Report of the
Committee on Credentials
The Committee on Credentials held two 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 Bible Fellowship Church.
The Lord, in His providence this year, has chosen to take home John Dunn and Robert W. Smock of our retired ministering brethren. 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 28, 2009 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 with 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:
Clyde D. Bomgardner, Jr. was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Willis I. Dowling was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries.
Scott B. Evans was changed from Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries to Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the Board of Missions.
W. Neil Harding was changed from Ordained Ministers in Other Christian Ministries to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Thomas H. Morrison was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers Between Calls.
Dean A. Stortz was changed from Ordained Ministers Under the Direction of the BFC to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
David R. Way was changed from Ordained Ministers Between Calls to Ordained Ministers in Retirement.
According to the F&O 512-11(7) Arthur H. Frable, Jr. has exhausted his stay of ten years in the combined categories of “Between Calls”, “Leave of Absence” and “Ordained Inactive Ministers” and therefore loses his credentials with the Bible Fellowship Church.
The Committee met with three 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 Mark R. Evans and Joshua P. Miller, and
Whereas, the Ministerial Candidate Committee has recommended prior ordination recognition for Carlos G. Rodriguez, 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 Mark R. Evans and Joshua P. Miller be ordained to the gospel ministry of the Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved that the prior ordination of Carlos G. Rodriguez 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.
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.
* Evans, Mark R.
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.
Madara, Ferdie R.
Mahurin, Ronald C.
Miller, Alan G.
* Miller, Joshua P.
Morrison, Mark L.
Norris, Philip G.
North, Eric R.
Paashaus, Richard T.
Prontnicki, Louis
Ramos, Elliot H.
Ravis, Richard B.
Reed, Calvin T.
Ritter, Ralph E.
* Rodriguez, Carlos G.
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.
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.
Evans, Scott B.
Head, Jim D.
Johnston, Walter M.
Lenahan, Frank E.
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.
Dowling, Willis I.
Hagy, Ronald C.
Lawrence, Dennis J.
Lea, Herbert K.
Martin, Carl T.
Ruhl, Jeffrey L.
V. Ordained Ministers Between Calls:
Bomgardner, Clyde D., Jr.
Dommel, Albert J.
Harding, W. Neil, Jr.
Morrison, Thomas H.
Reitz, Roger L.
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.
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.
Soper, Ralph M.
Stortz, Dean A.
Thomann, David E.
Watkins, David J.
Way, David R.
Weaber, Harold C.
Ziegler, Daniel G.
Zimmerman, Paul G.
VIII. Ordained Inactive Ministers:
McCreary, J. Mark
Tait, Jonathan P.
Trommler, Steven L.
The Credentials Committee makes the following additional recommendations:
2. Resolved, that an Ordination Service be held at the 128th Annual Conference.
3. Resolved, That Grace Bible Fellowship Church, Coopersburg, PA, Grace Bible Fellowship Church, Quakertown, PA, and La Roca de Reading Bible Fellowship Church, Reading, PA be encouraged to have a service in recognition of the ordination of Mark Evans and Joshua Miller, and prior ordination of Carlos G. Rodriguez respectfully, and that they be encouraged to invite the Credentials Committee to send representation to be present at the service.
4. Request from BFC Conference
The Credentials Committee has been charged by the BFC Conference to write legislation to be included in the F&O to address the following from page 37 in the 2009 yearbook:
Whereas, the Bible Fellowship Church has never permitted a man who is divorced or is married to a divorced woman to serve in the office of pastor, and
Whereas, the Faith & Order currently has no statement that directly addresses this issue, therefore be it
Resolved, that the Ministerial Candidate Committee and the Credentials Committee be instructed to continue to apply our historic policy of not permitting a man who is divorced or is married to a divorced woman to serve in the office of pastor in a Bible Fellowship Church, and further
Resolved, that we assign the Credentials Committee to study ways to address this issue in the Faith & Order and report to the next BFC Conference.
Resolved that the following be our answer to the BFC Conference:
Whereas, a man seeking credentials with the BFC has asked the Credentials Committee our position on ministers and the issue of divorce, and
Whereas, the F&O does not currently address the issue of ministers and divorce, and
Whereas, the Credentials Committee has been given the assignment of reconciling the F&O with our historic position of not allowing a man who is divorced or is married to a divorced woman to serve as a minister in the BFC, therefore be it
Resolved, that the following legislation be adopted as first reading:
204-2.3 The Qualifications for the Ministry, Personal Qualifications (6) be added to read:
(6) Because the ministry is a calling of both dignity and usefulness and because this is a divine calling that makes high and holy demands on those who aspire to this work, therefore a man who has been divorced or is married to a divorced woman is not permitted to serve as a minister in the Bible Fellowship Church.
5. Proposed Changes to Article 512-11.2(8)
Resolved, that the following amendment be adopted as first reading:
Whereas, Article 512-11.2(8) instructs the Credentials Committee to notify the Board of Directors of the dates of pastors retiring, and
Whereas, the Board of Directors has been replaced by the Executive Board, and
Whereas, the President of the Executive Board has indicated it is not necessary to notify them of a retirement date, and
Whereas, it is necessary to inform the Board of Pensions, Beneficiary Society and the Conference Pastor of the effective date of a pastor seeking retirement, therefore be it
Resolved, that we adopt the following change as first reading:
512-11.2(8) It shall receive all requests from those seeking retirement from ministry in the BFC. It shall set the effective date of the retirement, change the status of the minister on the conference records, and notify the Board of Pensions and the Beneficiary Society and the Conference Pastor (added) of the effective date of retirement.
6. Proposed Changes Article 504 – Members of BFC Conference
Whereas, the voting status of certain categories of ministry is not clearly stated in 504-1 and 504-2, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the following be approved at first reading:
Article 504 – Members of BFC Conference
504-1. Voting Members. The voting members of BFC Conference shall answer to the call of the roll. They shall be:
(1) ordained ministers working under the direction of the BFC.
(2) ordained ministers working under the direction of the Board of Missions of the BFC.
(3) ordained ministers endorsed by the BFC working in the DELETE military chaplaincy.
(4) ordained ministers in retirement.
INSERT
(5) ordained ministers between calls
(6) probationers who have been licensed by the Ministerial Candidate Committee
(7) delegates from every properly-constituted church based on congregational membership as follows:
1-299 members 1 delegate
300-499 members 2 delegates
500-749 members 3 delegates
750-999 members 4 delegates
1000 and over members 5 delegates
If a delegate(s) is unable to attend the BFC Conference or some meetings of BFC Conference, the alternate delegate(s), with the permission of the Conference, shall be seated for the conference or those specified meetings. Unexcused absences shall result in the church forfeiting its representation by an alternate delegate during the unexcused absence of the delegate.
504-2. Advisory Members. Advisory members of BFC Conference shall not be included in the call of the roll. They shall not participate in the deliberations of the session except by permission of the Moderator.
Advisory members of BFC Conference shall include:
(1) ordained ministers working in other Christian ministries.
(2) ordained ministers on leave of absence.
(3) probationers who have not been licensed.
(4) missionaries who hold membership in one of the churches and are under the supervision of the Board of Missions.
INSERT
(5) ordained ministers who are inactive.
Committee on Credentials: Dennis M. Cahill, Chairman; Keith E. Plows Vice Chairman; Carl J. Fischer, Jr., Secretary; LeRoy S. Heller, Ralph M. Soper