found faithful develop leaders delegate notebook · delegate orientation 2016 covenant annual...
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FOUND FAITHFUL • DEVELOP LEADERS
DELEGATE NOTEBOOK JUNE 23-25, 2016, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
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DELEGATE ORIENTATION 2016 Covenant Annual Meeting Business Session
Found Faithful Develop Leaders
Welcome to the Covenant Annual Meeting! Delegate orientation sessions are provided prior to the Annual Meeting to acquaint delegates with the procedures and information for this assembly. We hope this document will help make your efforts as a delegate joyful and productive.
The purpose of the Covenant Annual Meeting is the same as the purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ–at all times and in all situations–to discern and to do the will of God. A lot has to happen at an Annual Meeting and a lot of people participate. At the Annual Meeting, we:
Ordain, license, and commission pastors and missionaries
Elect persons into leadership positions (administrators and Board members)
Receive new churches into our fellowship (and say farewell to some)
Review the stewardship of the resources God has blessed us with, and approve projectedinvestment of resources
Review our efforts in accomplishing God’s mission in the previous year
Chart a course for the future, trusting God for the outcomes
Approve amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
Make other decisions necessary to the mission and ministry of the ECC, regional conferences,and affiliates
Celebrate what God is doing in and through us
Connect with those committed to a common mission
Pray for the mission and ministry of the ECC
Worship
To make sure that everyone is clear about what is happening when and how, several documents are used to govern the Annual Meeting:
The Constitution and Bylaws of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (most recent edition)
Standing Rules of Order (approved at a meeting to guide that specific meeting)
These rules help us:
Protect the right of the majority to decide
Protect the right of the minority to be heard
Protect the rights of the individual members, both those present and those absent
Prevent a "railroad" of the Meeting by manipulation
Prevent an emotional "stampede" of the Meeting
At first some of the language used during the Meeting may seem strange to you, but we have provided a brief glossary of some common parliamentary terms.
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There are three key participants at the Annual Meeting
I. THE DELEGATES
Delegates represent churches, Covenant administration, and related affiliates, Boards, Commissons, and Associations. Everything that happens at the Annual Meeting requires the delegates’ participation. Delegates receive the reports, approve recommendations, question and debate the issues to vote on motions. Our delegates, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of Jesus Christ, ultimately determine the course for the Covenant Church’s future!
Delegates need to do the following:
1. Keep alert. The leaders of the Annual Meeting work very hard to make sure that everyone is “on thesame page,” but they can’t do it alone. Please be aware of what is happening, and if you are unsure,please ask! The order of the printed agenda is not the order in which items are addressed given timerequired for various agenda items and time certains for some items related to need for others to bepresent.
2. Listen carefully, and think about the motion before the group. If possible, read up on the motion andresolutions prior to the start of the meeting.
3. Engage! There are many ways of participating: ask questions, make comments, and actively listen.Remember that silence generally means agreement.
Every delegate has the right to speak in the meeting. Here are some guidelines:
1. Make sure the subject you want to talk about is under discussion.2. Approach a microphone and wait for the Moderator to call on you.3. When you have been recognized, speak to the Moderator and state your name and the church or entity
you represent. Say what is on your mind. You do not make a speech to the Assembly; you are speakingto just one person, the Moderator, and the others are listening in. Thus, you make eye contact onlywith the Moderator.
4. If you have a question, the Moderator may know the answer, or the Moderator may ask someone elseto provide the answer.
5. If you have a point to make, you may speak once to an issue and not again on the same issue as long assomeone else, who has not yet had a turn, is seeking the floor.
6. Once you have spoken a second time, you have used up your rights of debate on that issue.
If you have a matter for discussion that isn’t on the Agenda, please write a description of it and give it to the Moderator. The Moderator will decide whether to present it to the Annual Meeting; if the response is “yes,” it will come to the assembly for vote to place on the agenda. It requires a majority vote to add it to the Agenda. At the appropriate time, the Moderator will invite you to present your matter to the Annual Meeting.
Remember that you represent yourself, your church or entity you represent, and Jesus Christ. There are times when spontaneous applause expresses affirmation and unanimity in the Meeting. But please refrain from applauding during or after debate, as this can be insulting. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and while brothers and sisters may argue, we need to remember our relationship in Christ.
Motives should not be called into question during a debate. The merits of the motion are the issue. Motives are not.
II. THE EXECUTIVE BOARD AND MINISTRIES
1. The Executive Board is the Board through which the recommendations of other elected Boards (withthe exception of the Board of the Ordered Ministry) and the Commissions must pass in order to reachthe floor of the Meeting. The Executive Board is the mover of almost all the recommendations thatarise from the Agenda, which it also prepares. This process, established by the Covenant Bylaws,ensures a coordinated mission and avoids possible contradictory recommendations from various officialsources. All recommendations are subject to the amendment, referral, or rejection of the Meeting. Asthe mover of most of the recommendations on the Agenda, a spokesperson for the Board is usually
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granted what the Rules call "preference in recognition." This is the privilege of a mover to speak first to a motion. (Please note that motions arising from a Board, Commission, or Committee do not require a second; they already have more than one supporter.)
2. The Board of the Ordered Ministry reports directly to the Annual Meeting after obtaining the approvalof the Covenant Ministerium to its recommendations.
3. Commissions and Committees are basically study groups who formulate statements which may becomethe official statements of an Annual Meeting. All of these are reported through the Executive Board, though the Board may allow statements to reach the floor without agreeing to them, submitting them directly to the judgment of the Meeting.
III. THE MODERATOR
The Moderator of the Annual Meeting is the presiding officer of the Meeting. This important role as Moderator is this person’s only function. The Moderator:
-interprets and applies the rules of the Meeting -expedites the business of the Meeting -ensures that everyone involved in the Meeting is treated fairly -clarifies what is happening -advises delegates in the procedures of the Meeting -maintains the discipline and joy of Christian fellowship
A BRIEF GLOSSARY OF COMMON PARLIAMENTARY TERMS
AMEND, MOVE TO. Most motions may be amended on the floor of the Meeting, particularly when they deal with the business rather than the procedures of the Meeting. All amendments must be germane to the original motion. Amendments can be made in three (3) ways: addition, deletion, or substitution. When an amendment has been seconded, it must be debated and decided, or otherwise dealt with, before the motion it seeks to amend may be further considered.
APPEAL FROM THE RULING OF THE MODERATOR. A delegate is testing the Moderator's ruling against the opinion of the Meeting. The motion to appeal requires a second. An affirmative vote by the Meeting sustains the Moderator's ruling.
BALLOT, TO ORDER THE VOTE ON A PENDING QUESTION TO BE TAKEN BY. The Bylaws and Rules specify that certain questions be decided by ballot. Questions other than these may also be decided by ballot if a majority of the Meeting concurs with a request from a delegate for it.
CONSENT CALENDAR. Items on the Consent Agenda are routine, procedural, informational, self-explanatory non-controversial items that require action but generally don't require discussion or debate. Acting on these items move the meeting along allowing for more time for substantive issues. Items on the Consent Agenda may be removed from the Consent Agenda at the request of any two delegates. Items removed from the Consent Agenda shall be acted upon by the assembly at a place in the agenda determined by the moderator.
DIVISION OF THE ASSEMBLY. This is a vote by rising. It may be demanded by any delegate to verify a vote taken by voice or by a show of hands, or may be ordered by the Moderator when a vote by show of hands or by voice has been "too close to call." If it is still not possible to discern the outcome visually, the Moderator may order a count by the Sergeants-at-Arms. A majority of the Meeting may also order a count.
INFORMATION, POINT OF. Asking a question about the business at hand.
MR. or MADAME MODERATOR. The traditional form for addressing the Moderator from the floor of the Meeting.
ORDER, POINT OF. A delegate calls the Moderator's attention to a possible breach of the Rules. If the delegate is not satisfied with the Moderator's subsequent explanation, he or she may appeal if the point has been raised concerning an actual ruling of the Moderator.
PARLIAMENTARIAN. An advisor to the Moderator on Parliamentary Law.
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PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY, POINT OF. Asking a question about the application of the Rules in the business at hand.
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, POINT OF. A delegate believes that his or her rights or the rights of another are being infringed upon.
POSTPONE TO A CERTAIN TIME. A delegate may move to postpone the item under discussion until a later point in the Meeting. The motion requires a second and is debatable.
PREVIOUS QUESTION, MOVE THE. A motion to cut off debate on an issue which requires a second, and a two-thirds majority. An affirmative vote merely cuts off debate and is not a vote on the motion under debate.
PUTTING THE QUESTION. Taking a vote.
RECONSIDER, MOVE TO. A motion to reconsider an item previously voted upon may be made at any time, though it may have to wait until other business has been dealt with before it can be taken up. If a majority decides that the item previously voted upon will be reconsidered, debate on it re-opens, and another vote is taken (or it is otherwise disposed of, by referral etc.) The motion to reconsider has unique characteristics: It may be made only by a delegate who originally voted with the prevailing side on the item; it may be made no later than the day following the original vote; it cannot apply to an item when provisions of it have already begun to be carried out (such as the signing of a contract); and it cannot be itself reconsidered.
REFER, MOVE TO. (Not to be confused with a motion to table.) A referred motion goes to a Board or Committee as designated by the Motion to Refer. It requires a second and is debatable.
SECOND. A seconder need not agree with the motion or vote for it. The seconder need only agree that the motion deserves the attention of the Meeting.
SERIATIM. In a series (i.e. a long motion consisting of a series of resolutions, paragraphs, articles or sections that are not totally separate questions can be considered by opening the different parts to debate and amendment separately, without a division of the question.)
STANDING RULES. These rules are prepared by the Agenda Committee to provide guidance for this particular Annual Meeting setting for how items are dealt with generally. The Standing Rules require a two-thirds majority for approval and a two-thirds majority for suspension of any part of such.
SUSPEND THE RULES. It is possible to suspend a rule that is standing in the way of accomplishing what the Meeting clearly wants to do either by motion or by unanimous consent. Bylaws may not be suspended unless they are in the nature of "rules of order." This is a complex issue, with each instance subject to the interpretation and ruling of the Moderator.
TABLE, MOVE TO. (Or "LAY ON THE TABLE"). Unlike a referred motion, a tabled motion goes nowhere. No one considers it, or studies it, or does anything with it until a motion passes to "take it from the table." If this does not happen at this Annual Meeting, the motion is dead; i.e., we could not move to "take something from the table" that was put on the table at a previous Annual Meeting.
Original prepared in 1985 with revisions in 1986, 2001. Current revision by Annual Meeting Officers (Stanley Long, Moderator, and Amanda Olson, Vice-Moderator) and Eric Filkin, Parliamentarian, 2013 and 2014.
Agenda Item 4
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Credential Committee Reports to the 131st Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church**
**Unaudited statistics are provided at this time. A final audited report will be printed in the minutes.
First Credentialing Report
Total credentialed voting delegates
Total additional registrants in non-voting categories
TOTAL REGISTERED CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
Second Credentialing Report
Total credentialed voting delegates
Total additional registrants in non-voting categories
TOTAL REGISTERED CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
Agenda Item 4
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Final Credentialing Report
Representing Delegates Churches
Conferences/Regions: Alaska
Canada
Central
East Coast
Great Lakes
Midsouth
Midwest
Northwest
Pacific Northwest
Pacific Southwest
Southeast
Total of Conference/Region Delegates
Churches in addition to those represented in Conferences/Regions
General Officers of the Covenant
Executive Board
Council of Administrators
Annual Meeting Officers
Board of Nominations
Covenant Ministerium
Assoc. of Cov. Camps and Conf. Centers
Commission Delegates
World Mission Fields
Regional Conference Offices
Total of General Delegates
*Total Credentialed Delegates(sum of Credentialed & General Delegates)
Churches in addition to those represented in Conferences/Regions
Honorary Delegates
Advisors from Covenant Institutions
Advisors from Nonmember Churches
Resource People
Registered General Conferees
Exhibitors
Support Staff
*Total Additional Attendees
Total Registered Conference Attendance (sum of * totals)
Agenda Item 5
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The Agenda Committee recommends to the 131st Covenant Annual Meeting adoption of the Standing Rules of Order.
Introduction The written documents that govern the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church
are the Illinois Not For Profit Act, the Articles of Incorporation of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Evangelical Covenant Church Constitution and Bylaws, the Rules for the Ordered Ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Covenant Pension Plan, and the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s provides that a convention or assembly of delegates such as the Covenant Annual Meeting may adopt its own standing rules to supplement the provisions of Robert’s and of its own documents. The Standing Rules provide guidance for this particular 131st Annual Meeting setting for how items are dealt with generally. The Standing Rules require a two-thirds majority for adoption or suspension.
STANDING RULES OF ORDER 2016 COVENANT ANNUAL MEETING
1) Obtaining the FloorOnly persons wearing appropriate credentials as delegates, advisors, or resource persons may
be present on the floor of the Annual Meeting or request speaking privileges. With the exception of points of order, points of personal privilege, or other items that require urgent attention, only those persons who approach a microphone shall be recognized by the moderator.
2) VotingVoting on motions will typically be by voice vote. Any delegate may request voting by ballot on
any particular question. This request, when supported by ten percent of the delegates present and voting, will be implemented. The moderator may direct that voting be by ballot on any question.
3) Time Limitsa) Reports that contain no proposal for action by the meeting shall be limited to ten (10)
minutes, including the question period, with the exception of the president’s report, the treasurer’s report, and items specified in the agenda as longer reports.
b) Debate on any main motion, including its subsidiary motions, shall be limited to thirty (30)minutes, except as otherwise specified in these standing rules and the agenda. No amendment or other subsidiary motion to a main motion shall be allowed until debate on the main motion has ceased or ten (10) minutes have passed.
c) No speech in debate may exceed three (3) minutes unless this period is extended by amajority vote at the request of the speaker.
d) Time limits may be extended for a specific period by a two-thirds vote.
4) Submission of Motions in WritingAll main motions and complex subsidiary motions shall be submitted in writing to the secretary.
5) Items of Business not on the Agenda
Agenda Item 5
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The Bylaws provide in Section 7.8.a.ii that “Items of business that are not on the agenda may be submitted in writing by a delegate to the moderator. If the item submitted is in order, a majority vote of the delegates present and voting shall be required to place that item on the agenda.” It is further strongly requested that such items be submitted to the moderator as early as possible in the course of the meeting.
6) Consent AgendaItems on the Consent Agenda are routine, procedural, informational, self-explanatory non-
controversial items that require action but generally don't require discussion or debate. Acting on these items move the meeting along allowing for more time for substantive issues. Items on the Consent Agenda may be removed from the Consent Agenda at the request of any two delegates. Items removed from the Consent Agenda shall be acted upon by the assembly at a place in the agenda determined by the moderator. If the Consent Agenda is not adopted by the unanimous consent of the meeting, then each of the items on the Consent Agenda shall be acted upon by the assembly as a separate motion at a place in the agenda determined by the moderator.
7) Nominations from the FloorA nomination from the floor shall be accepted only if the person nominated has agreed to have
his or her name placed in nomination. (Note that the Bylaws provide in Section 7.9.c.v.2 and 7.10.j.ii that a delegate making a nomination may provide descriptive information similar in scope and content to that provided to the Annual Meeting by a nominating board or committee.)
8) Modification of Agenda OrderThe moderator shall have the discretion to revise the order of agenda items to accommodate
scheduling needs.
Agenda Committee Members Amanda L. Olson, moderator
Gary B. Walter, president of the Covenant Shaun Marshall, vice-moderator
Rebecca Gonzalez, secretary of the Covenant Sam Chang, parliamentarian
Agenda Item 8
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REPORT ON CHURCHES TO BE REMOVED FROM THE ROSTER OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
Central Conference Dismissed: Agape Community Covenant Church, Chicago, IL Closed: Antioch Korean Covenant Church, Des Plaines, IL Closed: Christian Vision Korean Covenant Church, Northbrook, IL Withdrawn: Damascus Korean Covenant Church, Mt. Prospect, IL Closed: Emmaus Covenant Church, Arlington Heights, IL Merger: Evangelical Covenant Church, Villa Park, IL Closed: Evergreen Evangelical Covenant Church, Rockford, IL Closed: Hallelujah Korean Covenant Church, Northbrook, IL Closed: Korean Ark Covenant Church, Morton Grove, IL
Midsouth Conference Closed: Grace Covenant Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Midwest Conference Closed: IgniteKC.tv, Olathe, KS
Northwest Conference Closed: The Compass Covenant Church, St. Paul, MN Closed: True Light Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN
Pacific Northwest Conference Merger: Summit View Covenant Church, Beaverton, OR Closed: Community Covenant Church, Portland, OR Closed: Vibrant Covenant Church, Portland, OR Merger: Harvard Covenant Church, Tacoma, WA
Pacific Southwest Conference Closed: Shepherd of the Hills Covenant Church, Shingle Springs, CA Withdrawn: Newsong Church, Irvine, CA Withdrawn: Nuevas de Gozo (Glad Tidings Church), Lennox, CA
Central Conference – Jerome Nelson, Superintendent
Name of the Church: Agape Community Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Chicago, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Dismissed
Number of members: 50
Year joined the Covenant: 2003
Peak membership (approximately): 212
Agenda Item 8
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Name of the Church: Antioch Korean Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Des Plaines, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 21
Year joined the Covenant: 1991
Peak membership (approximately): 86
Name of the Church: Christian Vision Korean Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Northbrook, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 10
Year joined the Covenant: 2009
Peak membership (approximately): 30
Name of the Church: Damascus Korean Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Mt. Prospect, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Withdrawn
Number of members: 10
Year joined the Covenant: 1996
Peak membership (approximately): 40
Name of the Church: Emmaus Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Arlington Heights, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 50
Year joined the Covenant: 1995
Peak membership (approximately): 70
Name of the Church: Evangelical Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Villa Park, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Merger
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Number of members: 20
Year joined the Covenant: 1956
Peak membership (approximately): 85
Name of the Church: Evergreen Evangelical Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Rockford, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 15
Year joined the Covenant: 1957
Peak membership (approximately): 55
Name of the Church: Hallelujah Korean Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Northbrook, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 23
Year joined the Covenant: 1991
Peak membership (approximately): 82
Name of the Church: Korean Ark Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Morton Grove, IL
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 13
Year joined the Covenant: 1985
Peak membership (approximately): 75
Midsouth Conference – Garth Bolinder, Superintendent
Name of the Church: Grace Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Oklahoma City, OK
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 40
Year joined the Covenant: 2003
Peak membership (approximately): 85
Agenda Item 8
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Midwest Conference – Tammy Swanson-Draheim, Superintendent
Name of the Church: IgniteKC.tv
Location (City, State): Olathe, KS
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 115
Year joined the Covenant: 1997
Peak membership (approximately): 181
Northwest Conference – Mark Stromberg, Superintendent
Name of the Church: The Compass Covenant Church
Location (City, State): St. Paul, MN
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 15
Year joined the Covenant: 2010
Peak membership (approximately): 90
Name of the Church: True Light Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Minneapolis, MN
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 25
Year joined the Covenant: 2007
Peak membership (approximately): 135
Pacific Northwest Conference – Greg Yee, Superintendent
Name of the Church: Summit View Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Beaverton, OR
Reason for deletion from roster: Merger
Number of members: 3
Year joined the Covenant: 2000
Peak membership (approximately): N/A
Agenda Item 8
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Name of the Church: Community Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Portland, OR
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 9
Year joined the Covenant: 1951
Peak membership (approximately): N/A
Name of the Church: Vibrant Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Portland, OR
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: N/A
Year joined the Covenant: 2004
Peak membership (approximately):
Name of the Church: Harvard Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Tacoma, WA
Reason for deletion from roster: Merger
Number of members: N/A
Year joined the Covenant: 1951
Peak membership (approximately): N/A
Pacific Southwest Conference – Paul Wilson, Superintendent
Name of the Church: Shepherd of the Hills Covenant Church
Location (City, State): Shingle Springs, CA
Reason for deletion from roster: Closed
Number of members: 50
Year joined the Covenant: 2010
Peak membership (approximately): 100
Name of the Church: Newsong Church
Location (City, State): Irvine, CA
Reason for deletion from roster: Withdrawn
Agenda Item 8
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Number of members: 530
Year joined the Covenant: 1998
Peak membership (approximately): 960
Name of the Church: Nuevas de Gozo (Glad Tidings Church)
Location (City, State): Lennox, CA
Reason for deletion from roster: Withdrawn
Number of members: 150
Year joined the Covenant: 2003
Peak membership (approximately): 185
Agenda Item 9
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Churches Applying for Membership
Based upon the recommendation of the respective conferences and regions, the Executive Board recommends to the 131st Annual Meeting that the following churches be accepted into membership in the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Church Approximate Approximate Membership Attendance
ECC OF CANADA Avenue Community Church 163 110 Toronto, Ontario
Holy Community Covenant Church 29 60 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Lake Ridge Community Church Ministry of ECCC 45 110 Chestermere, Alberta
ALASKA CONFERENCE Chugach Covenant Church in progress 130 Anchorage, Alaska
CENTRAL CONFERENCE New Life Covenant Church of Palatine 122 95 Palatine, Illinois
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE Life Church Southfield 40 300 Southfield, Michigan
New Community Covenant Church 51 250 Buckhannon, West Virginia
MIDWEST CONFERENCE Ascent Covenant Church 60 850 Louisville, Colorado
PACIFIC NORTHWEST CONFERENCE Kaleo Covenant Church 50 100 Beaverton, Oregon
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE Communidad Familiar Cristiana Covenant Church in progress 80 Redwood City, California
Agenda Item 9
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Grace Life LA in progress 45 Los Angeles, California
The River Church Community 150 450 San José, California
Summary: Number of new churches 12 Cumulative approximate membership 710 Cumulative approximate attendance 2,580
Report on Churches Joining the Covenant
The mission of the Covenant is stronger, richer, and more diverse because of the 12 churches joining this year. Each of these churches brings with them a ministry that will enrich the kingdom contribution of the whole Covenant denomination, and will itself be enriched by its connection with the Covenant. Following is a synopsis of each congregation. Each story testifies to both the handiwork of God in raising up a ministry and to the faithfulness of committed people in carrying out that ministry. What is less visible is the role that every Covenanter has had in these stories. Through making possible the elements of a pastoral assessment process, financial support, training, and strategic services, every Covenanter has a place in these stories.
ECC of Canada
Avenue Community Church approximate attendance: 100-110 Toronto, Ontario Pastor: John Cho Avenue Community Church began its journey in January 2007 when Onnuri Korean United Church, a congregation that began in the 1970s to minister to the growing number of Korean immigrants coming to Toronto, laid out plans to start a new church. John Cho, Onnuri’s former youth pastor, was hired as the lead pastor of Onnuri’s English ministry and assigned the task of planting the church. It began with a group of about twenty-five committed members (with an average age of twenty-three) and an $11,000 budget. They cast a vision, defined their values and beliefs, and developed a five-year plan. The congregation began searching for a denomination to serve with, and in 2011 they met the Evangelical Covenant Church. In January 2012, they decided on the name Avenue Community Church. In recognition of their roots, they choose the name “Avenue,” which is a main street near Onnuri.
Holy Community Covenant Church approximate attendance: 60 Winnipeg, Manitoba Pastor: Gavin Jensen In the early spring of 2012, the community of Faith Covenant Church in Winnipeg sensed the rich opportunity to plant a new church in the city’s West End. A small group began to meet in homes for times of prayer and conversation, and adopted the name Holy Community Covenant Church, believing it captured well their sense of calling. Holy Community’s local ministry has been built around the ideas of sharing the gospel as its members share their whole lives (1
Agenda Item 9
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Thessalonians 2:8). The church’s identity is based on its commitment to truth, hospitality, growth, and generosity. It has continued to partner with Faith Covenant and is appreciative of the conference and denominational ministries (such as Covenant Kids Congo and Kernels of Hope), which has allowed the church to extend its ministry beyond its neighborhood.
Lake Ridge Community Church Ministry of ECCC approximate attendance: 110 Chestermere, Alberta Pastor: Evan Dewald Lake Ridge started in 2010 with a small group of people attending Hope Community Church in Strathmore, Alberta. They had a growing vision to serve a nearby town, Chestermere. The following year, several families sold their homes and moved, a very costly commitment, as home prices were 20 percent higher in Chestermere. They began meeting in homes and serving at public city events, something they have continued to do. The church’s vision has always been to be involved in its city. Members of the congregation serve on every major board (including the city council), volunteer at public events, and support a local block party initiative by covering the cost of the food. The church’s youth volunteer works with a local sports team; they started a citywide welcoming program called Mighty Neigbourly; and their annual soapbox derby is a huge hit among kids and adults alike. While the activities have been beneficial, it is the congregation’s act of loving our neighbors that has opened the doorways of faith and connection and transformed more lives for Christ than anything else.
Alaska Conference
Chugach Covenant Church approximate attendance: 130 Anchorage, Alaska Pastor: Dan Krause While working as a children’s pastor in Anchorage, Dan Krause had a vision to plant a church in East Anchorage. Mark Merideth, the lead pastor of Community Covenant Church in Eagle River, had the same vision. Dan and Mark had a chance meeting and were surprised and excited to discover what God was orchestrating. After attending a church planter assessment, Dan and his wife, Kelli, were called to plant a Covenant church in East Anchorage. Chugach Covenant has met weekly for four years, and God is blessing this ministry in unexpected ways. Dozens of people have come to faith, several have been baptized, and even more have rededicated their lives to Christ. The church has a strong presence in the military community and has sent many families on to their new duty stations. Currently the church is ministering to a small group of women who have recently been freed from prison and are living in transitional housing.
Central Conference
New Life Covenant Church of Palatine approximate attendance: 95 Palatine, Illinois Pastor: Joon Hwang New Life Covenant Church of Palatine is a multiethnic, contemporary, and spirit-filled church. Planted in partnership with the Evangelical Covenant Church on May 1, 2011, the congregation currently meets at 1200 W. Northwest Highway in Palatine, a northwestern suburb of Chicago.
Agenda Item 9
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Great Lakes Conference
LifeChurch Southfield approximate attendance: 300 Southfield, Michigan Pastor: Alan Tumpkin After hosting a successful radio show, Alan Tumpkin and his wife, Marcia, started a weekly Bible study. This group grew from twenty to fifty members within a year. During that time, Alan began casting a vision for a church and building core values for the group. The new church was parented by LifeChurch Canton, under the leadership of Alex Rahill, and supported by the Great Lakes Conference. The first weekly service was held in October 2011, and in less than four years, LifeChurch Southfield has grown from seventy for more than three hundred. The church’s many ministries include children and youth services, and free professional counseling for members, a youth ministry with more than fifty students, a ten-piece band with five singers, and a worship team that has become a major attraction for the church. LifeChurch Southfield’s vision is simple: to know Jesus, to grow in community, and to go and serve. They accomplish the vision through relevant worship, small groups, and a myriad of serving opportunities.
New Community Covenant Church approximate attendance: 250 Buckhannon, West Virginia Pastor: Justin Bowers New Community Church is the first Covenant church planted in West Virginia. Located in the heart of North Central West Virginia, New Community was launched in 2012 with about thirty people on a back porch. Now, the church worships with 250 in regular attendance. At the core of New Community is a vision to see people find and follow Jesus beyond Sundays. Justin Bowers and his wife, Carrie, are originally from Buckhannon. They returned in 2012 under the care and coaching of the late director of church planting for the Great Lakes Conference, Larry Sherman. Through encouragement, training, and support, Justin and Carrie launched New Community in a region of West Virginia that had not seen a new church plant in about thirty years. New Community has launched a unified youth ministry and college ministry with two other churches in the community. Its ministry to children and families regularly sees fifty to sixty children on a Sunday morning. Appalachian Impact, a ministry providing hope for at-risk students through mentoring and summer community camps, has impacted approximately seventy students in the past three years.
Midwest Conference
Ascent Community Church approximate attendance: 850 Louisville, Colorado Pastors: Bill Stephens and Jim Candy The theme of Ascent Community Church is “to know, to be known, and to make Him known.” The church wants people to know and be known by Jesus, to know and be known by others, and to do all it can to make the love of Jesus known to its community and the world. Ascent is gaining a strong reputation as a generous and welcoming presence. The police and fire chiefs are leaning on the church to help meet the needs of the community. People are coming to church for the first time, they are returning to church after decades away, they are making commitments to Jesus or recommitting their lives, and they are feeling welcome in church
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despite all of the baggage they carry. Leaning on the faithfulness and the provision the Lord has already shown them, the folks at Ascent Community Church want to continue to step out of the boat and fix their eyes on Jesus.
Pacific Northwest Conference
Kaleo Covenant Church approximate attendance: 100 Beaverton, Oregon Pastor: Troy Hoppenrath Kaleo Covenant Church was formed in the fall of 2010. Initially, the church worshiped together with Summit View Covenant, and the two churches eventually merged. Since then, Summit View has completed its ministry, and Kaleo retained its identity as a new church plant. Its name comes from the Greek word meaning, “to call or invited to something of significance.” Kaleo Covenant is known for its commitment to serving others, having a presence in the community, and offering authentic relationships, responsive worship, and an inviting atmosphere. The Kaleo congregation is committed to a whole-life response to the gospel that goes far beyond the Sunday morning gathering.
Pacific Southwest Conference
Communidad Familiar Cristian Covenant Church approximate attendance: 80 Redwood City, California Pastor: Rolando Luna While serving as a worship and marriage pastor in Redwood City, Rolando Luna sensed God’s call to plant a church. After consulting with Peninsula Covenant Church (also in Redwood City), the Pacific Southwest Conference, and the Evangelical Covenant Church, Communida Familiar Cristian Covenant Church was launched with a core group of eight people. The congregation meets at Peninsula Covenant Church.
Grace Life LA approximate attendance: 45 Downtown Los Angeles, California Pastor: David Choi In April 2012, Grace Life LA began its first official launch as a church plant of the Pacific Southwest Conference. A year earlier, Matt and Grace Lee had met with leaders of the ECC and agreed to plant a church in downtown LA. The Covenant and the Pacific Southwest Conference provided all of the support to start the church—financial and relational. After two years, David Choi was hired as the associate pastor. He later became lead pastor when Matt stepped into the role of coaching church planters. This allowed both pastors to use their gifts to their fullest capacities. Grace Life LA currently meets in the Arts District/Little Tokyo District area in downtown LA, and is renting space from the Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society. The church’s greatest strength lies in its strong sense of community. Many who attend are walking through challenging times in their lives, but the church community has helped individuals feel loved and supported. Grace Life LA has also begun to gather interest in becoming an outward-focused church. Last year, a team of nine people went to North Korea, and it was one of the most impactful endeavors the church—and the individuals on the team—experienced. Grace Life hopes for a courageous faith to be a part of its DNA.
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The River Church Community approximate attendance: 450 San Jose, California Pastor: Brad Wong The River Church Community is a nineteen-year-old multiethnic, intergenerational congregation, whose make-up is 40 percent Caucasian, 40 percent Asian American, and 20 percent African American, Latino, Indian, or biracial. The church’s aim is to be God’s show-and-tell to a hurting and cynical world. Some of the effective ministries that they are commited to include: Shalom Iglesia, a Spanish-speaking church plant that was launched by Servant Partners; the Healing Path, a ministry that focuses on the healing of emotional wounds that keep individuals from experiencing the love of Christ; ministries for children and youth; and regular retreats led by licensed spiritual directors aimed at helping busy Silicon Valley folks nurture their inner life. River Church Community resonates with the Covenant’s deep commitment to multiethnic ministry, a holistic gospel that overcomes personal sin as well as systemic sins, and church planting. After nineteen years of being independent, the church looks forward to the strength that comes from traveling with a like-minded tribe.
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Commissioning of Church Planters
East Coast Conference Phil Beatty, Hartford City Church (Manchester, CT) Kevin Brown, Still Waters Church (Newport News, VA) Michael Han, Table Covenant Church (Fairfax, VA) Rick Jakubowski, Sanctuary North Covenant Church (Providence, RI) Stephen Poore, Center Church (Richmond, VA) Finney Varughese, Hope Long Island Covenant Church (New Hyde Park, NY)
Midsouth Conference Mark Charbonneau and Ted Thulin, The Vine Austin (Austin, TX)
Midwest Conference Matt Ness and Ja’mel Armstrong. One Church, an Evangelical Covenant Church (Louisville, KY) Marc and Christine Jefferson, Aurora Community Covenant Church (Aurora, CO)
Northwest Conference Matt Anderson, The Story Covenant Church (Minneapolis, MN) Dale Durie, Seeds Covenant Church (Minneapolis, MN) Vong Luangkhamdeng, Laotian Covenant Church (Brooklyn Center, MN) Jack Shields, The Door Covenant Church (Blaine, MN)
Pacific Northwest Conference Mat Hollen, St. Thomas Covenant Church (Salem, OR) Steve Pace, The Rock Covenant Church (Olympia, WA) Jose Orlando Polanco, Iglesias Esperanza Viva (Kent, WA)
Pacific Southwest Conference Jesse Burke, Sanctuary Covenant Church (Prescott, AZ) Jeff Grote, Lakewood Covenant Church (Lakewood, CA)
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Report to the 131st Covenant Annual Meeting By the President Gary B. Walter
This report is different from others I have written. Rather than my single report capturing the key data and trends, we are publishing a collaborative viewbook across our five mission priorities and related ministries; it’s called Covenant Mission and Ministry Report 2015 – 2016.
This will be distributed to delegates, while also being available for viewing and downloading online where it will be archived. My verbal report will touch on additional challenges and opportunities before us. It will also available for viewing online, both live and archived.
The contours of the Evangelical Covenant Church sketch us to be a partnership of some 850 congregations in the United States and Canada, serving within 11 geographic regions, with a total attendance in excess of 230,000 on any given weekend. We are a growing, multi-ethnic, multi-generational fellowship. We are relatively small as far as denominations go, and full of flaws, but through God’s Spirit together with you, this movement touches millions of real lives in real places in dozens of countries around the globe with the love and hope of Christ.
More than our contours, however, I’d like to underscore one particular trait of the ECC, namely the pervasive intent to simply be found faithful. Everywhere I go, I see this shared characteristic in ECC constituents, pastors, and leaders. At our best, each of us simply wants to be found faithful walking with God and for God.
In holding ourselves accountable, it is important to note that faithfulness is tied inextricably to doing. When the business owner in Jesus’ parable says “well done” to his servants, it is an affirmation of having made a tangible difference in the assignment they were given to invest for a result (Matt. 25:21, 23). The parable does not say, “well pondered,” nor “well strategized,” nor “well analyzed.” It says, “Well done.” Faith without action is dead.
To be found faithful is not merely to be found in agreement with Jesus. As William Willimon observes, churches are full of people who agree with Jesus but whose inaction is this issue. If we say we are committed to pursuing Christ, we must be equally committed to pursuing Christ’s priorities in the world.
To be found faithful, then, consists in part of this: to take action that brings a discernible result to God’s interests. There is more to being found faithful, but one measure of the investment made is the difference made.
On the pages of the Covenant Mission and Ministry Report, you will see the ECC in action. You will see the difference that you and other Covenanters are making around the world as we invest together in our five priorities to start and strengthen churches; make and deepen disciples; develop leaders; love mercy and do justice; and serve globally. Through these
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priorities, the support ministries it takes to implement them, and our affiliated ministries, this captures how we seek to be found faithful in fulfilling God’s call.
As we move together beyond intention to action, and beyond action to greater effectiveness, my hope is that the “well done” of Jesus might await. And so, let’s continue to pray together, to serve together, and to deepen the partnership we share in the simple rhythm of missional pietism: living with God and for God; going deeper in Christ and further in mission – together.
Gary B. Walter President The Evangelical Covenant Church
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ECC Bylaws Provision for the Election of ECC President and Executive Ministers
ARTICLE VII The Annual Meeting
Section 7.9. Elections and Calls. a. ECC President.
i. The president of the ECC shall be elected by the Annual Meeting. The election shallbe by ballot.
ii. One candidate for president of the ECC shall be nominated by a PresidentialNominating Committee consisting of the following: twelve persons elected by theExecutive Board from its elected members so as to reflect the composition of theExecutive Board as a whole; one person each elected by and from the electedmembers of the Board of Directors of Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, theBoard of the Ordered Ministry, the Board of Pensions and Benefits, and the Board ofTrustees of North Park University; and the chairs of the regional conferences.
iii. The Presidential Nominating Committee shall be convened for organization by thecorporate secretary of the ECC, but shall elect its own officers and determine its ownprocedures. The Executive Board shall authorize adequate financial resources for thework of the committee.
b. Elected Executive Ministers.i. The executive minister of love mercy and do justice, the executive minister of make
and deepen disciples, the executive minister of the ordered ministry, the executiveminister of serve globally, the executive minister of start and strengthen churchesshall be elected by the Annual Meeting. Each election shall be by ballot.
ii. One candidate each for the positions of executive minister of love mercy and dojustice, the executive minister of make and deepen disciples, the executive ministerof serve globally, and the executive minister of start and strengthen churches shallbe nominated by the Executive Board.
iii. One candidate for the position of executive minister of the ordered ministry shall benominated by the Board of the Ordered Ministry, with the concurrence of theExecutive Board and the annual meeting of the Covenant Ministerium.
c. Election Provisions for the President of the ECC and the Executive Ministers Elected by theAnnual Meeting.
i. Only members in good standing of a member congregation of the ECC shall beeligible for election.
ii. Only ordained ministers of the ECC in good standing shall be eligible for election aspresident of the ECC or as executive minister of the ordered ministry.
iii. A two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting shall be required for electionunless a second candidate is placed on the ballot, in which case a majority vote ofthe delegates present and voting shall be required for election.
iv. In the event an unopposed candidate does not receive the required two-thirdsmajority for election, the Annual Meeting shall receive nominations from the floorand conduct an election under the following provisions:
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(1) All nominations must be made from the floor. The unopposed candidate who did not receive the required two-thirds majority for election is eligible for nomination from the floor. If descriptive information on any such nominee is distributed it shall be similar in scope and content to information provided regarding candidates nominated by an ECC board or committee.
(2) Nominating speeches shall be limited to five minutes. Up to three seconding speeches may be made for each nominee and shall be limited to two minutes each.
(3) The moderator shall provide for a recess of the Annual Meeting during which questions may be addressed to the nominees following a procedure to be recommended by the officers of the Annual Meeting and approved by the Annual Meeting.
(4) A majority of delegates present and voting shall be required for election. v. Nominations for a second candidate for any of these positions may be made from
the floor according to the following procedure:(1) All nominations from the floor shall require a second. (2) A delegate making a nomination may provide descriptive information
similar in scope and content to that provided to the Annual Meeting with respect to the candidate nominated by the Presidential Nominating Committee, the Executive Board, or the Board of the Ordered Ministry.
(3) Nominating speeches shall be limited to five minutes. Up to three seconding speeches may be made for each nominee and shall be limited to two minutes each.
(4) In the case of contested elections, the moderator shall provide for a recess of the Annual Meeting during which questions may be addressed to the nominees following a procedure to be recommended by the officers of the Annual Meeting and approved by the Annual Meeting.
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Nominee for Executive Minister of Start and Strengthen Churches: John Wenrich
JOHN WENRICH has served as the director of congregational vitality for the Evangelical Covenant Church for 10 ½ years. In that role, he has worked with regional staff throughout the United States and Canada to provide ministry resources, guidance and support to established churches. To date, fifteen other countries are contextualizing these resources to strengthen established churches in their own cultures. Wenrich is coaching these denominations forward. He also serves as adjunct professor at North Park
Theological Seminary in the Certificate of Congregational Vitality program.
In 1983, Wenrich moved to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a nightly news and sportscaster. He also planted an underground international house church. Two years later, he returned to the United States and served as a pastor for seven years in Littleton, Colorado, until Arvada Covenant Church called him to plant the Applewood Church in Golden, Colorado. Five years later, John went to Portland, Oregon, to serve as the revitalization pastor of First Covenant Church. In 2006 he moved to Chicago to pioneer a new vitality ministry for established churches in the ECC.
Wenrich has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Villanova University, a master of divinity degree from Denver Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from Fuller Seminary. John was ordained by the Covenant in 2002.
John and his wife, Julie, have been married for 30 years and live near Chicago. They have three sons, Jonathan (27) and wife Laura, Joel (22) and Jordan (20). All live in Portland. For hobbies, John enjoys biking, hiking, history and searching for bargains at Sparrow’s Nest, his favorite local thrift store.
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Nominee for Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry: Mark Novak
Mark Novak assumed the duties of Executive Minister of Ordered Minister at the end of August, 2012. Just prior to being elected to this position, Mark served as superintendent of the North Pacific Conference, a position he held since 1999.
Born and raised in Washington, Mark received his undergraduate degree in political science from Seattle Pacific College and a Master of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. He was ordained in the Covenant in 1980. He served as youth pastor at Interbay Covenant Church in Seattle, Washington; associate pastor at Modesto Covenant Church in Modesto, California; senior pastor at McMinnville Covenant Church in McMinnville, Oregon; and as senior pastor at Redeemer Covenant Church in Orangevale, California, before accepting the call as
conference superintendent.
Mark is married to Marilyn and together they have three adult, married children and five grandchildren.
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Nominee for President of the ECC: Gary Walter
Gary Walter is an ordained Covenant pastor, serving since 2008 as the ninth president of the ECC.
Walter grew up in Kentfield, CA, in the Bay Area, coming to faith through the ministry of Marin Covenant Church as a high school student. He graduated with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley. He received his Master of Divinity degree from North Park Theological Seminary.
He served Village Covenant Church, Azusa, CA; Newport Covenant Church, Bellevue, WA; and Clairemont Covenant Church, San Diego, CA prior to entering denominational service. With the ECC, he previously held positions related to the Covenant’s mission in the United States, during which he worked with scores of congregations of all sizes, styles, ages, ethnicities, and
community contexts.
During his tenure as president, the ECC has continued to be a growing, multi-generational, multi-ethnic fellowship of churches, now with some 850 congregations in the United States and Canada with ministry partnerships in dozens of countries around the world. He has guided the ECC to a new streamlined structure that brings focus to five priorities: start and strengthen churches; make and deepen disciples; develop leaders; love mercy and do justice; and serve globally. He is a columnist for the Covenant Companion and serves on the executive committee of Christian Churches Together.
Gary is married to Nancy. They have three adult daughters, Amy (Chase), Alissa (Nod), and Lauren (Mark), as well as three granddaughters. They are founding members of DeerGrove Covenant Church in Palatine, IL.
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Found Faithful Develop Leaders
131st Annual Meeting OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
JUNE 24-25, 2016 Phoenix, Arizona
CANDIDATES’ BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
This folder contains biographical information and a personal statement for each candidate on the 2016 ballot.
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CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Evangelical Covenant Church Annual Meeting 2016
General Information Regarding Biographies: - An asterisk ( * ) before a name indicates incumbent.
- All information was provided by the candidate. - Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
- “Experience” indicates past and present activities. - Guide to abbreviations: CBC = Covenant Bible College
CHET = Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos CHIC = Covenant High in Christ
CMB = Covenant Ministries of Benevolence MHIPE = Ministerios Hispanos de la Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico
NPU = North Park University NPTS = North Park Theological Seminary
Board of Nominations Process for Recommendation of Candidates for Denominational Boards:
-Candidates are recommended and gathered from: Conference Annual Meetings, Conference Boards, Superintendents, local churches (pastors and laypersons), ECC Ethnic Associations, Council of Administrators -Candidate recommendations are reviewed and discussed by Board of Nominations during Fall board meeting -Candidates recommendations are reviewed and approved by President of the ECC and Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry -Local church pastors are contacted for reference checks for layperson candidate recommendations -Superintendents are contacted for reference checks for credentialed candidate recommendations -Candidates are contacted after all approvals and reference checks are completed to request consideration for denominational board ballot
EXECUTIVE BOARD - One candidate needed for each position. –
(4-year term; elect 1) John Bonkoski, member of Emmanuel Covenant Church, Shoreview, MN. Design Phase Manager, Mortenson Construction. Experience: Church council; church elder; small group leader; team leader; Jr./Sr. high youth counselor.
Personal Statement: “God has graciously gifted me with a passion for business/life/faith integration. My academic, ministry and leadership experiences as well as my experience growing up as a Covenant pastor’s son have equipped me to serve in this capacity.”
(6-year term; elect 1) Roberto Ghione, member of Nueva Esperanza Covenant Church, Simi Valley, CA. Senior Pastor, Nueva Esperanza
Covenant Church. Experience: MHIPE (vice president); Hispanic Pastor Coordinator for the Pacific Southwest Conference; Simi Valley Pastor’s Association (board member); Sunday school teacher.
Personal Statement: “The Great Commission is my approach and is the most important thing to my ministry. I have a great passion to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus. God has allowed me to develop the gifts of preaching, teaching and organizing leaders. As a member of the Executive Board, I hope to be a good representative of the Hispanic members of the Covenant in the USA.”
(6-year term; elect 1) Doris Granberry, member of Kingdom Covenant Ministries, Miami, FL. Retired. Experience: Board of Nominations; Christian Formation committee; Children and Family Ministry Coach; Southeast Conference Executive Board (chair); ECC Executive Board Women Ministries Education chair; West Perrine Christian Association; church council (chair, secretary, treasurer); Sunday school teacher; Women Ministries.
Personal Statement: “As a retired public school administrator and longtime church administrator, I bring the gift of administration and a calling for children and family ministry as a discipleship leader. I have a passion for children and family ministry and the great possibilities that lie within the nurture and support of strengthening this cord within the body of Christ. I desire to be a conduit that will help prepare them for the work of the ministry.”
(6-year term; elect 1) Erick Marquez, member of Iglesia del Pacto Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, CA. Manager, Partnership for Los Angeles Schools. Experience: Youth leader; liaison for Iglesia del Pacto Eagle Rock’s Spanish and English churches; IT volunteer for CHET; CHET instructor.
Personal Statement: “I am interested in serving on the Executive Board because I believe I bring a unique experience and perspective that can help guide the direction of the ECC. As a first generation college student of Latino descent, parent, and advocate for youth involvement, I believe I can help look for authentic ways to engage all members of our church, especially our youth, who are the future of our church.”
(6-year term; elect 1) Dwain Tissell, member of Eastridge Covenant Church, Clackamas, OR. Lead/Founding Pastor, Eastridge Covenant Church. Experience: School of Prayer (seminar leader and teacher); evangelism think tank; Canada Conference executive board; CBC study commission; Palau Organization; Sunday school teacher.
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Personal Statement: “I am a fourth generation Covenanter. We have raised our four children in the Evangelical Covenant Church where I have served as a pastor for over 30 years. I have a deep passion for the gospel, the Covenant’s historic message befriending all people through it, and I believe we are uniquely poised to bring the good news to this generation.”
(6-year term; elect 1) Cindy Wu, member of Access Evangelical Covenant Church, Katy, TX. Communications Coordinator, Trinity Classical School of Houston. Experience: “Faithwalking” spiritual formation collaboration (participant and freelance writer); Christian Churches Together (speaker); Sunday school teacher; co-founded a children’s ministry; co-founder of Access women’s ministry; worship team member; pulpit supply; published author (“Our Global Families”); research associate with the Center for the Study of Global Christianity.
Personal Statement: “I get excited when I look at what God is doing in and through the ECC, especially our growing multiethnic identity and global partnerships. Having served in various ministry contexts at home and abroad, I hope to serve on the Executive Board as someone with a heart for the nations who is committed to advancing our five mission priorities.”
BOARD OF NOMINATIONS
-Conference Executive Boards recommend these candidates.
(5-year term; elect 1) Carolyn Larson, member of Bethany Covenant Church, Bedford, NH. Experience: ECC board of church growth and evangelism (vice chair and secretary); ECC stewardship commission (chair); ECC Board of Nominations; East Coast Conference board (chair, vice chair, secretary); ECC presidential search committee (vice chair); church council (chair); church leadership team (chair); pastoral search committee (chair); Sunday school teacher.
Personal Statement: “I have had the privilege of participating in the life of the Covenant at the local, conference and national level for over 30 years. I've met committed pastors and lay leaders and seen the impact of their ministry when gifts are recognized and all have opportunities to serve in leadership together. We need to continue to make our boards more representative of the diverse communities we serve, and I will work to that end.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Erika Whittington, member of Community Covenant Church, Eagle River, AK. Pastor of Mission and Discipleship, Community Covenant Church. Experience: Conference Annual Meeting
delegate; ECC Annual Meeting delegate; member of local ministerium.
Personal Statement: “I have been living in Alaska and have been a member of the Covenant Church in Alaska for over a decade. I am interested in serving on the Board of Nominations because I believe that, as an Alaskan, I can bring a unique voice and perspective to the table that is important for charting the future of the ECC.”
BOARD OF THE ORDERED MINISTRY
- One candidate needed for each position. –
(5-year term; elect 1) Greg Applequist, member of Bethany Covenant Church, Lyndhurst, OH. Pastor, Bethany Covenant Church. Experience: 2015 Presidential Nominating Committee (member); Great Lakes Conference Executive Board (chair); area ECC clergy cluster group (member); organizes local ecumenical clergy meeting; involved with improving relationships between local inter-faith community and school district; Sunday school teacher; mission board (member), pastoral search committee (chair); leadership team; worship team; local outreach team.
Personal Statement: “I love getting to know people, hearing their stories and helping people grow closer to Jesus. I feel that serving on the Board of the Ordered Ministry will allow me to use the gifts God has given me to serve in each of those areas. I look forward to getting to know our new ordinands and caring for clergy and their families.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Barbara Swanson, member of Edgebrook Covenant Church, Chicago, IL. Missionary, Mosaics Project, ECC (Antwerp, Belgium). Experience: Covenant World Mission bi-annual missionary gatherings (secretary); Refugee Highway Partnership (leadership team member); World Day of Prayer (planning committee for English speaking celebration in Antwerp, Belgium); Sunday school teacher; worship team.
Personal Statement: “I bring an international perspective that speaks a different voice to fellow pilgrims, future church leaders and missionaries, who are on a journey to ministry and service in the church. As I am passionate about serving others, it will be a holy experience to be a part of the team that mentors, evaluates and cares for those who will be served by this board.”
BOARD OF PENSIONS AND BENEFITS
- One candidate needed for each position. -
(5-year term; elect 1) Monty Harmon, member of Grace Community Covenant Church, Olympia, WA. President and CEO, Evergreen Gaming Corporation. Experience: Pacific Northwest Conference men’s
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ministry board; Pacific Northwest Conference men’s ministry retreat planning committee; MEG (Men Experiencing God) group leader/facilitator; Sunday school teacher; missionary to Tanzania; church financial manager; church elder; experience as a fraud auditor.
Personal Statement: “As a Christian, I am committed to serving God first in my life. As a member of the Covenant Church, I see myself as a part of the larger body with various talents and gifts. God has allowed me to be elevated in my career to be the CEO of a publically traded company where I need to serve a board. It seems God has been preparing me for a position such as this.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Lowell Peterson, member of Zion Covenant Church, Ellsworth, WI. Vice President of Manufacturing, Rockland Flooring. Experience: Northwest Conference Executive Board (treasurer, chair); Northwest Conference strategic planning task force; church council (chair, vice-chair); Sunday school teacher; Awana (now Kid’s Quest) leader; United Way fund raiser; Red Wing Area Community Education (board member).
Personal Statement: “I have grown up in the Covenant. I attended Lake Beauty Bible Camp and Covenant Bible College and have been a member at Zion Covenant Church in Ellsworth, Wisconsin since completing confirmation. I believe that I have a servant’s heart, which will serve me well in this role. In addition, I have excellent organizational skills and decades of experience improving customer satisfaction, shareholder return and building effective teams.”
BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE
- One candidate needed for each position. -
(6-year term; elect 1) Kathryn Buettner, member of Naperville Covenant Church, Naperville, IL. Retired. Experience: Sunday school teacher; women ministries director; Illinois City Management Association; American Red Cross of DuPage County (board member); DuPage National Technology Park (board member); Women in Government Relations.
Personal Statement: “In my professional career, I spent 10 years managing the university's governing board and 30+ years managing and supervising a staff of 100+. My administrative, leadership, personnel, leadership development and communications skills are exceptionally strong. I prayerfully submit my credentials and qualifications to the Covenant in humility and with a deserve to serve the Lord and His church.”
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY - One candidate needed for each position. -
(5-year term; elect 1) David Kallen-Youngberg, member of Grace Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, IL. Director, Customer Supply Chain, PepsiCo. Experience: Church council; church bookkeeper; InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Leadership Advocacy Council; Grace Covenant staffing task force; church council nominating committee; North Park Friendship Center (board member).
Personal Statement: “I have great love for and pride in North Park University and am excited to use my gifts and talents to best serve the institution. I believe that the skills and knowledge that I have gained in my 22 years in corporate America can help in advising North Park and ultimately assisting students to best acquire and utilize their education.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Mayra López-Humphreys, member of Metro Hope Covenant Church, New York, NY. Director, MSW Program and Associate Professor, Nyack College School of Social Work. Experience: Assemblies of God youth leader; Assemblies of God church plant associate pastor; Sunday school teacher; associate pastor, Metro Hope; New York State licensed social worker.
Personal Statement: “North Park University's commitment to embody ideals that cultivate a higher education learning environment that is intentionally urban, distinctively Christian and purposefully intercultural is a shared commitment of my own life’s vocation. For the last fifteen years, preparing students for a life of service through higher education has been the central undertaking of my academic tenure. Equally important, the quality, productivity, and impact of my leadership in teaching, scholarship, and community engagement have been motivated by a deep desire to participate in reflecting God’s shalom here on Earth.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Dave Otfinoski, member of Haddam Neck Covenant Church, East Hampton, CT. President, Catamount Medical Education, LLC. Experience: North Park University Board of Trustees; Pilgrim Pines board (chair of recent capital campaign); Cromwell Covenant Church council (chair); Easton Covenant Church (associate pastor); church council (chair); stewardship board; deacon board; ecumenical ministers group.
Personal Statement: “North Park provides a well-rounded, faith-based educational experience that prepares young people for success in their personal and professional lives. As someone who has served as a Covenant pastor and built a number of successful businesses (and a couple of not-so successful ones), I think my varied experiences can benefit
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North Park in thinking through ways to provide curriculum and services to meet the needs of today's students.”
(5-year term; elect 1) Tom Trautman, member of Redeemer Covenant Church, Brooklyn Park, MN. Retired. Experience: Annual meeting delegate; church council (chair, vice-chair); Sunday school teacher; diaconate member; elder member; church choir; anniversary celebration committee (chair); pastoral search committee.
Personal Statement: “The duties in my business career focused on risk assessment, judgment, and communications in science and health. Foundations of technical skills were built at North Park, where I also learned more fully who God wants me to be. I'm excited to have the opportunity to serve North Park in this way--to help assure it provides the highest educational opportunities in an environment that makes Christ known.”
ANNUAL MEETING OFFICERS for 2014 & 2015
- One candidate needed for each position. -
Moderator (2-year term; elect 1) Sam Chang, member of Christ Covenant Church, Villa Park, IL. Director of eCommerce, PepsiCo. Experience: ECC executive board (chair); ECC Annual Meeting Parliamentarian; church council (chair, secretary, treasurer); Sunday school teacher;
worship leader; pastoral relations committee (chair); pastoral search committee.
Personal Statement: “I have previous experience as a local church council chair, chair of the ECC Executive Board, and Annual Meeting Parliamentarian. I believe that these experiences will enable me to lead as the Annual Meeting Moderator, guiding delegates through the agenda, discussions and decisions as we worshipfully gather together to celebrate the work of God across churches and the denomination.”
Vice Moderator (2-year term; elect 1) Nancy Lewis, member of First Covenant Church, Oakland, CA. Pastor of Congregational Care, First Covenant Church. Experience: Board of the Ordered Ministry (chair); Pacific Southwest Conference executive board; Mission Springs Camp board; Commission on Ministerial Standing; spiritual director.
Personal Statement: “I have had the privilege to attend numerous conference and denominational Annual Meetings. At each of these meetings, I am always struck at how much is accomplished with limited resources and unlimited zeal and integrity. Serving as an ordained pastor in the ECC is both an honor and an opportunity. The ECC is my home and my family, and I will gladly use my time and skills to support its ministries.”
Agenda Item 16.a
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PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR TRANSFER OF ORDINATION 131st COVENANT ANNUAL MEETING
PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNE 23-25, 2016
LANCE L. DAVIS Serving: New Zion Covenant Church, Dolton, IL Ordaining body: Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Conference: Central
DENNIS R. EDWARDS Serving: Sanctuary Covenant Church, Minneapolis, MN Ordaining body: Mennonite Church USA Conference: Northwest
MICHAEL S. ROSE Serving: Royal Palm Covenant Church, Royal Palm Beach, FL Ordaining body: Church of God, Anderson, IN Conference: Southeast
Agenda Item 16.b
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PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR CONSECRATION TO MISSIONARY SERVICE 131st COVENANT ANNUAL MEETING
PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNE 23-25, 2016
KRISTEN M. BYFORD Serving: Missionary: Thailand Conference: Serve Globally
ADRIENNE L. SATTERBERG Serving: Missionary: France Conference: Serve Globally
Agenda Item 16.c
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PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION TO WORD AND SERVICE 131st COVENANT ANNUAL MEETING
PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNE 23-25, 2016
JAMES R. EATON Serving: Covenant Cedars Bible Camp, Hordville, NE Specialization: Youth Ministries and Administration/Leadership Conference: Midwest
PAULA A. FROST Serving: Rochester Covenant Church, Rochester, MN Specialization: Christian Formation Conference: Northwest
THOMAS J. GREENWALD Serving: Community Evangelical Covenant Church, Lenexa, KS Specialization: Youth Ministries Conference: Midwest
KATHERINE L. ISAZA Serving: Missionary: Colombia Specialization: Christian Formation Conference: Serve Globally
DANIEL J. MEYERPETER Serving: River Ridge Covenant Church, Olympia, WA Specialization: Youth Ministries Conference: Pacific Northwest
CHARLENE M. ROTVOLD Serving: Faith Covenant Church, Burnsville, MN Specialization: Counseling Conference: Northwest
MARK J. STUCKEY Serving: Countryside Community Church, Sherwood, OR Specialization: Worship Leadership Conference: Pacific Northwest
Agenda Item 16.d
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PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION TO WORD AND SACRAMENT 131st COVENANT ANNUAL MEETING
PHOENIX, ARIZONA JUNE 23-25, 2016
MATTHEW L. AALSETH Serving: Pacific Southwest Conference Office, Concord, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
KARNA L. ANDERSON Serving: Hennepin Country Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN Conference: Northwest
PETER J. ANDERSON Serving: Crossroads Community Covenant Church, Yelm, WA Conference: Pacific Northwest
BARRY J. ANTHONY Serving: Bethany Covenant Church, Du Bois, PA Conference: Great Lakes
JOSHUA M. ANWAY Serving: University Covenant Church, Davis, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
T. AUSTIN BAILEY Serving: Restoration Covenant Church, Round Rock, TX Conference: Midsouth
MATTHEW B. BLECKLEY Serving: Marin Evangelical Covenant Church, San Rafael, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
KEVIN B. BLUE Serving: Church of the Redeemer, Los Angeles, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
JUSTIN R. BOWERS Serving: New Community Covenant Church, Buckhannon, WV Conference: Great Lakes
JEDEHIAH H. BRENKE Serving: Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA Conference: East Coast
NICHOLAS P. BRUCKNER Serving: Covenant Bible Camp, Unalakleet, AK
Agenda Item 16.d
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Conference: Alaska
BRITTA C. BURGER Serving: Bethany Covenant Church, Mount Vernon, WA Conference: Pacific Northwest
PAUL S. BURGER Serving: Bethany Covenant Church, Mount Vernon, WA Conference: Pacific Northwest
STEN W. CARLSON Serving: Cedarbrook Church, Menomonie, WI Conference: Central
WILLIE G. COMER JR. Serving: Berean Covenant Church, Champaign, IL Conference: Central
CARLA A. DYMENT Serving: Countryside Community Church, Sherwood, OR Conference: Pacific Northwest
MATTHEW P. DYMENT Serving: Countryside Community Church, Sherwood, OR Conference: Pacific Northwest
ELIZABETH L. ENGLEHORN Serving: Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, MN Conference: Northwest
JOHN E. FANOUS Serving: First Covenant Church, Oakland, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
BRADFORD B. FROST Serving: Re-entering call process Conference: Midwest
JENNA M. FROST Serving: Re-entering call process Conference: Midwest
JORGE L. GARCIA Serving: Gracia y Paz Covenant Church, Chula Vista, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
JENNIFER M. GILLAN Serving: Re-entering call process
Agenda Item 16.d
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Conference: Central
DORIS J. GRANBERRY Serving: Southeast Conference Office and Kingdom Covenant Church, Miami, FL Conference: Southeast
SIMON GUEVARA Serving: Restoration Covenant Church, Round Rock, TX Conference: Midsouth
MICHAEL Y. HAN Serving: Table Covenant Church, Fairfax, VA Conference: East Cost
SARAH M. HENRY Serving: Faith Evangelical Covenant Church, Wheaton, IL Conference: Central
CALVIN C. HO Serving: First Covenant Church, Oakland, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
SEAN R. HOFFBECK Serving: Alaska Christian College, Soldotna, AK Conference: Alaska
BRIAN HUI Serving: Great Exchange Covenant Church, Union City, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
JULIO A. ISAZA Serving: Missionary: Colombia Conference: Serve Globally
MATTHEW R. JENSON Serving: Biola University, La Mirada, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
TYLER B. JOHNSON Serving: Evangelical Covenant Church, Albert City, IA Conference: Midwest
BRAD A. KINDALL Serving: The Gallery Covenant Church, St. Paul, MN Conference: Northwest
JON G. LEMMOND Serving: Montecito Covenant Church, Santa Barbara, CA
Agenda Item 16.d
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Conference: Pacific Southwest Conference
DANIEL A. MAY Serving: First Covenant Church, Willmar, MN Conference: Northwest
CHRISTOPHER M. McKNIGHT Serving: Zion Covenant Church, Sheboygan, WI Conference: Central
TODD A. MICHERO Serving: Community Covenant Church, Eagle River, AK Conference: Alaska
T. RICHARD MILLIKIN Serving: Mat-Su Covenant Church, Wasilla, AK Conference: Alaska
SCOTT P. NASSAU Serving: Kehila Covenant Church, Culver City, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
LUKE S. OLIVER Serving: First Evangelical Covenant Church, Superior, WI Conference: Northwest
NATHAN A. POWELL Serving: Arvada Covenant Church, Arvada, CO Conference: Midwest
CAROLYN ROSE Serving: Royal Palm Covenant Church, Royal Palm Beach, FL Conference: Southeast
LESLIE X. SANDERS Serving: First Covenant Church, St. Paul, MN Conference: Northwest
STEVEN B. SHERMAN Serving: Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ Conference: Pacific Southwest
DAVID J. SIM Serving: Renew Covenant Church, Seattle, WA Conference: Pacific Northwest
TODD J. SPIEKER Serving: Bethel Covenant Church, Ellsworth, WI
Agenda Item 16.d
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Conference: Northwest
AMY J. STROM Serving: Evangelical Covenant Church, Bemidji, MN Conference: Northwest
KECIA L.F. STROOT Serving: LifeCare Medical Center, Roseau, MN Conference: Northwest
DAVID W. SWANSON Serving: New Community Covenant Church, Chicago, IL Conference: Central
MARK J. TAO Serving: Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, IL Conference: Central
JOHN E. TETER Serving: Fountain of Life Covenant Church, Long Beach, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
MARK A. TORRES Serving: United States Navy Chaplain Conference: Pacific Southwest
ALAN F. TUMPKIN Serving: Life Church Southfield, Southfield, MI Conference: Great Lakes
MARC J. VANDERSLUYS Serving: Malmo Mission Covenant Church, Wetaskiwin, AB Conference: Canada
CHRISTOPHER J. WALL Serving: Evangelical Covenant Church, Attleboro, MA Conference: East Coast
WILLIAM P. WALLES Serving: Hope Covenant Church, Lake Stevens, WA Conference: Pacific Northwest
ANDREW E. WESTBURG Serving: First Evangelical Covenant Church, Lincoln, NE Conference: Midwest
TERRY C. WHITE Serving: First Covenant Church, Duluth, MN
Agenda Item 16.d
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Conference: Northwest
ALLISON B. WIBLE Serving: Re-entering call process Conference: Central
MARILYN WILLIAMS Serving: Oak Hills Covenant Church, Vista, CA Conference: Pacific Southwest
2016-2017 LicensesLicenses valid July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
AK
BVL
Community Covenant Church Eagle River AKDeForest, Edward F.
Evangelical Covenant Church Bethel AKForbes, E. Hugh
Community Covenant Church Eagle River AKMastroyanis, S. George
Chugach Covenant Church Anchorage AKSchoffmann, Albert B.
ML
Evangelical Covenant Church Bethel AKAnderson, Aaron W.
Alaska Conference Office Anchorage AKBarefoot, James W.
Elim Evangelical Covenant Church Elim AKCurtis, Robert T.
Evangelical Covenant Church Mekoryuk AKHanna, Nathan P.
Chugach Covenant Church Anchorage AKKrause, Daniel D.
Community Covenant Church Eagle River AKShaw, Tyler D.
Alaska Christian College Soldotna AKVan Vliet, Amanda D.
Scammon Bay Covenant Church Scammon Bay AKWilliams, Andrew D.
Total in conference: 12
CAN
BVL
Evangelical Covenant Church Fort Frances ONJohnson, Kenneth T.
One Hope Canada Rainy River ONMast, Mark D.
ML
Cates Hill Chapel Bowen Island BCAdkins, Phillip L.
Faith Covenant Church Winnipeg MBAnderson, Erik V.
Faith Covenant Church Winnipeg MBAnderson, Cody D.
Kensington Commons Calgary ABBraun, Joel M.
Hope Community Covenant Church Strathmore ABCarlson, Sally T.
Avenue Community Covenant Church Markham ONCho, John J.
Lake Ridge Community Church Chestermere ABDewald, Evan J.
Kensington Commons Calgary ABDuncan, Jeremy D.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Lighthouse Covenant Church Sarnia ONFroese, Gerald
Wycliffe - Canada Langley BCGardner, William L.
Blackstrap Covenant Church Dundurn SKGilkinson, Andrew S.
Faith Evangelical Covenant Church Breton ABGooderham, Jefferson D.
Evangelical Covenant Church Erickson BCGreentree, Thomas P.
Evangelical Covenant Church Norquay SKGustafson, Arden E.
Holy Community Covenant Church Winnipeg MBJensen, Gavin W.
Evangelical Covenant Church Of Canada Winnipeg MBKeener, Timothy L.
Gateway Covenant Church Prince Albert SKLanoie, Linea R.
Faith Evangelical Covenant Church Breton ABLantz, Marcus W.
Evangelical Covenant Church Nelson BCLerch, Jesse J.
Abundant Life Covenant Church Brampton ONNethagani, Philips V.R.
Evangelical Covenant Church Rainy River ONPater, Kors
Lake Ridge Community Church Chestermere ABPouteaux, Preston W.
Evangelical Covenant Church Nelson BCStrong, Jeffrey W.G.
Edmonton Institution for Women Edmonton ABVerge, Deana M.
Evangelical Covenant Church Norquay SKWesterhoud, Natasha B.M.
Total in conference: 27
CEN
BVL
Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Renacer Carpentersville ILBarron, Francisco J.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILBaumgartner, David J.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILBaumgartner, Deborah E.
Resurrection Covenant Church Chicago ILBjorlin, David D.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILBock, Tim J.
Grace Evangelical Covenant Church Chicago ILCady, Troy B.
Christ Covenant Church Villa Park ILChang, Samuel Y.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILColeman, Tiana E.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILCrozier, Thomas M.
Hope Evangelical Covenant Church Crystal Lake ILFike, Adam L.
Community Covenant Church Calumet Park ILFluker, Clinton
Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Jerusalem Streamwood ILGalvan, Alberto
Community Covenant Church Calumet Park ILJones, Michael D.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
New Life Covenant Church Palatine ILKim, Taechol L.
Community Covenant Church Calumet Park ILKnox, Julia Mae
Evangelical Covenant Church South Bend INKohring, Margaret A.
Evangelical Covenant Church Hinsdale ILMecher, Colby M.
Atonement Covenant Church Chicago ILNelson, Duane D.
Iglesia Del Pacto Evangelico Peniel Chicago ILRamos, Norma
Bay Evangelical Covenant Church Green Bay WISneller, Nancy R.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILSpicer, Andrea J.
Jesus People USA Covenant Church Chicago ILSullivan, Sarah D.
New Zion Covenant Church Dolton ILThomas-Flagg, LaNiece M.
Iglesia Del Pacto Evangelico Peniel Chicago ILTorres, Gustavo J.
ML
First Evangelical Covenant Church Rockford ILAhrens, Virginia R.
Covenant Harbor Lake Geneva WIAnderson, Eric P.
North Park University Chicago ILBalsam, Carl E.
Atonement Covenant Church Chicago ILBrewer, Karen E.
Evangelical Covenant Church of Portage Portage INBroadnax, Michaile E.
North Park Theological Seminary Chicago ILChester, Stephen J.
Chicago Woori Covenant Church Schaumburg ILChoi, Min Ho
Bethesda Evangelical Covenant Church Rockford ILClerkin, Anthony J.
Evangelical Covenant Church South Bend INCooper, Ryan S.
Evangelical Covenant Church Princeton ILDietrich, Jonathan L.
Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church Glen Ellyn ILJorgensen, Anne M.
Lakeview Covenant Church Northbrook ILKang, Joshua M.
Presbyterian Homes Arlington Heights ILKelley, Wallace G.
Outpour Evangelical Covenant Church Saint Louis MOKim, Bum Yong
Edgebrook Evangelical Covenant Church Chicago ILLind, Jill J.
Community Covenant Church Calumet Park ILMarshall, Shaun D.
Iglesia Del Pacto Evangelico Belen Chicago ILMercado, Osvaldo
Valley Evangelical Covenant Church Stillman Valley ILPotts, Charles D.
Alleluia! Lutheran Church Naperville ILRoach, Tammy J.
Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church Glen Ellyn ILRoot, Jeffrey G.
Albany Park Covenant Church Chicago ILSanabria, Tomas V.
Journeycare Hospice Barrington ILSizemore, Megan L.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Evangelical United Methodist Church Racine WISturdy, Andrew R
Total in conference: 47
EC
BVL
The Covenant Church Thomaston CTCarr, Ann E.
Highrock Quincy Quincy MAComiso, Cynthia R.
The Covenant Church Thomaston CTFreimuth, Gary G.
Highrock North Shore Salem MAGiancola, Angelina E.
Bethany Covenant Church Bedford NHHallenbeck, Diane M.
Charm City Covenant Church Baltimore MDHernandez, Eli
Dust Covenant Church Blacksburg VASchiewer, Donald M., Jr.
Covenant Congregational Church Pawtucket RITidd, Clifton E., Jr.
Trinity Covenant Church Livingston NJWeinberg, AnnMarie
ML
Bethlehem Covenant Church Worcester MAAdams, Christopher P.
Elements Church Bronx NYAlicea, Efrain J.
Bethany Covenant Church Bedford NHAnderson, Dane S.
The Commons Evangelical Covenant Church Rochester NHBannon, Christopher A.
Promised Land Church Bronx NYCarrion, Sixto Michael
Metro Community Church Englewood NJChan, Clayton
New Vision Community Church Glen Oaks NYChang, Yoon Ik
New York Covenant Church New Rochelle NYClark, Dierdra G.
Fellowship Covenant Church Bronx NYEaton, Kanyere F.
Highrock Covenant Church of Brookline, MA, In Brookline MAGill, Cory R.
Pilgrim Covenant Church Granby CTGillis, Matthew S.
Highrock North Shore Salem MAHarrington, Brynn E.
Bethany Covenant Church Bedford NHHoffman, Stephen R.
Hope Church Midtown New York NYHyun, Andrew H.
Santuary North Providence RIJakubowski, Richard T.
Cornerstone Church of Boston Medford MAJohnson, William F., III
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Providence RIJohnson, Gregory D.
Cambridge Community Fellowship Church Cambridge MAKim, Lawrence K.
Monadnock Covenant Church Keene NHKokx, Kevin M.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Highrock Covenant Church of Brookline, MA, In Brookline MALee, John D.
Sanctuary Church Providence RIMook, Andrew L.
Highrock Covenant Church Arlington MAMury, John L.
Highrock Covenant Church of Brookline, MA, In Brookline MANakagawa, Yumiko
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Easton CTOber, Andrew J. L.
Metro Community Church Englewood NJOlivero, Joshua
Metro Community Church Englewood NJPost, Ancy Susan
Highrock Covenant Church Arlington MAQuick, Walter S., IV
Cambridge Community Fellowship Church Cambridge MARiffe, Joseph T
Metro Community Church Englewood NJSwanson, Kevin D.
Church of the Resurrection New York NYWright, Kimberly R.M.
Cornerstone Church of Boston Medford MAYoon, Daniel J.
Total in conference: 40
GL
BVL
Discover Church Avon OHAnderson, Lee S.
Christ Covenant Church Wixom MIAndersson, Jennifer S.
Hope Community Church Detroit MIBeale, Rita R.
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Grand Rapids MIBjelland, Barbara J.
Crossroads Community Church South Lyon MIChatel, David J.
Healing Projects Paducah KYChoate, Dawn E.
Love of Christ Christian Center Detroit MIDexter, Michael D.
Bethany Covenant Church Lyndhurst OHHatters, Edward H., Jr.
Hope Community Church Detroit MIHerd, Joseph B.
First Evangelical Covenant Church Grand Rapids MIHill, N. David
Revival Covenant Church Columbus OHKareithi, John M.
First Covenant Church Youngstown OHMarcy, Gary H.
Nueva Vida Covenant Church Jamestown NYPagan, Alfonso E.
Degage Ministries Grand Rapids MIPalmerlee, Margaret J.
Hope Community Church Detroit MIPeebles, Brian S.
Christ Covenant Church Wixom MIRuss, Brian D.
ML
Life Covenant Church Canton MIAllen, Richard G.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
First Covenant Church Jamestown NYAnderson, Julie B.
One Church Louisville KYArmstrong, D. Ja'mel
Zion Covenant Church Jamestown NYBaehr, Jason M.
Cran-Hill Ranch Rodney MIBarger, Scott R., Sr.
Federated Covenant Church Dowagiac MIBenkert, Chad M.
First Covenant Church Youngstown OHBrown, David G., Jr.
Citadel of Faith Covenant Church Detroit MICarey, Harvey F.
Esperanza Covenant Church Grand Rapids MIDalman, Dale A.
Faith Covenant Church Farmington Hills MIEk, Eric C.
Journey Covenant Church Cuyahoga Falls OHEngle, Phillip F.
Covenant Mountain Mission Bible Camp Jonesville VAFaulkinbury, Joe E.
Detroit Bible Tabernacle Detroit MIHarris, Kenneth E.
Sanctuary Columbus Columbus OHJohnson, Richard W.
Grace Community Covenant Church Louisville KYMack, William D., III
Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church Grand Rapids MIMcLaughlin, Lynne J.
New Harvest Christian Church Oregon OHMcQueary, Sharon E.
St John's Church of Millersburg Millersburg OHMiller, William C., IV
Faith Covenant Church Farmington Hills MIMiyamoto, Shunichi
Life Church Livonia Livonia MINanninga, Brian D.
Life Church of Mt Juliet Mount Juliet TNPoole, Cecil E., Jr.
Covenant Community Church Fairfield OHPoppino, Joseph A.
Faith Covenant Church Manistee MIPortillo, Julie M.
Life Covenant Church Canton MIRice, Michael J.
Evangelical Covenant Church Whitehall MISmith, Craig R.
City Covenant Church Detroit MIThomas, Semmeal J.
Life Covenant Church Canton MIWrightson, Ronald L.
Cityview Covenant Church Pittsburgh PAYounger, Leeann R.
Total in conference: 44
MS
BVL
Sonoma Springs Church Las Cruces NMBehnke, Judith M.
Hope Community Evangelical Covenant Church Houston TXGreen, James M.
Mosaic Community Covenant Sugar Land TXHall, Betty L.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Redeemer Covenant Church Tulsa OKMcKinney, Denise E.
Bethel Bible Fellowship Carrollton TXPatterson, Brenda R.
Redeemer Evangelical Covenant Church Carrollton TXPrevilon, Dieula
Crossroads Covenant Church DeSoto TXStevenson, Brent L.
Sonoma Springs Church Las Cruces NMTaylor, Christy-Lee Rauch
ML
Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson LAPate, Jeffery S.
Vox Veniae Austin TXTsang, Gideon Y.
Access Evangelical Covenant Church Houston TXWu, David Y.
Total in conference: 11
MW
BVL
Grace Covenant Church Lakewood COBurdick, Nathaniel R.
Community Covenant Church Kearney MODaganaar, Grayson H.
Life House Covenant Church Longmont COHouwen, Stephen A.
Relevant Word Ministries Colorado Springs COJones, Alfreda
Urban Heights Evangelical Covenant Church Urbandale IAKiruhura, Eugene
Sedalia Community Church Manhattan KSLarson, Kevin J.
Harvest Ridge Covenant Church Shawnee KSLawson, Melissa J.
The Journey Wichita KSPerkins, Heather J.
Moses Hill Covenant Church Loomis NERoberts, Craig E.
Evangelical Covenant Church Wakefield NERusk, Joseph David, Jr.
Svea Dal Evangelical Covenant Church Brady NESawyer, Kenneth R.
Evangelical Covenant Church Moran KSVogel, John V.
United Evangelical Covenant Church Harcourt IAVote, Craig E.
ML
Lifespring Covenant Church Loveland COAnderson, Matthew R.
Restoration Covenant Church Arvada COAshley, Ryan J.
Bryan Health Lincoln NEBingeman, Michael J.
Council Tree Covenant Church Fort Collins COBorden, Diane M.
Ascent Community Church Louisville COCandy, James G.
Bethlehem Covenant Church Waverly NECoburn, Rolland J.
Freedom Covenant Church Kansas City MOCole, Melvin B.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Alert Covenant Church Leonardville KSDiller, Dwight A.
Brookwood Covenant Church Topeka KSEisele, Austin R.
Christ Community Church Overland Park KSEmerson, Anthony C.
Inversion Covenant Church Highlands Ranch COFranklin, J. Casey
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Waterloo IAHaile, Scott D.
Zion Lutheran Church Clear Lake IAHall, Patrick L.
Community Evangelical Covenant Church Lenexa KSHarris-Webster, John Paul
Community Covenant Church Omaha NEHarvat, Michael E.
Community Evangelical Covenant Church Lenexa KSHawke, Mark A.
Renew Covenant Church Carroll IAHawkinson, Timothy E.
Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care Colorado Springs COHilts, Tracy C.
Aurora Community Church Aurora COJefferson, Marc
The Well Covenant Des Moines IAJones, Stephen C.
Community Covenant Church Osage City KSKing, Jeffrey J.
Grace Covenant Church Lakewood COLinsenmaier, Lawrence W.
Pan y Vino Covenant Church Prairie Village KSLopez, William E.
TFC Connection Oberlin KSMason, Douglas M.
Hillcrest Covenant Church Prairie Village KSMcClun, Claire N.
Faith Connection Covenant Church Washington KSMcClure, Rustin K
Brantford Evangelical Covenant Church Clyde KSMcInnis, Michael L.
Council Tree Covenant Church Fort Collins CONunan, Michael R.
First Covenant Church Omaha NEPappenfus, Christopher R.
Grace Place Berthoud COPeck, Clayton S.
First Covenant Church Fort Dodge IARedenius, Allan M.
Iglesia Evangelica Siloe Covenant Church Kansas City KSSanchez, Jose
Hillcrest Covenant Church Prairie Village KSSeverson, Nathan P.
KICK Ministries Olathe KSStanley, David P.
Ascent Community Church Louisville COStephens, William E.
Faith Evangelical Covenant Church Colorado Springs COTredoux, Ignatius
World Orphans Castle Rock COVair, L. Scott
Hillcrest Covenant Church Prairie Village KSWilliams, Larry R.
Abyssinian Christian Church Fort Collins COWilliams, David A.
Total in conference: 52
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
NW
BVL
Calvary Covenant Church Stockholm WICoronna, Mark S.
Catalyst Covenant Church Shoreview MNCoyer, Timothy R.
Evangelical Covenant Church Cook MNFreeman, Linda M.
Community Covenant Church Big Lake MNMutterer, Daniel
Evangelical Covenant Church International Falls MNNatysin, Edward S., Jr.
The Gallery Covenant Church St Paul MNNyhuis, Paul A.
Community Covenant Church Lake Bronson MNStaie, C. Wesley
Abbey Way Covenant Church Minneapolis MNVan Norman, Laura B.
Community Covenant Church Minneapolis MNWagar-Gilreath, Gayle S.
ML
Prairie Hills Covenant Church Sioux Falls SDAllen, Isaiah J.
Crossroads Church Woodbury MNAnderson, Erik P.
The Story Covenant Church Minneapolis MNAnderson, Matthew D.
Intervarsity Chrisitian Fellowship Madison MIAsker, Brian J.
Crossview Covenant Church North Mankato MNBechtold, Michael A.
City of Lakes Covenant Church Minneapolis MNBerge, David P.
Buffalo Covenant Church Buffalo MNBlosser, Mary L.
Lakeview Covenant Church Duluth MNBrown, Luther D.
Blue Oaks Covenant Church Brooklyn Park MNBullock, Nicole D.
Calvary Covenant Church Evansville MNChurchill, Kendall C.
Mayo Clinic Health System - Eau Claire Eau Claire WICisneros, Matthew L.
Bethlehem Evangelical Covenant Church Minneapolis MNDubord, Kari J.
Augustana Care Minneapolis MNEagleman, Jennifer L.
Plymouth Evangelical Covenant Church Plymouth MNFelty, Aaron M.
Cedarbrook Church Menomonie WIGunderson, Kyle R.
Minnehaha Academy Minneapolis MNHarris, Donna M.
Sanctuary Covenant Church Minneapolis MNHotz, Michael A.
Karmel Evangelical Covenant Church Princeton MNHovis, Jason S.
First United Methodist Church Sioux Falls SDJohnson, Andrea Marie
Linwood Covenant Church Wyoming MNKelly, Christopher J.
RiverWorks Community Development Rockford MNKesanen, Denise M.
Salem Mission Covenant Church Pennock MNLeague, Andrew T.
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
First Covenant Church River Falls WIMajerus, Brian D.
New City Covenant Church Minneapolis MNMarch, Mary C.
Solid Rock Discipleship Program Long Prairie MNMenssen, Tyler J.
New Day Covenant Church Rochester MNMonson, Sarah E.
Mission Covenant Church Poplar WINelson, Nathan L.
Covenant Church Lancaster MNNordin, Galen R.
Alexandria Covenant Church Alexandria MNOpp, Trinity L.
Mayo Clinic and Hospice Rochester MNOsterlund, Joel J.
Salem Covenant Church Duluth MNPeterson, David S.
Maple Grove Covenant Church Maple Grove MNRandall, Samuel S.
Evangelical Covenant Church New London MNRogers, Robert R
The Seed Company Arlington TXSalowitz, Stephen E.
Hennepin County Medical Center Minneapolis MNSmith, Nicole S.
Lakeview Covenant Church Duluth MNSohl, Joshua D.
Renew Covenant Church Eau Claire WIStaples, Jamison R.
Roots Covenant Church St Paul MNThao, Touger
Evangelical Covenant Church Lake Norden SDTurrill, Joseph J.
United Hospital St. Paul MNVogt, Crystal A.
Crossview Covenant Church North Mankato MNWillard, Christopher J.
Total in conference: 50
OM
BVL
ArmyWright, Jeremy A.
ML
Intervarsity/ Groupes Bibliques Universities MolsheimMorrill, Kurt R.A.
ArmySmith, Amy J.
Air ForceVander Molen, Derek C.
NavyWon, Mark J.
Total in conference: 5
PNW
BVL
Mc Minnville Covenant Church Mc Minnville ORCarlson, Anna S.
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 10 of 16
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Cannon Beach Community Church Cannon Beach ORJohnson, Buzz W.
City of Rain Church - Tacoma Tacoma WAKendall, Richard A.
Pine Lake Covenant Church Sammamish WALarson, David C.
Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana Olympia WALozano, Manuel
River Ridge Covenant Church Olympia WAMelhaff, Margaret J.
Highland Covenant Church Bellevue WAShelton, David K.
St. Clare Hospital Lakewood WAVanHoy, Ronald G.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department Puyallup WAWheeler, Gerald R.
ML
Desert Springs Covenant Pasco WAAnderson, Leo D.
Cascade Covenant Church North Bend WAAnderson, Timothy J.
Grace Harbor Covenant Church--CLOSED Aberdeen WAArnott, David P.
Life Covenant Church Helena MTBowen, Lisa
Quest Seattle WACagle, Guy C.
Praise Covenant Church Tacoma WAChantler, Gregory D.
Hillsview Evangelical Covenant Church Damascus ORConrad, Michael A., Sr.
Evangelical Covenant Church Kent WAConver, Jeannette L.
Bellingham Covenant Church Bellingham WAGrosskopf, Jeff A.
Quest Seattle WAHage, Kathryn E.
Intermountain Helena MTHaughee, Christopher M.
St. Thomas Covenant Church Salem ORHollen, Mathew T.
Kaleo Covenant Church Beaverton ORHoppenrath, Troy D.
Trinity Covenant Church Salem ORHumphreys, Matthew A.
Disciple Community Church Bellevue WAHwang, Sung Hoon
Newport Covenant Church Bellevue WAJayne, Amy Pearl
City of Rain Covenant Church Kent WAKhilchenko, Andrey Y.
Praise Covenant Church Tacoma WAKnight, Mark C.
Seattle Pacific University Seattle WALim, Bohyon
Cascade Covenant Church North Bend WAMcCann, Angela Mary
New Earth - Tierra Nueva Burlington WAMuia, Alan P.
New Earth - Tierra Nueva Burlington WAMuia, Amy J.
Yakima Covenant Church Yakima WANass, Robert S.
Lakebay Community Church Lakebay WAPaterson, Douglas B.
Arlington United Church Arlington WARonhaar, Jessica M.
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 11 of 16
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Columbia Grove Covenant Church East Wenatchee WARush, Meghan J.
Columbia Grove Covenant Church East Wenatchee WARush, Meghan J.
Bellingham Covenant Church Bellingham WARussell, Janet E.
Crossroads Covenant Church Burlington WAShellhamer, Bruce L.
St. Joseph Medical Center Tacoma WASnowberger, Ann M.
Access Covenant Church Portland ORSommer, Joel M.
Countryside Community Church Sherwood ORSouza, Barbara J.
Evangelical Covenant Church Kent WAStarksen, Noah D.
Evergreen Covenant Church Mercer Island WAStrobel, Brent D.E.
Hospice of the Northwest Mt Vernon WAStrom, Deana R.
Pine Lake Covenant Church Sammamish WAThompson, Nancy A.
Praise Covenant Church Tacoma WAVanderLinda, Richard E.
Evangelical Covenant Church Kent WAVarghese, Ruby A.
Emmanuel Bible Church Seattle WAZurinsky, Robert M.
Total in conference: 48
PSW
BVL
Gracia y Paz Covenant Church Chula Vista CAAlatorre, Samuel
Rolling Hills Covenant Church Rolling Hills Estates CAArdon, Melvin G.
Grace Hills Bible Church Angels Camp CABach, Robert F.
Hilmar Covenant Church Hilmar CABarton, Sarah J.
Rio de Vida Covenant Church Surprise AZBrandlin, Patrick A.
Fuente de Vida Covenant Church Riverside CACastro, Eloy
Sanctuary Church Windsor CACater, P. Andrew
The Leadership Connection Walnut Creek CACollins, Anthony L.
Church Without Walls Berkeley CACrocker, Rena M.
Covenant Grove Church Modesto CACrumrine, Jacqui L.
Church of the Redeemer Los Angeles CADe La Roca, Carlos H.
Hope Covenant Church Chandler AZDeVaughn, William , Jr
Advocates for Victims of Abuse (AVA) - Women DeVaughn, Yvonne R.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CADomingo, Samantha R.
The Shelter Covenant Church Concord CAFishler, Joy A.
Community Covenant Church West Point CAForrest, Bruce M.
Agenda Item 16.e
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Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Canto Nuevo Covenant Church Pittsburg CAFranco, Alvaro G.
Rolling Hills Covenant Church Rolling Hills Estates CAGeorge, Carrie L.
Maranatha Covenant Church Richmond CAGomez, Walter O.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CAHall, Kyland D.
Great Exchange Covenant Church Santa Clara CAHasan, Ali
Marin Evangelical Covenant Church San Rafael CAHill, Michael D.
New Hope Covenant Church Oakland CAHong, Albert O.
Iglesia Del Pacto Evangelico Kingsburg CAHuerta, Ernestino
Mountain View Covenant Church Mission Viejo CAKlem, Cheryl L.
Rock Harbor Covenant Church Loomis CAKreisher, Debbie A.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CALott, Breanna N.
Redeemer Covenant Church Downey CAMansell, Steven G.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CAMast-Foss, Erik S.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CAMast-Foss, Jessica L.
The Shelter Covenant Church Concord CAMcRoberts, Justin R.
Navegando con Jesus Covenant Church Torrance CAMonsalve, Margarita Maria
Cornerstone Covenant Church Turlock CAOppenhuizen, Amanda M.
El Encino Covenant Church Downey CAOrtiz, Carlos
Rock Harbor Covenant Church Loomis CAPabalate, David L.
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Ce Torrance CAPalomino, Daniel C.
Grace Covenant Church South San Francisco CAPollard, Dennis P.
First Covenant Church Eureka CAReiher, Aaron F.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CASkei, Mauricia A.
Pasadena Covenant Church Pasadena CASorenson, Anita L.
Rock Harbor Covenant Church Loomis CAStrait, Mika Michelle
Bayside Covenant Church - Granite Bay Granite Bay CAWertheim, David S.
Mountain View Church San Juan Capistrano CAWood, Amanda Louise
Grace Covenant Church Spring Valley CAZamora, Eileen F.
ML
Habitiat for Humanity of Tulumne County Sonora CAAbila, Trinity M.
Bayside Covenant Church of Citrus Heights Citrus Heights CAAlessio, Jennifer M.
Hilmar Covenant Church Hilmar CAAndrus, Patrick E.
Bayside Church - Midtown Campus Roseville CABalian, Robert J.
CHET Compton CABarsotti, Catherine M.
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 13 of 16
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Emmanuel Covenant Church Northridge CABejarano, Abraham D.
Bayside Covenant Church - Granite Bay Granite Bay CABoies, Judson B.
Lighthouse Covenant Church West Sacramento CABosley, Donald Dale
Creekside Community Covenant Church San Leandro CABruce, John D.
Creekside Community Covenant Church San Leandro CABruce, Jeffrey K.
Lakehills Covenant Church El Dorado Hills CABruggeman, Daniel
Open Door Community Church Stockton CABrunold, Hefti E., III
Eagle Rock Covenant Church Los Angeles CACarter, Fred L.
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship CAChan, Sabrina S.
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CADeVitis, Carlos E.
Community Covenant Church San Andreas CADiamond, Kevin P.
Vision Covenant Church Azusa CADiazCeballos, Mario
Bayside Covenant Church in Galt Galt CAEscamilla, Phillip D.
Pacific Southwest Conference Concord CAGorman, Jean Cheng
Renew Covenant Church Lakewood CAGrote, Jeffrey A.
Community Covenant Church West Point CAHaight, Jeffrey W.
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CAJepson, Dain P.
River 47: An Evangelical Covenant Church Orange CAJohnson, Bryan W.
Sharp Mesa Vista Psychiatric Hospital San Diego CAJohnston, Heidi R.
La Vina Covenant Church Kerman CAJordan, Michael L.
Lighthouse Covenant Church West Sacramento CAKim, Benjamin H.
Convergence Covenant Church Oakland CALee, Robert S.
South Bay Community Church Fremont CALong, Tammy J.
Great Exchange Covenant Church Santa Clara CALoo, Scott T.
Comunidad Familiar Cristiana of the ECC Redwood City CALuna, Rolando
Restoration Covenant Church Redlands CAMacDonald, Jonathan B.
Community Covenant Church Santa Barbara CAMark, Andrew J.
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CAMason, Tabatha Lee
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CAMejia, Anthony
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CAMiclean, Janet L.
Lakehills Covenant Church El Dorado Hills CAMilbrath, Christopher J.
Generations Covenant Church Torrance CAMurata, Lon C.
Stockton Covenant Church Stockton CANeiderhiser, Haley J.
Peninsula Covenant Church Redwood City CAPerkins, Peter C
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 14 of 16
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
Holy Cross Medical Center Mission Hills CARinker, Caila J. D.
University Covenant Church Davis CARobbins, Matthew K.
Grace Community Covenant Church Tucson AZRoberds, Christopher C.
Hillside Covenant Church Walnut Creek CARoy, Laura E.
New Hope Covenant Church Oakland CASchmitz, Daniel J.
On Ramps Covenant Church Fresno CASkei, Philip Andrew
Marin Asian Community Church San Rafael CASong, John J.
Good Samaritan Community Covenant Church Valley Springs CAStandlee, David
Bayside Covenant Church of Citrus Heights Citrus Heights CASweeney, Craig E.
Nueva Vision Covenant Church Canoga Park CAValle, Gamaniel
Escalon Covenant Church Escalon CAVan Vliet, Marion P.
Recreate Church San Jose CAVanderpool, Elizabeth L.
Community Covenant Church El Cajon CAWilson, Theodore J.
River Life Covenant Church Sacramento CAWong, Stephen S.
Edgewater Covenant Pittsburg CAWoolner, Jonathan H.
Saddleback Church Irvine CAYee, Angela L.
Total in conference: 99
SE
BVL
Church Plant Durham NCChapman, C. Reynolds, IV
New Life Covenant Church Atlanta GACheuvront, Jeanette E.
Church of the Highlands Birmingham ALCrear, Williadean
Kingdom Covenant Church Miami FLDalberry, Norma
Evangelical Covenant Church Silverhill ALDoubrava, Wayne E.
Evangelical Covenant Church Silverhill ALGrider, Tina N.
New Life Covenant Church Atlanta GAHovey, Jonathan C.
Key Largo Community Covenant Key Largo FLLeslie, Clabon A., Sr.
Kingdom Builders Covenant Church Decatur GAMahomes, Tomecia S.
Kingdom Covenant Ministries Atlanta GAOwens, Mary Ann
Evangelical Covenant Church Silverhill ALSmith, Ruth E.
Bethany Evangelical Covenant Church North Miami FLSutton, Joyce A.
Bethany Evangelical Covenant Church North Miami FLSutton, James N.
Kingdom Covenant Church Miami FLWong-Turner, Sharon A.
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 15 of 16
Conference License Name Ministry Setting
ML
Safety Harbor Covenant Church Safety Harbor FLBragdon, Shirley A.
Covenant Presbyterian Church Charlotte NCChristianson, Jeanette D.
Church In Motion Holly Springs NCHarper, D. Gregory
Central Carolina Community Covenant Asheboro NCIsley, Timothy C.
Lakeview Community Church Tarpon Springs FLMiller, Timothy A.
C4 Español Asheboro NCRamos, Jorge A.
Word of Life Community Church Mobile ALRoberts, Henry W., II
First Covenant Church Vero Beach FLStrickland, Brian D.
Total in conference: 22
WM
WML
Serve Globally Chicago ILLee, Peter Y.
Total in conference: 1
Grand Total: 458
Agenda Item 16.e
Page 16 of 16
Agenda Item 17
Page 1 of 2
2016 Covenant Annual Meeting Clergy Lifetime Service Recognition
Because the denomination calls, credentials and sends individuals into ministry, we feel that it is most appropriate that very community of pastors and congregations join together at each Covenant Annual Meeting to honor a group of those clergy who have offered lifetimes of faithful service and godly obedience. Therefore, on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church and Ordered Ministry, the 131st Annual Meeting would like to honor the following individuals:
Richard E. Allnutt, Indianapolis, Indiana William J. Anthes, Liverpool, New York David J. Bergesen, Moraga, California
Richard C. Bergstrom, Northbrook, Illinois Russell L. Blake, Yelm, Washington
Aurelio R. Bothi, Concord, California Kathy P. Brawley, New Paris, Ohio
Daniel P. Brodin, Fridley, Minnesota Helen H. Cepero, Anchorage, Alaska Gary L. Core, Spring Lake, Michigan
Judith L. Dolan, Maple Grove, Minnesota Donn N. Engebretson, Chicago, Illinois
Dale A. Engen, Mondovi, Wisconsin Reynaldo Garcia, Los Angeles, California
Paul A. Hedberg, Homewood, Illinois Dean R. Honnette, Pleasant Hill, California
Jim E. Jansen, Newcastle, Washington Mark W. Johnston, Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Thomas E. Kelly, Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico Bryan N. Kletzing, Winfield, Illinois
Thomas P. Lach, Marinette, Wisconsin Nathan E. Langager, Escanaba, Michigan
Kenneth C. Larson, Wixom, Michigan David B. Leestma, Walnut Creek, California
Richard B. Lucco, Chicago, Illinois Gregory C. Luce, Spokane, Washington
Michael L. McCain, Pennock, Minnesota John P. Nannery, Surprise, Arizona
Carol S. Nordstrom, Beverly Shores, Indiana Scott A. Oas, Loomis, California
Jong H. Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois Steven J. Pedersen, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Robert P. Peterson, Lafayette, Oregon Frederick J. Prudek, Sacramento, California
Gary A. Schmitz, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Agenda Item 17
Page 2 of 2
Wendy E. Sorvik, Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota Harold C. Spooner, Chicago, Illinois
Diane M. Stevenson, Berlin, Connecticut Stephen J. Thulson, Littleton, Colorado
Gary E. Tonn, Princeton, Minnesota David F. Wells, Monroe, Washington
Agenda Item 23
Agenda Item 23 Exhibits Supporting Financial Report
2015 Fiscal Summary
PowerPoint Presentation to Accompany Fiscal Year 2015 Financial Report
The Evangelical Covenant Church Audited Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended January 31, 2016 and 2015.
Covenant Pension Plan Draft of Audited Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.
Fiscal 2015 Financial Results
Mission Support – Finance Team
Financial Reports • Review fiscal 2015 results
– “Fiscal year” = 12-month period ended Jan. 31, 2016
• Present 2017 Mission & Ministry Budget– Affirmed by COLT, Finance Committee, Executive Board
• Deliver ECC Consolidated Audit
• Deliver Draft Covenant Pension Plan Audit
Our role = Stewardship
• Mission Priority Stewardship– 5 Mission Priorities and Mission-Support areas
• Project Ministry Stewardship– Ministries extend out of base Mission Priorities
• Pension & Benefits Stewardship• Broader ECC economy (CTC, CMB, NCP, NPU,NPTS)
Fiscal 2015 Results Base Mission Investment 2015 Actual 2015 Budget vs. Budget % ChangeStart and Strengthen Churches 2,431,098.00$ 3,045,794.00$ (614,696.00)$ -20.18%
Make and Deepen Disciples 1,143,949.00$ 1,282,129.00$ (138,180.00)$ -10.78%
Develop Leaders 1,802,779.00$ 1,728,500.00$ 74,279.00$ 4.30%
Love Mercy Do Justice 348,977.00$ 512,660.00$ (163,683.00)$ -31.93%
Serve Globally 4,961,924.00$ 5,237,568.00$ (275,644.00)$ -5.26%
Mission Support-Communications 1,301,913.00$ 1,268,645.00$ 33,268.00$ 2.62%
Mission Support-Shared Services (1) 3,137,083.00$ 3,343,704.00$ (206,621.00)$ -6.18%
15,127,723.00$ 16,419,000.00$ (1,291,277.00)$ -7.86%Base Mission IncomeECC Church Support 8,411,472.00$ 8,738,000.00$ (326,528.00)$ -3.74%
Donor Support 1,661,835.00$ 1,841,000.00$ (179,165.00)$ -9.73%
Fees & Expense Reimbursement 4,014,769.00$ 4,156,000.00$ (141,231.00)$ -3.40%
Bequest Transfer & Other Income 406,883.00$ 914,000.00$ (507,117.00)$ -55.48%
External Communication Sales 394,071.00$ 470,000.00$ (75,929.00)$ -16.16%
External Rental Income 286,738.00$ 300,000.00$ (13,262.00)$ -4.42%
15,175,768.00$ 16,419,000.00$ (1,243,232.00)$ -7.57%Base Mission Surplus (deficit) 48,045.00$ -$ 48,045.00$
Project Ministry Support 7,230,073.00$ 7,640,000.00$ (409,927.00)$ -5.37%Total Mission and Ministry Budget 22,405,841.00$ 24,059,000.00$ (1,653,159.00)$ -6.87%
(1) Governance, HR, Operations, IT, Legal, Advancement, Finance, President's Office, Facilities Management
SSC + LMDJ + SG = ~82% of Savings
SSC = church plant appropriation rateLMDJ = staff vacancies now filled SG = strength of US$
Good stewardship of support expenses
While giving under "budget", note:
2015 vs. 2014 Church support = +2.4%2015 vs. 2014 Donor support = +.5%
Reduced reliance on Bequest
Communications trend continues
Fiscal 2015 Results
• Bethany Benefits 2016 premium increase = 2.0%– Last 3 years, effective medical rate increase near 0%
• Pension plan = ~95% funded– Progress in better measurement of true liability
• Investment in resourcing for local congregations
ECC Audit Themes
• Clean, unqualified opinion, no adjustment• Continued reduction in outstanding debt
– No Line of Credit draw at any time during year
• Improvement in unrestricted mission reserves• See detail on material ECC financial risks, obligations
– (NCP Loan Guarantee, Pension & Benefit Plans, CharitableGift Annuities, Appropriations, Loans, Affiliate items)
Strategic Themes
• Increase unrestricted mission reserves
• Sustain long-term ministry, benefit plans
• More % investment into Mission & Ministry
• Reimagine partnership among all ECC economies
Fiscal 2015 Financial Results
Mission Support – Finance Team
Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended January 31, 2016 and 2015
With Independent Auditors’ Report
THE EVANGELICAL
COVENANT CHURCH
THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT 1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND 2015:
Statements of Financial Position 2
Statements of Activities 3
Statements of Cash Flows 4
Notes to Financial Statements 5–24
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
To the Executive Board of The Evangelical Covenant Church Chicago, Illinois
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of The Evangelical Covenant Church, which comprise the statements of financial position as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management's Responsibility for the Financial Statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditors' Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of The Evangelical Covenant Church as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, and the changes in its net assets and cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Wheaton, Illinois May 20, 2016 120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 270
Wheaton, IL 60187630.682.9797
capincrouse.com
- 2 -
THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS OF JANUARY 31, 2016 AND 2015
2016 2015 2016 2015ASSETS LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSCASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,181,495$ 1,777,179$ ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND
ACCRUED EXPENSES 2,058,065$ 1,916,906$
CONTRIBUTIONS AND INSURANCE PAYABLE 25,891,703 29,442,497 BEQUESTS RECEIVABLE 432,186 377,672
NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: NOTES PAYABLE (Note 5) 3,840,902 3,984,789
Churches and other affiliates — net of allowance of $135,000 in 2016 and $135,000 in 2015 1,228,079 1,187,378 SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS
PAYABLE (Note 11) 470,726 487,040
Other Covenant entities 2,060,503 1,911,203
Other 581,379 324,358 ANNUITIES (Note 12):
Total notes and accounts receivable 3,869,961 3,422,939 Annuities payable 1,471,152 1,665,362 Due to others and other Covenant entities 8,507,258 10,046,934
INVESTMENTS (Note 2) 44,549,373 43,436,435 9,978,410 11,712,296 Total annuitiesPREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS 104,993 251,528 DEFERRED INCOME 1,194,247 117,415
INVESTMENTS WHOSE USE IS LIMITED (Note 2): Total liabilities 43,434,053 47,660,943
Annuities 10,472,142 12,467,783 Investments pledged 1,319,177 1,518,431
Total investments whose use is limited 11,791,319 13,986,214 NET ASSETS:
Unrestricted 13,899,703 11,512,641 OTHER ASSETS: Temporarily restricted (Note 10) 15,414,159 15,288,631 Real estate (Note 13) 1,172,240 1,172,240 Permanently restricted (Note 10) 2,847,073 2,896,659
INTEREST IN IRREVOCABLE TRUSTS (Note 7) 1,762,256 2,128,720 Total net assets 32,160,935 29,697,931
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (Note 4) 10,731,165 10,805,947
TOTAL 75,594,988$ 77,358,874$ TOTAL 75,594,988$ 77,358,874$
See notes to financial statements.
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THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCHSTATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIESFOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND 2015
Temporarily Permanently Temporarily PermanentlyUnrestricted Restricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
INCOME: Church giving 5,410,514$ 3,714,110$ $ 9,124,624$ 5,269,799$ 3,798,558$ $ 9,068,357$ Fees (Note 8) 3,054,989 3,054,989 3,182,075 3,182,075
Contributions 2,340,784 6,887,178 215 9,228,177 3,143,668 6,623,790 14,135 9,781,593 Meetings and events 2,369,762 2,369,762 386,642 386,642 Communication sales 394,071 394,071 399,369 399,369 Bequests 1,831,634 1,831,634 791,032 791,032
Other 600,057 25,000 625,057 658,218 755,100 1,413,318 Investment income net of fees (Note 2) 223,305 (371,752) (49,801) (198,248) 419,712 82,401 113,139 615,252 Change in value of annuities
and interest in irrevocable trusts (48,120) (588,003) (636,123) (14,987) (69,372) (84,359)
Total income 16,176,996 9,666,533 (49,586) 25,793,943 14,235,528 11,190,477 127,274 25,553,279
NET ASSETS RELEASED FROM RESTRICTIONS 9,541,005 (9,541,005) - 9,530,758 (9,530,758) -
25,718,001 125,528 (49,586) 25,793,943 23,766,286 1,659,719 127,274 25,553,279
EXPENSES: Start & Strengthen Churches 3,107,706 3,107,706 2,788,778 2,788,778 Make & Deepen Disciples 1,186,628 1,186,628 1,041,312 1,041,312
Develop Leaders 2,258,481 2,258,481 2,102,526 2,102,526 Love Mercy, Do Justice 380,626 380,626 484,004 484,004
Serve Globally 9,908,929 9,908,929 9,390,411 9,390,411 Meetings and events 2,146,713 2,146,713 791,862 791,862 Communication 1,300,921 1,300,921 1,249,918 1,249,918 General administration (Note 8) 2,660,989 2,660,989 4,032,199 4,032,199 Interest 135,445 135,445 248,063 248,063
Depreciation 244,501 244,501 228,112 228,112
Total expenses 23,330,939 23,330,939 22,357,185 22,357,185
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 2,387,062 125,528 (49,586) 2,463,004 1,409,101 1,659,719 127,274 3,196,094
NET ASSETS — Beginning of year 11,512,641 15,288,631 2,896,659 29,697,931 10,103,540 13,628,912 2,769,385 26,501,837
NET ASSETS — End of year 13,899,703$ 15,414,159$ 2,847,073$ 32,160,935$ 11,512,641$ 15,288,631$ 2,896,659$ 29,697,931$
See notes to financial statements.
2016 2015
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THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCHSTATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWSFOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND 2015
2016 2015CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Change in net assets 2,463,004$ 3,196,094$ Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation 244,501 228,112 Unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments 690,917 (239,236) Unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on annuity investments 139,499 (23,944) (Gain) or loss on sale of investments (64,023) 9,745 Gain on sale of annuity investments (77,506) (54,782) Annuity payments 460,100 393,087 Actuarial change in annuities (70,646) (79,179) Annuity liability of matured agreements (133,520) (53,397) Contributions restricted for investment in endowment (215) (14,135) Changes in assets and liabilities: Contributions and bequests receivable (54,514) 233,746 Accounts receivable (315,438) (186,860) Prepaid expenses and other assets 146,535 41,064 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 141,159 239,115 Insurance payable (3,550,794) 2,454,791 Supplemental retirement benefits payable (16,314) 141,267 Deferred income 1,076,832 31,352
Net cash flows provided by operating activities 1,079,577 6,316,840
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Capital expenditures (169,719) Purchases of investments (27,967,402) (23,050,206) Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments 26,426,824 19,252,058 Purchase of investments restricted for annuities (674,203) (819,646) Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments restricted for annuities 1,068,175 972,679 Proceeds from sale of property held for sale 150,000 Disbursements under notes receivable (383,629) (303,981) Collections on notes receivable 252,045 407,002
Net cash flows used in investing activities (1,447,909) (3,392,094)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Contributions restricted for investment in endowment 215 14,135 Borrowings under line of credit 2,500,000 Repayment of line of credit borrowings (4,000,000) Repayment of note payable (143,887) (262,929) Change in interest in irrevocable trusts 366,464 (1,015) Annuity payments (460,100) (393,087) New annuity agreements 17,860 143,643 Gift portion of new annuity agreements (7,904) (87,552)
Net cash flows used in financing activities (227,352) (2,086,805)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH (595,684) 837,941 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — Beginning of year 1,777,179 939,238
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS — End of year 1,181,495$ 1,777,179$
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION — Cash paid for interest 135,445$ 243,871$
See notes to financial statements.
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THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2016 AND 2015
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Financial Statements — The Evangelical Covenant Church (the “Church”) and other Covenantinstitutions are accountable to the Executive Board of the Covenant and the Covenant Annual Meeting. Onlythose funds under the Executive Board’s control that are associated with the Church activities are included inthese financial statements. The financial statements exclude the accounts of member churches and regionalconferences. They also exclude other Covenant institutions administered by separate Boards. These Covenantinstitutions are related parties of the Church as the Executive Board is a member of their institutional boards.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generallyaccepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptionsthat affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at thedate of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period.Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents — Cash and cash equivalents include checking, savings, and money marketaccounts. From time to time, these balances may exceed federal deposit insurance limits; however, the Churchhas not experienced any losses on these accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant risk.
Investments — Investments, including investments whose use is limited, with readily determinable fair valuesare reported at fair value based on quoted market prices. Investments, including investments whose use islimited, in National Covenant Property (NCP) Certificates are reported at cost plus accrued interest. Investmentin Covenant Trust Company (CTC) is reported under the equity method. Investment income and realized andunrealized appreciation and depreciation are included in investment income in the statements of activities. Assetsfunding permanently restricted net assets are included in investments on the statements of financial position.
Contributions and Bequests — Contributions and bequests are recorded at the time of notification of anunconditional promise from the donor and are classified as unrestricted, temporarily restricted (see Note 10), orpermanently restricted (see Note 10) based upon the donor’s intent. Unrestricted net assets are primarily derivedfrom member churches, individual donors, and fees (see Note 8). Temporarily restricted contributions arereceived from member churches and individual donors in support of various ministries of the Church. Funds areraised by member churches, direct mailings to individuals, and promotion of ministry opportunities through theChurch’s Web site. Contributions receivable represent amounts expected to be collected within less than oneyear.
Notes and Accounts Receivable — Notes and accounts receivable are primarily related to discretionary loansmade to Covenant entities for building projects and the related accrued interest. The remaining balance iscomprised of various receivables from other Covenant entities. All notes and accounts receivable are due ondemand. The allowance for notes and accounts receivable is maintained at a level that, in management’sjudgment, is adequate to absorb probable losses.
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1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
Depreciation — Property and equipment in excess of $5,000 are recorded at cost and depreciated on thestraight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Years
Buildings 25–50Building improvements 15 Furniture, fixtures, equipment, and vehicles 5–10
Other Assets (Real Estate) — Real estate held for sale is initially reported at cost, if purchased, or fair value on the date of receipt as determined by appraisals and thereafter adjusted to estimated net realizable value. All real estate held for sale is actively marketed and is expected to be sold within one year. Subsequent gains from disposition of property held for sale are recorded as gain on sale of property in the period realized. Subsequent losses are recorded in the period when it is probable and able to be estimated.
Insurance Payable — Bethany Benefit Service (BBS), an activity of the Church, administers the health (including medical, dental, prescription drug and vision), life, and long-term disability insurance for the denomination’s ministers, missionaries, and staff. BBS collects and remits the benefit premiums on behalf of the participants. Amounts payable represent benefit premiums collected from participants not yet remitted to the insurance carrier at year-end as well as reserves allocated to BBS to cover future liabilities including claims incurred but not received.
Due to Affiliates — Due to affiliates includes amounts that the Church is holding on behalf of certain affiliates and contributions the Church has received on behalf of, but has not remitted to, affiliates as of fiscal year-end. Included in accounts payable and accrued expense are $234,740 and $35,138 as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, due to Covenant institutions.
Annuity Agreements — The Church has an obligation to make payments under charitable gift annuity agreements. In accordance with various state regulations, the Church maintains separate trust funds as a reserve fund to meet the future payments under these agreements (see Note 12). Annuities payable are determined based upon the annuitants’ ages and life expectancies using rates which comply with various state requirements. A discount rate of 7% and the Annuity 2015 Mortality Table were used in the valuation of the annuity agreements. Annuity 2000 Mortality Table were used in the valuation of the annuity agreements for fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. Payouts are made for the life of the annuitants at rates ranging from 4.2% to 21.6% based on existing annuity agreements. The excess of amounts available to fund the annuities over the calculated amount of annuities payable is recorded as unrestricted or temporarily restricted net assets if the residual is available to the Church or as a liability if the residual is payable to others or other Covenant entities.
Deferred Income — Deferred income includes monies received in advance for meetings and events, and payments received for subscriptions not yet mailed. In addition, deferred income includes grant funds received that have not yet been expended and are subject to raising matching funds.
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1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED
Classes of Net Assets — The financial statements report amounts separately by classes of net assets as follows:
Unrestricted net assets are those currently available at the discretion of the Board of Directors for use in theChurch’s operations, those designated by the Board for specific purposes, and those resources invested inproperty and equipment.
Temporarily restricted net assets are those contributed with donors’ restrictions for specific operating purposes orprograms, or those with timing restrictions. They are not currently available for use in the Church’s ministriesuntil commitments regarding their use have been fulfilled. When a donor restriction expires, that is, when astipulated time restriction ends or purpose restriction is accomplished, temporarily restricted net assets arereclassified to unrestricted net assets and reported in the statements of activities as net assets released fromrestrictions.
Permanently restricted net assets are those restricted by donors in perpetuity. These assets are included withinvestments.
Expenses — Expenses are recorded as incurred in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting. The costs ofproviding the various program services and supporting activities have been summarized on a functional basis inNote 14. Accordingly certain costs have been allocated among the program services and supporting activitiesbenefited. Advertising costs, if any, are expensed as incurred.
Meetings and Events — Meetings and events income and expenses include the activities of the Church’s annualmeeting and an annual conference held for Church pastors. Additionally, a youth conference and a women’sconference are held every three years.
Income Tax Status — The Church is exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(a) as an organizationdescribed in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, the Church has been classified as anorganization that is not a private foundation under IRC Section 509(a)(1). Accordingly, no provision for federalor state income taxes is required.
Uncertain Tax Positions — The financial statement effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken arerecognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that theposition will be sustained upon examination. Interest and penalties, if any, are included in expenses in thestatements of activities. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, the Church had no uncertain tax positions that qualifyfor recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
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2. INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS WHOSE USE IS LIMITED
Investments as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, consist of the following:
Cost Market Cost Market
Money Market Funds 10,758,508$ 10,758,508$ 7,625,668$ 7,625,668$ Equity: Mutual Funds:
Asset Allocation 10,758 11,516 10,126 11,677 International Developed Markets 4,846,737 4,077,539 3,446,737 3,607,274 International Emerging Markets 1,732,759 1,417,054 1,433,685 1,656,636
International Real Estate 979,027 910,674 1,237,470 1,266,239 Large Cap Blend 4,139,786 5,751,196 4,421,243 6,324,574 Large Cap Value 302,772 323,648 177,339 199,982
Mid Cap Blend 1,003,466 2,071,961 1,280,267 2,716,123 Small Cap Blend 799,188 705,087 911,376 883,480 Small Cap Growth 1,007,504 859,160 1,465,229 1,491,567 Small Cap Value 442,063 533,098 584,641 850,149 Specialty unaligned 657,751 439,199 US REITs 97,878 112,195 74,844 99,069 Other Assets Illiquid 310,420 310,420 Total Equity 16,330,109 17,522,747 15,042,957 19,106,770 Fixed Income: Mutual Funds:
Emerging Markets Bonds 1,047,464 884,836 1,092,754 1,001,299 High Yield Bonds 1,808,638 1,595,660 1,904,457 1,849,184 Intermediate Term Bonds 1,573,507 1,538,893 1,556,122 1,562,934 International Bonds 1,224,141 1,281,443 1,283,669 1,359,953
Multi-sector Bonds 1,912,733 1,664,306 1,981,866 1,899,153 Short Term Bonds 796,233 788,686 622,616 617,681 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 1,768,364 1,754,038 1,775,940 1,788,270 National Covenant Properties 5,710,256 5,710,256 5,608,856 5,608,856 Total Fixed Income 15,841,336 15,218,118 15,826,280 15,687,330 Investment in CTC 1,050,000 1,050,000 1,016,667 1,016,667
Total Investments 43,979,953$ 44,549,373$ 39,511,572$ 43,436,435$
2016 2015
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2. INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS WHOSE USE IS LIMITED, CONTINUED
Investments, whose use is limited as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, consist of the following:
Cost Market Cost Market
Annuities (at fair value): Money Market Funds 182,136$ 182,136$ 56,792$ 56,792$
Equity: Mutual Funds:
International Developed Markets 775,000 673,998 947,113 1,074,929 Large Cap Blend 1,234,579 2,395,502 1,313,743 2,839,456
Mid Cap Blend 317,138 704,375 505,919 1,157,072 Small Cap Growth 118,861 147,766 133,285 200,973 Small Cap Value 119,885 179,371 128,596 212,751 Total Equity 2,565,463 4,101,012 3,028,656 5,485,181 Fixed Income: Bonds - Federal Agencies 2,012,172 2,044,720 2,012,172 2,105,950 Bonds - US Government 2,947,374 3,088,689 3,642,816 3,772,667 Mutual Funds: Short Term Bonds 38,381 38,173 125,000 125,083 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 628,788 625,523 900,113 922,110 Intermediate Term Bonds 392,017 391,889 Total Fixed 6,018,732 6,188,994 6,680,101 6,925,810
Total Annuity Investments 8,766,331 10,472,142 9,765,549 12,467,783
Investments Pledged - National Covenant Properties Certificates (at cost) (see Note 6) 1,319,177 1,319,177 1,518,431 1,518,431
Total 10,085,508$ 11,791,319$ 11,283,980$ 13,986,214$
20152016
Investments in National Covenant Properties Certificates bear interest at rates ranging from 1.50% to 3.75% and mature through 2021.
Investment in the Covenant Trust Company represents the Church’s ownership interest in the Covenant Trust Company, which is equally owned with related parties North Park University and Covenant Ministries of Benevolence. The cost of the Covenant Trust Company investment is the Church’s accumulated cash investment as there is not an active market for the Covenant Trust Company stock.
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2. INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS WHOSE USE IS LIMITED, CONTINUED
Investment return for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, consists of the following:
2016 2015
Unrestricted: Dividends and interest — net of investment fees 428,646$ 385,763$
Gain (loss) on sale of investments 64,023 (9,747) Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (269,364) 43,696
Total unrestricted 223,305 419,712
Temporarily restricted (net of amounts attributable to other Covenant entities): Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (371,752) 82,401
Permanently restricted: Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (49,801) 113,139
Total (198,248)$ 615,252$
Fees paid for investments held and managed by the Covenant Trust Company were $43,060 and $43,397 for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in investment income is $93,399 and $106,684 of interest income earned from sources held at other than fair value as of January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
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3. DISCLOSURE ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Church uses appropriate valuation techniques to determine fair value based on inputs available using thehierarchical disclosure framework which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used inmeasuring the investments at fair value. Market price observability is impacted by a number of factors, includingthe type of investment and the characteristics specific to the investment. Investments with readily available activequoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higherdegree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.
Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:
Level I — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. The type of investments included in Level I are publicly traded securities.
Level II — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.
Level III — Pricing inputs are unobservable and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment. Due to the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, these values may differ materially from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Management’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment.
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3. DISCLOSURE ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, CONTINUED
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Church’s financial assets by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of January 31, 2016:
Total Level I Level II Level IIIInvestments at fair value:Equity: Mutual Funds:
Asset Allocation 11,516$ 11,516$ $ $ Commodities International Developed Markets 4,077,539 4,077,539 International Emerging Markets 1,417,054 1,417,054
International Real Estate 910,674 910,674 Large Cap Blend 5,751,196 5,751,196 Large Cap Value 323,648 323,648 Mid Cap Blend 2,071,961 2,071,961 Small Cap Blend 705,087 705,087 Small Cap Growth 859,160 859,160 Small Cap Value 533,098 533,098 Specialty Unaligned 439,199 439,199 US REITs 112,195 112,195
Other Assets Illiquid 310,420 310,420 Fixed Income: Mutual Funds:
Merging Markets Bonds 884,836 884,836 High Yield Bonds 1,595,660 1,595,660 Intermediate Term Bonds 1,538,893 1,538,893 International Bonds 1,281,443 1,281,443 Multi-sector Bonds 1,664,306 1,664,306 Short Term Bonds 788,686 788,686 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 1,754,038 1,754,038
Total investments at fair value 27,030,609 26,720,189 310,420 Investments carried at cost: Money market funds 10,758,508 National Covenant Properties 5,710,256
Investment in CTC 1,050,000 Total Investments 44,549,373$ 26,720,189$ $ 310,420$
Investments whose use is limited at fair value:Equity: Mutual Funds:
International Developed Markets 673,998$ 673,998$ $ $ Large Cap Blend 2,395,502 2,395,502 Mid Cap Blend 704,375 704,375 Small Cap Growth 147,766 147,766 Small Cap Value 179,371 179,371
Fixed Income: Bonds - Federal Agencies 2,044,720 2,044,720 Bonds - US Government 3,088,689 3,088,689 Mutual Funds:
Short Term Bonds 38,173 38,173 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 625,523 625,523 Intermediate Term Bonds 391,889 391,889
Total investments whose use is limited at fair value 10,290,006 10,290,006 Investments carried at cost Money market funds 182,136
National Covenant Properties 1,319,177 Total investments whose use is limited 11,791,319$ 10,290,006$ $ $
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3. DISCLOSURE ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, CONTINUED
The following table summarizes the valuation of the Church’s financial assets by the above fair value hierarchy levels as of January 31, 2015:
Total Level I Level II Level IIIInvestments at fair value:Equity: Mutual Funds: Asset Allocation 11,677$ 11,677$ $ $ Commodities International Developed Markets 3,607,274 3,607,274 International Emerging Markets 1,656,636 1,656,636 International Real Estate 1,266,239 1,266,239 Large Cap Blend 6,324,574 6,324,574 Large Cap Value 199,982 199,982 Mid Cap Blend 2,716,123 2,716,123 Small Cap Blend 883,480 883,480 Small Cap Growth 1,491,567 1,491,567 Small Cap Value 850,149 850,149 US REITs 99,069 99,069 Fixed Income: Mutual Funds: Merging Markets Bonds 1,001,299 1,001,299 High Yield Bonds 1,849,184 1,849,184 Intermediate Term Bonds 1,562,934 1,562,934 International Bonds 1,359,953 1,359,953 Multi-sector Bonds 1,899,153 1,899,153 Short Term Bonds 617,681 617,681 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 1,788,270 1,788,270
Total investments at fair value 29,185,244 29,185,244 Investments carried at cost: Money market funds 7,625,668 National Covenant Properties 5,608,856 Investment in CTC 1,016,667 Total Investments 43,436,435$ 29,185,244$ $ $
Investments whose use is limited at fair value:Equity: Mutual Funds: International Developed Markets 1,074,929$ 1,074,929$ $ $ Large Cap Blend 2,839,456 2,839,456 Mid Cap Blend 1,157,072 1,157,072 Small Cap Growth 200,973 200,973 Small Cap Value 212,751 212,751 Fixed Income: Bonds - Federal Agencies 2,105,950 2,105,950 Bonds - US Government 3,772,667 3,772,667 Mutual Funds: Short Term Bonds 125,083 125,083 Short-intermediate Term Bonds 922,110 922,110
Total investments whose use is limited at fair value 12,410,991 12,410,991 Investments carried at cost: Money market funds 56,792 National Covenant Properties 1,518,431 Total investments whose use is limited 13,986,214$ 12,410,991$ $ $
Investments in money market funds, National Covenant Properties Certificates, and the investment in the Covenant Trust Company have been excluded from the fair value hierarchy as they are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.
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3. DISCLOSURE ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, CONTINUED
The Church’s investments that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level III) are summarized as follows:
Balance, January 31, 2015 $ 0 Purchases 310,420
Balance, January 31, 2016 $ 310,420
Other assets illiquid consists of a limited liability partnership and is carried at fair value, as determined by the fund's manager based on information provided by the fund's professional managers. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide a competitive financial return to its investors and create a positive social impact in emerging markets. The Fund will achieve these objectives by making equity and equity-like investments in institutions that provide financial services to the bottom of the pyramid, including institutions that serve micro, small and medium-size enterprises, recognizing the financial opportunity and social importance of serving underpenetrated financial services markets in developing economies. The Fund uses Net Asset Value (NAV) to determine the fair value of participant shares. The Fund does not allow for withdrawals of investments but will make distributions of its distributable cash flows to its limited partners over the estimated ten year life of the Fund. The Church has an outstanding capital commitment to the Fund of $1,200,000 as of January 31, 2016.
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment at January 31, 2016 and 2015, consist of the following, at cost:
2016 2015
Administrative office: Land 3,098,414$ 3,098,414$ Building and improvements 8,013,581 8,013,581 Furniture, fixtures, equipment and vehicles 945,050 775,331 Mission stations and other 5 5
12,057,050 11,887,331
Less accumulated depreciation (1,325,885) (1,081,384)
Total 10,731,165$ 10,805,947$
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5. LINE OF CREDIT AND NOTES PAYABLE
The Church has a line of credit with NCP. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, the available line of credit was $3,500,000. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no balance outstanding. The interest rate is set at the prime rate, but in no event less than 4% per annum. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the interest rate was 4.00%. This line of credit is payable on demand with sixty days written notice. During the year ended January 31, 2013, the Church obtained a second line of credit with NCP. As of January 30, 2016, this line was not renewed as requested by the Church. As of January 31, 2015, the available line of credit was $1,500,000. At January 31, 2015, there was no balance due on this loan. The interest rate is prime, but in no event less than 4% per annum. At January 31, 2015, the interest rate was 4.00%. This line of credit is payable on demand with sixty days written notice. The Church also has a mortgage payable on the building it now owns and occupies. The maximum outstanding principal on the note shall not exceed $3,000,000. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding balance on the mortgage note payable was $2,600,860 and $2,735,416, respectively. The initial interest rate was 5.75%. The interest rate was adjusted on May 1, 2012 and again on May 1, 2015, and will be adjusted every thirty-six months thereafter. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the interest rate was 4.50% and 5.00%, respectively. Monthly payments of interest only were required through August 31, 2012. Commencing September 1, 2012, principal and interest are due on the first day of each month thereafter until paid in full. Principal and interest shall be paid monthly in arrears in installments of $19,893, based on the most recent interest rate adjustment. All unpaid principal and interest are due and payable on March 31, 2031. The note is secured with real estate whose original cost was $11,111,995. During the year ended January 31, 2013, the Church also obtained a second mortgage payable on the building it owns and occupies. The maximum outstanding principal on the note shall not exceed $200,000. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding balance on the mortgage note payable was $173,528 and $182,500, respectively. The initial interest rate was 5.50%. The interest rate was adjusted on May 1, 2012 and again on May 1, 2015, and will be adjusted every thirty-six months thereafter. At January 31, 2016 and 2015, the interest rate was 4.50% and 5.00%, respectively. Monthly payments of interest only were required through August 31, 2012. Commencing September 1, 2012, principal and interest are due on the first day of each month thereafter until paid in full. Principal and interest shall be paid monthly in arrears in installments of $1,327, based on the most recent interest rate adjustment. All unpaid principal and interest are due and payable on March 31, 2031. This note is also secured with real estate whose original cost was $11,111,995. During the year ended January 31, 2008, the Church acquired real estate located in Westminster, Colorado by assuming the related mortgage note payable and outstanding interest payable with NCP of $2,026,953. As of January 31, 2016 and 2015, the outstanding balance on the mortgage note payable was $1,066,514 and $1,066,874, respectively. The mortgage note payable is due on demand and bears interest at prime. Monthly payments of interest only are required. The interest rate at January 31, 2016 and 2015, was 3.25%.
6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Guarantor of Debt — The Church is liable as joint guarantor, with the regional conferences, of various mortgage loans of local Covenant churches. As of January 31, 2016, the outstanding principal balances on these loans totaled $77,051,021. These loans are secured by the related properties. The Church has pledged investments totaling $1,319,177 as security for these loans. The mortgage loans have maturity dates ranging from on demand through the year 2050.
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6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES, CONTINUED
Covenant Agreements — The Church participates in sponsoring various “Covenant Agreements” with regional church conferences. These intentions to give are not recorded in the financial statements because they only constitute expressions of intent to give where all discretion to transfer the resources rests with the Church. The Covenant Agreements provide support for pastor salaries and benefits at various member churches. There are no commitments beyond 2022. The Church’s planned expenditures under existing Covenant Agreements are as follows:
Years EndingJanuary 31 Amount2017 904,868$ 2018 609,905 2019 274,986 2020 135,698 2021 126,340 2022 125,015
Total 2,176,812$
7. BENEFICIAL INTEREST OF GIFT INSTRUMENTS
A source of funds to the Church is in the form of bequests from deceased church members and other parties. The Covenant Estate Planning Services, an affiliate of the Church, maintains information as to the estimated values of the Church’s share of trusts and other estate planning mechanisms used by donors. Estimates of value as to the underlying assets of the trusts or other arrangements rely on quoted market prices in the case of stocks and other equity and traded debt securities, appraisal value (where available) for real property, and other reasonable estimates made by the trustees for specific assets.
Amounts related to irrevocable trusts for which the Church is named as beneficiary are reflected in the statements of financial position as Interest in Irrevocable Trusts. Trusts which name the Church as beneficiary, but which allow the beneficiary to be changed to a different Church-related entity at the discretion of the grantor, are not considered irrevocable for accounting purposes and, accordingly, have not been recorded in the financial statements. The Interest in Irrevocable Trusts becomes available to the Church upon death of the grantor.
During the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, the Church was not the beneficiary of any new irrevocable trusts.
8. FEES AND EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS
The Church charges fees for administrative and management services provided to other Covenant institutions and funds of the Church. Fees charged to related Covenant institutions and funds were $3,054,989 and $3,182,075 for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Church recorded $959,780 and $828,421 for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, as reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Church, which are reflected as a reduction of general administration expenditures in the statements of activities.
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9. PENSION TRUST FUND
The Church participates in two multiemployer plans. The risks of participating in this multiemployer plan differ from single-employer plans in the following aspects: a) Assets contributed to the multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees
of other participating employers. b) If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne
by the remaining participating employer. c) If the organization chooses to stop participating in the multiemployer plan, it may be required to pay to the
plan an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability. All full-time ministers participate in the Covenant Pension Plan. This multiemployer plan, administered by the Board of Pensions and Benefits of the Evangelical Covenant Church, is noncontributory and provides defined benefits based on years of service and remuneration. Covenant ordained or licensed ministers serving full time in the denomination, in one of its conferences or in Covenant churches are required to participate in the Covenant Pension Plan. Full-time missionaries of the Covenant are also required to participate. A minister is eligible to participate upon completing 1,000 hours of service. The contribution rate is 12.5% of the annual compensation, including housing allowances, of participating personnel. Participants with five years of service are entitled to pension benefits upon retirement. Pension benefits are paid monthly and are based on length of service and compensation. Pension expense, representing the Church's required contribution to the Covenant Pension Plan, was $582,142 and $606,815 for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The contributions made by the Church represented approximately 7% of the total contributions made to the Covenant Pension Plan in 2015 and 2014. To the extent the Covenant Pension Plan is underfunded, future contributions to the Plan may increase. The Covenant Pension Plan is not an ERISA Plan and is not required to file Form 5500. The Covenant Pension Plan's fiscal year is January 1 to December 31. Total contributions from all employers to the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, are as follows:
Pension Fund FEIN 2015 2014
Covenant Pension Plan
36-3065447
$ 8,065,422
$ 7,951,141
As of December 31, 2015, the Covenant Pension Plan’s total net assets available for benefits were $211,753,383 and the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits was $214,520,159. As of December 31, 2014, the Covenant Pension Plan’s total net assets available for benefits were $221,627,254 and the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits was $214,619,361. As of December 31, 2015, the Plan was greater than 98% funded.
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9. PENSION TRUST FUND, CONTINUED
Lay employees of the Church hired before May 2013 participate in The Evangelical Covenant Church Lay Pension Plan (the “Lay Plan”). This multiemployer plan, administered by the Evangelical Covenant Church is noncontributory and provides defined benefits based on years of service and remuneration near retirement. This Lay Plan was previously a part of The Evangelical Covenant Church Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) and was administered by the Board of Benevolence of the Evangelical Covenant Church. The Lay Plan began operations on January 1, 2014.
Eligible employees became active participants upon attaining age 25 and completing 800 hours of service in the Lay Plan year. Eligible employees are all lay employees of the Evangelical Covenant Church and its related entities. Participants with five years of service are entitled to pension benefits upon retirement. Retirement benefits are paid to pensioners or beneficiaries in various forms of joint and survivor annuities, including a lump-sum payment option if the earned benefit is less than $10,000. Pension expense, representing the Church’s required contribution to the Lay Plan, was $248,208 and $248,208 for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015. The contributions made by the Church represented approximately 76% of the total contributions made to the Lay Plan in 2015 and 2014. To the extent the Lay Plan is underfunded, future contributions to the Lay Plan may increase.
The Evangelical Covenant Church Lay Pension Plan is a Church plan (not an ERISA Plan) and is not required to file Form 5500. The Plan’s fiscal year is from January 1 to December 31.
Total contributions from all employers to the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, are as follows:
Pension Fund FEIN 2015 2014 Evangelical Covenant Church Lay Pension Plan
46-4271385 $ 326,592 $ 326,592
As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Lay Plan’s estimated total net assets available for benefits were $5,670,356 and $5,759,088, respectively. The estimated present value of accumulated plan benefits has yet to be determined as of December 31, 2015. Final net assets available for benefits and the actuarial present value of accumulated benefit information for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, is not yet available. As of December 31, 2015, the Lay Plan was greater than 90% funded.
Full-time employees hired in May 2013 or thereafter are covered under a 403(b) contributory plan. The Church contributed $55,268 and $36,507 to the 403(b) contributory plan in the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As the plan covers employees of other institutions, asset and benefit information applicable to the Church is not available.
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10. TEMPORARILY AND PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets:
Temporarily restricted net assets are those assets whose use has been limited by donors to a specific time period or purpose. When a donor restriction expires, temporarily restricted net assets are reclassified as unrestricted net assets and reported in the statements of activities as net assets released from restrictions. Temporarily restricted net assets at January 31, 2016 and 2015, are as follows:
2016 2015
Kingdom Builders Frontier Friends 218,277$ 231,950$ Friends of World Mission 485,725 431,951 Covenant Kids 292,631 495,011 Covenant World Mission 1,841,175 1,629,003 Start & Strengthen Churches 7,492,477 7,072,756 Short-term Missionaries 1,903,681 1,770,234 Interest in annuity agreements 321,110 534,745 Interest in irrevocable trusts 1,762,256 2,128,720 Sustaining Pastoral Excellence 482,905 454,056 Other 613,922 540,205
Total 15,414,159$ 15,288,631$
Permanently Restricted Net Assets:
Permanently restricted net assets of the Church consist of separate investment accounts established for a variety of purposes. As required by U.S. GAAP, net assets associated with permanently restricted funds, including funds designated by the Executive Board to function as permanently restricted funds, are classified and reported based on the existence or absence of donor-imposed restrictions. Most of the Church’s permanently restricted funds are in the Covenant Endowment Trust (CET). CET is managed by the Covenant Trust Company as Trustee. It was created as a supporting organization to provide for the orderly investment and management of permanently restricted gifts consistent with the donor’s charitable purposes and objectives for the benefit of the Church, all its churches and all organizations affiliated with it. While it contains gifts for the Church, the majority of the fund is for the benefit of other Covenant entities.
The Church has interpreted the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) as requiring the preservation of the fair value of the original gift, as of the gift date of the donor permanently restricted funds absent explicit donor stipulations to the contrary. As a result of this interpretation, the Church classifies as permanently restricted assets (a) the original value of gifts, (b) the original value of subsequent gifts, and (c) accumulations made in accordance with the direction of the applicable donor gift instrument at the time the accumulation is added to the fund. The remaining portion of the donor-restricted fund that is not classified in permanently restricted net assets is classified as temporarily restricted net assets until those amounts are appropriated for expenditure by the Church in a manner consistent with the standard of prudence prescribed by UPMIFA.
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10. TEMPORARILY AND PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS, CONTINUED
In accordance with UPMIFA, the organization considers the following factors in making a determination to appropriate or accumulate donor-restricted funds:
1. The duration and preservation of the fund
2. The purposes of the organization and the donor-restricted fund
3. General economic conditions
4. The possible effect of inflation and deflation
5. The expected total return from income and appreciation of investments
6. Other resources of the organization
7. The investment policies of the organization
Endowment net assets by type of fund as of January 31, 2016:
Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
Donor-restricted funds $ 271,183$ 2,847,073$ 3,118,256$
Total funds $ 271,183$ 2,847,073$ 3,118,256$
Changes in endowment net assets for the year ended January 31, 2016:
Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
Endowment net assets - beginning of year $ 280,572$ 2,896,659$ 3,177,231$
Investment return: Dividend and interest income, net 85,610 85,610 Realized and unrealized losses (61,544) (15,387) (49,801) (126,732)
Total investment return (61,544) 70,223 (49,801) (41,122)
Contributions 215 215
Distributions for fund purpose (79,612) (79,612)
Endowment net assets - end of year (61,544)$ 271,183$ 2,847,073$ 3,056,712$
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10. TEMPORARILY AND PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS, CONTINUED
Endowment net assets by type of fund as of January 31, 2015:
Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
Donor-restricted funds $ 280,572$ 2,896,659$ 3,177,231$
Total funds $ 280,572$ 2,896,659$ 3,177,231$
Changes in endowment net assets for the year ended January 31, 2015:
Temporarily Permanently Unrestricted Restricted Restricted Total
Endowment net assets - beginning of year $ 259,769$ 2,769,385$ 3,029,154$
Investment return: Dividend and interest income, net 90,465 90,465 Realized and unrealized gains 14,699 113,139 127,838
Total investment return 105,164 113,139 218,303
Contributions 14,135 14,135
Distributions for fund purpose (84,361) (84,361)
Endowment net assets - end of year $ 280,572$ 2,896,659$ 3,177,231$
Description of amounts classified as permanently restricted and temporarily restricted net assets:
2016 2015Permanently restricted net assets: The portion of perpetual permanently restricted funds that is required to be retained permanently either by explicit donor stipulations or by UPMIFA. 2,847,073$ 2,896,659$
Temporarily restricted net assets: Term endowment funds 271,183$ 280,572$
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10. TEMPORARILY AND PERMANENTLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS, CONTINUED
Funds with Deficiencies: From time to time, the fair value of assets associated with individual donor permanently restricted funds may fall below the level that the donor or UPMIFA requires the Church to retain as a fund of perpetual duration. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, deficiencies of this nature that are reported in unrestricted net assets were $61,544 as of January 31, 2016. These deficiencies resulted from volatile market conditions in 2015. There were no such deficiencies as of January 31, 2015.
Return Objectives and Risk Parameters: The Church has adopted investment and spending policies for permanently restricted net assets that attempt to provide a predictable stream of funding to programs while seeking to maintain the purchasing power of the assets. Permanently restricted net assets include those assets of donor-restricted funds that the Church must hold in perpetuity or for donor-specified periods.
Strategies Employed for Achieving Objectives: To satisfy its long-term rate-of-return objectives, the Church relies on a total return strategy in which investment returns are achieved through both capital appreciation (realized and unrealized) and current yield (interest and dividends).
Spending Policy and How the Investment Objectives Related to Spending Policy: Distributions are made from CET at the rate of 5% annually with payments being made quarterly. The distribution is made first from income and to the extent that income is insufficient, from principal.
11. SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS
Based on resolutions adopted by the Executive Board of the Church, the Church provides supplemental retirement benefit payments to several former employees. The Church has accrued a liability of $470,726 and $487,040 at January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to fund these payments. The liability is estimated based on life expectancy of former employees and a discount rate of 7% at January 31, 2016 and 2015. During the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, the supplemental retirement benefit payments were $68,617 and $56,139, respectively.
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12. ANNUITY AGREEMENTS
The Church has an obligation to make payments under charitable gift annuity agreements. In accordance with various state regulations, the Church maintains separate trust funds as a reserve fund to meet the future payments under these agreements.
Annuity agreement information is as follows:
2016 2015
Assets — investments designated for annuity agreements 10,472,142$ 12,467,783$
Liabilities and net assets: Liabilities: Annuities payable 1,471,152$ 1,665,362$ Due to others 5,432,290 6,129,543 Due to other Covenant entities 3,074,968 3,917,391
9,978,410 11,712,296
Net assets: Unrestricted 172,622 220,743 Temporarily restricted for annuity agreements 321,110 534,744
493,732 755,487
Total liabilities and net assets 10,472,142$ 12,467,783$
13. REAL ESTATE
Real estate at January 31, 2016 and 2015, consists of property located in Westminster, Colorado. The property’s cost is $1,172,240.
Pursuant to an agreement with NCP and Colorado Ridge Covenant Church, the Church acquired title to real property in Westminster, CO and assumed the underlying loan with NCP. A portion of the property was sold on May 29, 2014 and October 26, 2010. The remainder of the property is under an option agreement to the same buyer.
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14. FUNCTIONAL ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES
The costs of providing the various program services and supporting activities have been summarized below on afunctional basis. Accordingly, certain costs have been allocated among the program’s services and supportingactivities benefited as follows:
2016 2015
Program services 21,518,886$ 20,369,278$ Supporting activities: General and administrative 1,491,763 1,469,932 Fundraising 320,290 517,975
23,330,939$ 22,357,185$
15. LEGAL MATTERS
The Church is involved in some legal matters. Because the outcome is uncertain, the Church is unable todetermine that it will incur a loss; therefore, no accrual has been recorded.
16. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent events have been evaluated through the report date, which represents the date the financial statementswere available to be issued. Subsequent events after that date have not been evaluated.
* * * * * *
Covenant Pension PlanFinancial Statements as of and for the Years
Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014,and Independent Auditors’ Report
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
Board of DirectorsCovenant Pension PlanChicago, Illinois
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the Evangelical Covenant Church Pension Plan (the Plan), which comprise the statements of net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial StatementsManagement is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditors’ ResponsibilityOur responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the Plan’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
OpinionIn our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the yearsthen ended, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Wheaton, IllinoisDATE
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COVENANT PENSION PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITSAS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014
2015 2014
ASSETS: Cash and investments (Note 2): At fair value as determined by quoted market prices 141,304,664$ 141,375,106$ At net asset value 68,702,688 79,300,492
Total cash and investments 210,007,352 220,675,598
Accrued income 23,476 32,764 Contributions receivable 1,118,916 1,046,239 Other assets 748,681 10,452
Total assets 211,898,425 221,765,053
LIABILITIES — Accounts payable and accrued expenses 145,042 137,799
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS 211,753,383$ 221,627,254$
See notes to financial statements.
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COVENANT PENSION PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABL E FOR BENEFITSFOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014
2015 2014ADDITIONS: Investment return: Dividend and interest income 3,122,756$ 4,831,785$ Net (depreciation) appreciation in value of investments (10,152,350) 2,161,809
Investment manager and custodial fees (Note 1) (802,673) (973,348)
Total investment return (7,832,267) 6,020,246
Contributions 8,065,422 7,951,141
Charitable contributions and other income 758 88,133
Total additions 233,913 14,059,520
DEDUCTIONS: Pension benefits 8,728,353 8,130,877 Supplemental benefit fund payments 1,000 114,500 Administrative expenses 1,378,431 1,086,288
Total deductions 10,107,784 9,331,665
Net (decrease) increase (9,873,871) 4,727,855
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Beginning of year 221,627,254 216,899,399
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — End of year 211,753,383$ 221,627,254$
See notes to financial statements.
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COVENANT PENSION PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTSAS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014
1. THE PLAN AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a brief description of the Covenant Pension Plan (the “Plan”). Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for more complete information.
General — The Plan is a noncontributory, defined benefit pension plan, which is administered by the Board of Pensions and Benefits (the “Board”) of The Evangelical Covenant Church (the “Church”). All Church ministers employed by Church churches or institutions and all Church missionaries are participants in the Plan. The Plan is available on a voluntary basis to Church ministers employed by an approved employer other than the Church.
Supplemental Benefit Fund — The Board has established, from gifts and bequests to the Plan, a separate fund for supplemental benefits (the “Supplemental Benefit Fund”), which shall be available on a basis of need to those eligible persons according to rules established by the Board and applied on a uniform and consistent basis. The Supplemental Benefit Fund is managed by Covenant Trust Company, a related entity. Investment fees paid to Covenant Trust Company in 2015 and 2014 were $1,002 and $755, respectively. During 2015 it was decided by the Board that the supplemental benefit fund would be administered by the Church. As such, a disbursement of $251,052 is included in pension benefits to close out the supplemental benefit fund in the Plan and transfer assets to the Church.
Basis of Accounting — The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits and changes therein at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties — The Plan utilizes various investment instruments, including U.S. government securities, corporate debt instruments, corporate stocks, pooled instruments, and private equity. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such a change could materially affect, positively or negatively, the future value of net assets available for plan benefits.
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1. THE PLAN AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, continued
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition — Investments are stated at fair value. Fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When available, quoted market prices are used to determine the fair value of investments. Investments in private equity are reported at net asset value as determined by the general partner/fund manager based on audited financial statements. Certain pooled bond funds and pooled equity funds are private funds, which hold marketable securities and are recorded at net asset value using the quoted prices of the individual securities held. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.
Benefits — Benefits currently vest for Plan participants with five years of service. Retirement benefits are paid monthly and are based on length of service and compensation levels. The monthly benefit at normal retirement date is equal to the sum of $4 for each year of service prior to January 1, 1972, $8 for each year of service from January 1, 1972 to December 31, 1973, and 1/12 of 1.5% of total accumulated considered compensation after December 31, 1973. Considered compensation includes annual base salary and other income from the employer, including housing and utility allowances, if any, or an adjustment to base salary where a parsonage is provided. Effective June 23, 1992, accumulated considered compensation of participants not currently receiving benefits was subject to a one-time increase by an amount not to exceed $136,000. The amount of the increase was computed as a percentage (the lesser of 25% or years of service minus 10 years, expressed as a percentage) of considered compensation to date, plus $3,200 for each year of service in excess of 20 years. Considered compensation so determined is subject to a minimum of $9,000 a year. Additional benefits are provided for disability and surviving spouses.
Effective June 23, 1992, benefits for retired participants increased by an amount not to exceed $170 a month. The monthly benefit increase was computed based on a percentage (the lesser of 25% or years of service minus 10 years, expressed as a percentage) of the beneficiary’s current monthly benefit, plus $4 for each year of service in excess of 20 years.
Effective April 1, 2007, and again effective January 1, 2008, there was a 6% increase in the minimum monthly pension benefits for retirees and surviving spouses and a 6% across the board increase for all participants.
The minimum monthly pension benefits (which are prorated for beneficiaries with less than 25 years of service and reduced for early retirement) for 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
2015 2014
Retirees $989 $989Surviving spouse $742 $742
Investment Manager and Custodial Fees — The members of the Board serve as trustees of the Plan. The Board engages an investment advisor, investment managers, and a custodian for the invested funds. Custodial and management fees were $802,673 and $973,348 in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Administrative Expenses — The Plan reimbursed the Church $852,250 and $819,350 in 2015 and 2014, respectively, for administrative expenses and services.
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1. THE PLAN AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, continued
Plan Contributions — Contributions to the Plan are made by employers quarterly based on an annual amount equal to 12.5% of the considered compensation for each participant. A participant does not receive credit for service for any period for which the required payments are not made. All contributions are deposited in and invested by the Covenant Pension Trust (the “Trust Fund”). The Plan records as contributions receivable amounts expected to be received related to past periods.
The adequacy of contributions to meet defined benefit obligations is determined by the Board in consultation with enrolled actuaries.
Actuarial Valuation — Accumulated plan benefits are those future periodic payments that are attributable under the Plan’s provisions to service rendered by employees as of the valuation date. Accumulated plan benefits include benefits expected to be paid to (1) retired or terminated employees or their beneficiaries, (2) beneficiaries of employees who have died, and (3) present employees or their beneficiaries. The actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits is determined by an independent actuary and is that amount that results from applying actuarial assumptions to adjust the accumulated plan benefits to reflect the time value of money (through discounts for interest) and the probability of payment (by means of decrements such as for death, disability, withdrawal, or retirement) between the valuation date and the expected date of payment. The unit credit actuarial cost method was used to calculate the actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits. The significant actuarial assumptions used in the valuations as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, were as follows:
Life expectancy 2012 Individual Annuitant Table Period
Retirement age Age 65, or present age if greater
Investment return 5.5% per annum for 2015 and 2014
The actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, as determined by the Plan’s actuary, is as follows:
2015 2014
Vested benefits — participants and beneficiaries currently receiving payments 219,620,467$ 211,787,868$Nonvested benefits 2,549,638 2,831,493
Total 222,170,105$ 214,619,361$
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1. THE PLAN AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, continued
Actuarial Valuation, continued
The actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits increased $7,550,744 between December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015, and increased $13,486,192 between December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, as follows:
Actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively 214,619,361$ 201,133,169$
Change during period due to: Additional benefits accumulating and experiencing gains and losses during the year 4,869,395 7,409,367 Passage of time 11,544,033 10,820,092 Benefits paid (8,728,353) (8,130,877) Change in actuarial assumptions (134,331) 3,387,610
Net increase in actuarial present value 7,550,744 13,486,192
Actuarial present value of accumulated plan benefits as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively 222,170,105$ 214,619,361$
Changes in the actuarial assumptions resulted from one change to decrease salary scale to 3.0% per year.
Priorities upon Termination — The Church may terminate the Plan at any annual meeting of the Church and may direct and require the Board to liquidate the Trust Fund. In order to terminate the Plan, a vote of two-thirds of all delegates present and voting at such annual meeting is required. In the event the Church shall, for any reason, cease to exist, the Plan shall terminate and the Trust Fund shall be liquidated unless continued by a successor.
Upon termination of the Plan or a complete discontinuance of contributions, the assets of the Trust Fund shall be liquidated, after provision is made for the expenses of liquidation, by the payment (or provision for the payment) of benefits, in the following order of preference:
! To each retired participant and surviving spouse who is receiving a pension on the date of termination.
! To each active participant who attained age 65 and completed 10 or more years of service prior to the date of termination.
! To participants who attained age 55 and completed 10 or more years of service prior to date of termination.
! To all other participants according to the respective actuarial values of their accrued benefits as of the date of termination.
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1. THE PLAN AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, continued
Priorities Upon Termination, continued:
! If the assets of the Trust Fund applicable to any of the above groups are insufficient to provide full benefits for all persons in such group, the benefits otherwise payable to such persons shall be reduced proportionately and no benefits shall be paid to any person in a succeeding group.
Income Tax Status — The Plan is a church plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), and as such is exempt from taxation under Code Section 501(a). Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been made in the financial statements.
Uncertain Tax Positions — The financial statement effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken are recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination. Interest and penalties, if any, are included in expenses in the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan had no uncertain tax positions that qualify for recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements – In July 2015, as part of its simplification initiative, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) to the Plan Accounting topic of the Accounting Standards Codification. The primary changes resulting from the ASU are as follows:
1. Plans invested in fully benefit-responsive investment contracts are no longer required to measure those contracts at fair market value in addition to contract value;
2. Plans are no longer required to disclose (a) individual investments that represent 5% or more of net assets available for benefits or (b) net appreciation or depreciation of investments by general type or (c) classification of investments by nature and risk; and
3. Plans with fiscal year-ends that do not coincide with a month-end will be permitted, as a practical expedient, to use the month-end date that is closest to its fiscal year end.
The ASU is effective for years beginning after December 15, 2015, with early application permitted. The Plan has elected to early adopt the provisions relevant to its financial statements, which is number two above.
The Financial Standards Accounting Board recently issued an accounting standards update to the Fair Value Measurement topic of the Accounting Standards Codification. The update removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The update also removes the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Rather, those disclosures are limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The Plan early adopted this accounting standards update during the year ended December 31, 2015. The only impact was the removal of investments measured using net asset value as a practical expedient for measuring fair value from the fair value hierarchy in Note 2.
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2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS
The fair values of the Plan’s cash and investments for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, are as follows:
2015 2014Pension trust fund: Investments — at fair value as determined by quoted market price: Common stocks 18,307,988$ 26,153,282$ Pooled equity funds 80,172,659 76,170,544 Pooled bond funds 19,507,550 25,235,922 Pooled real estate funds 9,732,246 10,654,193 Money market funds and cash 13,584,221 2,881,163
141,304,664 141,095,104
Investments — at net asset value: Pooled equity funds 35,188,349 48,500,756 Pooled bond funds 5,916,452 6,086,555 Private equity/timber 27,597,887 24,713,181
68,702,688 79,300,492
Total pension trust fund 210,007,352 220,395,596
Supplemental benefit fund: Investments — at fair value as determined by quoted market price: Pooled equity funds - 192,896 Money market funds - 9,901
- 202,797
Investments — at estimated fair value — pooled bond funds - 77,205
Total supplemental benefit fund - 280,002
Total cash and investments 210,007,352$ 220,675,598$
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2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued
Fair Value Measurements and Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Standards Codification (ASC) establishes a hierarchical disclosure framework, which prioritizes and ranks the level of market price observability used in measuring the investments at fair value. Market price observability is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of investment and the characteristics specific to the investment. Investments with readily available active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices, generally will have a higher degree of market price observability and a lesser degree of judgment used in measuring fair value.
Investments measured and reported at fair value are classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:
Level I — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.
Level II — Pricing inputs are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date, and fair value is determined through the use of models or other valuation methodologies.
Level III — Pricing inputs are unobservable and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. Fair value for these investments is determined using valuation methodologies that consider a range of factors, including but not limited to the price at which the investment was acquired, the nature of the investment, local market conditions, trading values on public exchanges for comparable securities, current and projected operating performance, and financing transactions subsequent to the acquisition of the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment. Due to the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, these values may differ from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan did not have any assets measured at Level III.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Management’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the investment.
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2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued
The valuation of the Plan’s financial assets and liabilities by the above ASC fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2015, is summarized as follows:
Total Level I Level II Level IIICash and investmentsPension trust fund: Investments — at fair value as determined by quoted market price: Common stocks:
Financial 2,616,770$ 2,616,770$ - $ - $ Consumer 1,322,639 1,322,639 - - Health care 2,208,349 2,208,349 - - Energy 783,748 783,748 - - Information technology 3,517,794 3,517,794 - - Industrials 2,606,986 2,606,986 - - Materials 372,547 372,547 - - Transportation 181,716 181,716 - - Services 3,926,204 3,926,204 - - REITS 714,497 714,497 - - Utilities 56,738 56,738 - -
Pooled equity funds 80,172,659 80,172,659 - - Pooled bond funds 19,507,550 19,507,550 - - Pooled real estate funds 9,732,246 9,732,246 - - Money market funds and cash 13,584,221 13,584,221 - -
Total investments at fair value 141,304,664 141,304,664 - -
Investments — at net asset value: Pooled equity funds 35,188,349 - - - Pooled bond funds 5,916,452 - - - Private debt/equity/timber 27,597,887 - - -
Total investments at net asset value 68,702,688 - - -
Total cash and investments 210,007,352$ 141,304,664$ - $ - $
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2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued
The valuation of the Plan’s financial assets and liabilities by the above ASC fair value hierarchy levels as of December 31, 2014, is summarized as follows:
Total Level I Level II Level IIICash and investmentsPension trust fund: Investments — at fair value as determined by quoted market price: Common stocks:
Financial 3,280,003$ 3,280,003$ - $ - $ Consumer 3,582,997 3,582,997 - - Health care 2,967,427 2,967,427 - - Energy 2,076,532 2,076,532 - - Information technology 4,941,638 4,941,638 - - Industrials 3,110,122 3,110,122 - - Materials 714,886 714,886 - - Transportation 189,550 189,550 - - Services 4,296,116 4,296,116 - - REITS 883,491 883,491 - - Utilities 110,520 110,520 - -
Pooled equity funds 76,170,544 76,170,544 - - Pooled bond funds 25,235,922 25,235,922 - - Pooled real estate funds 10,654,193 10,654,193 - - Money market funds and cash 2,881,163 2,881,163 - -
Total pension trust fund at fair value 141,095,104 141,095,104 - -
Supplemental benefit fund: Investments — at fair value as determined by quoted market price: Pooled equity funds 192,896 192,896 - - Money market funds 9,901 9,901 - - Investments — at estimated fair value: Pooled bond funds 77,205 - 77,205 -
Total supplemental benefit fundat fair value 280,002 202,797 77,205 -
Total investments at fair value 141,375,106 141,297,901 77,205 -
Pension trust fund: Investments — at net asset value: Pooled equity funds 48,500,756 - - - Pooled bond funds 6,086,555 - - - Private debt/equity/timber 24,713,181 - - -
Total investments at net asset value 79,300,492 - - -
Total cash and investments 220,675,598$ 141,297,901$ 77,205$ -$
- 13 -
2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued
The following disclosure of estimated fair value of financial instruments is made in accordance with the Financial Instruments topic of the ASC. The estimated fair value of financial instruments, based on available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, are presented below.
Carrying Fair Carrying FairAmount Value Amount Value
Cash and investments 210,007,352$ 210,007,352$ 220,675,598$ 220,675,598$ Accrued income 23,476 23,476 32,764 32,764 Contributions receivable 1,118,916 1,118,916 1,046,239 1,046,239 Other assets 748,681 748,681 10,452 10,452 Accounts payable and
accrued expenses 145,042 145,042 137,799 137,799
2015 2014
2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued:
$ Amount Timing toInvestment $ NAV in # of Remaining of Unfunded Draw Down
Category Strategy Funds (per GL)* Funds Life* Commitments Commitments
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
$2,535,911 42 1 to 5 years $275,000 Upon not less than seven (7) business days prior written notice
Pooled Equity Equity 15,721,900 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Debt Mezzanine 1,569,979 22 5 years $1,557,253 Upon not fewer than ten (10)
business days written notice given by the General Partner to each Partner
Pooled Equity Equity 2,530,439 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePooled Equity Equity 5,719,086 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Equity Diversified
Private Equity13,076,598 28 6-8 years $3,807,000 Upon not less than seven (7)
business days prior to the date of drawdown
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
2,416,378 10 4-13 years $9,895,000 Generally, Upon not less than seven (7) business days prior to the date of drawdown; may be less than (7) days' notice if required by investment fund
Pooled Equity Equity 11,216,924 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Natural Resources
Energy 1,402,956 10 1 to 6 years $211,375 Upon at least seven (7) days (but which the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to deliver at all times upon at least ten (10) days) prior written notice
Private Equity Buyout 360,451 37 0 to 5 years $50,000 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Private Equity Venture Capital 705,305 28 0 to 5 years $28,400 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
3,010,382 53 0 to 9 years $270,000 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Pooled Bond Bond 5,916,452 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Natural Resources
Timber 2,519,927 1 0 to 4 years $0 Upon not less than fifteen (15) days prior notice
$68,702,688
* Reflects a range of various terms from multiple underlying investments, including potential extensions.The funds listed in the above table may not be redeemed during the life of the fund.
The Plan uses the Net Asset Value (NAV) to determine the fair value for all hedge funds which (a) do not have a readily determinable fair value and (b) prepare their financial statements consistent with the measurement principles of an investment company or have attributes of an investment company. The following table lists investments in other investment companies (in partnership format) by major category in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure topic of the ASC as of December 31, 2015:
-14-
2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued:
$ Amount Timing toInvestment $ NAV in # of Remaining of Unfunded Draw Down
Category Strategy Funds (per GL)* Funds Life* Commitments Commitments
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
$3,462,296 42 2 to 6 years $325,000 Upon not less than seven (7) business days prior written notice
Pooled Equity Equity 9,402,597 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Debt Mezzanine 1,505,408 22 6 years $1,639,661 Upon not fewer than ten (10)
business days written notice given by the General Partner to each Partner
Pooled Equity Equity 3,155,768 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Equity Diversified
Private Equity10,754,589 28 7-9 years $7,047,000 Upon not less than seven (7)
business days prior to the date of drawdown
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
318,102 10 5-14 years $12,075,000 Generally, Upon not less than seven (7) business days prior to the date of drawdown; may be less than (7) days' notice if required by investment fund
Private Natural Resources
Energy 12,804,998 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicable
Pooled Equity Equity 4,784,939 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Natural Resources
Energy 1,714,763 10 2 to 7 years $273,930 Upon at least seven (7) days (but which the General Partner shall use reasonable efforts to deliver at all times upon at least ten (10) days) prior written notice
Private Equity Buyout 454,610 37 0 to 6 years $50,000 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Private Equity Venture Capital 711,426 28 0 to 6 years $42,600 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Private Equity Diversified Private Equity
3,175,569 53 0 to 10 years $400,000 Upon not less than ten (10) business days prior notice
Pooled Equity Equity 14,055,852 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePooled Bond Bond 6,086,555 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicablePrivate Natural Resources
Timber 2,616,417 1 1 to 5 years $0 Upon not less than fifteen (15) days prior notice
Pooled Equity Equity 4,296,603 1 Not applicable $0 Not applicable
$79,300,492
* Reflects a range of various terms from multiple underlying investments, including potential extensions.The funds listed in the above table may not be redeemed during the life of the fund.
The Plan uses the Net Asset Value (NAV) to determine the fair value for all hedge funds which (a) do not have a readily determinable fair value and (b) prepare their financial statements consistent with the measurement principles of an investment company or have attributes of an investment company. The following table lists investments in other investment companies (in partnership format) by major category in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure topic of the ASC as of December 31, 2014:
-15-
- 16 -
2. CASH AND INVESTMENTS, continued
Cash and investments —The basis for cash and investments is summarized above in Note 2.
Accrued income — The carrying amount of accrued income is determined in the same manner as cashand investments which is summarized in Note 2.
Contributions receivable and other assets — Carrying amounts approximate fair value due to theshort-term nature of the assets.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses — Carrying amounts approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of the liability.
3. COMMITMENTS
At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Plan had $16,094,028 and $21,853,191, respectively, inoutstanding commitments to purchase private debt equity/timber investments. Outstanding commitmentswill be funded from cash flow and portfolio rebalancing.
4. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent events have been evaluated through the report date, which represents the date the financialstatements were available to be issued. Subsequent events after that date have not been evaluated.
* * * * * *
Agenda Item 24
Agenda Item 24 Exhibits Supporting Presentation and Adoption of the 2017
Mission and Ministry Budget
2017 Mission and Ministry Budget Summary
PowerPoint Presentation to Accompany 2017 Mission and Ministry Budget
2017 Mission and Ministry Budget
Mission Support – Finance Team
2017 Budget Context • Inclusive of:
– Base Mission Budget and Project Ministries
• Mission Priority transition completed 2015
• 2017 Mission and Ministry budget approvals – COLT, Finance Committee, Executive Board
Primary Budget Drivers
SSC
MDD
DL
LMDJ
SG
Support
• Conference-level church planting forecast
• 2-Year integration of CF, Evangelism, WM
• Development of Center for Leadership
• Targeted growth – local, denominational projects
• LT missionary forecast, US$ exchange trends
• Stewardship = Greater % into Mission & Ministry
Project Ministries PROJECT MINISTRY ACTIVITY 2015 Actual 2016 Budget 2017 Budget Budget Change Sponsor
Covenant Kids Congo (2) 278,891.00$ 600,000.00$ 400,000.00$ (200,000.00)$ SGST/Project Missionaries + Merge 2,341,024.00$ 2,200,000.00$ 2,350,000.00$ 150,000.00$ SGIn-Country Missionary Projects 645,004.00$ 750,000.00$ 700,000.00$ (50,000.00)$ SGCovenant World Relief 1,767,494.00$ 1,500,000.00$ 1,700,000.00$ 200,000.00$ SGPaul Carlson Partnership 1,302,417.00$ 2,500,000.00$ 1,200,000.00$ (1,300,000.00)$ SGFriends of World Mission (FOWM) 291,929.00$ 280,000.00$ 180,000.00$ (100,000.00)$ SGKingdom Builders 89,937.00$ 150,000.00$ 125,000.00$ (25,000.00)$ SSCWomen Ministries Projects 77,581.00$ 65,000.00$ 65,000.00$ -$ MDDBezalel - Development Corp -$ -$ 750,000.00$ 750,000.00$ LMDJLilly - Economic Challenges Grant -$ -$ 300,000.00$ 300,000.00$ DL/FinanceCenter for Leadership -$ -$ 150,000.00$ 150,000.00$ DLSustaining Pastoral Excellence 149,554.00$ 100,000.00$ 150,000.00$ 50,000.00$ DLCovenant Orientation 286,242.00$ 220,000.00$ 250,000.00$ 30,000.00$ DL
7,230,073.00$ 8,365,000.00$ 8,320,000.00$ (45,000.00)$
(2) Direct CKC support only. Portion of a much broader CKC initiative inclusive of direct sponsorships and Team WV support
Base Mission Investment BASE MISSION INVESTMENT 2015 A 2016 Budget 2017 Budget Budget Chg. Budget $ Chg.Start and Strengthen Churches 2,431,098.00$ 3,102,924.00$ 3,382,053.00$ 9.00% 279,129.00$
Make and Deepen Disciples 1,143,949.00$ 1,176,953.00$ 1,167,031.00$ -0.84% (9,922.00)$
Develop Leaders 1,802,779.00$ 1,768,928.00$ 1,786,357.00$ 0.99% 17,429.00$
Love Mercy Do Justice 348,977.00$ 542,829.00$ 631,041.00$ 16.25% 88,212.00$
Serve Globally 4,961,924.00$ 5,157,266.00$ 5,387,273.00$ 4.46% 230,007.00$
Mission Support - Communications 1,301,913.00$ 1,298,015.00$ 1,331,141.00$ 2.55% 33,126.00$
Mission Support - Shared Services 3,137,083.00$ 3,277,085.00$ 3,199,604.01$ -2.36% (77,480.99)$
15,127,723.00$ 16,324,000.00$ 16,884,500.00$ 3.43% 560,500.00$ Shared Services = Governance, HR, Legal, Operations, IT, Advancement, Finance, Presidents Office, Facilities
• Consistent with 2015 actual results, we expect continued material underspending vs. budget
• >100% of growth driven by SSC Church Planting, LMDJ investment and SG Missionary plan
• Continued stewardship of Mission Support expenses – moving more $ into Mission Priorities
Base Mission Income BASE MISSION INCOME 2015 A 2016 Budget 2017 Budget Budget Chg. Budget $ Chg.ECC Church Support 8,411,472.00$ 8,725,000.00$ 8,860,000.00$ 1.55% 135,000.00$
Donor Support 1,661,835.00$ 1,825,000.00$ 1,825,000.00$ 0.00% -$
Fees & Expense Reimbursement 4,014,769.00$ 4,575,000.00$ 4,990,500.00$ 9.08% 415,500.00$
Bequest Transfer & Other Income 406,883.00$ 469,000.00$ 509,000.00$ 8.53% 40,000.00$
External Communication Sales 394,071.00$ 420,000.00$ 410,000.00$ -2.38% (10,000.00)$
External Rental Income 286,738.00$ 310,000.00$ 290,000.00$ -6.45% (20,000.00)$
15,175,768.00$ 16,324,000.00$ 16,884,500.00$ 3.43% 560,500.00$
• Church support budget implies ~2.6% 2-year growth rate over 2015 actual results
• Substantial Church Planting growth largely supported by increased designated fund draw
• Budget reflects continued trend of reduced external communication sales
2017 Budget Composition 2017 Mission and Ministry Composition Base Mission Appropriation Project Ministry TotalsStart and Strengthen Churches 1,676,460.00$ 1,705,593.00$ 125,000.00$ 3,507,053.00$
Make and Deepen Disciples 1,167,031.00$ -$ 65,000.00$ 1,232,031.00$
Develop Leaders 786,357.00$ 1,000,000.00$ 850,000.00$ 2,636,357.00$
Love Mercy Do Justice 631,041.00$ -$ 750,000.00$ 1,381,041.00$
Serve Globally 1,329,673.00$ 4,057,600.00$ 6,530,000.00$ 11,917,273.00$
Mission Support-Communications 1,331,141.00$ -$ -$ 1,331,141.00$
Mission Support-Shared Services 3,199,604.01$ -$ -$ 3,199,604.01$
10,121,307.00$ 6,763,193.00$ 8,320,000.00$ 25,204,500.00$
• SSC Appropriations = New Church Planting Commitments
• DL Appropriations = NPU, NPTS Commitments
• SG Appropriations = Long-Term Missionary Commitments
2017 Mission Impact
Mission Support
Mission Priorities
Project Mission
Partnership Local Church Conference
Denomination
100% of Mission Support Funded by External Revenue = 100% of giving directly into Mission
2017 Mission Impact
SSC
MDD
DL
LMDJ
SG
Base Layer = 5 Mission Priorities Middle Layer = Appropriations Outer Layer = Project Ministries
Resource Investment
• Lilly Endowment Grant – Economic Challenges
• Center for Leadership – 2017 Launch (DL)
• Bezalel – Holistic Real Estate Development (LMDJ)
• Subsidized Online Giving ~ 10% of ECC churches
• Pastoral Compensation Resourcing • GuideStone 403(b)(9) - pastor, lay staff savings
2017 Mission and Ministry Budget
“COLT and the Executive Board recommend the 2017 Mission and Ministry budget of $25,204,500 for
adoption by Gather‘16”
Agenda Item 25b
Page 1 of 1
2016 Roundtable Discussion Topic: Developing Lay Leaders
Instructions 1. Read the questions on the screen, and reflect on them personally for 3 minutes.2. Join into groups of 4-5.3. Appoint a recorder: the person whose birthday is next.4. Discuss each question. (20 minutes total)5. For questions 3 and 4, distill the group discussion into the top two or three ideas. Have the
recorder capture these to turn in. Recorders will present these ideas to the Annual Meeting,time permitting. (5 minutes)
Discussion Questions 1. How do you identify leaders in your congregation?2. How do you develop leaders in your congregation?3. What types of lay leadership resources would be most helpful?4. What types of delivery systems would be the most helpful?
Agenda Item 26.a
Page 1 of 2
2016 RESOLUTION ON CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
It is good and pleasing to our Lord when we are a people who heed the call of mercy and justice
(Micah 6:8). A crucial way we do so is by seeking to transform our community into one which
can be welcoming to all without barriers. God has created all human beings as image bearers
of Himself (Genesis 1:27); disability does not diminish this image. We repent of the all too
prevalent sin in our society which sees those with disabling conditions as people of lesser value.
We also humbly acknowledge that as we each face unknowns in our futures, we ourselves may
become the beneficiaries of the inclusive, barrier free environment we hope to inspire.
We continue to recognize our obligations and opportunities to speak and act in areas of
awareness, advocacy, employment and social justice, in cooperation with and on behalf of
persons with disabilities.
We recognize that each member of the Body of Christ has unique gifting, and to exclude any
one member, regardless of deficits, diminishes the full priesthood of believers affirmed by
Scripture (1 Peter 2:9). We also recognize and celebrate the full inclusion in worship of those
with disabilities, since as the Apostle Paul instructs us: every one of us has something unique to
contribute in worship (1 Corinthians 14:26).
We affirm and commend congregations, organizations and institutions throughout the
Covenant that are already pace-setters for us in matters of justice and inclusion for persons
with disabling conditions. Such commendation includes, but is not limited to: the work of
Covenant Women Ministries who created Covenant Enabling Residences; the policy in recent
years enabling youth with disabilities to attend CHIC, the new emphasis on compassion, mercy
and justice through the Love Mercy Do and Justice mission priority; those congregations with
educational, recreational and social programs for persons with special needs; local churches
that have elected persons to boards and committees who in past years might have been
overlooked or unable to enter the building; all who have gone to the effort and expense of
installing elevators, ramps and assistive listening systems, constructing pew cuts, giving
platform access, remodeling bathrooms, etc. We look forward to the endless opportunities
that are possible as more take up this concern and lend their creativity to solutions not yet
realized.
Our goal is not merely to minister to those with disabilities; rather to realize a shared ministry
with those with disabilities. With this in mind, we continue to recognize our obligation and
opportunity to speak and act in areas of awareness, advocacy, employment and social justice,
Agenda Item 26.a
Page 2 of 2
on behalf of, and alongside of, persons with disabilities, and to continue to work toward
inclusion of those with disabilities in our worship and fellowship. Therefore, as the 1987 Annual
Meeting Resolutions on Disabilities affirmed, and as we, the Committee on Disabilities reaffirm,
“We pledge ourselves to continue to be the caring community according to 1 Corinthians 12,
loving every part of the body as we would love ourselves, paying special attention to the needs
and gifts of people with physical, sensory, mental and emotional impairments.” Our Lord
Himself has said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did
for Me” (Matthew 25:40).
So, in the name and Spirit of Christ, Who values us all, even with our limitations, we pledge
ourselves to leadership in these concerns by the example of our common life, employment
practices, attitudes, worship, fellowship, responsibility, discipline and efforts to support one
another on the spiritual journey with an attentiveness to the Spirit who transforms us into
Christ's image, a reflection of God's glory.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES MAY BE FOUND AT: Covchurch.org/justice/disability
Under the disability link are further links: Resources from the M!X (an idea exchange), Ministry
Tools (including Resources for Disability Ministry, Websites for Disability Ministry and
Accessibility).
Proposed Bylaws Amendments for 2016 Annual Meeting (Approved by the Executive Board)
Location in Bylaws Current text Proposed text Change madeBylaws Article XII, Section 12.1 The ECC has established the following corporations:
Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, an Illinois not-
for-profit corporation; North Park University, an
Illinois not-for-profit corporation; National
Covenant Properties, an Illinois not-for-profit
corporation; Covenant Trust Company, a chartered
Illinois trust company; and Paul Carlson Medical
Program, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.
The ECC has established the following
corporations: Covenant Ministries of
Benevolence, an Illinois not-for-profit
corporation; North Park University, an Illinois not-
for-profit corporation; National Covenant
Properties, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation;
Covenant Trust Company, a chartered Illinois
trust company; Paul Carlson Medical Program,
Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation; Bezalel,
an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.
Proposed text adds Bezalel to the list of
ECC corporations.
Bylaws Article XII n/a Section 12.7 Bezalel assists the ECC, the regional
conferences, conferences institutions, ECC
congregations, and corporations established by
the ECC in acquiring and developing real
property for ministry as stated in its Articles of
Incorporation. The ECC is the sole member of the
corporation, and the voting members of the
Executive Board of the ECC exercise the reserved
powers of the ECC. Day-to- day operations are
managed by a board of directors elected by the
Executive Board of the ECC.
Addition of section 12.7.
Bylaws Article XII n/a Section 12.8 Centro Hispano de Estudios
Teológicos del Pacto Evangélico (CHET) is a
California nonprofit religious corporation that
exists to equip holistically the underserved
Latinos and Latinas for church and community-
based ministry. The ECC is the sole member of
Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos. The
voting members of the Executive Board of the
ECC elect the directors of Centro Hispano de
Estudios Teológicos.
Addition of section 12.8.
Bylaws Article XIV, Section 14.3 The Commission on Pastoral Relations shall have no
appointed members but shall consist of the
following ex-officio members only: the president of
the ECC, all executive ministers, the executive
director of ministry development, the dean of
North Park Theological Seminary, and all regional
conference superintendents.
The Commission on Pastoral Relations shall have
no appointed members but shall consist of the
following ex-officio members only: the president
of the ECC, the executive minister of the ordered
ministry, the executive director of ministry
development, the dean of North Park Theological
Seminary, and all regional conference
superintendents.
Proposed text replaces "all executive
ministers" with "the executive minister
of the ordered ministry."
Bylaws Article XV, Section 15.4 The ECC has recognized the following associations:
Association of Covenant Camps and Conference
Centers, Association of Covenant Chaplains, Association
for Covenant Clergy Women, and Association of
Covenant Spiritual Directors.
The ECC has recognized the following
associations: Association of Covenant Camps and
Conference Centers, Covenant Chaplains
Association, Advocates for Covenant Clergy
Women, and Association of Covenant Spiritual
Directors.
Proposed text changes "Association of
Covenant Chaplains" to "Covenant
Chaplains Association" and "Association
for Covenant Clergy Women" to
"Advocates for Covenant Clergy
Women."
Page 1 of 1
Agenda Item 34
Agenda Item 35
Page 1 of 2
Rules for the Ordered Ministry of The ECC Proposed Revisions, June 2016
Section 9.2. Ministry License. a. Description.
The ministry license is intended for persons serving at least twenty hours a week in ECCcongregations, ECC institutions, or other approved ministries and organizations. Thelicense is for those involved in pastoral ministry who also fulfill sacramental and otherpastoral functions. The license shall be renewed annually. Candidates for ordained toword and sacrament, ordained to word and service, and commissioning apply for thislicense while in process. It is the appropriate license for all individuals serving as solopastors who do not qualify for ordained to word and sacrament. The license is validonly for the ministry for which the candidate was originally licensed. The holder of aministry license is accountable to a minister ordained to word and sacrament within thelocal area of service, or to the regional conference superintendent. At the time of a callto another ECC congregation or ministry in a different conference, the holder of aministry license must have an interview with the appropriate regional conferencecommittee on ministerial standing.
b. Qualifications.i. The candidate shall be a member of an ECC congregation.ii. The candidate shall be a person of demonstrated Christian experience and
character who has given evidence of loyalty to and cooperation with the ECC and itsprinciples.
iii. The candidate shall within eight years of the initial receipt of this licensedemonstrate completion of four core theological courses. complete a course oftheological study recommended by the president and dean of NPTS, in consultationwith the regional conference superintendent, and approved by the Board. These courses shall be taken for credit from a seminary approved by the Association of Theological Schools and shall include survey courses in systematic theology, Old Testament, New Testament, and church history (three semester hours each.) If the candidate has not already completed the courses at an ATS-accredited seminary or CHET at the time of application for the Ministry License, he or she is required to complete them at North Park Theological Seminary or CHET unless the candidate is enrolled in a degree program at another seminary that is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. Progress on this program of study must be reported annually to the Department of the Ordered Ministry to maintain standing. Students at CHET shall complete a program designed by the president of CHET and the Board.
iv. The candidate must be enrolled in CO.v. The candidate must participate in the pension program of the ECC.
c. Procedure.i. All applications shall be made through the regional conference office and processed
by the Department of the Ordered Ministry.ii. The candidate shall submit a recommendation from the ECC congregation where
membership is held.
Agenda Item 35
Page 2 of 2
iii. The candidate shall complete a statement of faith paper and be interviewed by thecommittee on ministerial standing in the regional conference where membership isheld. The Board may also request an interview for the initial license. An interview bythe regional committee on ministerial standing may also be required at the renewalof license.
Agenda Item 35
Page 1 of 1
Proposal to update the Rules of Ordered Ministry to require “Core 4” classes be taken at NPTS
Proposal: All new Ministry License holders (as of 7/1/2016 and following) not already enrolled in a seminary degree program in need of one or more of the “Core 4” classes shall be required to complete these classes at North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS). If a Ministry License holder subsequently enrolls in a seminary that is not NPTS, the license holder must still complete the “Core 4” at NPTS and transfer those courses to the other seminary.
Benefits: The core 4 will be offered at a 50% discount and is available in all formats (online, in-class,
hybrid) and at multiple locations making the classes easily accessible and cost-effective to ourlicense holders.
More exposure for the license holders to current and future colleagues in the Covenant as wellas Covenant professors promoting greater Covenant cohesion.
License holders will have earned a certificate from NPTS with the potential to complete adegree. For a Covenant pastor, this should be of high value.
Creates a more streamlined path for both license holders and the staff of Ordered Ministry tofollow, easing administrative workload.
Ensures a continued flow of Covenant pastors through the doors of NPTS – the denomination’sonly seminary.
Reasoning: Covenant historian Karl Olsson writes about the importance of NPTS/NPU:
The reason for [the church’s continued support of NPTS/NPU] is plain. The transmission of the Covenant heritage to succeeding generations is not, as in many other denominations, simply a matter of indoctrination. The Covenant has no fixed creed which can be imposed from without. The ‘character’ of the denomination must be personally transmitted by reflection and imitation in an atmosphere of freedom. And since the ‘character’ of the Covenant is not a fixed formula but a growing thing, it both shares in the traditions as well as the interpretations of the past and is enriched by the people who share in the process of transmission. No one would argue that only the school can transmit the denominational character. Nevertheless, without the school as the preserver and interpreter of the Covenant identity, transmission becomes difficult. (By One Spirit, 611-612)
The idea behind Olsson's insistence that the Covenant school play a large part in the transmission of Covenant identity was the impetus behind the creation of Covenant Orientation. If our denomination is willing to own NPTS as our center for the education and formation of pastoral identity in the Covenant this proposal helps to strengthen this ownership. We feel this proposal is essential for the cohesion and strength of the pastoral community of the Covenant going forward.
This proposal has been endorsed by the Board of the Ordered Ministry, Council of Superintendents, Council of Administrators, Executive Committee of the Ministerium, and President Gary Walter.
GATHER ’17 MARK YOUR CALENDARSDetroit, Michigan GATHER 2017: June 22-24MISSION DETROIT PRE-EVENT: June 21-22
CovChurch.org/Gather