General Board sets budget parameters, passes resolution on Iraq.

At its pre-Annual Conference meeting the General Board set budget parameters for 2005 that necessitate a budget reduction, and asked for a proposed resolution on Iraq to be rewritten and brought back later in the Conference week. The Iraq resolution was then passed by the board in a later meeting, and passed by the delegate body on Tuesday July 6. The board also affirmed a document describing a new Property Stewardship Committee and dedicated its Conference exhibit with prayer.

The board set a 2005 budget parameter of $5,426,000, which represents a $199,000 budget reduction for next year. "The Planning Team recommended a budget that included a much greater financial challenge," said Stan Noffsinger, general secretary, "but the board chose a more moderate plan to spread out the deficit over a number of years." The board also reviewed its policies on endowment, quasi-endowment, and investment income. "The board endorsed a philosophy that will help those resources provide support to the ongoing ministries of the General Board well into the future," Noffsinger said.

A resolution on Iraq brought by Brethren Witness/Washington Office director Phil Jones was sent back for revision with help from a small group of board members. The board set a special meeting on July 5 to consider the rewritten resolution, when it adopted the paper as a General Board resolution and passed it on to the Annual Conference delegates for their consideration.

A document describing a Stewardship of Property Committee was accepted by the board. The committee will offer recommendations regarding use of board properties in Elgin, Ill., and New Windsor, Md. The document calls for nominations of committee members to be submitted to the Office of the General Secretary by August 30. Membership of the committee will be announced at the board's October meeting. The committee is expected to report preliminary findings in Oct. 2005 and bring a recommendation in March 2006.

In addition, the board heard reports on an information systems audit, a cross cultural consultation in Puerto Rico, the new Gather 'Round curriculum, a polity manual update, and citations to staff and retiring board members.

At a reorganization meeting during the Conference, members of the General Board selected Donna Shumate as chair, Glenn Mitchell as vice chair, and David Sollenberger, Doug Price, J.D. Glick, and Jeff Neuman-Lee as executive committee members.