Title: New Board of Church Extension staff initiatives
Date: September 23, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99a-61
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The governing body of Board of Church Extension, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) received reports showing $5.5 million in loan requests and new staff responsibilities during its September 14-15 meeting.
Loan requests to help finance building expansion, accessibility and improvements for Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregations and related institutions came from 18 states plus Puerto Rico. The requests, ranging in amounts from $7,200 to $650,000 will finance 28 building projects valued at $10.4 million.
Directors also received a report on one interest-free loan request totaling $50,000 to a congregation in Georgia for a site purchase. This brings to seven the number of congregations with outstanding commitments totaling $327,500 in interest-free loans.
Board members also affirmed a new focus and direction to carry out the future ministry of BCE through committee reorganization and new staff assignments.
The Rev. James L. Powell, president, announced the launch of new staffing initiatives to address Board of Church Extension's heightened commitment to new congregation establishment as manifested in its mission statement. Powell announced that Erick (Rick) D. Reisinger, executive vice president, will oversee development of the staffing plan to strengthen new congregation establishment. The Rev. Vertie Powers will continue her leadership as director of the New Congregation Establishment ministry.
"Rick will also provide leadership for the denomination's Vision Builders! program, as Deborah Thompson winds down her leadership prior to leaving staff for other endeavors at the beginning of 2000," according to Powell. "Deborah will help Rick and continue calling on those interested in financial support for new church starts." he added. "She has provided just the right leadership we have needed to launch the Vision Builders! fund raising effort."
The Rev. Eugene Randall, II, corporate secretary, will assume oversight of the field services department. Responsibilities for the development of print resources for field services will be assigned to the Rev. William L. Bass, general consultant.
In other board action, reports showed loan balances of Aug. 31 totaling $97.2 million while the BCE assets stood at nearly $116 million. Investments placed with the board, a primary source of loans, stood at $91.7 million.
Other reports showed 143 field visits were made by staff and special consultants to provide services to congregations during May, June and July. Included were 24 building fund campaigns that produced $5.1 million in pledges to help fund capital expansion projects.
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