Title: Board of Church Extension refocuses mission
Date: July 7, 1999
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
99b-46
Raleigh, N.C. (DNS) In a bold move with potential for long-term growth
of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Board of Church Extension
directors have refocused its mission upon fulfilling the Great Commission with
renewed emphasis on establishing new congregations.
BCE directors approved, during their June 25-28 meeting, a revised
direction to "provide resources that channel the energy of the Great Commission
into physical form, including facilities and new congregations."
"What this means," stated directors' chairperson, the Rev. Marvin K.
Eckfeldt, senior pastor, First Christian Church, Kent, Wash., "is that BCE is
reaching back to the very motivation of its beginning 116 years ago as it moves
into the new millennium. Church Extension recommitted itself to an even stronger
use of staff, time and resources to work with partners to help new churches get
started and to help strengthen existing churches toward new health and growth."
At the urging of Marian Hamlett, CPA, Flower Mound, Texas, directors
and staff agreed to biblical discernment and prayer as the Board takes the next
steps toward developing action plans. "There are so many hurting souls needing
the love and nurture of the church, that we need to commit ourselves not only on
paper, but in our hearts, our actions and through our prayers, if BCE is to make
this new direction effective," Hamlett said.
"The actions by the directors means," explained Rev. James L. Powell,
BCE president, "we will become more centered upon fulfilling the Great
Commission as we seek to energize new congregations and strengthen existing
congregations with growing participation, even as we deal with their building
needs. We will discover how best to carry out this mandate in the months
ahead."
BCE's ministry planning process will continue through the end of the year
as the unit develops long- and short-range goals. The first phase was led by Cyrus
N. (Russ) White, president, Christian Board of Publication, St. Louis.
The meeting theme of "Shared Roots, Shared Future" was brought to life
as Board of Church Extension directors and staff visited several Church of Christ
(Disciples of Christ) congregations in the Raleigh area during its meeting.
The predominantly African-American churches, which were
commissioned to form their own organization shortly after the Emancipation
Proclamation, were a part of the development of the Christian Church in North
Carolina and have been partners with BCE for several decades.
"BCE never closed its hands to the Church of Christ," said Senior Bishop
J. L. Melvin, who spoke Friday evening.
The fruits of BCE's ministry with the Churches of Christ were experienced
first-hand Sunday as two groups of directors and staff journeyed to Wilson,
Newton Grove, Greenville and Goldsboro, N.C., worshiping in and visiting three
congregations and two area Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) headquarters.
The genuine hospitality and Spirit-filled worship experience gave BCE visitors a
taste of the rich history and blessed future of the churches.
The directors and staff also heard from Church of Christ leader, Bishop
Charles Williams, who spoke of the Church of Christ's history in North Carolina
and BCE's role in that development. His comments were best summed up by
Senior Bishop Melvin on Friday night, when he passionately said, "If it wasn't for
BCE, there are churches that would not be in existence right now."
In other action, Board of Church Extension directors confirmed nearly $9
million in loan requests to underwrite 48 capital improvement projects in 21 states
plus Puerto Rico. Combined costs for the projects, varying from remodeling and
new construction to debt refinancing, totaled $13 million. Loan requests ranged in
size from $10,000 to $995,000.
Directors also confirmed three interest-free loan requests totaling
$110,000 for congregations in Puerto Rico, Texas, and Colorado. Four
congregations now have outstanding commitments for interest-free loans totaling
$127,500, awaiting the availability of interest-free loan funds.
As of May 31, reports showed loan balances of $93.3 million while the
Board's assets stood at $114.5 million. Investments placed with the Board, a
primary source of loan funds, totaled $90.2 million.
Church Extension directors also received reports showing 203 field visits by BCE staff members during February, March and April, which was an increase of more than 25 percent over the same period one year ago. During the same three-month period, staff directed 12 fund raising campaigns that achieved pledges of nearly $2.1 million.
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