s freeing not just having to fill positions for their own sake.

Table 5

· We’re weary of discussion.

Table 6

· Agree with Table 5.

Table 7

· Lingering concern about conference communication council. What is it?

Table 8

· Who/what determines that something is a “conference” passion-based ministry?

Table 9

· Some weirdness, waiting. Want to be informed.

Table 11

· How can it be more than a Willamette Valley club?

Table 12

· Accountability, fundraising, how do we (passion-based ministries) register with the Conference Executive?

Saturday – June 23, 2007

Session VI, 3:15 pm – 4:15

Celebration, Praise, & Prayer

Don Bacher led in “Teach Me Lord to Wait” and “God is Here Among Us.” Victor Estrada led in prayer for the session.

Special Recognition of SVTF Members

Duncan Smith led the group in a responsive reading. Dave Hockman-Wert gave recognition to the Structure and Vision Task Force members. John Willems addressed the group and each member was given a devotional book as a token of appreciation. The group members are Janet Buschert, Audrey Lowen, Mary Mae Hardt, Ed Miller, Craig Morton, Duncan Smith, and Stan Wyse. Victor Vargas led in prayer.

Recognition and Blessing for Albany and Corvallis

Charlotte gave thanks to each and every person involved in making this conference possible. Victor Vargas led in prayer. Don Bacher led the group in singing “O Jesus I have Promised.”

Blessing of Transition Team and Continuing Board Members

Sheldon Burkhalter led a prayer of blessing for the continuing board members and the transition team. Don Bacher led in singing “The Lord Lift You Up.”

Blessing of Conference Ministers

Lynn Miller led in prayer for Sheldon and Duncan and also recognized the work that Sue Palmer contributes to conference as administrative assistant. Don Bacher led the group in a closing song “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.”

Meeting adjourned at 4:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Diane Isaak

PNMC Secretary