Midwest OKs New Constitution, Bylaws

LITTLETON, CO (April 24, 2004) - A new constitution and bylaws, acceptance of a new congregation into fellowship and recognition of a retiring pastor were among the highlights of the 118th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) that concluded today.

"These days have been some of our most exciting as well as challenging times," Supt. Kenneth Carlson told delegates assembled at Centennial Covenant Church in Littleton, which served as host church for the event. Carlson was referencing in particular the move to create three administrative "hub" offices within the conference as one means of creating closer ties between administrative and support services of the conference and the 79 churches and five fellowships represented.

Carlson will continue to work out of the Omaha office. Associate Supt. Dave Benedict, who is fairly new in his position working with existing churches, has located in Kansas City. Associate Supt. Rick Mylander, who specializes in church planting ministries, is in a period of transition and will relocate to the Colorado area sometime this fall.

Five North Park Theological Seminary graduates have accepted calls to serve congregations in the Midwest Conference, Carlson reported. He also noted that eight conference students will graduate from the seminary this spring – all recipients of Presidential Scholarships.

The new constitution and bylaws approved by delegates now goes to the ECC Executive Board for approval. The new documents were drafted to bring the conference governing instruments into alignment with the denominational constitution and bylaws that were amended a few years ago.

Delegates recommended membership approval for Liberty Springs Covenant Church in Liberty, Missouri. That recommendation will go to the ECC's June Annual Meeting in Minneapolis for a vote.

Rev. and Mrs. Paul Spjut were recognized for their many years of ministry – he continues to serve as chaplain at Covenant Village of Colorado in Westminster, Colorado.

A report on denominational ministries was presented by Don Meyer, executive minister of the ECC Department of Communication and the ECC liaison to the conference annual meeting. Meyer also was the speaker for the Friday evening banquet where Bringing My World to Christ prayer lists were brought forward for prayer. Those lists will be presented during the June Annual Meeting in Minneapolis.

Next year's conference annual meeting will be April 22-23 at First Covenant Church in Salina, Kansas.

On Thursday, the Midwest Conference Ministerial Association elected new officers to two-year terms. They include chair Lyle Person, pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Mead, Nebraska; vice chair Tim Peterson, pastor of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Clay Center, Kansas; and Mike Coglan, pastor of Community Covenant Church in Kearney, Missouri, who was re-elected treasurer. Ken Moore, pastor of Faith Covenant in Colorado Springs, Colorado, continues to serve as secretary.

It was determined that the Ministerial Association will explore development of a pastoral care program modeling after the Sanctuary Project developed by the North Pacific Conference.

The fall ministerial retreat will be held October 4-6 at the Leadership Center in Aurora, Nebraska, according to outgoing chair Bruce Finfrock, pastor of Arvada Covenant Church in Arvada, Colorado.

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