Report of the
Board of Directors, Bible Fellowship Church
The Board of Directors of the BFC held four regular meetings and one special meeting to attend to corporate business related to Annual Conference, to agencies, and to churches.
The Board provided oversight, advice, and assistance in respect to fiscal, legal and property acquisition and disposal as follows: Annual Conference, medical insurance, administrative budget, and Board of Church Extension.
The Board is studying issues concerning church employees and will be making recommendations to churches concerning procedures and other employment matters in the coming year. American Insuring Group, LTD, continues as agent of record for BFC sponsored health insurance plans. Policy holders with questions or concerns should contact Mr. David Ross, who administers the program for American Insuring Group, LTD. Mr. Charles Lavigna serves the Board of Directors as Medical Insurance Coordinator and liaison with Mr. Ross. He is available to churches as needed.
The Board expresses its deep appreciation to James A. Beil for thirty-one years of faithful service as a director. For seven years he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors and for many years he served as Hospitalization Secretary. His leadership and wisdom will be missed.
During the year, a legal suit against BFC and others was filed in Dutchess County, NY. At this time the complaint is still out-standing. We urge you to pray that this matter will be settled in a fair and expeditious manner. However, since the vulnerability of particular churches and the conference rests in large part on the responsibility in law that is attributed to those who hold title to property in which illegal activity is alleged, we advise the Annual Conference to adopt the resolutions that accompany this report. We also advise each church to review its insurance coverage to assure that coverage is adequate. We also strongly urge that every church that conducts or houses nursery schools, or any other weekday activities on church property seek legal advice to make certain that practices comply with all relevant laws and to assure that the church is taking all reasonable action to protect itself against legal claims.
We recommend that legislation approved at first reading (2003 Yearbook pages 56-57) be approved at Second Reading by the 121st Annual Conference.
All funds are deposited at Wachovia Bank. Accounts were reviewed by Linda K. Ruhl.
We recommend that the 121st Annual Conference adopt the following:
1. Resolved, that the rate of mileage reimbursement for conference business conducted for 2004 be 24¢ per mile.
2. Resolved, that the Administrative Budget for January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004 be adopted.
3. Resolved, that the Administrative Budget for January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005 be approved for submission to the churches for their pledges.
Pledges for the 2005 Administrative Budget shall be received by the financial secretary by September 1, 2004.
4. Whereas, every Bible Fellowship Church is eligible to be incorporated when it becomes a Particular Church, and
Whereas, every incorporated Bible Fellowship Church is able to hold title to church property, and
Whereas, it is prudent to minimize the threat of possible legal action against the Bible Fellowship Church, be it
Resolved, that every Bible Fellowship Church upon recognition as a Particular Church, seek incorporation, and further
Resolved, that when any Particular Bible Fellowship Church incorporates, the Articles of Incorporation include the Trust Clause found in § 408-1 and 408-2 of the Articles of Faith, and further
Resolved, that immediately upon incorporation, each church take title and assume legal responsibility for all property previously titled to the Bible Fellowship Church.
Board of Directors, Bible Fellowship Church: Randall A. Grossman, President; Carl C. Cassel, Vice President; David J. Watkins, Secretary; Horace A. Kauffman, Financial Secretary; Robert. W. Gehret, Treasurer; James A. Beil, Hospitalization Secretary; Raymond R. Dotts, Charles A. Lavigna, L. James Roberts, Jr.