Draft Church Board Minutes 2025 03 06.docx
Bethel College Mennonite Church Board Minutes
Pending approval at the April 2025 Board Meeting
Our faith in a God of love leads us, by the power of the Spirit, to follow Jesus in doing justice, loving mercy,
and walking humbly with God.
Board Members Present: Brad Kohlman (Moderator), Bill Eash (Moderator elect), Ada Schmidt-Tieszen (Past Moderator), Mary Ann Boschmann, Carolyn Penner, Doug Penner, Lois Preheim, Margaret Toews, John Waltner
Board Members not present: Tim Hodge, Jon Zerger
Staff Present: Mike Claassen (Treasurer), Joanna Harader, (Co-pastor)
Staff not present: Nathan Koontz (Co-pastor), Elizabeth Schmidt (Pastor for Congregational Care)
Others attending:
1. Welcome and Opening Prayer – Brad Kohlman offered a prayer for the meeting.
2. Consent Agenda – Brad asked for questions and comments on the Pastors’ reports and online minutes which were made available to the board before the meeting. There were none. Bill Eash moved to accept minutes from the previous meeting, pastors’ reports, and online minutes of commissions and committees. Ada Schmidt-Tieszen seconded the motion; approved by consensus.
3. Financial Report: Mike Claassen – Expenses are roughly the same, but income is down $10,000 compared to the first two months of last year. If there hasn’t been improvement by the end of March, some action may need to be taken. PPP (Covid-era funds) money could be used to feed the general fund. Brad asked if quarterly reports on the performance of the fund listed in the Balance Sheet as Everence Trust MSEF could be included in financial reports to the board.The Everence Trust MSEF holds the Mission and Service Endowment Fund and with the addition of a large contribution in the fall of 2024, closer attention should be paid to its performance and management. Margaret Toews and Mike updated the board on the status of the solar panel project federal rebate which has now been submitted to the IRS. Doug Penner moved to approve the Financial Report. John Waltner seconded; the motion carried.
4. Pastoral Search Discussion
- Pastoral Input
- Joanna Harader shared input from the pastoral team
- Ada distributed a possible job description
- FTE
- FTE options were discussed
Brad is working to assemble a search committee hopefully to be formed by mid-April. Communication with the congregation will be included in an upcoming Wednesday church email.
5. Welcoming/Hospitality Initiatives – The Hospitality Commission may be interested in having Tim Schrag back during a SS hour to talk to specific groups about welcoming initiatives. Bill communicated with Dave Kreider and Bob Regier about signage. Facilities and Dave plan a walk through to places that need additional signage. A project to update signage had been started some years back but put on hold so many materials are already available. Bill talked with Adam Akers about sound issues in the sanctuary. He would be willing to assist in determining next steps.
Additional discussion points included:
- Use microphones correctly by articulating consonants
- Worship Commission is planning training
- Secure entrances
- Installation progress is being made
- Intermediate welcoming steps between first time visitation and joining a membership class
- Welcome table – what and where
6. Reports and Announcements
- Margaret will send a description of ESSC responsibilities to the board so a search can begin for a new chairperson for Education Service and Scholarship Committee.
- Improved communication in the event of alerts from the solar system.
7. Future Agenda Items – No future agenda items were brought.
8. Executive Session – The board entered executive session at 9:05pm.
9. Adjournment – The board adjourned at 9:07 pm. The next meeting will be held on April 3 at 7:00 pm.
Submitted by Margaret Toews, clerk
Draft Church Board Minutes 2025 03 06.docx