Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held five meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
During the year, the Committee on Credentials met with the delegate and Pastor of visitation of the New Life BFC in Oley concerning their decision to accept members who have not been baptized by immersion. They were encouraged to present a resolution to this the 113th Annual Conference that a study committee be appointed to study the issue of membership and baptism by immersion. Another approach suggested was for the Oley BFC to present an official petition to the 114th Annual Conference. The same issue brought the Committee on Credentials and the Ministerial Relations Committee together with the Board of Elders of the Oley BFC for discussion. The meeting was one of grace and good will as the three bodies came to the conclusion that the Oley Elders would discuss the formulation of a petition to the 114th Annual Conference for a study committee to be formed to investigate the issue.
Keith E. Plows and Randall A. Grossman represented the Committee on Credentials at the NACMAF Convention in Washington, DC, in December. The Committee also met with Ken Hurst concerning Bible Fellowship Church endorsement for possible Chaplaincy service. The Committee also met with two other men during the year.
The Faith and Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the Bible Fellowship Church. All of the brethren returned their questionnaire except: Gilbert J. Vining, Clifford B. Boone, and J. Barclay Harley. The Committee is well satisfied with the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires. The Committee will follow up with those who have not yet returned their questionnaire.
The following change in status was approved:
The following men were changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Roy A. Hertzog, James G. Koch
The following men were changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
J. Barclay Harley, Leonard E. Buck, Brian H. Butler
The following man were changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the Bible Fellowship Church: Jerry L. Moyer
The Committee met with two men for ordination examination. The Credentials Committee gives thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has given these gifted men for the ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended Jonathon W. Arnold and Ronald K. Denlinger for ordination, and
Whereas, these brethren have served acceptably as ministers of the Bible Fellowship Church for the required period of time or the equivalent therefore, and
Whereas, after examination, the Credentials Committee believes these men to be called of God to the gospel ministry and to be in accord with the Faith & Order of the Bible Fellowship Church, therefore be it
Resolved, that Jonathon W. Arnold and Ronald K. Denlinger be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church.
Resolved, that the service of ordination be held Tuesday, April 29, 1997, at 7:30 p.m. at Berean BFC, Stroudsburg, PA.
The Credentials Committee has placed our Ordained Ministers in the following categories (These men are eligible to serve a Bible Fellowship Church):
I. Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Allen, Daniel P.
Armstrong, W. David
* Arnold, Jonathon W.
Baker, Delbert R. II.
Barber, Kenneth F.
Bartron, William H.
Beil, James A.
Beil, Thomas J.
Brosius, Bert N.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Cassel, Alva C.
Cassel, Carl C.
Clapier, G. Wayne
Commerford,Robert S.
Coulbourn,Hugh C. Jr.
*Denlinger,Ronald W.
Erb, Ronald C.
Fischer, Carl J. Jr.
Good, Kenneth L.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Head, Jim D.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
Martin, Carl T.
McCreary, J. Mark
Paashaus, Richard T.
Phillips, D. Thomas
Plows, Keith E.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Reitz, Roger L.
Ritter, Ralph E.
Schlonecker,William G.
Schoen, David N.
Shorb, Thomas P.
Sloan, Robert A. Jr.
Smith, Gene W.
Soper, Ralph M.
Spinney, Dennis W.
Stortz, Dean A.
Studenroth, John C.
Susek, Jacob, J. Jr.
Tait, Jonathan P.
Taylor, Richard E.
Thomann, David A.
Trommler, Steven L.
Uhrich, Gregory A.
Vandegriff, John C. Jr.
Vivona, Alan R.
Watkins, David J.
Way, David R.
Weaber, Harold C.
Weller, Dana E.
Wells, Howard N.
Wickstead, James A.
Widger, Byron
Ziegler, Daniel G.
* Contingent upon approval of recommendation of their ordination in this report.
II. Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Aukamp, William A.
Boone, Clifford B.
Gehman, Richard J.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
Johnston, Walter M.
Lea, Herbert K.
Morrison, Philip E.
Moyer, Edward
Moyer, Jerry L.
Riddell, David W.
Yerrington, Philip E.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
III. Ordained Minister Working in the Military Chaplaincy Under the Sponsorship of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Minsky, Barry J.
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Bigley, T. James Jr.
DeLozier, Daniel F.
Ellingson, Bruce A.
Frable, Arthur H. Jr.
Gordon, Robert N.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Manney, David L.
Schell, Henry A.
Vining, Gilbert J.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
Batchler, James R. Jr.
Byrd, Terris L.
Coble, Bernard N.
Dommel, Albert J.
Herb, John H.
Jones David H.
Neher, James E.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Burnett, Raymond G.
Dotts, Raymond R.
MacMillan, Thomas S.
Smith, Larry M.
VII. Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Buck, Leonard E.
Butler, Brian H.
Cassel, Willard E.
Draper, Robert L.
Dunn, John
Frank, Walter H.
Fritz, Harvey J., Jr.
Harley, J. Barclay
Hartman, Jansen E.
Herb, Frank L. Jr.
Herb, George E.
Hertzog, Roy A.
Johnson, Robert F.
Kirkwood, Donald T.
Koch, James G.
Miller, C. Leslie
Mull, William W.
Munyan, Edgar H.
Reichenbach, R. C.
Riggall, John H.
Seifert, A. L.
Shelly, Austin G.
Smock, Robert W.
Thomann, David E.
Yarrington, Harold D.
Credentials Committee makes the following recommendations:
1. That an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 28, 1998 during the 115th Annual Conference at the Berean BFC, Stroudsburg, PA.
2. That Grace BFC, Reading, and the Community BFC, Red Hill, be encouraged to have services acknowledging the Ordination of Jonathon W. Arnold and Ronald K. Denlinger respectively and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the services.
Committee on Credentials: Keith E. Plows, Chairman; David A. Thomann, Secretary; James A. Beil; Randall A. Grossman; LeRoy S. Heller