Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held four meetings during the year in the performance of its duties.
The Faith and Order questionnaire was sent to each of the ministers holding Ordination Credentials with the BFC. The Credentials Committee has not received the F&O Questionnaire from the following individuals: Kevin W. Clineff, Brian H. Cooper, and Edgar H. Munyan. The Committee reviewed the responses of those who handed in their questionnaires and is taking into consideration those reservations noted. The names of the men who are not in agreement with the clarifications made to Article 11 that the 125th Annual Conference passed have been recorded and by ruling of Annual Conference shall retain their credentials. New men seeking credentials with the BFC must be in full agreement with Article 11 as with the rest of the Articles of Faith.
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 29, 2008, during which we introduced the men to be ordained or to have their previous ordination recognized, gave a charge to them, administered the vows, laid hands on them for prayer by the Committee and extended the right hand of fellowship.
The second tier was administered in the church 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 opportunity 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 in their region a priority. Please put these services on your calendars and affirm these brothers in the Lord’s call on their lives.
The following changes in status were approved:
Robert K. Fields and Phillip E. Yerrington were changed from Ordained Ministers to Ordained Ministers Working in the Chaplaincy.
Brian H. Cooper was changed from Ordained Ministers to Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries.
Albert J. Dommel and Willis I. Dowling were changed from Ordained Ministers to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Ralph M. Soper was changed from Ordained Ministers to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
Michael J. Tannous and William J. Dunn were changed from Ordained Ministers to Ordained Ministers On Leave of Absence.
According to the 2007 Yearbook, Arthur H. Frable Jr., Mark J. McCreary, Jonathan P. Tait and Steven L. Trommler were changed from Ordained Ministers On Leave of Absence to Ordained Inactive Ministers.
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 Bible Fellowship Church.
1. Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended ordination for David E. Brandt, Steven J. DelDuco, Frank E. Lenahan, and Daniel L. Williams and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended prior ordination recognition for Kurt P. Francis, 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 David E. Brandt, Steven J. DelDuco, Frank E. Lenahan, and Daniel L. Williams be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved that the prior ordination of Kurt P. Francis 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.
* Brandt, David E.
Brush, R. Jerome
Cahill, Dennis M.
Clapier, G. Wayne
Clark, Gerald D.
Cleck, Shan D.
Clineff, Kevin W.
Cole, Charles E.
Cowen, Timothy S.
Crossgrove, Andrew T.
Curcio, Louis S.
* DelDuco, Steven J.
Duggins, Davis E.
Erb, Ronald C.
Felty, Glenn R.
Fischer, Carl J., Jr.
* Francis, Kurt P.
Grossman, Randall A.
Gundrum, David E.
Harris, Richard D.
Heller, LeRoy S.
Johnson, Robert A.
Keeler, Kenneth D.
Kirkpatrick, Kevin W.
Kohl, Ronald L.
Kramer, Robert B.
Kuntzman, Donald E.
* Lenahan, Frank 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.
Spackman, Carl K.
Spinney, Dennis W.
Stortz, Dean A.
Susek, Jacob, J., Jr.
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
* Williams, Daniel L.
* 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.
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:
Fields, Robert K. – Chaplain
Heineman, David N. – Hospice
Hurst, Kenneth J. – Military
Jones, David H. – Military
Moyer, Richard A. – Prison Ministry
Yerrington, Philip E. – Fellowship Manor
IV. Ordained Ministers Working in Other Christian Ministries:
Commerford, Robert S.
Cooper, Brian C.
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:
Dommel, Albert J.
Dowling, Willis I.
Reitz, Roger L.
Way, David R.
VI. Ordained Ministers on Leave of Absence:
Dunn, William J.
Tannous, Michael J.
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.
Manney, David L.
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.
Soper, Ralph M.
Thomann, David E.
Watkins, David J.
Weaber, Harold C.
Ziegler, Daniel G.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
VIII. Ordained Inactive Ministers:
Frable, Arthur H., Jr.
McCreary, Mark J.
Tait, Jonathan P.
Trommler, Steven L.
Credentials Committee makes the following additional recommendations:
2. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at the 127th Annual Conference.
3. Resolved, That the Lebanon, PA, BFC, Carmel, NY, BFC, Stroudsburg, PA, BFC, Woodbury Heights, NJ, BFC and the Sunbury, PA, BFC be encouraged to have a service in recognition of the ordination of David E. Brandt, Steven J. DelDuco, Frank E. Lenahan, Daniel L. Williams, and prior ordination of Kurt P. Francis, respectively, and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the service.
4. Request to Annual Conference
Whereas, there is some difference of opinion and confusion over the issue of whether a pastor may or may not be divorced (see 2000 Yearbook page 211-219, 2007 Yearbook page 39), and
Whereas, we have found nothing definitive on this issue in the Faith and Order, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Annual Conference clarify whether a divorced man may serve as a pastor.
Committee on Credentials: Dennis M. Cahill, Chairman; Keith E. Plows Vice Chairman; Carl J. Fischer, Jr., Secretary; LeRoy S. Heller, Ralph M. Soper