Report of the

Board of Church Extension

             The Lord has demonstrated His gracious faithfulness to the Department over the past year as the Board has provided oversight and direction to the work of church planting. Existing missions and churches have been strengthened and two new missions were born during the year. The Board invested significant time through the year in ongoing evaluation and assessment of the work of church planting within the denomination, including the review of feedback from our regional meetings with pastors and elders. As the Search Committee worked toward the selection of a new Executive Director, questions surfaced regarding the role the Board of Church Extension may take on as the denomination moves into the 21st century. While there is strong consensus within the denomination regarding the strategic importance of church planting, differences exist as to the most effective paradigm, structure, and model for accomplishing the task. While endeavoring to set the vision for planting new churches in the Bible Fellowship Church, the Board is committed to “hearing” the voices of its constituency and appropriating those concerns as strategies are implemented. A greater sharing of resources with the Board of Missions is one area being investigated with the cooperation of the two boards. As the Board of Church Extension takes a fresh look at its mission and vision in light of these issues, it has decided to delay the appointment of an Executive Director until there is clear direction. An interim arrangement to continue current staff and procedures for one year has been implemented. The work of church planting is your work and we are privileged to carry out this mandate as your representatives in Christ’s name.

             Two new missions were opened during 1998, one in Chesapeake, Virginia and the other a joint effort with the Board of Missions in South Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Edison Church will “graduate” from the Department this year, having been fully self-supported for three years. Other missions and churches have experienced growth, both spiritually and numerically, and several are seeking new meeting facilities or land to accommodate their growing congregations. An Assessment Committee was formed for the Newark, New Jersey Mission to do the work of evaluation in anticipation of its recognition as a Particular Church. Chris Merrick organized several work teams for Thompson, Connecticut and Staten Island, New York. We are grateful for all those within the Bible Fellowship Church family who have served the Lord through their hard work and time in these projects. The Philemon Mission is moving forward under Richard Moyer, chaplain at the Atlantic County Justice Facility in Mays Landing, New Jersey. Richard has made progress in seeing his goal of a church plant among ex-offenders as a small group presently meets weekly for Bible study and counseling in an after-care program led by Chaplain Moyer. Sensing God’s leading, David Heineman, pastor at Pleasant Valley, New York, resigned from his position during the year. The congregation is seeking God’s will for a replacement.

             Words alone do not adequately express our profound appreciation for the prayer and financial support of churches and individuals who are partners in the work of church planting. The monthly prayer calendars and regular “It Happened Like This” stories provide faithful supporters with reminders of the way in which Jesus Christ is building His church, one believer and one congregation at a time. The Department pastors and their families are worthy of our prayer and financial support. We invite you to visit these missions and churches to encourage them and to see first-hand the results of your partnership. The following is a list of the men who are presently serving in the Department of Church Extension:

      Aberdeen, New Jersey (Bayshore). . . John C. Vandegriff

      Atlantic County, New Jersey. . . . . . . . Richard A. Moyer

      Beacon, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Way

      Brooklyn, New York

      Chesapeake, Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Willis I. Dowling

      Edison, New Jersey. .Dennis M. Cahill, Richard B. Ravis

      Newark, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Delbert R. Baker, II

      Ocean County, New Jersey. . . . . . . . . . . . Dean A. Stortz

      Pleasant Valley, New York

      Scranton, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roger L. Reitz

      South Allentown, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . .Elliot H. Ramos

      Staten Island, New York. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ralph E. Ritter

      Thompson, Connecticut. . . . . . . . . . . Dennis W. Spinney

      Walnutport, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan P. Tait

      The Board of Church Extension recommends the following resolution be adopted by the 116th Annual Conference of the Bible Fellowship Church:

Whereas, the Board of Church Extension has received significant and valuable feedback through its regional meetings with pastors and elders of the Bible Fellowship Church relating to administrative issues and future direction, and

Whereas, the Strategic Planning Committee of the Bible Fellowship Church is presently working on changes in denominational organization, structure, and paradigms which could impact the direction of the Board of Church Extension and the way it carries out its work, and

Whereas, there is significant potential for greater efficiency in the use of staff and resources in a cooperative effort between the Board of Church Extension and the Board of Missions, and

Whereas, to appoint a new Executive Director before these issues are fully and carefully investigated and resolved would not be in the best interests of the Board of Church Extension, the new Executive Director, or the denomination, therefore, be it

Resolved, that we delay the appointment of an Executive Director of the Board of Church Extension to take a fresh look at our mission and vision, and further

Resolved, that we institute an interim arrangement to continue current staff and procedures for one year, and further

Resolved, that Daniel G. Ziegler be ratified for a one year term extension as Executive Director of Church Extension, and further

Resolved, that the Board of Church Extension, led by the Chairman, will develop a plan to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the work of church extension, and further

Resolved, that members of Annual Conference pray for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance as the Board considers its vision and direction and searches for a new Executive Director.

Board of Church Extension: Richard E. Taylor, Chairman; David E. Gundrum, Vice Chairman; Daniel G. Ziegler, Executive Director; William G. Schlonecker, Secretary; William R. Singletary, Treasurer; David W. Armstrong; W. Robert Buckwalter; Kenneth L. Good; Clyde W. Snyder; Robert H. Zentz.