USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Germantown > Minutes of the session of the Ohio Miami Conference, successor to Miami Conference, of the United Methodist Church, 1968 > Part 11
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The Fall Institute Schedule for the Women Society of Christian Service will be Sundays from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. as follows: September 22 at Clough; September 29 at New Madison; October 6 at Lagonda; October 13 at Otter- bein Home and October 27 at First Church, Dayton.
The Board of Evangelism will offer some training opportunities for se- lected individuals and suggests that the outreach of the church be involved in all programming of the local church. There will be no simultaneous confer- ence-wide program promoted during 1969.
The council encourages continued support of Otterbein College, United Theological Seminary and the Campus Ministries as well as our Student Aid Fund. The Board of Ministry assumes even more significant duties than pre- viously and we request support and response to suggested programs especially those of continuing education for the ministers.
In addition to the Laboratory School for all ages in Westerville, July 7-12, there will be two laboratory schools for teachers of Youth in Dayton; (evenings only) September 22-27th and September 29-October 4. There will be a laboratory for teachers of Children September 15-20 in Dayton.
We will have a complete summer's activity at Camp Miami in 1969, with all the program of 1968 being in comparable time periods. In addition there may be shared experiences with former Methodists and new programs as directed by our Camp Director and Camp Program Committee. We urge the response of our members to the program and to the request for funds to sup- port the Camp Miami Capital Improvement Fund.
Suggestions will be coming for local churches from our new committee on Ecumenical Relations to encourage involvement with other churches in the community and beyond including inter-faith programs.
We encourage local churches to evaluate their present programs and in the process of organization, acording to the new structure, to seriously project all programs in response to needs of ministry. This ministry is to individuals and their needs as might be met through the lay and pastoral leadership. The program council is willing to offer resource people for leadership in evaluating, reorganizing and training local churches in the process of ministry, especially through the new organization of the Council of Ministries of the local church. Workshops, observation and demonstration schools, institutes and other leadership training opportunities will be provided for your assistance.
The Department of Christian Stewardship will continue to be of assist- ance to local churches and has the endorsement of the Program Council in the following program recommendations:
1. That the churches of the conference be made aware of and encouraged to use the programs of the Every Member Enlistment and Christian Family and Money Management.
2. That every local church follow the direction given for financial procedures and stewardship education which are to be found in the Handbook for Local Church Committees on Stewardship and Finance.
3. That churches be encouraged to use the many books and leaflets available to interpret and promote Christian Stewardship of all of life.
4. That the following method be used in dealing with churches which are delinquent in Christian Service Fund payments.
The responsibility for counseling with churches which are in arrears in Christian Service Fund payments shall be shared by the Conference De- partment of Christian Stewardship and the Commission on Parish De- velopment and Research of the Conference Board of Mission.
These two groups shall be responsible for counseling with the churches that are in arrears three months or more at the time of the 1968 Annual Conference, those churches which might not be in arrears three months at that time but have a pattern of failing to pay in full by the end of the year and churches that might fall behind three months some time after the session of the 1968 Annual Conference.
Representatives of the Department and Commission should:
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A. Meet with an official group of the local church. This might be the Com- mittee on Stewardship and Finance or the Local Conference. The Con- ference Superintendent might call a special meeting of the Local Con- ference for this purpose and assign a minister from the Department or Commission to hold that Local Conference.
B. They should cooperatively review and evaluate the goals which the church has set for itself.
C. They should cooperatively determine a realistic potential for the local church.
D. They should attempt to develop a practical and workable program for using the potential to meet the goals.
5. That two methods be employed to provide a varied procedure of assistance to churches in developing and presenting a program of Every Member Enlistment in the fall of 1968.
A closely directed program similar in nature to the United Every Mem- ber Canvass programs of the 1960 era be provided for the churches without Every Member Enlistment experience and/or experienced churches desiring this type of cooperative endeavor and direction. The churches referred to in the Christian Service Fund Delinquency statement will be a part of one of these groups.
The number and location of the churches to be involved in such a united program will determine the number and location of the programs to be de- veloped. These programs will start mid-September and continue through No- vember.
The Second procedure to be developed will be in the nature of a sym- posium which will involve churches which have had Every Member Enlistment experience but desire some general direction and an opportunity to share ideas and enthusiasm with other churches. Dates for such Stewardship Symposiums should be scheduled the third weeks of September, October and November, 1968. Men who have had traning as Every Member Enlistment Directors could be called upon to give some leadership to the symposiums.
Your Director of Camping, Charles C. Messmer and your Director of Program Council, Owen Delp, desire to be of assistance to local churches in any manner called upon. Do not hesitate to direct requests to them.
JAMES FLINCHBAUGH, Chairman OWEN DELP, Secretary
REPORT NO. 19 Report of the Conference Board of Trustees
This report is a summary of the actions approved by the Board of Trus- tees of the Ohio Miami Conference for the year 1967.
ORGANIZATION: The following members were elected to serve as Officers of the Trustees :
President
Harvey Hammink
Vice President
Hubert Fellers
Secretary Carl Eschbach
Treasurer Wendell Hohn
Representative to
Program Council Edwin Pellett
Representative to Conference Council of Administration Carl Eschbach
Elected members of the Board are:
Harold Boda Carl Eschbach
Maurice Gribler
Harvey Hammink Hubert Fellers
Clifton Hatfield
Walter Miranda Jack Davis
Edwin Pellett
ALEY PARSONAGE - It was VOTED to pay off the indebtedness on this Conference owned house from Mission Board Funds. It was VOTED to make necessary repairs to wall in living room and have carpet installed in living
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room and dining room area. Director of Development to secure best price possible.
BEARDSHEAR CHURCH - It was VOTED to renew the Beardshear Church note for $26,180.72 for five years, interest at 6%; effective November 2, 1967. BELMONT CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan Belmont Church $44,000.00 for a perid of five years at 51/2% interest, from the Conference Church Ex- tension Fund.
CLERMONT COUNTY LAND - It was VOTED to authorize the Director of Development to convey right, title and interst in a one-half acre lot in Clermont County to the Batavia Evangelical United Brethren Church by quit claim deed.
FIVE MILE CHURCH - It was VOTED to authorize the Director of De- velopment to pay the sewer assessment for the property amounting to $290.00. HAMILTON NINTH CHURCH - Contingent on (1) the approval of the remodeling plans for the church by the Committee on Plans, and (2) approval of the proposed changes by the local congregation, it was VOTED to approve a loan of $25,000.00 from the Conference Church Extension Fund to the Board of Trustees of the Hamilton Ninth Street Church for five years at 51/2%. Repayment plan to be at the rate of $477.00 monthly.
HEISTAND CHURCH - It was VOTED to authorize the use of the Hei- stand property for the use of the Migrant Ministry for 1968.
HUNTER COMMUNITY CHURCH - It was VOTED to authorize the Di- rector of Development to arrange for the repair of the ceiling of the two front rooms in the present building. Construction bids for Hunter Community Church :
General Contractor : $79,772.00 Frank B. Whisman and Son
Plumbing Contract : 4,295.00 Meeker Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Electric Contract : 10,239.64 Gebhard Electric, Inc.
Total Bids : $94,306.64
It was VOTED to authorize the President of the Board of Trustees and the Secretary pro-tem to sign the contracts on behalf of the Conference Trus- tees. It was VOTED that construction plans for Hunter Community Church be referred to the Church Construction Committee of the Board of Missions and that this Committee and the Director of Development work in conjunction with the local church building committee.
MIAMISBURG CHURCH - It was VOTED to approve the borrowing of up to $16,000.00 for the purchase of property at 20 S. Fifth Street, Miamisburg, Ohio.
NORMANDY CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the Normandy Church the sum of $25,000.00 from the Conference Church Ex- tension Fund for five years at 51/2% interest.
PLEASANT RIDGE CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trus- tees of the Pleasant Ridge Church the sum of $14,536.05 from the Conference Church Extension Fund for five years at 51/2% interest. To be repaid at the rate of $200.00 monthly.
ROSSBURG CHURCH - It was VOTED that the Director of Development be given the power to negotiate the sale of the Rossburg Church and parsonage at the most advantageous offer. It was VOTED to accept the offer to purchase the Rossburg property made by Donn Smith for $6,000.00 cash and to author- ize the President and Secretary of the Board to sign the necessary papers.
ST. MARKS CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of St. Marks Church the sum of $5,000.00 for a period of five years. Interest on this loan to be paid by the Board of Missions for five years.
STATE ROAD CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the State Road Church from the Conference Church Extension Fund the sum of $1,500.00 for one year at 51/2%.
TRINITY CHURCH - It was VOTED to authorize the Board of Trustees of the Trinity Church, Dayton, Ohio, to sell their parsonage located at 726 Gondert, Dayton, Ohio.
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TROY STREET CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the Troy Street Church from the Conference Church Extension Fund the sum of $8,000.00 for ten years at 6% interest.
UNION CITY CHURCH - It was VOTED to renew the Union City note for $3,000.00 for five years, interest at 51/2%. A monthly payment plan is to be instituted toward the payment of this note.
UTICA CHURCH - It was VOTED to authorize the Director of Develop- ment to sell the Utica Church property at the most advantageous price and to authorize the President and Secretary of the Board to sign the conveyance of the same.
WEST MANCHESTER CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the West Manchester Church not to exceed $5,000.00 from the Conference Church Extension Fund provided the church pays their Christian Service Fund allotment to date. The loan is to be for three years at 51/2%.
WILLEY MEMORIAL CHURCH - It was VOTED to retain Ralph E. Pott to handle the legal matters relating to Willey Memorial Church. On receipt of a deed to the church property in the name of the Conference Board of Trustees, he will prepare a deed for the church property in the name of Marbley Memorial Methodist Church. The President and Secretary of the Board are authorized to sign the necessary papers.
It was VOTED to authorize the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees and the Director of Development to negotiate the sale of the par- sonage involved. Title for the Willey property is now in the name of the Con- ference Board of Trustees. It was VOTED to sell the parsonage located at 3739 Borden Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, for $15,000.00 under such conditions as are feasible and desirable and to authorize the President and Secretary to execute the deed.
CONFERENCE OFFICE - It was VOTED to purchase an Eureka vacuum cleaner at cost of $59.95 for use in cleaning office.
CONFERENCE MANSE - It was VOTED to approve the report of the committee on the repairs to the Conference Manse and authorize the payment of bills amounting to $2,711.47. It was VOTED to authorize painting the out- side trim and needed concrete repair on the manse.
CONFERENCE CHURCH EXTENSION FUND - It was VOTED to ap- prove the follwoing resolution for presentation to the Division of Securities of the State nf Ohio.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Annual Conference Corporation of the Ohio Miami Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church approve its prior action of June 6-8, 1961, to increase the limit of authorized and out- standing Church Extension Fund coupon notes not to exceed $1,000,000 ex- clusive of interest.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED, that authority is given to the Trustees of the Ohio Miami Conference to obtain approval from the Division of Securi- ties of the State of Ohio to issue said Church Extension Fund notes at what- ever rate of interest it deems appropriate and advisable from Division of Securities, provided, however, that said interest rate shall not be less than 3% or more than 8% per annum.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the rate of interest charged the churches by the Conference Church Extension Fund be determined by the Board of Trustees who shall have the power to determine the rate of interest at the time of issue of loan.
PERMANENT FUND - It was VOTED to invest in the Conference Church Extension Fund the amount of $754.95 which is the interest earned in 1967. The Permanent Fund now totals $30,216.45.
HAMILTON NINTH STREET - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trus- tees of Hamilton 9th Street the amount of $3,500.00 from the Conference Church Extension Fund. The loan to be for four years with interest at 6%.
CHERRY GROVE - It was VOTED to authorize the President and Secre- tary of the Board of Trustees to co-sign for a loan of $50,000.00 from the
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Denominational Loan Fund for the Cherry Grove Church. This will be a loan for ten years at 6%.
KEMPER ROAD - It was VOTED to sell the Kemper Road property and refer the arrangements for sale to the Director of Development.
UTICA - The Director of Development reported the sale of the Utica prop- erty for $4,000.00. It was VOTED to authorize the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees to assign to the Springboro Church the note and mortgage from the sale.
ZION DAYTON - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the Zion Church, Dayton, the sum of one thousand dollars from the Conference Church Extension Fund. This loan to be for six months at 6%.
FAIRVIEW CHURCH - It was VOTED to loan the Board of Trustees of the Fairview Church the sum of Eighteen thousand dollars from the Confer- ence Church Extension Fund. This loan to be for five years at 6% interest.
ALEY PARSONAGE - It was VOTED to authorize the Director of De- velopment to make the needed repairs on the gables of the parsonage at a cost of approximately $270.00.
REV. CARL B. ESCHBACH Secretary, Board of Trustees
REPORT NO. 20 Statement of Conference Historian
Whenever the Ohio Miami Conference meets at Germantown it is extend- the long history of the United Brethren Church which officially began here in 1806. Farmer preacher and later bishop Andrew Zeller provided in his home north of town a meeting place for the first United Brethren Church west of the Alleghenies.
The Conference had its beginning in Michael Kreider's home in Ross County, Ohio in 1810. There were no actual boundaries for preachers really travelled and the Conference area may well have been all of Ohio and Indiana.
However, the Conference became more circumscribed with the formation of Muskingum, Scioto, Auglaize, Sandusky and Indiana Conferences. Only slight boundary changes were made after 1830.
The Ohio German Conference was organized in Germantown in 1853. This covered large portions of Ohio and Indiana. When this Conference was dis- solved in 1930, all of its churches within the Miami Conference boundary came into this Conference.
The next significant change came with the union of the Evangelical and United Brethren denominations in 1946. The Conference was affected in only two ways, the change of name to the Ohio Miami and the addition of three former Evangelical churches.
I believe that Bishop Herrick's statement yesterday that pastor Heath is the first Negro minister to be received as an elder in the Conference is cor- rect. For a number of years Dayton Third Church, located on Ludlow Street in Dayton was largely, if not completely a Negro Church. This mission among the colored people was begun in 1858 and was disbanded in 1888. The one per- son from this congregation who is most prominently mentioned is J. Gomer who was a layman in this church. In 1870 he and his wife went to our strug- gling African mission in Sierra Leone and probably saved it for the church. He was given license to preach during this African service. He died in Africa in 1892.
In about two years the Ohio Miami Conference will exist only in the pages of history and in the minds and hearts of many people. When we become a part of the Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church the records of our operation for 160 years should be kept in some sort of depository. The Trustees of the Conference Historical Society are giving some attention to this. But we need the help of everyone who may have records, pictures, arti- facts, etc. which will help to preserve the record of where and how God has led us across these years.
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There is also the question of a written history of the Conference. We are moving toward at least a typed document by the time the Ohio Miami Confer- ence ceases to exist. This is no small task. To gather the pertinent data from 164 years of ministry involving probably 300 churches and a thousand or more ministers, to say nothing of laymen is a monumental task and could produce a monumental volume. If we decide to produce a brief history, what and who shall we omit? I am well aware that a history of this Conference, no matter how glamoursly written and profusely illustrated will never be a best seller. In fact, not enough copies could be sold to pay the expense of publishing. This session of the Conference will probably not make a decision concerning the problems involved. But may I suggest that all of us do some positive thinking, some looking around so that we may move forward on this subject as God would have us do.
ROY D. MILLER Conference Historian
Resolution on Ohio Miami Conference Records Depository
Whereas it seems important to preserve the records of the Ohio Miami Con- ference for future interest and need, and
Whereas the Ohio Miami Conference will no longer exist as a separate entity possibly before June 1970, and
Whereas the months ahead will be a time of reorganization and planning for the future,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Ohio Miami Conference in session on this 6th day of June 1968 take action looking toward determining the place where its records, pictures, etc. will be permanently kept.
THE TRUSTEES Ohio Miami Conference Historical Society
REPORT NO. 21 Ohio Miami Conference Women's Society of Christian Service
Bishop Herrick, Dr. Messmer, pastors and friends :
Greetings from the 4,016 members of the Women's Society of Christian Service of Ohio Miami Conference.
In the spirit of our chosen theme, "Jesus Christ Renews His Church Through New Horizons," the officers of the WSCS have been a part of several excursions to explore these new horizons. In January our officers joined the cabinet of the Ohio Conference Woman's Society of Christian Service for an all-day sharing of program areas and functional structures. In March Mrs. Frazier and I attended a two-day meeting in Chicago of the president and one vice president of each of the former Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist conferences of the North Central Jurisdiction. We have had repre- sentatives in several district meetings of the Women's Society. July 16 to 21 four of us will attend the Regional School of Mission to be held at Illinois Wesleyan at Bloomington. Many local societies have held joint meetings with neighboring sister societies.
Figuratively speaking, I will be brief. Each pastor received a convention program. Pertinent statistics of each local society were included. We gained one society but lost 178 members. We increased our funds sent to the General office by $844 and surpassed our Special Projects goal of $5,000 by $951.
Those who attended our convention expressed appreciation for the various speakers and presentations. Comparable time was spent in explaining changes in terminology, program and structure. More of this type of clarification will be part of the Fall Institute program. May I thank the ministers who helped to cook and who helped to serve. This type of participation by the pastors made
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
a tremendous impression upon the observers from the former Methodist Church.
The Women's Society of Christian Service is an arm of the conference. We are attenmpting to prepare ourselves to move into union when the con- ferences do so.
Thank you, MRS. JOHN KNECHT
REPORT NO. 22 CONFERENCE STATISTICAL REPORT Ministry and Charges
A. Number of Elders in the Conference
123
1. Under appointment
93
2. Supernumerary
24
4. Local Elders
6
5
C. Probationers not under appointment
101
D. Number of Charges
111
E. Number of organized congregations
F. Number of appointments not organized
2
Christian Life and Work
1. Members reported at the close of last year
35228
2. Members gained during conference year by :
a. Confession of faith
973
b. Certificate of Transfer
307
c. Certificate of Membership
458
d. TOTAL GAIN
1738
3. Members lost during conference year by:
a. Death
392
b. Certificate of Transfer
236
c. Certificate of Membership
432
d. Withdrawn without certificate 437
e. Other ways
1680
Gain by change in Annual Conference Boundary Loss by change in Annual Conference Boundary
4. Net Gain
58
5. Net Loss
35286
6. Present membership
2858
7. Non-resident members
215
9. Conversions
973
10. Reclamations
75
11. Baptisms and Dedications
901
12. Number of enrolled tithers
856
14. Number of families :
16791
b. Non-member
3648
15. Number of Church and Home Subscriptions
8192
16. Average attendance at Sunday morning Worship Service
15815
17. Average attendance at regular Sunday evening Worship Service 226
18. Average attendance at reqular Mid-Week Service 635
Christian Education
19. Sunday Church School officers
659
8. Members under 13 years of age
13. Number of contributing units
14140
a. Member
183
f. TOTAL LOSS
B. Probationers under appointment
5
3. Superannuated
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
20. Children :
a. Sunday Church School enrollment :
1. Nursery 1180
2. Kindergarten 1459
3. Primary 2549
4. Juniors 2457
5. Teachers
b. Enrolled in Catechetical/pastor's classes 562
c. Boys and Girls Fellowship hour average att. 612
21. Youth :
a. Sunday Church School enrollment:
1. Junior High 1927
2. Senior High 1988
3. Teachers 302
b. Enrolled in Catechetical/pastor's classes 588
c. Y-Hour average attendance :
1. Junior High 883
2. Senior High 784
22. Adults :
a. Sunday Church School enrollment:
1. Adults
8659
2. Home Department
503
3. Teachers
b. Enrolled in Catechetical/pastor's classes : 571
32
d. Male members
9083
e. Number of organized societies of W.S.W.S. 90
f. Enrolled in W.S.W.S. 3888
g. Number of organized Adult Fellowships 13
h. Enrolled in Adult Fellowships 617
i. Number of organized Young Adult Fellowships 19
j. Enrolled in Young Adult Fellowships 595
23. Sunday Church School enrollment 23171
24. Sunday Church School Average attendance
12356
25. Enrolled in Vacation Church Schools 4707
26. Enrolled in Weekday Church Schools 446
27. Enrolled in Christian Service (leadership) training courses 161
28. Higher Education :
a. Number attending Evangelical United Brethren colleges 162
b. Number attending other church-related or private colleges 198
c. Number attending tax-supported colleges & universities 808
29. Number planning full-time Christian vocations 45
FINANCES
A. Missions and Benevolences
30. Christian Service Fund Apportionment $ 339630.00
31. Paid on Christian Service Fund Apportionment $ 329989.00
32. Mission & Benevolence Contributed not in Budget Apportionment:
a. W.S.W.S. Offerings $ 44833.00
b. E.U.B Men's offerings $ 1324.00
c. Boys and Girls Fellowship missionary offering 1498.00
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