The Region Board met on August 26-27, 2005 to discover God together, worship, engage in ongoing conversation with change, plan for the future, and conduct the business of the Region. In the absence of President Jan McCormack, Vice-President Richard Schweissing chaired the meetings. Jan was present by telephone during some of the sessions.

Opening worship, led by Wayne and Ingrid Dvirnak, set the tone for the weekend. Basing the worship around Moses’ burning bush experience, participants were encouraged to be patient enough to watch God at work.

Desmond Hoffmeister, Transition Executive Minister, addressed the Board on the "State of the Region." He inspired board members to make the shifts from business to ministry, from looking at change as episodic to recognizing it to be ongoing, and from serving a structure to adopting a structure that serves us. In addition, participants began to look at our Region’s root narrative and to progress toward potential springboard narratives that will take us into a dynamic, purpose-filled future.

Having accepted the challenge of engaging 30 people in worshipful work after lunch on Friday afternoon, Mike Oldham introduced the topic of implementation of Ministry and Mission Clusters. Groups of board members discussed necessary shifts, vision and opportunities, challenges, and discernment vital to this new ministry movement.

After considering the input from the groups, clusters and the role of the ministry and mission coaches were defined. To download documents received by the Board regarding implementation of Ministry and Mission Clusters, click here.

Discovery and Discernment Sessions are being scheduled across the Region beginning in September. The purpose of these events is to hear from both clergy and laity regarding expectations, opportunities, challenges, and needs. The first Discovery and Discernment Session has been scheduled to occur in Ft. Collins at the American Baptist Church on September 6 at 11:00 a.m. Another will take place at Black Forest Camp and Conference Center during the Senior Adult Conference. The Work Weekend at Camp WYOBA will be the venue for yet another. Staff is in the process of contacting individual churches to ask them to host Discovery and Discernment Sessions for their geographic area. If you and your church are interested in hosting one of these important Sessions, please call the Region Office.

Those attending the 2005 Gathering in Colorado Springs October 21-22 will have the opportunity to meet in Clusters to begin visioning for the future and share stories of ways we are discovering God and what we believe God has called us uniquely to do.

In order to help nurture a culture conducive for ministry and mission, it is clear that additional Region staff appointments were necessary. The following individuals were introduced:

• Kay Farley will serve as a Ministry and Mission Coach with the Denver Cluster. In addition she will develop a Region-wide youth ministry. She comes to us from her role as assistant to the pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Denver.
  
  
• Mike Oldham, current manager of Black Forest Camp and Conference Center, will be a Ministry and Mission Coach with the Eastern Colorado/New Mexico Cluster and the Western Colorado/Utah Cluster.
  
  
• Wayne Dvirnak will serve as Ministry and Mission Coach in the West Wyoming, East Wyoming, and Southeast Wyoming/Northeast Colorado Clusters. In addition he is working with churches in the area of placement.
  
  
• Thai Smith, who serves as executive assistant to Desmond Hoffmeister, was introduced to the Board as well.

On September 9-11, 2005, friends of Black Forest will gather for a weekend of fond memories and celebration of 55 years of ministry at BFCCC. There will be times to play together, eat together, and worship together. You don’t want to miss this weekend. If you are planning to attend the Senior Adult Conference September 13-14, come a few days early and stay for the Conference. For more detailed information about the weekend, visit the Black Forest website, http://www.bfccc.org/.

With the sale of BFCCC comes the need to liquidate the equipment and other property. The BFCCC Board has developed four phases that will bring this process to completion. For details, click here.

The Region Board received the report from the ABCRM Investment Committee. This committee is chaired by Anne Mills (Calvary Baptist/Denver, CO). Serving with her are Jim Odell (Crossroads/Northglenn, CO) and Charlie Angell (FBC/Colorado Springs, CO). Upon recommendation of the ABCRM Investment Committee, the Board voted to invest $9 million of Ministry/Mission Fund in the American Baptist Foundation and $4 million in mutual funds. The Board also voted to place $1 million in short-term securities to provide funding for transitional costs during 2005, to cover outstanding costs related to the closing of Black Forest Camp and Conference Center, and to help fund the 2006 Budget. No interest from the $13 million will be used until 2007. The Board also voted to accept the final version of the Ministry/Mission Fund Investment Policy.

For the purposes of implementing Ministry and Mission Clusters, meeting the requirements of Colorado law, and eliminating ambiguities in the existing ABCRM Bylaws and Rules of Procedure, the Board voted to recommend to the delegates of the 2005 Gathering a set of Interim Transition Bylaws. It is the intent that these Interim Transition Bylaws would be in effect until new bylaws are adopted.

The Administration Task Force, chaired by Jackie Arnold (FBC/Loveland, CO), along with staff, officers, and legal counsel, prepared the Interim Transition Bylaws and presented them to the Board for consideration. Those serving on the Task Force are Doug Carr (Calvary Baptist/Cheyenne, WY), Dawn Currier (FBC/Molina, CO), Clara Henderson (FBC/LaJunta, CO), Sandra Shreve (Calvary Baptist/Denver, CO), Beth Sullivan (FBC/Cheyenne, WY), and Yvonne Whisenhunt (FBC/Longmont, CO);

The Proposed Interim Transition Bylaws provide a road map for our transition and include legalities required by Colorado law. Copies of the Proposed Interim Transition Bylaws will be mailed to churches prior to the 2005 ABCRM Gathering. The actual text of the proposed interim transition bylaws will be available soon.

In the process of drafting new bylaws, input will be requested from Region constituents in various settings. It is the intent that new bylaws will be presented for consideration by delegates at the 2006 ABCRM Gathering with projected adoption in 2007.

Since the beginning of 2005, the Ecumenical Task Force has been considering the nature of our Region’s relationship with the Colorado Council of Churches. Ecumenical Task Force members are Barbara Graham (FBC/Colorado Springs, CO), Mark Jervis (FBC/Gillette, WY), Gordon Kieft (Calvary Baptist, Denver, CO), and Dan Vincent (FBC/Ft. Collins, CO).

At the August Board meeting, the Ecumenical Task Force presented its final "Proposal to the Region Board Concerning Our Involvement with the Colorado Council of Churches." It was voted to accept the Proposal. To view the full text of the Proposal, click here.

It should be noted that this document does not support a particular position on homosexuality. A Task Force lead by Michael Sayler, pastor of First Baptist Church/Colorado Springs, CO, will be facilitating that discussion.

The Region’s continued involvement with the Colorado Council of Churches will be for a three year period. During this time we will increase our participation in order to shape change and influence policy. For a number of years our involvement has been minimal. This has meant we have not spoken out on crucial issues.

Since we will continue as a full member, we will have the right to express our beliefs and commitments through the debate and voting processes. If there is a major issue of substance with which we are not in agreement, we have veto power. American Baptists of the Rocky Mountain Region will have a significant impact on the direction of the Council.

We are also committing ourselves to entering into dialogue with and possible membership in other interdenominational organizations that mesh with our purpose and vision.

The 2006 Budget was presented, discussed, and adjusted. The Board voted to recommend the budget to the delegates at the 2005 ABCRM Gathering. The budget reflects new opportunities for ministry in the areas of mission, new church development, church and pastoral support, camping and youth. To view the budget, click here.

This year’s Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains will be hosted by First Baptist Church in Colorado Springs where Mike Sayler is the pastor. Most of the events (with the exception of worship, childcare, and the pre-Gathering clergy/spouse event) will be held at Antlers Hilton Hotel, near the church.

Gathering under the theme, "Discovering God Together," we will discover God through our worship, discovering sessions, fellowship and prayer times, and our worshipful work. We will be joined by Jeff Savage, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Springfield, Oregon. Jeff will also be a key presenter during the clergy/spouse event, scheduled for October 20. Youth events are also being planned in conjunction with the Gathering.

A packet of information is being mailed to each church. Ask your pastor or other staff for information on delegates, housing, and registration. Information about the clergy/spouse event will be mailed separately. You may also download the registration form from our website.