Seventh Day Baptist General Conference 2018-2019 Yearbook

Yearbook Documents A – J for the year 2018-2019

A – Yearbook Business Minutes from 2018 B – Directory (2019 – Not Included) C – Financial Supplement D – Christian Education Council E – Council on History F – Memorial Fund Financials G – Missionary Society H – Tract and Communication Council I – Women’s Society J – Council on Ministry

2019 YEARBOOK

Seventh Day Baptist General Conference 3120 Kennedy Road PO Box 1678 Janesville, WI 53547-1678 PHONE: (608) 752-5055 FAX: (608) 752-7711 E-MAIL: contact@seventhdaybaptist.org WEB PAGE: www.seventhdaybaptist.org

DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS YEARBOOK BUSINESS MINUTES ................................................................................ DOCUMENT A F IRST B USINESS S ESSION ............................................................................................................... A-1 – A-20 Procedural Motion, First Session......................................................................................................A-1,2 Report of the Obituary Coordinator..................................................................................................A-3,4 Executive Director’s Report 2018 .............................................................................................A-4 – A-7 General Council Report ...........................................................................................................A-7 – A-20 Executive Director Selection Process ............................................................................................... A-8 Conference Indemnification.............................................................................................................. A-8 Sabbatical Policy for Directors ........................................................................................................ A-8 Policy for Official Conf. Communications to Member Churches..................................................... A-8 Conference Week Task Force ........................................................................................................... A-9 SDB Logo Policy............................................................................................................................... A-9 Recording Secretary.......................................................................................................................... A-9 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................A-9 – A-12 Reports of Standing Committees to Interest Committees...................................................................A-12 Representatives from General Council to Conference Committees .......................................A-12 – A-14 Summary of 2019 Draft #1 Operating Income & Expense Budget ....................................................A-15 Action Items from 2017 General Conference Sessions ..........................................................A-16 – A-20 S ECOND B USINESS S ESSION ...................................................................................................................... A-20 No New Business...............................................................................................................................A-20 T HIRD B USINESS S ESSION ......................................................................................................................... A-21 Bylaw Change Regarding Christian Education Council....................................................................A-21 F OURTH B USINESS S ESSION .......................................................................................................... A-21 – A-39 Report of the Courtesies Coordinator ....................................................................................A-21 – A-23 Reports of the Interest Committee on Christian Social Action & Disaster Relief.................A-23 – A-27 Guidelines for SDB Gen. Conf. Ecumenical Involvement ....................................................A-24 – A-25 Summary of Current & Possible Future SDB Ecumenical Current.......................................A-25 – A-27 Report of the Interest Committee on History.........................................................................A-27 – A-29 Report of the Committee on Ministerial Interests..................................................................A-29 – A-30 Report of the Youth Interest Committee................................................................................A-30 – A-31 Report of the Women’s Interest Committee ..........................................................................A-31 – A-33 Report of the Credentials Coordinator ...................................................................................A-33 – A-36 Report of the Interest Committee on Budget & Finance .......................................................A-37 – A-38 Report of the Committee on Communications ......................................................................A-38 – A-39 F IFTH B USINESS S ESSION ................................................................................................................ A-39 – A-43 Report of the Committee on Reference & Counsel ...............................................................A-40 – A-42 Report of the Interest Committee on Nominations ......................................................................A-42, 43 S IXTH B USINESS S ESSION .............................................................................................................. A-43 – A-49 Report of the Interest Committee on Missions 2018 ...................................................................A-44, 45 Report of the Interest Committee on Church Development ........................................................A-45, 46 Report of the Interest Committee on Christian Education.....................................................A-46 – A-48 Report of the Young Adult Interest Committee...........................................................................A-48, 49 FINANCIAL SUPPLEMENT ............................................................................................ DOCUMENT C A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB B UILDING O PERATION F UND ..................................................................C-1 – C-4 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis ...................................................... C-2 Statement of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis ................................. C-3 SDB Building Operation Fund - Notes to Financial Statements ......................................................... C-4 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB C HRISTIAN E DUCATION C OUNCIL ...........................................................C-5 – C-9 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis ...................................................... C-6 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis................................ C-7 SDB Christian Education Council – Notes to Financial Statements ................................................ C-8,9 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB C HRISTIAN S OCIAL A CTION .................................................................C-10 – C-14

Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-11 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis.............................. C-12 SDB Christian Social Action- Notes to Financial Statements ...................................................... C-13,14 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB C HURCH D EVELOPMENT .....................................................................C-15 – C-18 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-16 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis.............................. C-17 SDB Church Development – Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................. C-18 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB C OMMUNICATIONS ..............................................................................C-19 – C-23 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-20 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis.............................. C-21 SDB Communications – Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................... C-22,23 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB C ONFERENCE S ERVICES ......................................................................C-24 – C-29 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-25 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Cash Basis.............................. C-26 SDB General Conference – Notes to Financial Statements.......................................................... C-27,29 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB G ENERAL C ONFERENCE C OMMITTEE ON S UPPORT & R ETIREMENT ......C-30 – C-35 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Modified Cash Basis ..................................... C-31 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances – Modified Cash Basis .............. C-32 SDB General Conference COSAR – Notes to Financial Statements ............................................ C-33,34 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB D ENOMINATIONAL B UDGET ................................................................C-35 – C-38 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-36 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances –Cash Basis............................... C-37 SDB Denominational Budget – Notes to Financial Statements......................................................... C-38 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB E CUMENICAL A FFAIRS F UND ..............................................................C-39 – C-42 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-40 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances –Cash Basis............................... C-41 SDB Ecumenical Affairs Fund – Notes to Financial Statements ....................................................... C-42 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – SDB H ISTORICAL ........................................................................................C-43 – C-46 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-44 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances –Cash Basis............................... C-45 SDB Historical – Notes to Financial Statements ............................................................................... C-46 A UDITOR ’ S R EPORT – W OMEN ’ S S OCIETY .....................................................................................C-47 – C-51 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances – Cash Basis .................................................... C-48 Statements of Revenue, Expenses and Changes in Fund Balances –Cash Basis............................... C-49 SDB Women’s Society – Notes to Financial Statements............................................................... C-50,51 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COUNCIL ........................................................................... DOCUMENT D 5 TH R EPORT OF THE C HRISTIAN E DUCATION C OUNCIL ................................................................. D-1 – D-11 Members of the Council .......................................................................................................................D-1 Staff ......................................................................................................................................................D-1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................................D-2 Vision Statement...................................................................................................................................D-2 Helping Hand....................................................................................................................................D-2,3 Conference Activities for Children & Youth .....................................................................................D-3,4 Ministering to Our Young Adults.........................................................................................................D-4 Child Protection................................................................................................................................D-4,5 Growing in Spiritual Maturity .............................................................................................................D-6 Networking Teachers ...........................................................................................................................D-6 Lay Leadership Training/SDB-U......................................................................................................D-6,7 Moving the School of Ministry.............................................................................................................D-7 Scripture Memory Program..............................................................................................................D-7,8 Crystal Apple, 2017 .............................................................................................................................D-8 Diaconate Training..............................................................................................................................D-8 Disciplemaking & Evangelism..........................................................................................................D-8,9 Director Sabbatical.........................................................................................................................D-9,10 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................D-10

Travel/Activity of the Director Since Conference 2018................................................................D-10,11

COUNCIL ON HISTORY ...................................................................................................DOCUMENT E 3 RD A NNUAL R EPORT OF THE C OUNCIL ON H ISTORY ....................................................................... E-1 – E-8 Vision Statement................................................................................................................................... E-1 Mission Statement ................................................................................................................................ E-1 Directors .............................................................................................................................................. E-2 Staff ...................................................................................................................................................... E-2 Verse: II Peter 3:1 ............................................................................................................................... E-3 Library Services ................................................................................................................................ E-3,4 Ongoing Projects ................................................................................................................................. E-4 Communication and Publishing........................................................................................................ E-4,5 Sabbatical ............................................................................................................................................ E-5 Moving Forward .................................................................................................................................. E-5 Patrons of SDB History ....................................................................................................................... E-6 In Memoriam........................................................................................................................................ E-7 Legacy Partners of SDB History.......................................................................................................... E-8 MEMORIAL FUND FINANCIALS ...................................................................................DOCUMENT F M EMORIAL F UND 147 TH A NNUAL R EPORT AND F INANCIAL S TATEMENTS FOR 2018 .................... F-1 – F-20 Officers and Trustees ........................................................................................................................... F-1 Balance Sheet Detail - Annual Statement ...................................................................................F-2 – F-4 Church Notes Receivable Detail.......................................................................................................... F-5 Endowment Reserve Account Temporary Detail ................................................................................. F-6 Annual Income Statement ...........................................................................................................F-7 – F-9 Scholarship & Grant Programming .................................................................................................. F-10 Endowment Balances & Designated Beneficiaries................................................................. F-11 - F-22 MISSIONARY SOCIETY .................................................................................................. DOCUMENT G B OARD OF M ANAGERS 2018-2019 ..........................................................................................................G-1 O FFICERS & E XECUTIVE C OMMITTEE 2018-2019 ....................................................................................G-1 176 TH A NNUAL R EPORT – SDB M ISSIONARY S OCIETY ..................................................................G-2– G-10 A. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................G-2 B. Five Year Vision 2018-2022 ...............................................................................................G-2 – G-4 Teaching & Equipping..............................................................................................................G-4 Mobilizing & Sending ..............................................................................................................G-4 Nurturing & Supporting............................................................................................................G-4 Organizational Strength .........................................................................................................G-4,5 C. General Conference Actions 2018................................................................................................G-5 D. Communications ...........................................................................................................................G-5 E. Chief Executive Director’s Report.............................................................................................G-5,6 F. Ministry Highlights by Country .................................................................................................G-6,7 G. Operating Budget-2018 & 2019 ...................................................................................................G-7 H. Treasurer’s Report........................................................................................................................G-8 2019 First Quarter Update Report............................................................................................G-9 I. Independent Financial Review Statement.....................................................................................G-9 J. Minutes of Annual Meeting...............................................................................................G-9 – G-15 Call to Order .............................................................................................................................G-9 Call of Meeting .........................................................................................................................G-9 Declaration of Quorum ............................................................................................................G-9 Motion to Continued Membership...............................................................................G-9 – G-10 Verbal Report by President Danny Lee .................................................................................G-10 Verbal Report by Treasurer Norm Burdick ...........................................................................G-10 Verbal Annual Report by Outgoing Executive Director Clint Brown ..................................G-10 Verbal Report by Incoming Chief Executive Dir. Rev. Andrew Samuels ............................G-10

Motion to Appoint Scott Seslar as Auditor............................................................................G-10 Motion to Ratify Activities of Board of Managers................................................................G-10 Motion to Approve Minutes for Presentation ........................................................................G-10 Closing Prayer .......................................................................................................................G-10 TRACT AND COMMUNICATION COUNCIL .............................................................. DOCUMENT H A NNUAL R EPORT FOR 2018 ............................................................................................................ H-1 – H-6 Mission.................................................................................................................................................H-1 The Sabbath Recorder................................................................................................................H-1 – H-3 September 2018....................................................................................................................................H-1 October 2018 .......................................................................................................................................H-1 November 2018 .................................................................................................................................H-1,2 December 2018 ....................................................................................................................................H-2 January 2019 .......................................................................................................................................H-2 February 2019 .....................................................................................................................................H-2 March 2019..........................................................................................................................................H-2 April 2019 .........................................................................................................................................H-2,3 May 2019 .............................................................................................................................................H-3 June 2019 .............................................................................................................................................H-3 July/August 2019..................................................................................................................................H-3 New Media ........................................................................................................................................H-3,4 Social Media Committee ......................................................................................................................H-4 Tracts ...................................................................................................................................................H-4 Executive Appointments for 2017 ........................................................................................................H-4 How to Contact Us...............................................................................................................................H-4 ASTCC Directors .................................................................................................................................H-5 Members ex-officio...............................................................................................................................H-5 WOMEN’S SOCIETY ..........................................................................................................DOCUMENT I 2018-2019 A NNUAL R EPORT ........................................................................................................... I-1 – I-11 Business Highlights............................................................................................................................... I-1 Meeting Dates .................................................................................................................................. I-1 Highlights from 2018-2019.............................................................................................................. I-1 Committee Victories...................................................................................................................... I-1 Conference Seminar...................................................................................................................... I-1 Official Conference Action Items Follow-up ........................................................................................ I-2 Action Item #1 .............................................................................................................................. I-2 Action Item #2, Recommendation #1 ........................................................................................... I-2 Action Item #3, Recommendation #2 ........................................................................................... I-2 President’s Travel................................................................................................................................. I-3 Coordinating Leadership Team Meeting .............................................................................................. I-3 Women’s Society Board of Director’s Meetings................................................................................... I-3 Baptist Women of North America Meetings.......................................................................................... I-3 Alfred Station SDB Church................................................................................................................... I-3 Treasurer’s Report Highlights.............................................................................................................. I-4 2018 Love Gift Distributions ................................................................................................................ I-4 Dorotha Shettel Fund Balance ........................................................................................................ I-4 The Stephanie Sholtz Wellness Fund Balance................................................................................ I-4 The Banquet Committee........................................................................................................................ I-4 The Media Committee & Sabbath Recorder Women’s Page Editor..................................................... I-5 The Recognition Committee............................................................................................................... I-5,6 The Stephanie Sholtz Wellness Fund .................................................................................................... I-6 The Summer Christian Service Corps Committee ........................................................................I-7 – I-8 Training Staff Information .............................................................................................................. I-7 2018 Training Staff ......................................................................................................................... I-7 SCSC 2019: Team More ................................................................................................................. I-8

SCSC 2019: Team Move ................................................................................................................ I-9 SCSC 2019: Team Overcome ......................................................................................................... I-9 SCSC 2019: Team Render .............................................................................................................. I-9 SCSC 2019: Team Eagle ................................................................................................................ I-9 The Women in Ministry Tuition Fund Committee............................................................................... I-10 Closing Thoughts ................................................................................................................................ I-10 Websites & Contact Information ........................................................................................................ I-10 Proposed Slate of Officers for SDB Women’s Board (2018-2019) .................................................... I-11 COUNCIL ON MINISTRY ................................................................................................. DOCUMENT J 2018-2019 A NNUAL R EPORT ...........................................................................................................J-1 – J-11 COM Members 2018-2019 ................................................................................................................... J-1 Director of Church Development & Pastoral Services ........................................................................ J-1 Purpose of the Council on Ministry ...................................................................................................... J-1 Pastoral/Church Services Purposes ..................................................................................................... J-1 Church Development Purposes............................................................................................................. J-1 Continued Structure Changes ............................................................................................................... J-1 Pastoral Services .................................................................................................................................. J-2 Pastoral Search .................................................................................................................................. J-2 Recruitment ....................................................................................................................................... J-2 Licensing ........................................................................................................................................... J-2 Ordination ......................................................................................................................................... J-2 Accreditation .................................................................................................................................. J-2,3 Endorsement ..................................................................................................................................... J-3 Ministry Staff Development Program ............................................................................................... J-3 Covenant Eyes .................................................................................................................................. J-3 Pastor’s Conference .......................................................................................................................... J-3 Regional Pastors Meetings ................................................................................................................ J-3 Pastors and Spouses Luncheon ......................................................................................................... J-4 Study Leave/Sabbatical ..................................................................................................................... J-4 Pastors to Conference ....................................................................................................................... J-4 Stephanie Sholtz Wellness Fund ....................................................................................................... J-4 Crisis Intervention/Consultation with Churches ............................................................................... J-4 Pastor to Pastors ................................................................................................................................ J-4 Church Development ............................................................................................................................ J-5 MULTIPLY Church Development Conference ................................................................................ J-5 DWELL Online Learning Cohort ..................................................................................................... J-5 Church Planting Challenge ............................................................................................................... J-5 PULSE .............................................................................................................................................. J-5 Church Planting Co-Worker Program .............................................................................................. J-5 Conference Membership Coordination ............................................................................................. J-5 New Contacts .................................................................................................................................... J-6 Church Development Network ......................................................................................................... J-6 Groups Identifying as SDB ............................................................................................................... J-6 Directory of Churches ....................................................................................................................... J-6 Other Areas of Ministry ........................................................................................................................ J-6 COSAR ............................................................................................................................................. J-6 Hispanic Ministries Council .......................................................................................................... J-6,7 Document Update Responsibility ..................................................................................................... J-7 Local Church Service ........................................................................................................................ J-7 SDB U ............................................................................................................................................... J-7 SDB World Federation ..................................................................................................................... J-7 Doctor of Ministry ............................................................................................................................ J-7

Yearbook Business Minutes Document A 2019

Seventh Day Baptist General Conference USA and Canada, Ltd.

Seventh Day Baptist General Conference 3120 Kennedy Road PO Box 1678 Janesville, Wisconsin 53547 PHONE: (608) 752-5055 FAX: (608) 752-7711

Conference Business 206 th Session of the SDB General Conference Carthage College, Kenosha, WI July 29-August 4, 2018

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Monday, July 30, 2018 First Business Session The 206 th Annual Session of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of USA and Canada, Ltd. was called to order at 9:01 am at Carthage College, in Kenosha, Wisconsin by Conference President David Stall. Conference Pastor, Darwin Steele, led the delegation in prayer. Jane Mackintosh, Bay Area Seventh Day Baptist Church (Pinole, CA), President-elect, introduced the procedural motion. It was seconded and carried and became the procedure for the business at Conference. Procedural Motion, First Session, July 30, 2018 Mr. President, I’m Jane Mackintosh from the Bay Area Seventh Day Baptist Church located in Pinole, California, and I move that the following procedures be adopted: 1. The rights and privileges of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of the USA and Canada, Ltd. are extended to all guests, visitors, and fraternal delegates. The right to participate in debate and to vote on denominational business is reserved for official delegates of member churches as determined by the Credentials Coordinator, Cindy Nadeau, and subject to approval by General Conference. In extending the privileges of this Conference to delegates, guests and visitors, it is understood that in Conference Interest Committee meetings, the chair shall grant participants of all ages the right to speak on the same basis as Seventh Day Baptist delegates. 2. All matters referred to a Conference Interest Committee from the floor of General Conference shall be addressed by a recommendation to the Conference in the Interest Committee’s report. 3. Persons addressing the chair shall identify themselves by name and church. 4. No motion shall be entertained for adoption by the General Conference which requires additional clarification outside the language of the motion to make its intent understood. 5. When General Conference Interest Committees deal with items of budget and program, representatives of the General Council, and denominational related Councils or Societies concerned with the particular issue, must be involved in attempting to achieve a joint resolution before recommendations regarding the issue are presented on the floor of General Conference for action. All motions coming to the floor for final vote containing allocation of funds should clearly state their effect on recipients and any impact on other projects. 6. All major motions for the consideration of General Conference shall be presented in written form and shall be given to the Recording Secretary and the Visuals Coordinator before being moved. They shall be provided to the delegates in written form (on paper or projected on screen) prior to any discussion.

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7. Mr. James Skaggs shall be the Parliamentarian of the 206th session. 8. The following rules shall apply to discussion of motions on the floor of General Conference: (a) Debate shall be limited to five minutes per person. (b) Those speaking for and those speaking against a motion shall alternate as much as is practicable. (c) No person shall speak twice to any question if there are others who have not spoken who wish to speak. (d) When referring to churches in writing or on the Conference floor, the location of the church shall be included. 9. No main motion relating to new business shall be entered on the floor of Conference that will not have time for referral to, and consideration by, one of the Conference Interest Committees. Specifically, this time is prior to the conclusion of the 11:00 a.m. business session, Wednesday, August 1, 2018. 10. Nominations “All candidates for the respective offices shall be presented to General Conference by the Committee on Nominations, or may be nominated from the floor upon prior consent to serve, and shall be elected by vote of the delegates present and voting.” (Bylaw – Article V, Paragraph 3, sentence 1) The Nominations Committee report shall be available and distributed by no later than 5:00 p.m. of the day prior to action of General Conference. 11. Definitions of terms used in proposals which come before Conference shall be governed by those found in the approved glossary presented to Interest Committee chair. 12. Four (4) printed copies of every conference Committee Report will be presented to the President- Elect Jane Mackintosh, and/or her assistant. One (1) electronic copy of every conference Committee Report shall be presented to the Recording Secretary; Virginia Evans, and to the Visuals Coordinator; Joel Osborn, a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the reading of their report. 13. The Recording Secretary shall be empowered to have published the minutes of these sessions, along with the reports of the boards, agencies and committees, as part of the Yearbook of the Seventh Day Baptist Conference of the USA and Canada, Ltd. 14. Photography of the plenary and worship sessions of General Conference shall be the responsibility of the American Sabbath Tract and Communication Council. Donna Bond, Shiloh Seventh Day Baptist Church (Shiloh, NJ), read the Report of the Obituary Coordinator for 2018. A motion was made to adopt the report. It was seconded and carried. Conference Pastor Darwin Steele led the delegation in a prayer of remembrance for those leaders listed in the report.

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Report of the Obituary Coordinator July 30, 2018

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“The Obituary Report informs the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of the U.S.A. and Canada of denominational leaders that have passed away during this past conference year, and as reported in the Sabbath Recorder. “SDB denominational leaders are defined as ministers, ministers’ wives, missionaries, General Conference presidents, officers and executives of SDB Boards or Agencies, members of the General Council, and Deacons of SDB Churches in the U.S.A. and Canada.” 2005 minutes of General Conference. Barrett, Michael, deacon of the New York City SDB Church. Died May 19, 2017. July/August 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Burns, Michael L. , 68, pastor of Washington, DC; Hebron, PA; and Albion, WI, SDB Churches. Born February 11, 1950; died March 18, 2018. June 2018 Sabbath Recorder. Chroniger, Rose W. (Dean), 89, deaconess of Central, MD, SDB Church. Born January 29, 1929; died May 18, 2018. July/August 2018 Sabbath Recorder. Davis, Rev. Leland E., SDB church planter in Indianapolis, IN. Pastor of Boulder, CO; Battle Creek, MI; Schenectady, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; and Lake Elsinore, CA, SDB Churches. Missionary to Guyana. Born September 22, 1920; died August 25, 2017. December 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Geske, Roselyn M. “Rosie” (Reierson), deaconess of Milton, WI, SDB Church and SDB Center employee. Born July 28, 1938; died September 23, 2017. December 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Johnson, Barbara A. (Fox), 90, deaconess of the Milton, WI, SDB Church. Born January 10, 1926; died December 28, 2016. July/August 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Jones, Milburn C., 90, deacon of the Battle Creek, MI, SDB Church. Born September 17, 1927; died December 30, 2017. May 2018 Sabbath Recorder. King, Kathi Sue (Traver), 67, pastor’s wife and former deaconess of Ashaway, RI, SDB Church. Born April 26, 1950; died November 22, 2017. February 2018 Sabbath Recorder. Lewis, Jean (Harris), 92, deaconess of the Riverside, CA, SDB Church, Secretary of SDB World Federation and 1999 recipient of the Women’s Board Robe of Achievement. Born April 3, 1925; died April 12, 2017. July/August 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Maltby, Kathryn Ann (Yankaskas) , 72, deaconess of the Plainfield, NJ, SDB Church. Born January 18, 1945; died July 15, 2017. October 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Posey, Maude Marian (Thomas) Snider, 100, charter member and deaconess of Seattle Area, WA, SDB Church. Born September 24, 1916; died October 15, 2016. November 2017 Sabbath Recorder. Rabatin, Grace (Frink) Butler, 95, deaconess of the Paint Rock, AL, SDB Church. Born August 24, 1921; died April 24, 2017. July/August 2017 Sabbath Recorder.

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Rood, Doris Leone (Coon), 98, deaconess of the Milton, WI, and Boulder, CO, SDB Churches. Born August 8, 1919; died January 30, 2018. June 2018 Sabbath Recorder. Sanford, Wilma M. (Seidhoff), 96, deaconess of the Little Genesee, NY, SDB Church and 2010 recipient of the Robe of Achievement. Born January 29, 1922; died March 23, 2018. June 2018 Sabbath Recorder. Wells, Mary Margaret (Hummel), 98, deaconess of the Boulder, CO, SDB Church. Born August 26, 1918; died September 29, 2016. July/August Sabbath Recorder. Rob Appel, Executive Director, presented the Executive Director’s Report to General Conference, 2018. Executive Director’s Report 2018 Since Conference last year I have had the privilege of visiting many of our Churches and Associations, attended ordination counsels and installations, preached at churches and associations, even preaching to Spanish and Portuguese speaking congregations, and I worshipped on-line with a couple of our churches. I had the privilege of attending the MULTIPLY Conference with many of our SDB folk. If you are on the fence about attending this event in October, please plan on going! You will be blessed! John Pethtel will share more on this later today. My attendance at the Memorial Fund, Coordinating Leadership Team and General Council meetings, is a given throughout the year. I have the privilege and I am blessed to be working alongside some very great people. In October I was in attendance at the meeting of the Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty. This was a trip that was directed by last year’s Conference action. During many of my trips there were many good friends to visit along the way, there were celebrations of church milestones, and I even had the honor of attending the “graduations” of some very dear and dedicated saints. I took a Spiritual Retreat in February that was very beneficial in seeking God’s more preferable future for Seventh Day Baptists. I believe my pending retirement announcement, that will take place a year from now, is a part of that. But, I must say thank you to all of you for allowing me to go Brazil in May for the Memorial Service for my dear friend Pastor Jonas Sommer and his family. Pastor Jonas and his wife Clarice were stars! They were saints! And although I was a part of their celebration of life, and having an expectation of some closure due to their sudden departure; it was very surreal to be in Brazil and not see Jonas’ smiling face, that slight tilting of his head and that twinkle in his eye that said, “I know something that you don’t”. He is missed and will be for a long time. But the good news is that Jonas and Clarice trained others over the years; and they now are stepping up to new responsibilities and assuming the roles they were trained for. That is leadership! Respectfully submitted, Donna S. Bond, Coordinator

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And speaking of leadership, while we were in Brazil my very good friend Andy Samuels and I taught a T.I.M.E. seminar, to twelve wonderful students, on Theology; Church Polity; and SDB History.

So that is a quick snapshot my year….so

What’s Next…and Why Now?

With the announcement of my retirement I have had many people ask me, “Now what?” “What are you going to do?” And, “What is going to happen to the Conference?” My answers are, “I don’t know.” I don’t know.” And hey, “No worries, the Conference is in good hands!”

At least that’s my PERSPECTIVE.

But don’t we all have our own perspective; our own way of looking at things? What is your viewpoint and what does the future of Seventh Day Baptists look like to you? That question is probably best answered with three “C” questions; “Going forward, what are you doing in your Community to make Jesus famous? What is Christ’s mission for your church? And what does your Collaborative Kingdom work look like for our larger SDB Conference?” But, before you answer any of these questions, please know that there is a catch. You see, it is not really up to us to decide! God is the initiator of all the kingdom work we do! We just set the table . What do I mean by this? We have specific ministries we do together; Communications, Women’s Ministries, Pastoral Services, Church Development, Missions, Education and History. But it is God’s banquet! These ministries, headed up by a group of talented, dedicated, and caring servant leaders, are going to share with you later today on how you can all be involved in various ministry opportunities. So, in a way, I’m setting the table for them and I am inviting you all! Back in 2015 we were all introduced to the SDB Vision Map. There are four areas of distinction that we covered in this document, and to always keep this in front of us, I would like to repeat these in the preparation of setting the table for the General Council and the Directors Reports. The MISSION is “the reason we exist”. It clarifies what we want to accomplish, but it doesn’t specify how we will do it. The mission of the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference (USA & Canada) is to equip our churches to actively advance God’s Kingdom. It is our reason for existing. The FOCUS is “what we actually do”. This is the motivation in how we accomplish our mission; we must develop and support new and existing leaders who will work through healthy local churches. Leaders include pastors, as well as people who have served, are serving, or desire to serve in local churches. CORE VALUES are “how we do things”. There are four nonnegotiable values that are inherent in everything we do:

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❖ We are a people who lovingly observe the 7 th day Sabbath as a day of rest. It is a blessing, not an obligation. ❖ Bible and Spirit Led . The Bible is the Word of God and the standard for our faith and practice. We expect the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead us as we fulfill our mission. ❖ Local Church Focus . Our membership is made up of local churches that have the freedom and responsibility to worship, educate, and share the Gospel. We provide support to and through local churches. ❖ Our Heritage . We exist because our forefathers were faithful in preserving our unique heritage. We will continue to remember our past, to inform our present, and plan for the future. KINGDOM CULTURE describes the preferred behavior we desire to achieve our mission. There are five preferred behaviors that will help us fulfill our mission; ❖ COMPASSIONATE BIBLICAL LIVING - People demonstrate compassion by ministering to others we meet, as Jesus did. Our daily living should Biblically demonstrate the love of God. ❖ FAMILY - All people will feel welcome and valuable in our churches whether they are a member or just visiting. ❖ WISE STEWARDSHIP - is demonstrated in managing all of the resources God has entrusted to us. We actively use and invest what God has given us rather than just storing it away. ❖ GENEROUS GIVERS - People unselfishly contribute time, talent, possessions, and finances as God has blessed them. ❖ VOLUNTEER FOCUSED - Volunteers are encouraged, empowered and mobilized to serve. Many ministries are successfully supported by passionate volunteers. (Through these opportunities, leaders are identified and developed.) Now, changing directions, I would like to talk about…DIRECTION - We have options in what course we take going forward. The important thing is that we do it by all going in the same direction. You see, we could go back to the old way we did things…or we can press on and go forward and continue to do ministry in a new exciting way! Back in 2013, my Conference presentation was entitled “ The Front Nine ”, and it rehashed the years 2004 through 2013. During that presentation I detailed the remarkable things we had accomplished together! I am not going to repeat that information, due to the time element that we have, but I want you to know we have started the back nine of our ministry scorecard in the same remarkable way during the years ten through fourteen! With the work of the team that you have assembled, the transition the last four years has been historic; and the intentions of our ministries have been fluid, collaborative and engaging! But what will the last four years on our scorecard look like? I can’t be certain, but I know it’s a great day to start something BIG ! And to do that we have to have the right team. I would like our TEAM to stand up as I call your name. Here is our TEAM: Clint Brown, Nick Kersten, Jeremiah Owen, John Pethtel, Ron Ochs, and Jenni Wangsness. We have a great team! Now we have to have the right TIMING! Just in mountain climbing, timing in ministry is vital in the process. It is important to be prepared before you set out on an epic journey; so, if you start too early, or too late, it might mean the difference between success and failure. Timing is everything!

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