Digit Debacle causes Deadline Delay

When the second phone call came today asking whether the BCE fax number was … , I knew something had gone wrong. So, I pulled the cover letter and certification form for the Scripture Memorization Program and checked the numbers again. Sure enough, the fax number on the the certification form was not right.

Instead of (866) 571-5879, the correct fax number, we replaced the first six with an 8. This digit debacle causes all those fax calls go awry. Please accept my apology for allowing the error to escape my notice.

[And if you happen to be the recipient of all those wrong numbers, I really apologize. Feel free to contact me by fax, the number is …]

Because of this error and the submission delay it may introduce, the Board of Christian Education extends the deadline for submitting the 2007-08 Scripture Memorization Program certification to July 7, 2008. You may also submit the list of names by post or email.

Once again, the fax number is (866) 571-5879 and the new deadline is July 7, 2008.

COSAR (Committee On Support And Retirement) Meets

Janesville, WI: The Committee on Support and Retirement (COSAR) whose name is descriptive of their work, met at the SDB Center on Sunday June 29.

The voting members of COSAR are shown in the picture (l-r seated: Butch Hibbard, Eric Rudert and Clayton Pinder all elected by Conference; standing: Gordon Lawton, Director of Pastoral Services and Jim Goodrich, Memorial Fund Trustee, both ex-offico. Additionally there is a representative of the Missionary Society (usually the Executive Director, Kirk Looper) and the Executive Director of the General Conference, Rob Appel. Rob took the picture.

The major topic for discussion was the upcoming changes to the federal laws about retirement plans for pastors. Many pastors have retirement accounts to which the church contributes. Usually this accout is a 403(b), which refers to the section of the IRS code that created and allows this kind of account to exist. The IRS states on their website that "A 403(b) plan, also known as a tax-sheltered annuity (TSA) plan, is a retirement plan for certain employees of public schools, employees of certain tax-exempt organizations, and certain ministers." The rules are changing and new, more restrictive rules as to reporting, will be in force January 1, 2009. Pastors are eligible for Housing Allowance deductions on their income tax, even after retirement. Not all retirement accounts can be designated as Housing Allowance. 403(b) accounts can be so designated. This is a real help in stretching retirement income for retired pastors. COSAR is in the process of creating a plan for all SDB pastors and Conference workers and plans to have details to present at Conference in August.

Other topics included:

• reviewing the old retirement progam for which the Pastors Retirement Offiering Project (PROP) raises money. An increase for the 13 remaining participants was considered.
• Suggested Pastor Salary Guidelines for 2009 were set and will be discributed in time for considereation at and before October business meetings.
• reviewed the disability insurance that is provided for pastors serving 30 or more hours per week.
• reviewing emergency requests and aid given to pastors and their families.

Daytona Beach Ordains Two to Pastoral Ministry

Daytona Beach, FL: The Daytona Beach SDB Church called two of its own to Ordination as Pastors. Both are currently serving in that capacity.

Michael Spearl is the Pastor of the Bradenton, FL, branch church on Flordia's West Coast. Keith McCall is the Pastor of the Edgewater, FL, branch church, South of Daytona.

The council was held Friday night, June 20, and the ordination service was held Sabbath afternoon, June 21. The ordained ministers present to participate in the laying on of hands were Rev Socrates Thompson, Rev John Camenga, Rev W. H. Winborne and Rev Gordon Lawton.

Following the prayer of consecration all present were given the opportunity to come forward and lay hands on Keith and Michael and whisper a blessing or word of encouragement to them. The picture above shows those in line to lay on hands and bless these men.

It was a blessed day. Please pray for these newly ordained leaders, their churches and the ministry of SDBs in the South Atlantic Association.

Summer Institute completed

What takes 130 hours over two weeks and feeds the mind and soul? Summer Institute, that's what!!

Five students from 4 states gathered at the SDB Center in Janesville, WI, to study, learn and write. This was the Summer Institute on Sabbath Theology.

(l-r in the picture: Haywood Floyd, White Cloud, MI; Helmer Umaña, Arlington, VA; Brent Hannah, Bay Area, CA; Kory Geske, Battle Creek, MI; Dustin Mackintosh, Thornton, CO and me)

We studied the Sabbath through the Bible and talked about why some either ignore the idea of Sabbath or think it is transferred to another day.

In this course there were no tests. However there were morning devotions, lectures, a lot of reading, and a paper to write following a two page outline. Paper lengths ranged from over 20 to over 50 pages. (double spaced, 1" margins, Courier New 12 fount).

It was a good two weeks of learning, sharing and making new friends. Now all I have to do is read the papers. Next year is SDB History.

World Fed still in need

This from Pastor Ken Chroniger, Alfred Station, N.Y.

Many have been praying and providing for our SDB brothers and sisters from around the world. These brethren want to attend the World Federation meetings in Wisconsin, to receive encouragement and strengthen their Conference ministries.

To make this happen--
Total needed: $30,000
Rec’d to date: $4,567
Still needed: $25,433

"Whatever a man sows that shall he also reap!"

Please be accountable in your prayers!
Let the Executive of the World Federation, Calvin Babcock, know that
(1) You are praying
(2) Your Church is praying.

(Brother Calvin hasn’t heard from anyone that they or their church are praying. Would you encourage him? cmbabcock@msn.com)

Send
(1) Your Check
(2) Your Church’s Check
made out to the “Seventh Day Baptist World Federation” to the Treasurer of the World Federation:
Luan Ellis
614 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Alfred Station, NY 14803

Thank you, and God bless you.

Registrations closing in on 500

The annual SDB General Conference sessions are coming up August 3-9.

Here are the latest registration tallies as of June 24:
We have a total of 230 registrations, representing 494 participants.

(Of these numbers, 145 registrations for 332 participants were processed on-line, or right at two-thirds.)

There are still 22 dorm rooms available where one child (11 and under) can sleep on the floor for free.

Conference will be held at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Paper forms are in the May Sabbath Recorder, or you may still register on-line at our main website until July 1.

Please remember that the late fee is now enforced: $10 per person age 12-and-up; $5 for each child age 3-11.

Late Fee inspires more registrations

Thanks to the “late fee” registration deadline of June 15, many people rushed to register for this year’s Conference. (Kind of like people mailing their tax forms by April 15…)

Here are the latest registration tallies as of June 17:
We have a total of 206 registrations, representing 461 participants. That’s a jump of nearly 150 people since our last report.

(Of these numbers, 141 registrations for 328 participants were processed on-line, or about 70%.)

The 196th Seventh Day Baptist General Conference will be held at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, August 3-9. Paper forms are in the May Sabbath Recorder, or you may still register on-line at our main website until July 1.

Please note that the late fee is now enforced: $10 per person age 12-and-up; $5 for each child age 3-11.

Former BWA Vice President dies

From the Baptist World Alliance,
Washington, D.C.

Alma Hunt, Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) from 1970 to 1975, died on Saturday, June 14, in Roanoke, Virginia.

Hunt, who presided over some of the sessions of the 13th BWA World Congress in 1975 in Stockholm, Sweden--the first woman to do so--was Executive Secretary of the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) from 1948 to 1974, serving 26 years.

Hunt led the WMU to actively support the formation of the BWA Women’s Department (BWAWD), and she was a founder of the North American Baptist Women’s Union (NABWU). She was NABWU President from 1964 to 1967.

BWA General Secretary Neville Callam lauded Hunt for being a reliable and longstanding supporter of the international church body. “We are thankful for people like her who give so much encouragement to those involved in the worldwide Baptist movement,” the BWA leader said.

Funeral services will be held at Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke on Wednesday, June 18. She was 98 years old.

Happy Anniversary, SR!

It happened at No. 9 Spruce Street, New York City, on “Fifth Day,” June 13, 1844. Under the leadership of Editor George B. Utter (pictured), the first issue of The Sabbath Recorder rolled off the printing presses.

The five-column weekly newspaper carried articles on religion, happenings among Seventh Day Baptist mission fields, and national news, including an article from the Baltimore American about Morse’s magnetic telegraph that had just been perfected. The writer was thrilled to be able to convey the news from the Democratic convention in Baltimore to Washington, as soon as it was announced.

We’re thrilled to be able to share our anniversary with you on this “Sixth Day” in 2008. Just don’t look for coverage of the Democratic convention this summer. God bless, and let’s keep connected!

Registration 'Late Fee' Approacheth

Here are the latest registration tallies for our annual General Conference.

As of June 11:
We have a total of 128 registrations, representing 291 participants.
(Of these numbers, 95 registrations for 209 participants were processed on-line.)

Conference will be held at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, August 3-9. Paper forms are in the May Sabbath Recorder, or you may register on-line at our main website.

Remember, there is a LATE FEE (per person) if you register after June 15.

Coffey named to Blair Faith Foundation

From the Baptist World Alliance:

Baptist World Alliance (BWA) President David Coffey has been named to the Advisory Council of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

In his invitation letter to Coffey, former British Prime Minister Blair said, “Given your extensive knowledge and experience, I would count it a great honor and privilege if you were willing to accept an invitation to become a council member.”

Coffey, in accepting the invitation, stated, “I pledge my support for the Tony Blair Faith Foundation because I share the vision of fostering respectful relations between the historic faith traditions of the world. It is of vital importance for the peace of the nations that the faith traditions learn how to live with their deepest differences.”

Blair declared that “the aim of the foundation is to help promote respect, friendship, and understanding between major religious faiths, and to make the case for faith itself as relevant, positive, and a force for good in the modern world.”

Coffey’s appointment is for three years. He will be joined by other Christian leaders, such as Baptist pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. The advisory council of the foundation-- launched in New York on May 30--also has members from other faith traditions, including Judaism and Islam.

Coffey, who is BWA president from 2005-2010, previously served as General Secretary for the Baptist Union of Great Britain for 15 years, as Moderator of Free Churches (a Protestant and Evangelical grouping), and was one of the four presidents of the ecumenical group Churches Together in England.

Earlier this year, he was honored by Queen Elizabeth II with the Order of the British Empire for his services to interfaith relations.

Historical Society annual meeting

The Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society held its annual meeting May 11, 2008, at the SDB Center in Janesville, Wis. Though few members attended the meeting in person, the Society was well represented by the proxies of over 50 members, nearly one-fourth of the total.

The Society voted to adopt its 2007 annual report and elected a new director to serve a five-year term. She is Norma MacLuskie, member of the Riverside, Calif., SDB Church and resident of Newport News, Va. Norma replaces Pastor Chris Mattison of North Loup, Neb., who served for five productive years on the Society’s Board.

Librarian-Historian Nicholas Kersten also gave a brief presentation on the history of Seventh Day Baptist missions to Palestine.

Following the meeting, a special reception honored Pastor Mattison’s years of service to the Society.

(Photo, left to right: Norma MacLuskie, Norma Rudert, Janet Thorngate, Nick Kersten, Ruth Burdick, and Paul Green. News report by Nick Kersten)

World Federation needs your help

From Jim Skaggs' blog, "One Eternal Day"--

This year the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference of USA and Canada will host the sessions of the Seventh Day Baptist World Federation. The SDBWF will meet the week before the General Conference sessions (at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis.) in August. World Federation delegates will also attend Conference and many will take advantage of the opportunity to visit some of our churches.

The World Federation meetings are not yet fully funded and they ask for your help to ensure that delegates -- especially from less affluent parts of the world -- will be able to attend. They need to raise $30,000.

If you can contribute, please make the check to "Seventh Day Baptist World Federation" and mail it to the Treasurer of the SDBWF:
Luan Ellis
614 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Alfred Station, NY 14803.

Obviously the need is immediate. The SDBWF sessions will be in late July and travel plans need to be finalized now.

Your prayers are needed too: That all travel and Visa issues will be resolved; that the sessions will be useful for those who attend; and that the needed funds can be raised.

Registrations climbing

Here are the latest registration tallies for our annual General Conference.

As of June 5:
We have a total of 102 registrations, representing 233 participants.
(Of these numbers, 75 registrations for 176 participants were processed on-line.)

Conference will be held at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, August 3-9. Paper forms are in the May Sabbath Recorder, or you may register on-line at our main website. Remember, there is a late fee (per person) if you register after June 15.

What is a Christian movie?

‘Tis the season for blockbuster movies. With that in mind, I’d like to share this.

In a recent press release, Joseph Bardwell, Chairman and President of “In Jesus’ Name Productions,” answers the question, "What is a Christian movie?":


--I propose if a movie is going to live up to being called a “Christian movie,” it should genuinely point to Jesus Christ.
--A Christian movie should lead a non-believer closer to a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and/or help a believer grow deeper in their relationship with God.
--We need to be realistic that many movies with Christian content do not really help the average person become a Christian or grow as a Christian.
--To believe in the reality of a personal relationship with God through Jesus, we need to see God come alive in our Christian films.
--In Jesus’ Name Productions’ goal is to allow Christians to have a strong collective voice to see high-quality feature films made and distributed throughout the world for maximum spiritual impact.

For more information on Joseph Bardwell and this company, click here.