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 met with Ronald K. Denlinger and members of the Board of Elders of Community BFC, Red Hill, PA to discuss an issue that existed between the Pastor and a former member. Through much prayer and a spirit of God’s grace, the matter seems to be resolved. The committee also interviewed and counseled a number of men who have expressed difficulties in their ministries.
As a fulfillment of our requirements concerning our involvement in the military chaplaincy program, Keith E. Plows and David A. Thomann represented the Committee on Credentials at the NACMAF Convention in Washington DC in December.
The Faith and Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the BFC. All of the brethren returned their questionnaire except: Thomas J. Beil, Daniel F. DeLozier, Barry J. Minsky, Larry M. Smith, Gilbert J. Vining, and Harold D. Yarrington. Since this is the second consecutive year that the questionnaire was not returned by Daniel F. DeLozier and Larry M. Smith, and they have been informed as such, their credentials have been dropped. 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 Questionnaire.
The following changes in status were approved:
James A. Beil was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers In Retirement.
Bert N. Brosius was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers In Retire-ment.
Raymond R. Dotts was changed from Ordained Ministers On Leave of Absence to Ordained Ministers In Retirement.
Arthur H. Frable was changed from Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Organizations to Ordained Ministers On Leave of Absence.
David L. Manney was changed from Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Organizations to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the BFC.
David N. Heineman was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
The Committee met with two men for ordination exam-ination. The Credentials Committee gives thanks to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has given these gifted men for the ministry of the BFC.
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recom-mended Mark L. Morrison and Thomas A. Pollock 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 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 and Order of the Bible Fellowship Church; therefore be it
Resolved, that Mark L. Morrison and Thomas A. Pollock be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church and further;
Resolved, that the service of ordination be held Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 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 BFC
Allen, Daniel P.
Armstrong, W. David
Arnold, Jonathon W.
Baker, Delbert R. II.
Bartron, William H.
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.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
McCreary, J. Mark
* Morrison, Mark L.
Paashaus, Richard T.
Phillips, D. Thomas
Plows, Keith E.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Reitz, Roger L.
Ritter, Ralph E.
Schoen, David N.
Schlonecker,William G.
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
II. Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the Board of Missions of the BFC:
Aukamp, William A.
Boone, Clifford B.
Gehman, Richard J.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
Head, Jim D.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
Johnston, Walter M.
Lea, Herbert K.
Manney, David L.
Morrison, Philip E.
Moyer, Edward
Moyer, Jerry L.
* Pollock, Thomas A.
Riddell, David W.
Yerrington, Philip E.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
*Contingent upon approval of recommendation of their ordination in this report.
III. Ordained Minister Working in the Military Chaplaincy Under the Sponsorship of the BFC:
Minsky, Barry J.
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Bigley, T. James, Jr.
Ellingson, Bruce A.
Gordon, Robert N.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Martin, Carl T.
Schell, Henry A.
Vining, Gilbert J.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
Barber, Kenneth F.
Batchler, James R., Jr.
Beil, Thomas J.
Byrd, Terris L.
Coble, Bernard N.
Dommel, Albert J.
Heineman, David N.
Herb, John H.
Jones, David H.
Neher, James E.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Burnett, Raymond G. Frable, Arthur H., Jr. MacMillan, Thomas S.
VII. Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Beil, James A.
Brosius, Bert N.
Buck, Leonard E.
Butler, Brian H.
Cassel, Willard E.
Dotts, Raymond R.
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.
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.
Credentials Committee makes the following recom-mendations:
1. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 25, 2000, at the Berean Bible Fellowship Church, Stroudsburg, Pa., during the 117th Annual Conference.
2. Resolved, that Paradise Bible Fellowship Church, Paradise, PA, and New Life Bible Fellowship Church, Oley, PA, be encouraged to have services acknowledging the Ordination of Mark L. Morrison, and Thomas A. Pollock respectively and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the services.
3. 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 and Order of the Bible Fellowship Church (505-1) therefore be it:
Resolved, 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 weeks prior to the commencement of Annual conference (emergency excuses being the lone exception to the two-week-advance notice) and the Committee on Credentials will report to Annual Conference stating the validity of such excuses. [SECOND READING]
4. Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted at second reading:
Section 506-6 becomes §506-6.1 – insert “lay” between Any and member.[SECOND READING]
5. (The following resolution would replace §512-11.1 in the Faith and Order and is presented as second 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 and Order, 512-11.1 be deleted and replaced by the following:
512-11.Credentials Committee
512-11.1Composition and Election
(1) The Credentials Committee shall be composed of five ordained ministers.
(2) They shall be elected for a term of three years in classes as follows:
Class I Two Ordained Ministers
Class IITwo Ordained Ministers
Class IIIOne Ordained Minister
6. 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
Committee on Credentials: Keith E. Plows, Chairman; David A. Thomann , Secretary; James A. Beil; Dennis M. Cahill; LeRoy S. Heller