Page 15 - 2020 Conference Booklet

1 follow Annual Conference polity, policy and procedures, and work at the ministry
2 of reconciliation.
3 E. Report received with gratitude as presented.
4 VI. DISTRICT CONFERENCE BALLOT (p. 22)
5 A. Presented by the Moderator-Elect who serves as Chair of the Nominating
6 Committee.
7 1. Several spaces on the ballot are blank. There is time to nominate people
8 before the vote on Saturday.
9 2. Camp Eder and Children’s Aid Society bring their own nominees for
10 affirmation.
11 3. Eli Mast affirmed women in the district and called for the conference to
12 consider female candidates for various roles. Nominating Committee had
13 many female nominees who, when contacted, responded with a “no” or
14 “not yet.” John Hess encouraged women to accept roles for which they are
15 nominated.
16 4. Question raised about how vacancies get filled from zones that have no
17 nominees. Precedent is to ask nominees from zones that have a lot of
18 candidates to fill roles from zones that have none. District Board will
19 consider this an option, if no additional nominees are presented during this
20 conference.
21 B. No nominations were made from the floor. Ballot approved as presented.
22 VII. CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN AGENCY REPORT (pp. 42-46)
23 A. Presented by Nevin Dulabaum, President of Brethren Benefit Trust.
24 B. Brethren Benefit Trust reported that:
25 1. Seven new index funds have been added
26 2. Attended Puerto Rico District Conference for the first time this year (PR is
27 the newest district in the denomination)
28 3. Incentivizing wellness as part of the medical coverage to lower premiums
29 and increase healthfulness among plan participants
30 4. A new bookkeeping service has been hired to streamline the process and
31 increase communication with plan participants
32 5. Question raised about how BBT is working with withdrawing
33 congregations. BBT has not been affected by the withdrawals, as those
34 congregations were not using their services.
35 6. Question raised about the change of bookkeeping service. BBT was doing
36 their own record keeping five years ago. Empower Financial went through
37 a merger after we had selected them and their model is not equipped to
38 handle our unique approach, so BBT has moved to a smaller company
39 called Northwest Planning Services. By the end of next quarter, account
40 balances will be fully transferred and accurately updated.
41 7. Representatives of Church of the Brethren, Inc. and other agencies are
42 present at the conference.
43 C. Report accepted with gratitude.
44 VIII. THE BRETHREN HOME BOARD MEETING (PP. 83-87)
45 A. Called to Order at 10:55am by Chair Traci Rabenstein. Prayer led by Rev. Linda
46 Titzell.
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