BETHEL MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS MEETING
Tallwood Chapel, Indianapolis, IN
January 11, 2019
Those present: Chairman Rev Don Horath, Vice Chairman Rev Steve Owens, Secretary Rev David Matthews, Treasurer Rev Phil Frye; Rev Joe Greene, Rev Josh Long, Rev John Wongler, Rev Jerry Van Ronk, Rev Alex Beane and Rev Scott Branham.

After a good season of praise and worship led by Rev Josh Long, Chairman Don Horath called the meeting to order leading in prayer. Secretary Matthews was asked to read the membership meeting minutes from the October 9 Annual Business Meeting at Crosby Church, TX. Rev Owens moved that the minutes be accepted as read, Rev Greene seconded the motion and all approved the minutes.

Treasurer Rev Phil Frye was asked to review the financial report for 2018. Having covered this information just hours before, he recommended that they be accepted as previously read. Rev Greene seconded the motion and all approved.

Foreign Missions Secretary Joe Greene was called to present the Missions report for the year. Rev Frye moved that the report be accepted as previously read. Rev Long seconded the motion and all approved.

Rev Matthews was asked to present the Bethel Publishing House report. Rev Frye moved that the report be accepted as previously read. Rev Greene seconded the motion and all approved.

Rev Horath reviewed details agreed to in the earlier board meeting for the Spring Conference and announced that it would be conducted at Bethel Conference Center, May 1-3 with work days scheduled for May 3 and 4. Rev Wongler will lead planning for this conference and Rev Matthews will assist him. Everyone was encouraged to make plans to attend.

Rev Frye led discussion on additional work days for the Conference Center to include May 3 and 4, June 21 and 22 and July 5 and 6. He encouraged everyone to participate and encourage help from all of our local churches. Rev Horath briefed all members on work to be done at the Conference Center. He stated that repairs to the tractor have been completed by Caretaker Jeremy Howell. However, work still needs to be done to repair damage at Shelter #1 done by falling trees, a needed roof replacement for the All Weather Dorm and repair for the water line to the Dining Hall from the junction valve.

Rev Greene briefed the membership on his recent meeting with David Holbrook and Doug Elder, owner of J&B Log & Lumber and plans to harvest trees from Conference Center property. There was considerable discussion about details for harvesting and the suggested contract. Three adjustments were suggested to the proposed contract to include ensuring that a minimum of $15,000 would be guaranteed plus any remaining balance from the sale of all remaining timber. It will be added that we do not want harvesting between May 1 and 5 (Spring Conference dates) and between June 16 to July 14 (Youth Conference dates). Additionally, Rev Frye wants added that the LLC must provide liability proof of insurance coverage prior to harvesting to him so it can be provided to our insurance company. See attached, modified contract to see changes and proposal.
Action: Rev Greene will coordinate changes to the contract with Doug Elder and provide supervision from the BMA for harvesting trees from Conference property.

Chairman Horath noted to the membership that bad weather was predicted through the evening and suggested that we finish all business this evening in order to allow members to depart early or modify their plans if they chose to avoid the bad weather. Everyone agreed. Rev Wongler agreed to brief the membership on plans for Junior Conference and Rev Powell made himself available via phone to brief Senior Conference details.

Rev Wongler and his wife Jenny briefed the membership on plans for 2019 Junior Youth Conference. Dates for the conference are June 24-27 and cost will be $135 for campers if paid before May 19th. After that time, cost will be $170. Adults, workers and pastors will be half that cost, $67.50. Attendees bringing RVs will pay an additional $25 per RV and any underage child attending with parents will be $25. The theme is “Acorns to Oaks…of Righteousness” with theme verse from Zechariah 4:10. Planning materials were distributed to all in attendance. Further information will be provided to all churches prior to the Spring Conference to meet the pre-registration date and will be included on the web site as well.
Action: Rev Wongler and his wife Jenny will coordinate all planning for Junior Youth Conference to ensure that each of the churches has the needed planning information and registration details. They will also coordinate all staff personnel and planning for classes and services during the conference and report final details to the membership in the Spring Conference.

Rev Keenan Smith’s staff had previously sent initial details about Senior Youth Conference planning via email since they were not able to attend this planning conference. Rev Josh Powell briefed the membership via telephone during this conference on further details and answered questions. Dates for Senior Conference are July 8-12 and will cost $180 for campers if paid before June 3rd. After that time, cost will be $200. Adults, workers and pastors will be half that cost, $90. Attendees bringing RVs will pay an additional $25 per RV and any underage child attending with parents will be $25. The theme is “Conquering Kryptonite” with theme verse from Romans 8:31-39. Further information will be provided to all churches prior to the Spring Conference to meet the pre-registration date and will be included on the web site as well.
Action: Rev Smith, Rev Josh and Rhonda Powell and Tiffany Muller from Cosby Church will coordinate all planning for Senior Youth Conference to ensure that each of the churches has the needed planning information and registration details. They will also coordinate all staff personnel and planning for classes and services during the conference and report final details to the membership in the Spring Conference.

Rev Frye stated that all registrations for both conferences this year must be submitted via USPS/mailed to him. No registrations submitted on line will be accepted because many of them did not have the youth’s parent’s signature last year. He stressed that parent’s signature on each registration was absolutely essential for insurance purposes and in case medical attention was needed. He reiterated that two copies of the registration were required to him (one for registration and one for the nurse) and the third copy would be retained by the host pastor.

Rev/Captain Alex Beane addressed the membership on some of the problems he has been experiencing as a chaplain in the Army Reserve/National Guard. On occasions, when he has been given responsibilities for conducting marriage counseling seminars, couples have arrived that were same-sex couples. He discussed how he deals with this issue and asked the board for guidance. The board reviewed wording from the BMA Articles of Faith and recommended that he use that guidance when considering those situations. Rev Beane received his certificate of ordination in the praise and worship service before this meeting.

Rev Horath reminded everyone to regularly review updates to the website at BMAMinistries.com as it provides the most recent information on business of the association. He prayed for wisdom and the Lord’s guidance to everyone as they made plans to return home in the midst of changing, inclement weather. Rev Joe Greene moved that we adjourn the planning conference. Rev Owens seconded the motion and all approved.



Submitted by Secretary Rev David Matthews