115th Annual Meeting Overview and Handout
Introduction
This report is intended for use by those returning from the Annual Meeting.
It contains the results of elections, key decisions, persons honored, events
celebrated and special prayer requests.
It is important that we share information with other members back home. We are requesting that delegates prepare reports to be shared with their respective congregations. The following information should prove helpful in preparation of those reports, along with information posted on the Covenant Annual Meeting website at www.covchurch.org.
Please request the opportunity to make a report to your church. Suggested opportunities include:
- Sunday morning or evening worship
- Church business meeting
- Small groups within the church, perhaps tailoring information to specific areas of interest
- Church board, council or diaconate
- Written report in your church newsletter
- Personal letter to be shared with the congregation
- Mention that stories, photos and audio recordings of key addresses will be found on the Covenant Internet site: www.covchurch.org. Meeting coverage will also be found in the August issue of The Covenant Companion.
- ALL OF THE ABOVE!!
Greetings
For those uncomfortable delivering reports before groups,
you may want to begin your report to your local church by reading the following
introductory paragraph, followed by selections from the Key Facts section
that you find of interest, and then closing with a personal note of thanks
to your church for allowing you to represent them:
"I am pleased to have represented our church at the 115th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was one of 921 registered delegates and conferees attending this year's event. I would like to take a few moments to share with you some of the highlights of this year's meeting."
Key Facts
1. There were 636 credentialed delegates, including 67 general delegates and
569 delegates representing conferences and regions. Total registered conference
attendance was 921 with 319 churches represented.
2. Revised Constitution and Bylaws were presented to delegates, with a vote scheduled for the 2001 Annual Meeting. The newly proposed structure focuses on our common mission, streamlines governance, creates closer links between the denomination and conferences, and increases flexibility in the decision-making process. Detailed coverage of the yearlong deliberation process will be found on the Covenant website and in The Covenant Companion.
3. Complete news coverage of the 2000 Annual Meeting may be found on the Covenant website at www.covchurch.org. Stories and photos were added to the site throughout each day, to keep Covenanters worldwide advised of key decisions, election results and other items of interest during the course of the meeting. They will remain archived on the site, suitable for downloading and printing.
4. Growth statistics:
- Attendance in 1999 increased 5.6% to 123,912, an increase of 24.1% during the last five years.
- In World Mission, there are 167,371 members in 1,706 churches. There are now 1.7 Covenant members in World Mission churches for every Covenant member in the United States and Canada. Additionally, there are 2.4 World Mission churches for each Covenant church in the United States and Canada.
- Church giving from local churches to the denomination in 1999 was $7,292,608, reflecting increases of 7.4% over last year and 30.8% over the last five years.
5. A 2001 Coordinated Budget totaling $11,841,929 was approved, of which $7,935,000 will be sought from Covenant churches. The Coordinated Budget will support the following ministries:
- World Mission: $4,852,648
- Church Growth and Evangelism: $2,834,638
- Christian Formation: $ 756,900
- Department of the Ordered Ministry: $ 453,500
- Communication $ 275,000
- North Park University: $ 960,000
- General Administration: $1,709,243
6. Twenty new churches were received into membership, representing cumulative membership of 1,790 and cumulative attendance of 2,597. This is the second largest total of new churches in a single year since the founding year of the denomination.
7. We celebrated the consecration of eight new Covenant Missionaries to serve in Ecuador, Laos, Japan, Colombia and Mexico; the commissioning of two individuals for staff ministry; and the ordination of 29 men and women into Covenant ministry.
8. We welcomed special representatives from Sweden, Taiwan, Japan, as well as CIPE representatives from Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile. CIPE is the Confraternity of Hispanic Covenant Churches.
9. Special guests included Dr. Krister Andersson, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Sweden.
10. Total Covenant Pension Plan assets increased 9.4%, from $95.9 to $105 million. Over the last five years, payment minimums for retirees and surviving spouses are up 51% and 70% respectively. A total of 92% of surviving spouses are at the minimum level. Total 1999 benefit payments to retirees and surviving spouses were $3,658,182.
11. Changes in pension rules were approved, which allow early retirement for individuals with deferred vested status. Questions may be addressed to the director of pensions at Covenant offices in Chicago.
12. The Commission on Town and Country Ministries was extended for another five-year period. This commission represents the interests of 280 Covenant congregations in town and country settings.
13. The Commission on Ethnic Ministries was extended for an additional five years. This commission recommends multi-cultural directions and strategies of the denomination.
14. The Commission on Urban Ministries was extended for an additional five years. The commission recommends strategies to advance urban ministry within the Covenant.
15. Evelyn M.R. Johnson was installed as superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference.
16. Stan Henderson was introduced as the new vice president of the Covenant.
17. Karl Klockars was introduced as the new general counsel for the Covenant.
18. A resolution on anti-semitism, presented by the Christian Action Commission, was approved. A copy of the resolution may be found on the Covenant website.
19. A Resolution of Sympathy was introduced praising God for the lives and ministries of dedicated Covenanters who have gone to be with the Lord, including 10 pastors, 4 missionaries, 13 spouses and one commissioned staff minister.
20. The 116th Annual Meeting will be held June 27-30, 2001, at the Holiday Inn in Rosemont, Illinois. Highlights will include a vote on the revised Constitution and Bylaws introduced at this year's meeting. Mark your calendars!
21. Garth Bolinder was introduced as "conference developer" for the Mid-south Region.
