Title: Governing board, staff additions highlight
Church Extension meeting
Date: November 28, 2000
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
00b-62
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Election of new board members and staff additions and promotions were among actions confirmed by the governing body of the Board of Church Extension of Disciples of Christ during its November board of directors meeting.
During the session, the Rev. Gilberto Collazo, minister of University Gardens Christian Church, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and Linda Carlson, a certified public accountant and financial manager from Kansas City, Mo., were elected chairperson and vice chairperson of the board, respectively.
Kathy Pellman, vice president of Marketing Decisions Support Systems, Inc., Indianapolis, and Mark Harry, vice president of Harry Mortgage Company in Oklahoma City, Okla., were both elected as new board members to serve three-year terms.
Also during the meeting, three directors were reelected to three-year terms: the Rev. W. Darwin Collins, Pittsburgh, regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Pennsylvania; the Rev. Joyce Frame, minister of Keizer (Ore.) Christian Church; and Marian Hamlett, a certified public accountant from Flower Mound, Texas.
Two directors were honored for six years of service on the board. Greg Smith, outgoing board chair and an attorney from Lafayette, Ind., and the Rev. J. O. Williams Sr., Wilson, N.C., retired associate regional minister of the Christian Church in North Carolina, both received certificates of appreciation.
The Rev. James L. Powell, BCE president, announced the appointments of two new staff members for New Congregation Establishment. Effective March 1, the Rev. Rick Morse, minister of Lake Washington Christian Church, Kirkland, Wash., will become director of New Congregation Establishment.
His new responsibilities will include assisting regions and congregations in the establishment of new churches as well as supporting other new church starts. "Rick has faithfully pastored a new congregation as well as worked as a regional partner in supporting other new church starts," said Powell. "He is wonderfully creative and deeply committed to starting new congregations."
Effective Jan. 1, the Rev. Judy Turner, minister for congregational growth, Homeland Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), will join the NCE team with primary responsibility for leadership development. She will remain a staff member of Homeland Ministries.
"Judy brings great gifts and passion to her new ministry," Powell said. "We celebrate Homeland Ministries' response to the need to greatly enhance our efforts to recruit, train and nurture leaders of new congregations. BCE and Homeland Ministries can model the kind of creative partnership around the priority of starting new congregations that will bring a new day of effectiveness for Disciples in fulfilling the Great Commission."
Four BCE staff promotions were announced, also effective Jan. 1. They are: the Rev. Eugene Randall, II, vice president of ministry resources and corporate secretary; Ellen Mitchell, vice president for development; Mary Beight, assistant treasurer and assistant secretary; and Katrine Brooks, assistant vice president for human resources.
Loan approvals of $8.1 million were confirmed by BCE directors. The projected loans will finance 41 projects for new construction, remodeling and debt refinancing. As of Nov. 14, 93 loans totaling nearly $21.6 million have been made this year.
As of Sept. 30, reports showed loan balances of $103.5 million while the board's assets stood at nearly $118 million. Investments placed with the board - a primary source of loan funds - totaled more than $93 million.
In other board highlights, directors:
-- approved an operating budget of nearly $10.9 million for 2001;
-- reviewed a progress report on a comprehensive BCE marketing plan that is under development;
-- received a report on a web-based demographic service that will be available without cost to regions and congregations through 2001;
-- received reports showing 207 visits by staff members to Disciples congregations and organizations from May through September;
-- reviewed field staff reports showing 21 building fund campaigns raising $15.1 million;
-- reviewed plans for a new BCE internal organizational structure.
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