Church Board Minutes 2022 01 12
Special Meeting

Bethel College Mennonite Church Board Minutes

Pending approval at February 3, 2022 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: Elizabeth Schmidt (moderator), Ada Schmidt-Tieszen (moderator-elect), Glen Ediger, Judy Friesen, John Kliewer, Cynthia Linscheid, Adam Robb, Lois Preheim, Dale Schrag, Margaret Toews

Board Members not present: Bill Swartley

Staff Present: Nathan Koontz (pastor), Renee Reimer (pastor)

Staff not present: None

Others attending: None

1.Welcome and Centering Prayer – Moderator Elizabeth Schmidt opened the meeting with moments of reflective silence followed by showing a short video of geese in flight and encouraging us to focus on working together and caring for each other. Elizabeth closed with a prayer.

2. Discussion of next steps in pastoral transition – Elizabeth opened the discussion which centered around the need for clarity about how to move forward with a possible transition to a shared leadership model.  Subsequent consideration focused on whether to engage a consultant and the importance of aligning expectations between the pastoral staff and the congregation. Dale Schrag offered the following motion which was seconded by Ada Schmidt-Tieszen:

The church board moves to authorize the moderator to send an RFP to engage an appropriate consultant to help us as a congregation examine new options for shared leadership which may include a team pastor model.

3. The meeting was  adjourned at 8:11 pm. Next meeting is February 3, 2022, at 7 pm.

Submitted by Margaret Toews, Clerk

Draft Church Board Minutes Special Meeting 2022 01 12.docx