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'Affirmations' Approval Highlights Closing Session
KEYSTONE, CO (June 24, 2005) - Actions by delegates to the 120th Annual
Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) celebrated the
denomination's identity and recommitted to broader ministry during the
closing business session Friday.
Delegates overwhelmingly approved a revision to Covenant
Affirmations, which was originally drafted in 1976. "Mission flows
out of identity," said Donn Engebretson in introducing the document to
the assembly. "Jesus knew his purpose, his task and where he was going.
He knew who he was - he was clear about his identity. It is no less
important for us to know who we are. It comes out of our identity to be
involved in what Jesus Christ is doing in the world."
Engebretson, ECC executive vice president and member-facilitator of the
group responsible for the revision, reminded delegates of the
importance of this document, especially for those considering
membership in the Covenant. He also noted the importance of revised
language addressing ethnic diversity and women in ministry as well as
the strengthened bond between evangelism and compassion that is
reflected in the revised document.
The power of Covenant Affirmations to affect lives was evidenced
by the addition or planting of 10 new churches over the last several
years in Detroit, Michigan, Engebretson offered as one example. He
noted that pastor Bob Hoey discovered the document a number of years
ago while exploring a number of denominations with which his local
church could eventually affiliate.
"I cried," Hoey told Engebretson after Hoey read Covenant
Affirmations and realized his church had found a home. Since that
time, the number of Covenant churches in the Detroit area has grown.
And, Hoey's congregation and other Covenant churches in the area have
begun a medical clinic to serve the poorest of the poor in the city.
Underscoring the importance of the evangelism and compassion emphases,
the new document adds a sixth affirmation - "a commitment to the whole
mission of the church."
A small task group drafted the revision, which was then read by more
than 30 readers, whose responses were incorporated into the draft. The
document also was reviewed and approved by the Council of
Administrators, the Council of Superintendents, the Executive Board and
the Board of the Ordered Ministry before presentation to the Annual
Meeting.
"It is a living document that reflects God's changeless call in a
changing world," Engebretson said in recommending the document's
approval, which delegates granted following discussion.
A report given by Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department
of World Mission, reflected the "commitment to the whole mission of the
church." Peterson said that local churches exceeded by more than
$200,000 the goal set at the 2002 Annual Meeting to raise money beyond
the Covenant Coordinated Budget to support World Mission initiatives.
Churches have raised $727,000 since fall 2002.
Peterson said the money has enabled missionaries to receive modest
salary increases to help offset inflation, devaluation and rising
health care costs. The relationship with the Covenant Church of the
Congo (CEUM) also was re-invigorated when missionaries were sent back
to the country.
Peterson wept as he told the delegates how a 100-year rain overwhelmed
a newly rebuilt bridge that was supposed to connect people to economic
and agricultural necessities. "I thought how many bridges do we have to
rebuild, and we declared to the people as many times as it takes to
help rebuild hope. Today that bridge is rebuilt. It is strong,"
Peterson said to loud applause. He added that people now see the reason
to rebuild roads on both sides of the bridge.
Delegates also approved several bylaw changes that reflect the
increasing and changing mission of the denomination:
- Bylaws, Article VII, Section 7.10.g.iii, will allow three or four
members of the Board of Directors of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence
to be elected each year for a term of six years instead of three
members for a term of five years. This was done because the increasing
responsibility of the Ministries of Benevolence requires a greater
number of people and length of term.
- Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 8.2.e.iii, enables the Executive
Board and Council of Superintendents to determine whether they need to
meet with each other during a calendar year rather than being mandated
to meet. This was done to ensure a proper stewardship of time and that
meetings would be held when necessary.
- Bylaws, Article X, Section 10.2 (and elsewhere), changes all other
references to "Women Ministries." The change reflects the change in
Women Ministries of the ECC's new constitution and name change.
- Bylaws, Article XII, Section 12.1, adds Paul Carlson Medical
Program, Inc., to the list of ECC corporations. This was done because
the renewal of the purposes and activities of the program mandates its
inclusion.
- Bylaws, Article XII, Section 12.2.b, will increase the number of
members of the Board of Benevolence to 21 to 26 from 15. The change was
made due to the increasing responsibilities of the board.
- Bylaws, Article XII, Section 12.2.b.i(2), allows for three or four
members of the Board of Benevolence to be elected for terms of six
years, rather than three members for five-year terms. The change was
made to reflect the board's increasing responsibilities.
- Bylaws, Article XII, Section 12.2.b.i(5), mandates that at least
eight of the elected members of the Board of Benevolence shall be male
and eight shall be female, rather than six of each. This was done to
reflect the increasing responsibilities of the board.
- Bylaws, Article XII, Section 12.8, is an addition to the bylaws and
states that the
Paul Carlson Medical Program, Inc. doing business as Paul Carlson
Partnership, develops projects, programs, and facilities for medical
services, public health services, child welfare services, community
development activities, education, and research; and raises funds to
accomplish its mission.
- Bylaws, Article XVI, Section 16.2, requires that amendments to
bylaws be published 60 days rather than 90 days prior to the Annual
Meeting when final action is to be taken. This was done to coincide
with the normal Executive Board meeting schedule and the regular
production schedule of the Covenant Companion.
In other business:
- Delegates approved a resolution to form a committee that would
organize "an around-the-clock intercessory prayer team to spiritually
intercede for the needs, spiritual direction and protection of the
participants for the duration of the Covenant Annual Meeting." The
resolution was introduced by David Anderson from Grace Community
Covenant Church in Olympia, Washington.
- Delegates ratified the new constitution of Women Ministries of the
ECC. Ruth Hill, executive minister of the department, announced that
the next Triennial will be held in Chicago on August 9-12, 2007. The
theme "Catch the Wind" will build on the significance of the Holy
Spirit as well as Chicago's reputation as "The Windy City."
- It was announced that teaching and discussion material regarding
human sexuality would be available for the 2006 Annual Meeting.
- It was announced that the 2006 Annual Meeting will be held in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, June 14-17. The theme will be "Everyone to
Everywhere."
Don Meyer, executive minister of Covenant Communications, urged
delegates to share what they have learned during the Annual Meeting
through reports and presentations to their home churches upon their
return. A delegate handout was distributed to aid in that effort,
containing a distillation of the key facts and decisions discussed
during the meeting. A copy of that handout is available for download in
the Annual Meeting segment of the Covenant website.
Mary Miller expressed gratitude to those who helped stage the meeting:
the Midwest Conference, including Supt. Ken Carlson and his staff;
Kirsten Nelson-Wagenius, coordinator of the hospitality committee and
the many volunteers from area churches; Steve Burger, designer and
coordinator of the children's ministry and youth programs; John Martz,
moderator; Thomas Robinson, vice moderator; Duane Aschenbrenner;
parliamentarian; Karen Johnson, secretary; Denise Erickson, vice
moderator, and back-up secretary, Tricia De Kok; tellers supervised by
chairperson Adria Pearson; the sergeant-at-arms supervised by
chairperson Carol Cornelius, the Credentials Committee under
chairperson David Green; Joanne Olsen, Andrea Lawson and meeting
coordinator Eric Palmquist of the Covenant office staff; part-time
staffers Liz Verhage, Barbara Fisk, and David Sesay; and FEAST
directors Carla Erickson and Frederik Wall.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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