Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held three meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
During the year the Committee met with Ken Hurst for an update concerning his chaplaincy. He is presently serving as a chaplain in the Army and is stationed at Fort Stewart, GA. He will continue to pursue credentials with the BFC. Keith E. Plows and Dennis M. Cahill represented the Committee on Credentials at the NACMAF Convention in Washington, DC in December.
The Faith & Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the Bible Fellowship Church. All of the brethren returned their questionnaires except: Daniel F. DeLozier, Henry A. Schell, and Larry M. Smith. The Committee is well satisfied with the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires. The Committee will communicate with those who have not returned their Questionnaires.
The Committee met with the Pastoral staff of Community Bible Fellowship Church, Red Hill, PA upon communication received from the Study Committee on Baptism and Church Membership. The matter was extensively discussed and we recommended that they discuss this matter with their Board of Elders and congregation and communicate with Annual Conference concerning their action. The Credentials Committee sensed a cooperative spirit and one of care and concern for their congregation.
The following change in status was approved:
Kenneth F. Barber was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Thomas J. Beil was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Carl T. Martin was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries.
Harold C. Weaber was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Bible Fellowship Church to Ordained Ministers In Retirement.
Robert N. Gordon was changed from Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries to Ordained Ministers In Retirement.
Ronald W. Hoyle was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions to Ordained Ministers In Retirement.
The Committee met with three 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 recommend-ed Brian H. Cooper for ordination; and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommend-ed prior ordination recognition for Charles E. Cole and David N. Heineman; and
Whereas, these brethren have served acceptably as ministers of the Bible Fellowship Church for the required period of time or the equivalent thereof; 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 Brian H. Cooper be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church and further;
Resolved, that the prior ordination of Charles E. Cole and David N. Heineman to the gospel ministry be recognized by the Bible Fellowship Church and further;
Resolved, that the service of ordination be held Tuesday, April 28, 1998, at 7:30 p.m. at Berean Bible Fellowship Church, 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.
Bartron, William H.
Beil, James A.
Brosius, Bert N.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Cassel, Alva C.
Cassel, Carl C.
Clapier, G. Wayne
* Cole, Charles E.
Commerford, Robert S.
* Cooper, Brian H.
Coulbourn, Hugh C. Jr.
Denlinger, Ronald K.
Erb, Ronald C.
Fischer, Carl J. Jr.
Good, Kenneth L.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Head, Jim D.
* Heineman, David N.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
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.
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 C.
Boone, Clifford B.
Gehman, Richard J.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
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.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Manney, David L.
Martin, Carl T.
Schell, Henry A.
Vining, Gilbert J.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
Barber, Kenneth F.
Batchler,JamesR.Jr
Beil, Thomas J.
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.
Gordon, Robert N.
Harley, J. Barclay
Hartman, Jansen E.
Herb, Frank L. Jr.
Herb, George E.
Hertzog, Roy A.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
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.
Weaber, Harold C.
Yarrington, Harold D.
Recommendations: Credentials Committee makes the following recommendations:
1. That an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at the Berean Bible Fellowship Church, Stroudsburg, PA., during the 116th Annual Conference.
2. That Emmanuel Bible Fellowship Church, Sunbury, PA and Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church, Bethlehem, PA and Pleasant Valley Bible Fellowship Church, Pleasant Valley, NY be encouraged to have services acknowledging the Ordination of Charles E. Cole, Brian H. Cooper and David N. Heineman respectively and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the services.
3. (The following resolution would replace §506-6 in the Faith and Order and is presented as first reading:) (§506-6 become §506-6.1) Insert “lay” between “any” and “member”.
Whereas, there has been a growing trend of absenteeism at Annual Conference among the ordained men, and
Whereas, some excuses given may have been inappropriate, and
Whereas, acceptance or rejection of an excuse places an undue burden on the registrar and
Whereas, attendance at Annual Conference is required by the Faith & Order, §505-1; therefore be it
Resolved, that any pastor desiring to be excused from any meeting must present in writing the reason for such absence to the Secretary of the Committee on Credentials no later than two (2) weeks prior to the commencement of Annual Conference (emergency excuses being the lone exception) and the Committee on Credentials will report to Annual Conference stating the validity of such excuses.
4. (The following resolution would replace §512-11.1 in the Faith & Order and is presented as first reading:)
Whereas, it is important that there be continuity in the membership of the Credentials Committee and
Whereas, this committee has no provision for election in classes; therefore be it
Resolved, that the material in the Faith & Order, §512-11.1 be deleted and replaced by the following: (FIRST READING)
512-11.Credentials Committee
512-11.1Composition and Election
1The Credentials Committee shall be composed of five ordained ministers.
2They shall be elected for a term of three years in classes as follows:
Class I Two Ordained Ministers
Class II Two Ordained Ministers
Class III One Ordained Minister
Should this legislation be adopted at second reading it should be;
Resolved, that the election of the Credentials Committee be implemented as follows:
Elect Class I for three (3) years
Elect Class II for two (2) years
Elect Class III for one (1) year
5. The Credentials Committee in consultation with the Ministerial Relations Committee and the Ministerial Candidate Committee recommends the following:
Resolved, that the Chairman of Annual Conference appoint a committee of five to prepare revisions of the Faith & Order that recognize the presence of multiple pastoral staffs in our churches.
6. Whereas, the Credentials Committee is recognized by the United States Military as the endorsing agent for Bible Fellowship Church Chaplains serving in the military, and
Whereas the Ministerial Candidate Committee and the Credentials Committee have interviewed Kenneth J. Hurst and have found him in agreement with the Faith & Order, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Credentials Committee function as the calling agent to render a call for his service in the Military Chaplaincy, and be it further
Resolved, that the Ministerial Relations Committee and the Ministerial Candidate Committee be hereby authorized to recognize the call issued by the Credentials Committee.
The call to Kenneth J. Hurst will read as follows:
“The Credentials Committee of the Bible Fellowship Church, being on sufficient grounds, well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, Kenneth J. Hurst, and having good hopes from our knowledge of you that your ministrations in the Gospel will be profitable to the spiritual interests of those you serve, do earnestly call and desire you to undertake the office of Chaplain in the United States Military, promising you in the discharge of your duties, all proper support and encouragement in the Lord.”
Committee on Credentials: Keith E. Plows, Chairman; David A. Thomann , Secretary; James A. Beil; Dennis M. Cahill; LeRoy S. Heller