Covenant News - North Pacific Conference Welcomes New Churches

Covenant News

North Pacific Conference Welcomes New Churches

MERCER ISLAND, WA (May 12, 2005) - The North Pacific Conference welcomed two churches during its recent annual meeting held April 28-30 at Bellingham Covenant Church in Bellingham, Washington.

Welcomed into the conference were two church plants: Crossroads Covenant Church in Burlington, Washington, and Columbia Grove Covenant Church in Wenatchee, Washington.

New church planters also were introduced to the delegates. Tony Easterly will plant a church in Bellevue, Washington, while Moises Garcia will plant a church in Hillsboro, Oregon. Daron Jagodzinske will plant a church in Poulsbo, Washington. Delegates also approved a budget of $1,119,239 and expenses of $1,115,829.

Doreen Olson, executive minister of the Department of Christian Formation of the Evangelical Covenant Church, preached during the Friday evening worship service, exhorting delegates to go "deeper in Christ and further in mission." The evening concluded with a special showing of Monganga Paul, the story of martyred Covenant missionary Paul Carlson who was killed by rebel forces in Congo in November 1964. A special offering totaling $1,913 was taken during the weekend to benefit churches in the Congo.

In other action:

Darcia Gordon was elected conference chair and Jim Gallagher was elected treasurer.
Newly elected board members are Steve McLaughlin and Jared Novak, Commission on Camping and Conferences; Ray Bartell and Robert Lindberg, Nominating Commission; and Elizabeth Sedore and Ken White, Cross Cultural Ministry and Mission Commission.
Delegates gave special recognition to retiring Conference Executive Board members Betsy Luoto and Treasurer Don Safstrom. Recognition also was given to retiring pastor Sharon Gradin.
Krisann Jarvis Foss introduced delegates to "Invitation to Racial Righteousness," a set of tools offered by the Department of Christian Formation to help congregations pursue justice issues.
Scot McKnight, author of The Jesus Creed, addressed the Conference Ministerium.
Using a video feed, Tim Hedberg, pastor of Community Covenant Church in Clear Lake, Washington, shared about spiritual growth in his church and community. Hedberg spoke via the video feed because he was home waiting for the birth of his daughter, Emma.

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