Covenant News - Midwest Delegates Approve Three Administrative Regions

Covenant News

Midwest Delegates Approve Three Administrative Regions

SHAWNEE, KS (May 7, 2002) - Delegates from 54 churches and fellowship groups approved a plan to divide Midwest Conference administrative duties into three regions during the conference annual meeting April 26-27 at Community Covenant Church in Shawnee.

The conference's main office and Supt. Kenneth Carlson will remain in Omaha, Nebraska, while other offices (including an associate superintendent) will be established near Kansas City and near Denver. Current Associate Supt. Rick Mylander is scheduled to head the Colorado office.

Funds for a new associate superintendent position in Kansas City were made available by the approval of the 2003 conference budget. The conference spans 900 miles and serves 80 congregations. A task force began considering the plan two years ago in order to better serve the vast region. Dave Benedict, conference vice chair and a member of the task force that developed the plan, made the presentation to delegates. Carlson said his desire is that the local church can be as creative and flexible as possible in serving an ever-changing world.

"Since September 11, the church has been called to share the Gospel to an even more needy nation and world," stated Carlson in his annual meeting report. "While the message remains the same, the challenge for us is that ministry styles may have to change to reach the diversity of our culture with the love and hope we have in Jesus Christ."

The conference's 148 delegates voted to recommend Celebration Covenant Church of Omaha, Nebraska, and Relative Word Ministries of Colorado Springs, Colorado, for membership in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Those recommendations will be presented to delegates attending the 117th Annual Meeting in June. The recommended congregations reflect the continuing effort to plant churches in the conference, said Carlson in his report, adding, "We are all on a local mission field for Jesus Christ."

Mylander underscored the need for local churches to parent new church plants, stating in his annual report that that the United States is the third largest mission field in the world. "Conversion growth is 125 percent greater in new church plants than it is in established Churches," he noted.

New members were elected to three-year terms on the Midwest Conference Executive Board. They include Daniel Sesay, Applewood Colorado; David Benedict, Pomeroy Iowa; Dale Gustafson Shawnee, Kansas (Community Covenant); and Cliff Jensen, Aurora, Nebraska.

Special guests in Shawnee included pastor Duale Langba, director of evangelism for the Covenant Church in the Congo. Pastor Duale is one of three Congolese pastors participating in the Missionary Leader in Residence program sponsored by the Covenant's Department of World Mission. He is being hosted by Arvada Covenant Church in Arvada, Colorado, for three months.

Jim Gustafson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission, also was a guest of the Midwest Conference.

In other news:

Conference Chairperson Sharon Mann led the annual meeting proceedings. Stan Mann and Judy Diehl provided assistance, interviewing those representing six conference institutions.
Barb Alf, a member of the conference Executive Board, gave a presentation about the Covenant Church in Sudan with pictures from the last annual meeting of the church. She brought a resolution (approved by delegates) recommending that the Department of World Mission send a full-time missionary to Gambella, Ethiopia, to help the Sudan church.
Paul Lessard, executive director of Covenant Bible College-Midwest in Windsor, Colorado, gave an update on the school. He said that fundraising was a key component of future ministry, stating that the total cost for each of its 44 students is underwritten by approximately $5,000.
In the Midwest Covenant Home update, director Pat McElhose reported that the facility has launched a building project that will increase the number of assisted living beds to 30 while reducing the number of skilled care beds to 58. There are about 100 residents overall.
Covenant Village of Colorado campus director Ted Ahlem and marketing director Todd Christopher reported that a new three-story building with 34 apartments is nearly completed. The Patio Homes, a new concept in campus housing, recently received The Award of Excellence and Design from the City of Westminster. Meanwhile, The Village Center, a long-awaited multipurpose building with a capacity for more than 300 for worship or other events is under construction. A swimming pool, additional space for the coffee shop, gift shop and fitness center and additional office space are also part of the project. Facilities should be completed this summer. Covenant Village of Colorado is one of only two Colorado retirement communities that has received accreditation from the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
Dan Buhr, executive director of Covenant Cedars Bible Camp in Hordville, Nebraska; Tom Cousineau, executive director of Covenant Height Conference Center in Estes Park, Colorado; and Bryan Muecke, assistant director of Twin Lakes Christian Center in Manson, Iowa, gave staff reports, each noting that their respective camps have completed major building projects.
Nearly 100 pastors gathered for ministerium meetings at the Harvest Ridge Covenant Church in Shawnee on April 25. They heard a review of the proposed Rules for the Ordered Ministry led by Carlson and Phil Hakanson, senior pastor of First Covenant Church in Omaha Nebraska. Hakanson served as chair of the task group that drafted the proposed rules. Carlson was the liaison from the Council of Superintendents. Delegates also approved amendments to the constitution regarding the ministerial association officers' terms of office and a report was given on a strategy to provide more effective pastoral care.

For more information about the Midwest Conference and its recent annual meeting, call the conference office staff at 402-334-3020.

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