Draft Church Board Minutes 2025 05 01.docx
Bethel College Mennonite Church Board Minutes
Pending approval at the June 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), Mary Ann Boschmann, Carolyn Penner, Doug Penner, Lois Preheim, Margaret Toews
Board Members not present: Tim Hodge, John Waltner, Jon Zerger
Staff Present: Mike Claassen (Treasurer)
Staff not present: Joanna Harader (Co-pastor), 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 no questions or comments. Bill Eash moved to accept minutes from the previous meeting, pastors’ reports, and online minutes of commissions and committees. Doug Penner seconded the motion; approved by consensus.
3. Financial Report: Mike Claassen – Financial reports were distributed before the meeting. Income was better than last month. We will continue to monitor. Doug moved to approve the Financial Report. Mary Ann Boschmann seconded; the motion carried.
4. Finance Committee Recommendations – Brad reported that the Finance Committee will give quarterly reports to the congregation about budget status. The Finance Committee also discussed the progress the youth group has been making to raise funds for attending MennoCon this summer in North Carolina. The youth have raised around $10k toward the $25k cost of the trip. The Finance Committee recommended that the remaining cost (around $15k) of attending MennoCon be made up from undesignated memorial funds. Discussion followed around difference between memorial funds and bequest funds. The undesignated bequest fund balance is larger than the undesignated memorial fund balance. Bill moved that $15,000 or the amount needed to fund the trip, be used from undesignated bequests to fund our youth group traveling to MennoCon. Lois Preheim seconded; the motion passed.
5. Pastoral Search Discussion – Work is continuing on forming the Pastoral Search Committee.
6. Congregational Meeting May 4 – Meeting will be held in the sanctuary during the SS hour. The congregation will vote on GDC recommendations for appointments and Board officers. Kathy Reid will be joining the meeting to share the pastoral review of Nathan Koontz. Mike Claassen will give a Financial Report. All votes will be voice votes.
7. Summary of Pastor Nathan’s review – Kathy Goering Reid, tasked by SCRC to conduct the pastoral review of Nathan Koontz, presented a summary of the review via Zoom. She shared that the review was overwhelming positive and affirming of Nathan’s work and his gifts to BCMC. A large number of congregants participated. She will share a summary of the review in person at the congregational meeting on May 4.
8. SCRC Recommendation – SCRC sent the following recommendation to the board: After talking with Kathy Reid and reading Nathan’s review, SCRC recommends that the BCMC Board offer Nathan Koontz a five year term. Lois moved; Caroline Penner seconded. The motion passed.
9. Reports and Announcements – There were no additional reports or announcements.
10. Future Agenda Items –
∙ Brad asked that a review of spending rules for Memorial Funds vs Bequest Funds be held at an upcoming board meeting.
11. Executive Session – The board did not enter executive session at this meeting.
12. Adjournment – The board adjourned at 8:47 pm. The next meeting will be held on June 5 at 7:00 pm.
Submitted by Margaret Toews, clerk
Draft Church Board Minutes 2025 05 01.docx