Report of the
Ministerial Relations Committee
The Lord continues to graciously provide for and oversee His flocks in the Bible Fellowship Church. 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 six times since the 125th Session of Annual Conference. 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.
The following resignations were received according to the rules of our Faith and Order this year:
Church Pastor Effective Date
Graterford, PA Philip E. Yerrington March 16, 2008
Bethlehem, PA Robert K. Fields August 31, 2008
Red Hill, PA Michael J. Tannous August 31, 2008
Emmaus, PA Ralph M. Soper October 12, 2008
Bethlehem, PA Brian H. Cooper October 31, 2008
Hellertown, PA Albert J. Dommel December 31, 2008
Royersford, PA Aaron J. Susek December 31, 2008
Walnutport, PA Clyde D. Bomgardner February 28, 2009
The following pastorates were established according to the rules of our Faith and Order this year:
Church Pastor Effective Date
Woodbury Heights, NJ Daniel L. Williams June 1, 2008
(Church Ext.)
Las Cruces, NM Thomas H. Morrison June 8, 2008
Hellertown, PA Timothy M. Zuck September 4, 2008
(Church Ext.)
Emmaus, PA Joshua D. Edwards November 23, 2008
(Pastor of Youth Ministries)
Hanover Township, PA Mark E. Barninger January 1, 2009
(Church Ext.)
New Oxford, PA Aaron J. Susek January 1, 2009
(Church Ext.)
Harleysville, PA R. Scott Wright January 2, 2009
(Associate Pastor)
Fellowship Community Philip E. Yerrington February 1, 2009
Graterford, PA Mark Orton February 22, 2009
The following churches are presently in the process of seeking a pastor, either a senior pastor or additional pastoral staff: Bethlehem, Red Hill, Royersford, Walnutport and Whitehall.
The ministry of our Conference Pastor, Ronald C. Mahurin, continues to be a great blessing to our 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. We especially enjoy his concerted effort to meet informally with so many of us during Pinebrook’s summer conferences.
The committee makes the following recommendations to the 126th Annual Conference:
1. Resolved, that the recommended minimum salary for a pastor serving in the BFC be $33,000.00. 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 newly published booklet, “Guidelines for Pastoral Relations Committees”.
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 $10,200.00 for car and professional expenses.
Guidelines for Pastoral Relations Committees Booklet:
The committee has put together a booklet entitled, Guidelines for Pastoral Relations Committees that will serve as a guide for the Pastoral Relations Committee. We encourage the use of this booklet so that you can properly minister to your pastoral staff. We will also be sending out in September emails to all pastors and delegates reminding them of the importance of having a Pastoral Relations Committee meeting.
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.
MEMO
Ministerial Relations Committee
TO: Pastors and Delegates of the Bible Fellowship Church
RE: Pastoral Relations Committee Meeting
September
Dear Pastor and Delegate,
This is just a gracious reminder to you that the Pastoral Relations Committee should have already, or be planning soon on having a meeting with the pastor. The preferred time for meeting would be prior to any budget planning. According to Article 402-1.1 the PRC is to meet twice a year with its pastor to discuss the ministry and financial needs of the pastor. The PRC of each church has the responsibility to call such a meeting and conduct its proceedings. We would encourage you to follow the guidelines that have been created and approved by the Ministerial Relations Committee in its booklet entitled, Guidelines for Pastoral Relations Committees. If you don’t have a copy of this guidebook, please contact Jake Susek at jsusek@royersfordbfc.org and a copy will be sent to you. They are available on the publications table at each Annual Conference.
A final reminder will be sent in November requesting that if any PRC meeting has not occurred, that the MRC be informed.
Thank you for attending to this very important ministry task,
Pastor Jake Susek
Secretary of the MRC
From the Faith & Order
402-1 Required Committee
402-1.1 Pastoral Relations Committee. The Board of Elders of every church shall designate a Pastoral Relations Committee composed of elders.
Purpose
(1) Encourage the pastor in his endeavor to minister to the congregation.
(2) Promote good relationships between the pastor and the congregation.
Duties
(1) Meet at least twice annually.
(2) Conduct an annual review with the pastor. The annual review (1994 Yearbook, p. 172-177) may be used as a guideline.
(3) Receive communication and be a liaison between the pastor, his staff, and the congregation.
(4) Annually review with each member of the pastoral staff the adequacy of his compensation and submit a proposed budget for salary and benefits.