Report of the

Study Committee on:

Credentials and Multi Staff Churches

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a growing number of our churches were adding additional staff (and particularly pastoral staff), Conference appointed this study committee to examine how our Principles of Order address staff that are not the senior pastor. This report is their final report, as you can read at the end of this report.

In this report, the committee proposed two changed to the Order at Second Reading. At the 2007 Conference, 401-1.1 failed at Second Reading 55-80. 401-1.2 passed 105-29.

            The Study Committee on Credentials and Multi-staff Churches brings the following legislation to Annual Conference:

SECOND READING

Resolved, that the following be adopted as Second Reading for inclusion into the Faith and Order:

401-1.1

The Board of Elders shall be composed of the pastoral staff and all of the active lay elders of the congregation. The active lay elders shall designate at least one individual of the pastoral staff as a voting member of the Board of Elders, and shall designate others of the pastoral staff as either voting or non-voting members. The lay elders shall be elected by majority vote of the congregation. They shall be mature men who meet the qualifications of Scripture (I Timothy 3; Titus 1; I Peter 5). If the congregation has more qualified elders than are needed to serve at one time, the number of active elders shall be determined by the congregation by ballot vote upon recommendation of the Board of Elders.

Note:

The bold – italicized above replaces – “The Board of Elders shall be composed of the minister and all of the active elders of the congregation…….

401-1.2

The Board of Elders shall elect one of its members to serve as chairman, and one of its members to serve as secretary. Two thirds of the membership of the board shall constitute a quorum.

Note:

The bold-italicized above replaces – “The minister shall serve as chairman of the Board of Elders; the board shall elect one of its members to serve as secretary……”

            A motion was made and approved by this committee to suspend its work until the BFC reorganization is determined.

Whereas, the Strategic Planning Committee is proposing major organizational changes to the BFC structure, and

Whereas, the Board of Directors is proposing a steering committee to work on organizational changes, and

Whereas, the steering committee will likely vitiate the work of the Multi-Staff Committee, therefore be it,

Resolved, that the Study Committee on Credentials and Multi-staff Churches suspend its work until the BFC reorganization is determined.

Study Committee on Credentials and Multi-Staff Churches: LeRoy Heller, Chairman; Jacob J. Susek, Jr., Secretary; Calvin T. Reed, James L. Roberts, Jr., Ralph M. Soper