This annual report outlines a summary of our ministries during 2012.
Download the 2012 Annual Report
Annual Meeting Minutes | January 18, 2013
The meeting started at 7:30 pm with Dave Welch and Brian Wiewiora leading in worship.
Keith Duff made some opening remarks, then announced that Michael Lund would be going into surgery for a new heart later that night. Several people led in prayer, then there was a time of testimony where people shared how God has been working in the VBC family over the past year.
Al Gonnerman shared some of the highlights of 2012. See the elder report on page 2 of the 2012 Annual Report for details.
Tim Badal talked about some of the plans for the new year.
- He said VBC is in a healthy place financially, physically, and spiritually. We are a body that is working and praying together, and we pray that will continue. We are founded on the Living Stone, and we will continue to build on that foundation.
- Addition of a full-time staff member: Many call VBC their home, but not their community. We would like to have a man who would champion the process fo moving those who come in the front door into community. He would dedicate his time and energy on small groups and train and help leader shepherd the body. “The only way we can grow bigger is to grow smaller.” The elders will carefully watch the financial restraints and not move forward until the right time. Tim encourage the members to pray for this man as God is preparing him for his role at VBC.
Keith gave a financial summary and an overview of the budget for 2013. He stressed God’s faithfulness in always meeting the needs of VBC. He also gave a brief description of how the elder/stewardship team arrive at the budget. He gave a time for questions and answers. Our goal is to be transparent. We have a year-end meeting with the budget in its current form and allow anyone who wants to come to discuss it and provide input.
Keith discussed the membership process for 2013. We began to “re-member” in 2011, where members must sign the membership commitment each year. This is to reaffirm our commitments and make us more aware of what we are committing to. Since our membership is a community commitment, the elder decided that this year we would sign a membership document as a community. Each member will sign a poster-sized document rather than each signing a separate piece of paper. Regular attenders are also being encourage to become members.
There was a short time for comments:
- Baptisms scheduled at different times so that more people would be able to witness them
- New members introduced in church or with a bulletin insert
- Too much emphasis on giving
- World Relief is falling to a few; we need more involvement from the body
Tim then discussed Keith’s sabbatical which will begin on January 28. There will be a time of prayer for the Duff family on January 27.
Non-members were dismissed, and the business portion of meeting was closed with prayer.
The members then voted and signed the membership document. 89 of 168 active members were present. All candidates for office were affirmed. The ballot consisted of:
- Kevin O’Brien for a 2-year term as elder – 87 yes; 1 no; 1 abstain
- Al Gonnerman for a 1-year term as elder – 87 yes; 1 no; 1 abstain
- Sue Fair for a 1-year term as treasurer – 89 yes
- Missy Kirkland for a 1-year term as clerk – 89 yes
Tim then addressed the members on the subject of membership. It is a commitment to pursue holiness. He had two issues to bring before the body on the subject of church discipline. As a father disciplines his children with love and compassion, so the church must sometimes discipline its members with the hope of restoring them to fellowship. There is a path to holiness, and personal holiness is a community project. This is seen clearly in Matthew 18:15-20:
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. (New Living Translation)
The Elders asked for the night to conclude with a time of prayer in small groups.
Submitted by,
Melissa Kirkland, church clerk