Report of the
Ministerial Relations Committee
The Lord continues to graciously provide for and oversee His flocks in the BFC. We are grateful for the privilege to have a part in overseeing the pulpit supply procedures during the year. The committee appreciates the manner in which pastors, elders, and congregations conduct their business in conjunction with the Ministerial Relations Committee. The full committee met four times in 2007. In addition to these meetings, other meetings took place with pastors, congregations and committee members to provide information, guidance and support. We pray regularly for congregations seeking a pastor, for the men eligible to receive a call and for particular issues that they are facing. We also send out general emails to Annual Conference keeping them informed of current Ministerial Relations Committee information.
The following resignations were received according to the Rules of our Faith & Order this year:
Church Pastor Effective Date
Blandon, PA Carl J. Fischer April 30 2007
Reading, PA Steven J. DelDuco July 31, 2007
Harleysville, PA Alan G. Miller September 8, 2007
The following pastorates were established according to the Rules of our F&O this year:
Church Pastor Effective Date
Nazareth, PA Carl J. Fischer, Jr. May 1, 2007
Holmes, NY Steven J. DelDuco August, 1, 2007
Blandon, PA Alan G. Miller September 9, 2007
Quakertown, PA Joshua Miller December 9, 2007
(Pastor of Youth and Family)
Coopersburg, PA Mark R. Evans January 27, 2008
(Pastor of Youth and Young Adults)
Sunbury, PA Kurt P. Francis January 27, 2008
(Associate Pastor)
Old Bridge, N.J. David Peters March 31, 2008
The following churches are presently in the process of seeking a pastor, either a senior pastor or an addition to the pastoral staff: Coopersburg, PA, Whitehall, PA.
The ministry of our Conference Pastor, Ronald C. Mahurin, continues to be a great asset to the ministering brethren. The committee is grateful for his availability to meet with men to share insights from God’s Word and from his own rich experience. His counsel, prayer, guidance, and exhortations have been a source of encouragement to many pastors during this year.
The committee makes the following recommendations to the 125th Annual Conference:
1. Resolved, that the recommended minimum salary for a pastor serving in the BFC be $32,000.00. In addition to his salary, the church must provide half of the pastor’s Social Security Tax, parsonage and/or housing allowance (which would include utilities, repair costs, etc.), health insurance, and provision should be made for reimbursement for allowable car and professional expenses. The church must also contribute a minimum of 3% of the pastor’s salary for retirement to the Ministers’ Annuity Fund, plus an additional 1% match if the pastor is voluntarily contributing 1%.
Note:
The above recommendation is considered the minimum. In establishing a fair and equitable salary and benefits package for the minister, consideration should be given to experience, education and the cost of living as per one’s location. In some areas, a higher figure would be more equitable.
Additional information for the Pastoral Relations Committee can be found in the Yearbook. You can also contact the Reading BFC for added information.
2. Resolved, that the salary for the Conference Pastor be $26,000.00, and in addition we provide $7,200.00 for health insurance and $7,200.00 for car and professional expenses.
3. The committee will also present material for Second Reading.
Ministerial Relations Committee: Randall A. Grossman, Chairman; Jacob J. Susek, Jr., Secretary; Steven Kauffman, Ronald W. Reed, L. James Roberts, Jr., William G. Schlonecker, Byron Widger.