A good giving and investment report for 2013, discussion of the
Brethren Service Center, and several hours of board development work
marked the spring meeting of the Church of the Brethren Mission and
Ministry Board. The meeting March 14-17 at the denomination’s General
Offices in Elgin, Ill., was led by board chair Becky Ball-Miller.
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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
A chart showing increased giving to
Church of the Brethren ministries
in 2013
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In other business the board approved the Church of the Brethren
Annual Report for 2013, amended a minute on India that dates back to
2010, and received numerous reports on recent events and updates on
programs, as well as presentations on the work of fellow Annual
Conference agencies Bethany Seminary, Brethren Benefit Trust, and On
Earth Peace.
An honors string quartet from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra,
which has its offices at the General Offices, provided dinner
entertainment one evening. EYSO executive director Kathy Matthews
introduced the quartet of high school string players, who performed
selections from String Quartet No 1, Op. 27 by Edvard Grieg.
Worship led by board members focused on St. Patrick and Irish
heritage, as a way to mark the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Janet Wayland
Elsea preached for the Sunday morning service, and Tim Peter brought the
closing message.
Finance reports reveal good giving, investment rebound
Highlights of the 2013 financial reports were an increase in overall
giving to Church of the Brethren ministries, along with good investment
news, and an increase in the denomination’s net assets. Treasurer LeAnn
Harnist also presented an income and expense report for 2013.
All 2013 figures presented to the board were pre-audit. A fully
audited financial report for the year will be available in advance of
the 2014 Annual Conference.
Last year, total giving to denominational ministries exceeded
$6,250,000 in pre-audit figures, Harnist said. The combined total of
individual and congregational giving represents an increase of more than
15 percent over total donations received in 2012.
Giving to the Core Ministries Fund exceeded $3,050,000, an increase
of almost 3 percent over 2012. Although giving to Core Ministries from
congregations was down by about 3 percent, giving from individuals rose
by about 27 percent over the previous year.
Harnist informed the board that the denomination’s investments have
fully recovered value lost in the economic downturn that started in late
2008, and actually have increased in value compared to the high point
experienced earlier in 2008. “We have recovered all of those significant
market losses,” she said. As of the end of 2013, the investment balance
had gained a value of close to $28 million, in contrast to a 2009 value
of less than $21 million.
As of Dec. 31, 2013, the Church of the Brethren’s total net assets
exceeded $31 million including more than $19 million in unrestricted
assets. This represents an increase over 2012 of more than $4 million.
Bequest income also increased over the previous year.
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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Mission and Ministry Board
chair Becky Ball-Miller
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Discussion of the Brethren Service Center
The board spent time discussing the future of the Brethren Service
Center in New Windsor, Md. Chair Becky Ball-Miller focused small group
discussion or “table talk” on how to lead Annual Conference delegates in
a similar discussion this July, and what questions and resources would
help increase the wider church’s understanding of the situation.
The Mission and Ministry Board holds authority for stewardship and
ownership of denominational property. Board member questions focused on
the nature of the discussion required at Annual Conference, and how to
ensure that the future of the center is again on the agenda for the fall
board meeting.
In June last year, following the closing of the New Windsor
Conference Center, the board authorized officers to pursue all options
for the property, up to and including receiving letters of intent from
potential buyers.
Continuation of Brethren Disaster Ministries, Children’s Disaster
Services, and Material Resources--currently based at the Brethren
Service Center--are not connected with the potential sale of the
property.
The property is not being actively marketed, but staff have informed
the board that they want to be prepared if a bona fide offer comes.
Other solutions including leasing portions or all of the property will
be entertained. However, it may take up to $10 million to bring the
property up to standards.
General secretary Stan Noffsinger assured the board that former
conference center facilities, now empty or underutilized, are being well
maintained, but without income from the use of those facilities the
maintenance expenses are paid out of the Core Ministries Fund with
dollars diverted from mission and program. Any sale of the campus-style
property will likely will take time, and would not be carried out
quickly. Final details of a sale would have to be approved by the
Mission and Ministry Board.
Four partner organizations lease facilities at the center:
Mid-Atlantic District, SERRV, On Earth Peace, and IMA World Health.
Lease agreements in place with partner organizations assure that work
will be done to benefit both parties in the event either must leave the
property.
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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
"Table talk" was part of the discussion
of the Brethren Service Center
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Amendment to minute on India
The board amended a minute from 2010 regarding its responsibility to
nominate trustees for former mission properties in India. Since there
has been no Second District Church of the Brethren in India since 1970,
the board amended the following paragraph from the July 3, 2010, minute,
adding the underlined words: “Concern was raised regarding all the
nominations being from the First District. Stan [Noffsinger] and Jay
[Wittmeyer] asked that the board bring names from the area formerly known as the Second District Brethren so they can be in discussion with CNI [Church of North India].”
The board also adopted this statement: “The Church of the Brethren
Mission and Ministry Board recognized that, while the Church of the
Brethren has a formal relationship with the First District Church of the
Brethren in India, we have had no relationship with a Second District
Church of the Brethren in India since 1970. We have become aware there
is a self-described ‘Second District Church of the Brethren in India’
allegedly operating. The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry
Board has never had and does not have any relationship with this
self-described ‘Second District Church of the Brethren in India.’”
In other business
Rick Stiffney of Mennonite Health Services Alliance led several hours
of board development work. His opening session for both board and staff
focused on trends and emerging practices in nonprofit governance,
different roles and responsibilities of board and staff, roles of board
committees, policy framework for a nonprofit board, and related topics.
Stiffney then led some hours of sessions solely for the board.
Susan Liller of New Carlisle, Ohio, began a term on the board with
this meeting. She was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Don
Fitzkee, after he was chosen as chair elect. The chair elect begins a
new term of service, and the remainder of his or her board term is
filled by appointment.
The Executive Committee approved the appointment of Timothy S.G. Binkley to a second term on the Brethren Historical Committee.
Source: 3/18/2014 Newsline
