Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held three meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
The Faith & Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the BFC. All of the brethren returned their questionnaires. Thank you. The Committee reviewed the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires and is taking into consideration those reservations noted.
The Lord, in His providence this year, has chosen to take home three of our retired ministering brethren: Robert N. Gordon (April 30, 2007), Jansen E. Hartman (December 7, 2007) and James G. Koch (January 30, 2008). We thank God for their many years of ministry among us, their commitment to our Savior and we look forward to the day we will be reunited with them in glory.
The Committee conducted a two-tiered approach to the ordination service that was approved at the 124th Annual Conference. The first tier was on Tuesday evening, April 24, 2007 in which we introduced the men to be ordained or having their previous ordination recognized, had a charge to them, administered the vows, laying hands on them for prayer by the Committee and extended the right hand of fellowship.
The second tier was administered in a service where each man is serving by affirming his vows of ordination by repeating them, the elders of that church praying for him, asking the pastors of that region to be present to extend the right hand of fellowship and greet the man, someone preaching an appropriate ordination sermon and this would be introduced by a time of worship and praise. This is an important occasion to show love and support of those called of God to minister alongside us as brothers. We are grateful for those who were present. We strongly encourage all our credentialed men to make ordination services a priority. Please put these services on your calendars and affirm these brothers in the Lord’s call on their lives.
For the year 2009, the Committee will be providing the F&O Questionnaire and information letter on the BFC website. Credentialed men can download these documents, fill them out and send them, as an attachment, to the Secretary of the Credentials Committee.
The following changes in status were approved:
Jonathon W. Arnold was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC.
Robert S. Commerford was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries.
William J. Dunn was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Donald R. Ellwanger had his credentials removed due to not obtaining membership in a Bible Fellowship Church.
Scott B. Evans was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Ronald C. Hagy had his credentials re-instated as an ordained minister of the BFC who is eligible for a call and placed in Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Thomas S. MacMillan requested his credentials be removed due to the limited amount of time that a credentialed man can remain in the “Leave of Absence” and “Between Calls” categories.
Jeffrey L. Ruhl was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Gene W. Smith was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
David R. Way was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
The Committee met with four 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 BFC.
1. Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended ordination for Thomas H. Morrison, and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended prior ordination recognition for Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara, 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 Thomas H. Morrison be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved that the prior ordination of Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara to the gospel ministry be recognized by the Bible Fellowship Church.
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.
Allen, David T.
Arnold, Jonathon W.
Baker, Delbert R. II.
Barninger, Mark E.
Bennett, C. Larry
Bertolet, Raymond R.
Bertolet, Timothy J.
Bomgardner, Clyde D., Jr.
Boone, Clifford B.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Clapier, G. Wayne
Clark, Gerald D.
*Cleck, Shan D.
Clineff, Kevin W.
Cole, Charles E.
Cooper, Brian H.
Cowen, Timothy S.
Crossgrove, Andrew T.
Curcio, Louis S.
Dommel, Albert J.
Dowling, Willis I.
Duggins, Davis E.
Erb, Ronald C.
Felty, Glenn R.
Fields, Robert K.
Fischer, Carl J., Jr.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Johnson, Robert A., II
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Kirkpatrick, Kevin W.
Kohl, Ronald L.
*Kramer, Robert B.
Kuntzman, Donald E.
*Madara, Ferdie R.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
Miller, Alan G.
Morrison, Mark L.
*Morrison, Thomas H.
Norris, Philip G.
North, Eric R.
Paashaus, Richard T.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ramos, Elliot H.
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Ritter, Ralph E.
Schlonecker, William G.
Schmoyer, Timothy J.
Schoen, David N.
Shorb, Thomas P.
Simpson, Arthur J., Jr.
Sloan, Robert A., Jr.
Soper, Ralph M.
Spackman, Carl K.
Spinney, Dennis W.
Stortz, Dean A.
Susek, Jacob, J., Jr.
Tannous, Michael J.
Taylor, Richard E.
Thomann, David A.
Uhrich, Gregory A.
Vandegriff, John C., Jr.
Vivona, Alan R.
Weller, Dana E.
Wells, Howard N.
Wickstead, James A.
Widger, Byron
Yerrington, Philip E.
* 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 BFC:
Aukamp, William A.
Denlinger, Ronald K.
Head, Jim D.
Johnston, Walter M.
Manney, David L.
Morrison, Philip E.
Moyer, Duane E.
Moyer, Jerry L.
Pollock, Thomas A.
Riddell, David W.
Studenroth, John C.
III. Ordained Ministers Working in the Chaplaincy Under the Sponsorship of the BFC:
Heineman, David N. – Hospital
Hurst, Kenneth J. – Military
Jones, David H. – Military
Moyer, Richard A. – Prison Ministry
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Commerford, Robert S.
Dunn, William J.
Evans, Scott B.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Lea, Herbert K.
Martin, Carl T.
Ruhl, Jeffrey L.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
McCreary, J. Mark
Reitz, Roger L.
Way, David R.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Frable, Arthur H., Jr.
Tait, Jonathan P.
Trommler, Steven L.
VII. Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Barber, Kenneth F.
Batchler, James R., Jr.
Beil, James A.
Bigley, T. James, Jr.
Brosius, Bert N.
Buck, Leonard E.
Byrd, Terris L.
Cassel, Alva C.
Cassel, Carl C.
Coulbourn, Hugh C., Jr.
Dotts, Raymond R.
Draper, Robert L.
Dunn, John
Ellingson, Bruce A.
Frank, Walter H.
Fritz, Harvey J., Jr.
Gehman, Richard J.
Harley, J. Barclay
Herb, Frank L., Jr.
Herb, George E.
Herb, John H.
Hertzog, Roy A.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
Kirkwood, Donald T.
Minsky, Barry J.
Moyer, Edward
Munyan, Edgar H.
Phillips, D. Thomas
Plows, Keith E.
Reichenbach, R. C.
Riggall, John H.
Seifert, A. L.
Shelly, Austin G.
Smith, Gene W.
Smock, Robert W.
Thomann, David E.
Watkins, David J.
Weaber, Harold C.
Ziegler, Daniel G.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
Credentials Committee makes the following additional recommendations:
2. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the 126th Annual Conference.
3. Resolved, that the Grace Bible Church of Las Cruces, NM, Paradise, PA BFC, Ephrata, PA BFC and the Shamokin, PA, BFC, be encouraged to have a service in recognition of the ordination of Thomas H. Morrison and prior ordination of Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara, respectively, and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the service.
Committee on Credentials: Dennis M. Cahill, Chairman; David A. Thomann, Vice Chairman; Ralph M. Soper, Secretary; LeRoy S. Heller, Keith E. Plows.
Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held three meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
The Faith & Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the BFC. All of the brethren returned their questionnaires. Thank you. The Committee reviewed the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires and is taking into consideration those reservations noted.
The Lord, in His providence this year, has chosen to take home three of our retired ministering brethren: Robert N. Gordon (April 30, 2007), Jansen E. Hartman (December 7, 2007) and James G. Koch (January 30, 2008). We thank God for their many years of ministry among us, their commitment to our Savior and we look forward to the day we will be reunited with them in glory.
The Committee conducted a two-tiered approach to the ordination service that was approved at the 124th Annual Conference. The first tier was on Tuesday evening, April 24, 2007 in which we introduced the men to be ordained or having their previous ordination recognized, had a charge to them, administered the vows, laying hands on them for prayer by the Committee and extended the right hand of fellowship.
The second tier was administered in a service where each man is serving by affirming his vows of ordination by repeating them, the elders of that church praying for him, asking the pastors of that region to be present to extend the right hand of fellowship and greet the man, someone preaching an appropriate ordination sermon and this would be introduced by a time of worship and praise. This is an important occasion to show love and support of those called of God to minister alongside us as brothers. We are grateful for those who were present. We strongly encourage all our credentialed men to make ordination services a priority. Please put these services on your calendars and affirm these brothers in the Lord’s call on their lives.
For the year 2009, the Committee will be providing the F&O Questionnaire and information letter on the BFC website. Credentialed men can download these documents, fill them out and send them, as an attachment, to the Secretary of the Credentials Committee.
The following changes in status were approved:
Jonathon W. Arnold was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC.
Robert S. Commerford was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries.
William J. Dunn was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Donald R. Ellwanger had his credentials removed due to not obtaining membership in a Bible Fellowship Church.
Scott B. Evans was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Ronald C. Hagy had his credentials re-instated as an ordained minister of the BFC who is eligible for a call and placed in Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Thomas S. MacMillan requested his credentials be removed due to the limited amount of time that a credentialed man can remain in the “Leave of Absence” and “Between Calls” categories.
Jeffrey L. Ruhl was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Gene W. Smith was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
David R. Way was changed from Ordained Ministers Working Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
The Committee met with four 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 BFC.
1. Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended ordination for Thomas H. Morrison, and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended prior ordination recognition for Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara, 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 Thomas H. Morrison be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved that the prior ordination of Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara to the gospel ministry be recognized by the Bible Fellowship Church.
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.
Allen, David T.
Arnold, Jonathon W.
Baker, Delbert R. II.
Barninger, Mark E.
Bennett, C. Larry
Bertolet, Raymond R.
Bertolet, Timothy J.
Bomgardner, Clyde D., Jr.
Boone, Clifford B.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Clapier, G. Wayne
Clark, Gerald D.
*Cleck, Shan D.
Clineff, Kevin W.
Cole, Charles E.
Cooper, Brian H.
Cowen, Timothy S.
Crossgrove, Andrew T.
Curcio, Louis S.
Dommel, Albert J.
Dowling, Willis I.
Duggins, Davis E.
Erb, Ronald C.
Felty, Glenn R.
Fields, Robert K.
Fischer, Carl J., Jr.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Johnson, Robert A., II
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Kirkpatrick, Kevin W.
Kohl, Ronald L.
*Kramer, Robert B.
Kuntzman, Donald E.
*Madara, Ferdie R.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
Miller, Alan G.
Morrison, Mark L.
*Morrison, Thomas H.
Norris, Philip G.
North, Eric R.
Paashaus, Richard T.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ramos, Elliot H.
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Ritter, Ralph E.
Schlonecker, William G.
Schmoyer, Timothy J.
Schoen, David N.
Shorb, Thomas P.
Simpson, Arthur J., Jr.
Sloan, Robert A., Jr.
Soper, Ralph M.
Spackman, Carl K.
Spinney, Dennis W.
Stortz, Dean A.
Susek, Jacob, J., Jr.
Tannous, Michael J.
Taylor, Richard E.
Thomann, David A.
Uhrich, Gregory A.
Vandegriff, John C., Jr.
Vivona, Alan R.
Weller, Dana E.
Wells, Howard N.
Wickstead, James A.
Widger, Byron
Yerrington, Philip E.
* 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 BFC:
Aukamp, William A.
Denlinger, Ronald K.
Head, Jim D.
Johnston, Walter M.
Manney, David L.
Morrison, Philip E.
Moyer, Duane E.
Moyer, Jerry L.
Pollock, Thomas A.
Riddell, David W.
Studenroth, John C.
III. Ordained Ministers Working in the Chaplaincy Under the Sponsorship of the BFC:
Heineman, David N. – Hospital
Hurst, Kenneth J. – Military
Jones, David H. – Military
Moyer, Richard A. – Prison Ministry
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Commerford, Robert S.
Dunn, William J.
Evans, Scott B.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Lea, Herbert K.
Martin, Carl T.
Ruhl, Jeffrey L.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
McCreary, J. Mark
Reitz, Roger L.
Way, David R.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Frable, Arthur H., Jr.
Tait, Jonathan P.
Trommler, Steven L.
VII. Ordained Ministers in Retirement:
Barber, Kenneth F.
Batchler, James R., Jr.
Beil, James A.
Bigley, T. James, Jr.
Brosius, Bert N.
Buck, Leonard E.
Byrd, Terris L.
Cassel, Alva C.
Cassel, Carl C.
Coulbourn, Hugh C., Jr.
Dotts, Raymond R.
Draper, Robert L.
Dunn, John
Ellingson, Bruce A.
Frank, Walter H.
Fritz, Harvey J., Jr.
Gehman, Richard J.
Harley, J. Barclay
Herb, Frank L., Jr.
Herb, George E.
Herb, John H.
Hertzog, Roy A.
Hoyle, Ronald W.
Kirkwood, Donald T.
Minsky, Barry J.
Moyer, Edward
Munyan, Edgar H.
Phillips, D. Thomas
Plows, Keith E.
Reichenbach, R. C.
Riggall, John H.
Seifert, A. L.
Shelly, Austin G.
Smith, Gene W.
Smock, Robert W.
Thomann, David E.
Watkins, David J.
Weaber, Harold C.
Ziegler, Daniel G.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
Credentials Committee makes the following additional recommendations:
2. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the 126th Annual Conference.
3. Resolved, that the Grace Bible Church of Las Cruces, NM, Paradise, PA BFC, Ephrata, PA BFC and the Shamokin, PA, BFC, be encouraged to have a service in recognition of the ordination of Thomas H. Morrison and prior ordination of Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer and Ferdie R. Madara, respectively, and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the service.
Committee on Credentials: Dennis M. Cahill, Chairman; David A. Thomann, Vice Chairman; Ralph M. Soper, Secretary; LeRoy S. Heller, Keith E. Plows.