Report of the

Strategic Planning Committee

              This past year the Strategic Planning Committee functioned in an interval period between the First and Second Reading of the legislation that implements and structures a Conference Strategic Planning Committee. In our first year the committee conceptualized and then proposed a Conference Mission Statement as well as the legislation which created a Strategic Planning Committee.

              Since the elected committee will be selected at the 111th Annual Conference, we spent the second year refining the Second Reading, and in a low-key approach explored some of the possible ways a Strategic Planning Committee could facilitate the overall mission of our Conference.

              The following projects were formulated this past year:

              1.           Pastor to Pastor Newsletter – The newsletter was well received as a means of receiving timely information. We recommend continuation of the newsletter.

              2.           Struggling Church Assistance – Throughout this year two groups of pastors met with the pastors of two struggling churches. The purpose this year was simply to pray for and provide fellowship with fellow pastors at struggling churches. If developed appropriately this can be a powerful means to provide assistance for some churches.

              3.           Youth Ministry Project – Six churches expressed strong interest for a cooperative youth missions project. Although difficulties arose in finding a suitable host church this past summer, and no project materialized, we believe that this remains a viable consideration for future years.

              We recommend a change in Paragraph B. of the Strategic Planning Committee legislation to be received for Second Reading at the 111th Annual Conference.

              Paragraph B. Purpose

The purpose of the Strategic Planning Committee is to propose (to Annual Conference) and provide for (Annual Conference) the implementation of a coordinated plan of action for the Bible Fellowship Church consistent with the Mission Statement of the denomination.

              We believe this represents no material change in the First Reading and therefore qualifies for the Second Reading at the 111th Annual Conference.

Strategic Planning Committee: Ronald W. Reed, Chairman; David N. Schoen, Secretary; Carl C. Cassel, Raymond R. Dotts, Neil E. Montgomery, Richard T. Paashaus, Robert A. Sloan, Jr.