BOT Highlights - May 2012

Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church in North America met on May 3 and 4, 2012 at the denominational offices in Grand Rapids, Mich. During this meeting the Board:

1. Approved the appointment of Rev. Kurt D. Selles as director of Back to God Ministries International and recommended him to Synod 2012 for ratification (see news story). This appointment fills the vacancy left by the death of Rev. Robert Heerspink.
2. Endorsed a proposal by the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) to  change its name to World Renew, with a tagline “Living Justice, Loving Mercy, Serving  Christ” and a new logo, pending the approval of Synod 2012. CRWRC board and staff  members told the Board of Trustees that the new name would enable CRWRC to  engage more effectively with a broader range of people (read more).
3. Elected officers for 2012-2013. The officers of the binational Board are Rev. John  Terpstra, president; Ms. Katherine Vandergrift, vice president, and Rev. Sheila Holmes,  vice-all. Officers of the CRCNA-Canada Corporation are Ms. Vandergrift, president; Rev.  William C. Veenstra, vice president, and Mrs. Grace Miedema, secretary. Officers of the Michigan Corporation are Rev. Terpstra, president; Rev. Holmes, vice president, and  Rev. D. Scott Greenway, vice-all.
4. Recognized retiring Board members Rev. Robert A. Lyzenga and Rev. Eleanor M.  Rietkerk for their service to the denomination. Also paid tribute to Board members Mr.  Mark Charles, Mr. Bruce Dykstra, Mrs. Joan Flikkema, Rev. Dale Melenberg and Rev.  Trevor Vanderveen, who have completed a first three-year term on the Board.
5. Approved proposed revisions to the Model Articles of Incorporation and Bylaw for  Churches within Canada. These documents are included in the Church Order  Supplement and thus also require adoption by synod.
6. Met with Mr. Mark Rice, the director of Faith Alive Christian Resources, and with  members of the Faith Alive board, to discuss strategies being used to address the  financial crisis affecting the CRC’s publishing agency. Mr. Rice outlined steps being  taken to generate revenue through increased sales of curriculum products. He said the  next several months will be critical in determining the future of Faith Alive.
7. Approved the unified budget for CRCNA agencies and offices as presented and  recommended to Synod 2012 a Ministry Share of $326.26 per active, adult member for  2013. This is a three percent increase over 2012.
8. Initiated a strategic planning process leading to an update and revision of the CRCNA’s  Ministry Plan, with a focus on clarity, simplicity and the relationship between congregations and denominational agencies and offices. The initial phase of the plan is  to be ready within six months, with an interim plan going to Synod 2013 and a final  version to Synod 2014.
9. Requested that Synod 2012 grant the Board the power to appoint and to ratify, on  synod’s behalf, a new editor-in-chief for Faith Alive Christian Resources, if a candidate is  identified prior to Synod 2013.
10. Heard a report from Ms. Bonnie Nicholas, director of the Office of Safe Church Ministry,  regarding the initiatives and challenges of this office.
11. Next meetings:

• Sept. 27-29, 2012 - simultaneous board meetings in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Feb. 21-22, 2013 - Burlington, Ontario
• May 2-3, 2013 - Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Sept. 26-28, 2013 - simultaneous board meetings in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Feb. 27-28, 2014 – Burlington, Ontario
• May 1-2, 2014 – Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Sept. 25-27, 2014 - simultaneous board meetings in Grand Rapids, Michigan