Minutes of the 191st Annual Meeting
American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
March 5, 2018
The 2018 Annual Meeting of ABCORI was held at the Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, RI. At 7:00pm, Board of Ministry President Rev. Dr. Carl Balark, Jr. greeted all present. In response to the ‘welcome’ by host pastor, Rev. Wendy Kiefer-O’Brien, the host committee was thanked for its hospitality and, any one in attendance who had not registered was asked to do so. Pres. Balark opened the gathering with prayer.
The Annual Meetings of Affiliated Corporations were held: the Baptist Heritage Center – Rev. Dr. Charles Hartman, presiding (pp. 26 - 27 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017 Fin Rpt); the Baptist Home Board – Rev. Dr. Reppa Cottrell, VP presiding (pp. 21-23 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017 Fin Rpt); the RI Baptist Educational Society – Rev. Bob Auld, presiding (pp. 24, 25 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017-18 Fin Rpt)
President Balark called the Annual Meeting of ABCORI to order and named Peggy Johnson its Parliamentarian. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Mac Kenzie, Clerk called the roll of churches in attendance and declared a quorum (34 churches were represented / 23 needed): 95 delegates {77 - delegates, pastors, and 8 guests). Greenville (7+), FB N Kingstown (4) and Oaklawn (4) took this year’s attendance honors. Note: Each church received a copy of the 2017 Annual Report Yearbook.
The Minutes of the 190th Annual Meeting (p. 29 ’17 Ann Rpt) were m/s/a as written.
The 2017 Treasurer’s Report (pp. 13-5 ’17 Ann Rpt + handout [attached) by Bob Butzier was m/s/a as presented and put on file and subject to audit. Once again in 2017, the Annual Meeting rejoiced in the solid financial health of ABCORI, the laity and staff who have been excellent stewards of our region’s resources and, in our God of Wonder who has promised to supply all our needs. The 2018 Budget (p. 15 ’17 Ann Rpt) was m/s/a.
It was m/s/a to accept the Recruitment Committee’s Report & slate of officers. (pp. 16, 17 ’17 Ann Rpt).
Reports: Board of Ministry - Pres. Balark (p. 4 / ’17 Ann Rpt); Eldercare – Rev. Kathryn Palen (p. 5 / ’17 Ann Rpt); Camping – Deborah Guilmain (p. 6 / ’1 Ann Rpt – Note: Each delegate rec’d a copy of the ‘online’ camp registration form); Church Liaison – ‘Connection’ – Past Pres. Ken Marrocco; National Partners: Kris Lutton – American Baptist Foundation; and, Rev. Dr. Patricia Hernandez – American Baptist Transition Ministries; Executive Minister – Rev. Dr. Tom Wiles (p. 2 / ’17 Ann Rpt). Other reports included in the 2017 Annual Report Yearbook: ABC-USA: Bd Gen Min – Janice Fletcher (p. 12 ); ABWomen – Ginny Rasmussen (p. 19); Baptist Fund of RI – Chair, Carolyn-Yvonne Dutton (p. 8); Minister’s Council – Sec, Rev. Dr. Joyce Duerr (p. 20), Operations / Personnel & Properties – Rev. Dr. Dan Cottrell (pp. 10, 11), Standing Comm on Ordained Ministry – Rev. Dr. Jonathan Malone (p. 7).
Executive Minister – Rev. Dr. Tom Wiles encouraged our understanding of the breadth of the impact in our regional and local church ministries and ABCORI shared initiatives. He invited the meeting to continue to celebrate the gifts and vision of our region’s staff. He built upon Past Pres. Marrocco’s call for more churches to identify a liaisons person for its ‘CONNECTION’ to the resources, opportunities and news about how churches are following God as we connect with our neighborhoods and one another in the region. President Marrocco made brief, celebratory remarks to bring his involvement with the region’s leadership to a close.
The date and location of the next Annual Gathering & Meeting were announced: Gathering – Oct 7, 2018 at Emmanuel Baptist Church (Prov) and, the Annual Meeting – March 4, 2019 at 7:00pm at the Lakewood Baptist Church (Warwick).
It was m/s/a to adjourn the Annual Meeting. Pastor Herman Falu of the Church of the Master (Prov) gave the benediction.
Rev. Dr. Malcolm Mac Kenzie, Clerk
Note: All written reports and Meeting documents are on file in the ABCORI office.
American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island
March 5, 2018
The 2018 Annual Meeting of ABCORI was held at the Greenville Baptist Church in Greenville, RI. At 7:00pm, Board of Ministry President Rev. Dr. Carl Balark, Jr. greeted all present. In response to the ‘welcome’ by host pastor, Rev. Wendy Kiefer-O’Brien, the host committee was thanked for its hospitality and, any one in attendance who had not registered was asked to do so. Pres. Balark opened the gathering with prayer.
The Annual Meetings of Affiliated Corporations were held: the Baptist Heritage Center – Rev. Dr. Charles Hartman, presiding (pp. 26 - 27 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017 Fin Rpt); the Baptist Home Board – Rev. Dr. Reppa Cottrell, VP presiding (pp. 21-23 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017 Fin Rpt); the RI Baptist Educational Society – Rev. Bob Auld, presiding (pp. 24, 25 / ’17 Ann Rpt: m/s/a – slate of officers & 2017-18 Fin Rpt)
President Balark called the Annual Meeting of ABCORI to order and named Peggy Johnson its Parliamentarian. Rev. Dr. Malcolm Mac Kenzie, Clerk called the roll of churches in attendance and declared a quorum (34 churches were represented / 23 needed): 95 delegates {77 - delegates, pastors, and 8 guests). Greenville (7+), FB N Kingstown (4) and Oaklawn (4) took this year’s attendance honors. Note: Each church received a copy of the 2017 Annual Report Yearbook.
The Minutes of the 190th Annual Meeting (p. 29 ’17 Ann Rpt) were m/s/a as written.
The 2017 Treasurer’s Report (pp. 13-5 ’17 Ann Rpt + handout [attached) by Bob Butzier was m/s/a as presented and put on file and subject to audit. Once again in 2017, the Annual Meeting rejoiced in the solid financial health of ABCORI, the laity and staff who have been excellent stewards of our region’s resources and, in our God of Wonder who has promised to supply all our needs. The 2018 Budget (p. 15 ’17 Ann Rpt) was m/s/a.
It was m/s/a to accept the Recruitment Committee’s Report & slate of officers. (pp. 16, 17 ’17 Ann Rpt).
Reports: Board of Ministry - Pres. Balark (p. 4 / ’17 Ann Rpt); Eldercare – Rev. Kathryn Palen (p. 5 / ’17 Ann Rpt); Camping – Deborah Guilmain (p. 6 / ’1 Ann Rpt – Note: Each delegate rec’d a copy of the ‘online’ camp registration form); Church Liaison – ‘Connection’ – Past Pres. Ken Marrocco; National Partners: Kris Lutton – American Baptist Foundation; and, Rev. Dr. Patricia Hernandez – American Baptist Transition Ministries; Executive Minister – Rev. Dr. Tom Wiles (p. 2 / ’17 Ann Rpt). Other reports included in the 2017 Annual Report Yearbook: ABC-USA: Bd Gen Min – Janice Fletcher (p. 12 ); ABWomen – Ginny Rasmussen (p. 19); Baptist Fund of RI – Chair, Carolyn-Yvonne Dutton (p. 8); Minister’s Council – Sec, Rev. Dr. Joyce Duerr (p. 20), Operations / Personnel & Properties – Rev. Dr. Dan Cottrell (pp. 10, 11), Standing Comm on Ordained Ministry – Rev. Dr. Jonathan Malone (p. 7).
Executive Minister – Rev. Dr. Tom Wiles encouraged our understanding of the breadth of the impact in our regional and local church ministries and ABCORI shared initiatives. He invited the meeting to continue to celebrate the gifts and vision of our region’s staff. He built upon Past Pres. Marrocco’s call for more churches to identify a liaisons person for its ‘CONNECTION’ to the resources, opportunities and news about how churches are following God as we connect with our neighborhoods and one another in the region. President Marrocco made brief, celebratory remarks to bring his involvement with the region’s leadership to a close.
The date and location of the next Annual Gathering & Meeting were announced: Gathering – Oct 7, 2018 at Emmanuel Baptist Church (Prov) and, the Annual Meeting – March 4, 2019 at 7:00pm at the Lakewood Baptist Church (Warwick).
It was m/s/a to adjourn the Annual Meeting. Pastor Herman Falu of the Church of the Master (Prov) gave the benediction.
Rev. Dr. Malcolm Mac Kenzie, Clerk
Note: All written reports and Meeting documents are on file in the ABCORI office.
