Report of the
Strategic Planning Committee
In our Report to the 122nd Annual Conference, the Strategic Planning Committee stated the following objectives. After each of these objectives we have provided updates on progress that has been made in each area.
Objectives for 2005
1. Work with the Board of Communications to communicate denominational vision and identity through the development of a new logo.
We have worked with the Board of Communications in seeking to provide not only a logo but also a broader identity for the BFC. The Board of Communications will be presenting materials to the Annual Conference for consideration. We are pleased that this work is moving toward completion.
2. Evaluate leadership needs and work with the Board of Christian Education to provide at least three leadership training opportunities.
The Board was in contact with the Board of Christian Education and is aware of plans for a leadership training seminar that will be offered in the Fall of 2006.
Much more extensive work has been done with the Committee to Study Weak or Declining Churches. Two of our Board members served on both committees and gave significant input in the preparations for the proposed “Board of Church Health.” We actively participated in the planning for the Adjourned Session of Annual Conference and wholeheartedly support the work of the Board of Church Health, urging the Annual Conference to approve legislation that will establish such a board.
In addition, extensive work has been done to provide a forum for roundtable discussions and days of encouragement and enrichment for BFC Pastors. Such gatherings are tentatively being planned with Dr. Diane Langberg, the first of which we hope to offer in 2006 at Fellowship Community.
3. Develop regional organization to provide a coordinator and secretary in each region. Encourage the pastors and elders of each region to meet for fellowship and discussion of shared ministry opportunities.
Regional development continues to take place. Most regions are actively gathering for prayer, fellowship, and support. All are encouraged to do so according to the guidelines approved by Annual Conference.
Some changes have been made to better provide for the interaction of churches and leaders within a geographic area. A Southern Region now includes Cape May, NJ, Long Neck, DE, Camden, DE, Newark, DE, Chesapeake, VA.
Recognizing the affinity of our “City Concerns” churches, our Philadelphia, Brooklyn NY, and Newark NJ churches will be part of dual regions. The Philadelphia Region will now include Maple Glen, Philadelphia, and Wallingford. A complete list of the realigned regions is included as an addendum to this report.
4. Encourage 3 regions to begin steps to plant new churches in their region.
Though no entirely new church plants have been generated from within regional groups, the Lehigh Valley Churches continue to be supportive of the Hellertown Mission as well as the Lighthouse Church in South Allentown and the Berks County Churches have given great support to La Roca Mission in Reading. The Board of Church Extension agrees that regional church plants will be a great asset to the development of new ministries in the BFC.
5. Establish a Vision Fund that will be used to develop and strengthen denominational vision for ministry.
We ask that each Bible Fellowship Church contribute to the Vision Fund to provide seed money for promoting denomination-wide events. Contributions should be made to the BFC Treasurer, noting designation for the Vision Fund.
6. Work with the Board of Directors to implement a plan to develop a central denominational administration and facility.
The Board of Church Extension now operates from office space located at Fellowship Community in Whitehall, PA. Considerations are underway for the relocation of other denominational offices to that location as well. Our denominational telephone number (877-795-1212) is routed to Fellowship Community at the current time. We deeply appreciate the support of Fellowship Community and believe that further movement toward denominational administrative facilities will be a great asset to our fellowship of churches.
In addition, the Committee’s work this year included the following:
1. Fifth Sunday Denominational Prayer focus
The Committee continued to provide Fifth Sunday materials for each pastor/church, urging them to pray specifically for the ongoing needs of the BFC. In January, PowerPoint materials were distributed as well. Numerous congregations have made this focus a priority.
2. Consideration of Denominational Agency Goals
Leaders from each of the BFC Agencies met with the Committee to give updates on ongoing projects and goals for the future. The interaction was valuable and helped bring focus to the denominational ministries.
3. The addition of Bob Evans to the Committee
Bob Evans has served with Bible Centered Ministries and is actively involved at the Wallingford BFC. We are pleased that he consented to fill the vacancy created when Jim MacArthur was called to minister full-time in Indonesia. We pray God’s blessings on Jim and his family as they serve and are thankful for Bob’s participation thus far on the Committee.
4. Extensive development of a plan to provide executive leadership for the BFC.
For at least ten years, pastors and denominational leaders have expressed the need for more definitive leadership for the BFC, particularly between Annual Conferences. We recognize that the denomination has strong legislative and judicial structures, but believe that executive leadership has been lacking. A plan will be presented at Annual Conference to address this need. We believe that executive leadership is necessary for future development of the BFC and are fully in favor of moving forward in this way.
The following are the 2006 Regions of the Bible Fellowship Church:
Berks Region – Robert A. Sloan, Jr., Leader
Blandon, Fleetwood, Kutztown, La Roca de Reading, Oley, Reading, Sinking Spring
BuxMont Region – Andrew S. Crossgrove, Leader
Graterford, Harleysville, Hatfield, Quakertown, Red Hill, Royersford, Spring City
Capital Region – David A. Thomann, Leader
Adams County, Ephrata, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, Paradise, Terre Hill, York
Lehigh Valley Region – Byron Widger, Leader
Bethlehem, Cedar Crest, Coopersburg, El Faro (Lighthouse), Emmaus, Finesville NJ, Hellertown, Nazareth, Walnutport, Whitehall, Zionsville, Fellowship Community
Metro Region – Dennis M. Cahill, Leader
Brooklyn, NY, Denville, NJ, Howell, NJ, Newark, NJ, Old Bridge, NJ, Piscataway, NJ, Toms River, NJ
Mid Hudson Region – James A. Wickstead, Leader
Clinton Corners, NY, Holmes, NY, Lagrangeville, NY, Thompson, CT
North West PA Region – Charles E. Cole, Leader
Mt. Carmel, Shamokin, Sunbury
Philadelphia Area Region – Richard E. Taylor, Leader
Maple Glen, Wallingford, Wissinoming
Pocono, PA Region – Daniel P. Allen, Leader
Lehighton, Mt. Pocono, Scranton, Stroudsburg
Southern Region – Timothy J. Schmoyer, Leader
Camden, DE, Long Neck, DE, Newark, DE, Chesapeake, VA, Cape May, NJ
City Concerns Group – G. Wayne Clapier, Leader
Newark NJ, Brooklyn NY, Wissinoming PA
Strategic Planning Committee: Dana E. Weller, Chairman; Richard T. Paashaus, Secretary; Robert T. Evans, Elliot H. Ramos, Richard E. Taylor, J. Robert Vaughn, Robert H. Zentz