USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Minutes of the session of the Ohio Miami Conference, successor to Miami Conference, of the United Methodist Church, 1970 > Part 14
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‘ Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1962, 120.
118
CONFERENCE HISTORY
Day Care Center and a Teen Drop Inn were added to the program. The budget figure for this work for 1967 was $7,500. The student staff resigned effective June 1, 1967.
In an effort to more adequately staff the parish, the Conference was asked to make a financial contribution and to appoint a full-time minister. George McAhren was appointed in June 1967. The Conference Board of Missions contributed $4,000 a year to the budget.
As was true with other Ohio Miami Conference churches in West Dayton, Resi- dence Park found itself in a community with an increasing number of Negro families and a corresponding decrease in the number of white families. In the beginning little effort was made by the church to minister to the Negroes and little response was evident when they were invited.
In 1962 the Conference Board of Missions voted that the Conference Superin- tendent consider Negro leadership in the work of Residence Park Church. He appointed a committee to study the church and its future ministry, which reported in a 13-page report in 1963. The substance of the report was that the church can and should re- main in Residence Park and develop an inter-racial ministry or a Negro ministry, if the community should become all Negro.
The committee further recommended that a mature and experienced minister was needed, but that a Negro should not be appointed at that time. A well-trained and capable Negro could be appointed as a second person on the staff. The Conference Board of Missions was asked to provide additional financial aid and the National Division of Home Missions was solicited for further aid. The church was designated a conference mission in 1963. Special financial aid was arranged, a full-time minister was appointed, as well as a coordinating committee.
A student minister was again appointed in 1965. The Superintendent reported that the church was making progress. The losses had been stabilized and growth was possible and expected. Following the student's appointment, he and the three General Church officers, who were members of the church, formed a team for a group ministry. In 1966 a Negro minister, Rev. Fred Heath, was appointed full-time minister. The Director of Development, Louis O. Odon, reported in 1967 that the church and com- munity program had taken on considerable growth and enthusiasm and was truly making its rightful impact on the community. " The low figure on membership was 79 in 1967. This had increased to 110 in 1969.
Some significant changes were made in Cincinnati. Willey Memorial, which had reached a low membership figure of 86 in 1965, was studied for some new type of ministry. The name was changed to "Willey Memorial Community Parish" and it was referred to as the Willey Memorial Project. David Schneider was assigned as pastor in 1965 and a Board of Directors of 20 persons was appointed. A substantial amount of mission funds was invested.
This bubble burst very soon. In the fall of 1966 the Board of Missions voted "that we recommend to the local conference that the congregation be discontinued and the property deeded to the Ohio Miami Conference for resale."" Instead of selling the property, it was donated to an existing Negro Methodist congregation known as "Marbley Memorial."
The Director of Development reported in 1967 that the program of this project
5 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1967, 58.
" Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1967, 89.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
had gradually changed and the Board of Missions planned to provide a wider ministry in this area through our missioner by linking him with the Basin Ministry, a coopera- tive program engaged in by the Cincinnati Council of Churches. "
The first contribution to the Basin Ministry was a $500 payment in 1965. When David Schneider was appointed to this staff, the Conference assumed his entire support. The purpose here was to provide a Christian presence in a most needy area. The budget figure in 1968 was $12,975. The Cincinnati District of the United Methodist Church assumed this ministry in 1969.
A move was made to improve the ministry at Union Plains in Brown County. With Board of Mission's help the property next door was purchased and remodeled to serve as parsonage, pastor's office and some Sunday School space. This program was in cooperation with the United Church of Christ, which provided $1,000 a year toward the budget.
This building was destroyed by fire on December 28, 1965. A $20,000 par- sonage has replaced it.
A full-time minister was appointed to Union Plains and Browntown in 1967, though a student was appointed again the following year.
In 1968 the Bethany E.U.B. Church in Hillsboro united with the Hillsboro Methodist Church. The E.U.B. building was sold.
In North Dayton the Troy Street and Zion Evangelical United Brethren Churches and the Trinity Methodist Church studied and fellowshipped for several years, looking to a possible three-way union. Committees representing the three churches developed a plan and basis of union. The Superintendent in 1967 reported that the project was coming close to fruition. He had urged them to bring the organization into full union by the Conference session of 1968. 8
Partly because of the problem of name and affiliation, the Board of Missions in 1967 asked for continuance of the discussion until denominational church union. This appeared to be a mistake and partly accounted for the Trinity Church's negative vote. Troy Street and Zion voted favorably and became one congregation in 1968, using the Troy Street facilities and taking the name "Faith Church." The Zion property was sold.
Because of Drexel's desire to expand its ministry, the pastor's salary was under- written by $600 in 1968 and two properties on Third Street were purchased by the Conference Board of Trustees for the purposes of class room space and a youth center.
The Springboro Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist Churches studied the possibility of union, developed a plan which was approved by the Conference Board of Missions in 1966. This union was completed in January 1967. Necessary property adjustments were made and a building program started in 1968.
Another effort to improve the ministry to a rural area was made in 1966. The boundary committee adopted a resolution that Castine, Otterbein, Savona, and Yankee- town be constituted a larger parish; that a name of religious significance be adopted; and that a Parish Council be formed. The Parish was constituted, was named the "Covenant Parish" and two students were appointed as pastors. The Parish was dis- solved in 1968 and the four churches were arranged in two circuits.
7 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1967, 57, 58.
8 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1967, 50.
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The Hiestand Church was discontinued in 1968. The building was used during the summer for the Thrift Shop of the Darke County Migrant Ministry.
Another effort to improve ministry was a recommendation by the Urban Church Commission in 1959 to undertake a two-year study of parishes and communities. This study as conducted by the Town and Country and Urban Church Commissions was called the Parish Evaluation Program. It included a self-analysis and a long-term statistical study of each church, a questionnaire study of each church's community, and the 1950 and 1960 census data. By 1961 two large maps of the Conference area were prepared, spotting all local churches. Community surveys were completed. A 25-year statistical study of each local church was finished.
By the 1962 session of the Conference the size of the undertaking became more apparent. The preparation of the final report for each local church was more than the members of the two commissions wanted to undertake, so a sociology class at the Seminary became involved. Much of the work was completed. As the Urban Church Commission reported in 1961, "the success of the project will be dependent upon the use by the local church of the material given to it in evaluating its past, present and future role in the community." " During 1962 and 1963 the summary work was done and the conclusions of the project were ready to be reported to the local churches.
The appointment of committees in the new structure of the Board of Missions deemphasized the Town and Country and Urban Church Commissions in favor of a Study and Survey Committee. Most of the material of the Parish Evaluation Program became lost in this change.
A new development in the churches of the Conference was mentioned by the Superintendent in 1956.
The marked improvement in church attendance in recent years is at- tributable to the development of multiple worship services. I believe this is vital to the growth of all our city or suburban churches. The motivation for planning more than one worship service on Sunday morning should be simply to reach more people for Christ and the church. 10
Many churches in the Conference made this change in response to the desires of the people.
CHAPTER 12
MIAMI CONFERENCE, 1947-1969 (Continued) (Ohio Miami Conference after 1950)
Ministers
In 1948 the Reading Course Faculty was replaced by a Board of Ministerial Training, indicating a desire to minimize the reading course in favor of full college and seminary training. This Board of Ministerial Training in its 1951 report, said that less than half of the men who accepted status as future ministers had made pro- gress into the ministry. The Board believed that this called for better screening of candi-
9 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1961, 97.
10 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1956, 35.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
dates and more help for those in training. Financial aid was considered extremely im- portant. 1
This Board counselled with young men who were thinking of the ministry, guided them in their training, recommended classification and the dropping of some from the roll. Members of the Board also visited college campuses to interview minis- terial students.
The name of the Board was again changed in 1963 to Board of Ministerial Edu- cation and Relations. In its report that year the Board said, "This name is more accu- rate than the former name in that it suggests a continuing education program following a minister's ordination. Also it suggests a closer relationship with the Committee on Conference Relations." 2
In 1964 the Board planned "Recruitment Sunday" at Camp Miami, when pastors brought young men who were considering the choice of a Christian vocation.
This Board seemed to take its responsibility for ministerial education and rela- tionships quite seriously. It made a strong plea in 1965 for in-service education for ministers suggesting also that the Conference and local church aid in financing such training. This request was renewed each year. The question of probationers and the sacraments was studied and a detailed recommendation was presented to the Conference in 1966. 3
The name of the Board was again changed in 1967 to Board of Ministry.
A special committee on Goals and Objectives was appointed by the Conference in 1957. A sub-committee on Recruitment and Conservation of the Ministry reported these facts in 1958.
1. One-half of our present ministers were produced by churches of the Conference and one-half by other Conferences and Denominations.
2. One-half of the recruits for the ministry do not continue to ordi- nation.
3. In the past forty years 81 ordained men left the pastorate in the Conference before retirement time for reasons other than illness. Of these fifteen entered related services-administration or teaching, seventeen went to other denominations, twenty-three dropped out of the ministry. 4
The Long-Range Planning Committee recommended that steps be taken to re- cruit more good ministers by
1. An accounting of Life Work Recruits in Youth Camps.
2. Ministers honoring the profession on Seminary day.
3. Ministers giving attention to the God and Country Scouting Award boys to discover and encourage interest in the ministry.
4. Church Councils screening Confirmation classes for possible minis- terial recruits.
The churches were encouraged to use more Seminary students in the capacity of student workers and pastors. " During this period the Conference used students as in- dicated in the table below.
1946-48 69
1 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1951, 70.
2 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1963, 127.
3 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1966, 105.
4 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1958, 67.
5 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1960, 180.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
1949-51
101
1952-54
99
1955-57
102
1958-60
107
1961-63
92
1964-66
86
1967-69
77
The superintendent said in 1958,
The fractional ministry of a student pastor and the pattern of too fre- quent pastoral changes of these leaders is one of our incessant problems. Let me hasten to add that this phrase "fractional ministry" is not a judgment against these young pastors, but is actually a statement of fact.
I have inaugurated an activity among the student pastors which I be- lieve will help develop these fine young men into a team of successful min- isters. We had four informal luncheon conversations at the Seminary . . . We discussed the questions which are vital to students in this demanding assignment of student pastor. 6
The superintendent reported in 1960,
Last year we had 108 men under appointment: 104 pastors and 4 Conference-assigned assistant pastors. Of these 108 men, 33 were products of the local churches of Miami Conference, 2 were raised in churches of the former Ohio German Conference, and 73 were directed into the ministry by churches of other conferences. Some churches have never produced a minister in more than one hundred years of church history. Such spiritual poverty is appalling. 7
One of the problems related to the student ministry was the question of proba- tioners and the sacraments. It had been the general practice for the Conference to vote approval for a probationer to administer the sacraments, if he was serving a church. A special committee was appointed in 1962 to study this matter and to bring recom- mendations. In 1963 the committee offered this resolution, which was approved.
Resolved, that beginning with the 1964 Annual Conference assign- ments, the Ohio Miami Conference
1. Abide by paragraph 367 of the Discipline, "An ordained minister is authorized to administer the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper -. "
2. Probationers who have been granted this privilege previously by our Conference will not be effected by this resolution. "
This was changed in 1965 to say that all probationers who had not previously been authorized to administer the sacraments may request such authority from the Board of Ministerial Education and Relations, supporting their request with adequate reasons. 3
A supposedly permanent policy was adopted in 1966 as follows,
All probationers serving charges in our Conference, who have com- pleted satisfactorily one year at the Seminary (48 credit hours) or two years
6 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1958, 37.
" Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1960, 39.
8 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1963, 93.
9 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1965, 80, 116.
123
CONFERENCE HISTORY
of the study course shall have permission to administer the sacraments on their own charges, provided, however, that any probationer serving his first year in a charge must seek the guidance of his pastoral counselor in the ad- ministration of the sacraments regardless of his educational standing. 10
Finance
The period of Miami Conference history following 1947 was characterized by high and increasing affluence.
The Conference debt was $5,100 in 1947. This was completely liquidated by 1949. However, as the Conference became more aggressive in establishing new missions and in the expansion of its camping facilities, its indebtedness was increased. But it was a debt of effectiveness and success.
Related to the expanding and inflated economy and to the prosperity of the church members was the continual rise in ministers' and Conference officers' salaries. The Con- ference superintendent's salary was $4,400 and house from 1947 to 1950. In the latter year the sum of $1,200 was added for expenses.
In later years utilities, four weeks' vacation, secretarial help, pension premium and travel allowance were added. Compared to the $4,400 and $1,200 for expenses paid in 1950, the 1969 income was $10,250 salary, house, utilities, $3,500 for ex- penses, full pension and group insurance premiums, and one month's vacation, in addi- tion to secretarial help.
The Committee on Christian Education recommended that the Conference elect a full-time Director of Christian Education effective at the annual session in 1955. Charles C. Messmer, was employed, but as Program Director. His salary was $4,900, house and a six cents per mile travel allowance. The title was changed to Director of Camp Program and Camp Management in 1969, when the salary was $8,750, house, utilities, travel at nine cents per mile, full pension and insurance premiums, and four weeks' vacation.
A Director of Development, Louis O. Odon, became a part of the Conference Staff in 1961 with a salary of $6,000, $1,200 housing allowance, travel at eight cents per mile and auxiliary expense, utilities, full pension premiums, and three weeks' vaca- tion. This was increased in 1969 to $8,750, housing allowance of $1,600, nine cents per mile travel, auxiliary expenses, twelve percent pension, $400 utility allowance, insurance premiums and one month's vacation.
A Director of Program Council, Owen Delp, was elected in 1967 with a salary of $7,500, $1,600 housing allowance, nine cents per mile travel, auxiliary expense, twelve percent pension payment, $400 utility allowance, insurance premiums and one month's vacation. By 1969 only two items had been changed; the salary was increased to $8,500 and the utilities to $500.
The administrative expense of the Conference (payment to personnel) had in- creased in 24 years from about $5,600 for one person to more than $56,000. The latter figure covered the expense of four full-time staff persons and office help.
The minimum salary increase is not an adequate measure of the increase in minis- ters' salaries though it reflects to a degree the financial status of the church. The mini- mum salary in 1947 was $2,250 and house. In 1966 it was $5,000, parsonage,
10 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1966, 105.
124
CONFERENCE HISTORY
utilities, 12 percent pension assessment, group insurance premiums and three weeks' vacation.
In the 1967 session of the Conference a rather complicated formula was adopted for determining salary based on years of service. The low figure was $5,000 for no years of service up to $7,475 for thirty years of service. This was increased the next year to $5,200 and $7,775. In addition it was proposed that the church provide house, utilities, travel expense, group insurance, hospitalization, pension, discretionary fund, office expense, books, periodicals, and vacation of up to four weeks. The figures quoted above were minimum and were to be higher, based on work load, responsibility and training.
The Conference cooperated fully in the proposed advance programs that involved financial obligations.
a. Kingdom Advance Project, a program of relief, rehabilitation and advance to meet the needs of people hurt by the war. The program adopted by the Conference was for each church to pay one and one-half times the benevolence quota from July 1, 1947 to July 1, 1949. The total amount raised was over $66,000.
b. Seminary Campaign. This was authorized as a church-wide cam- paign to begin in 1949. The superintendent and the Ways and Means Com- mittee urged the payment of quotas in full by December 31, 1950. The Conference superintendent reported to the Conference in 1951, "Your co- operation in the Seminary Campaign has made it possible for our Confer- ence to lead the former U.B. Conferences in the percentage contributed." 11 The total amount paid was about $35,000.
c. United Crusade. The General Conference of 1954 adopted this pro- gram for the benefit of educational institutions and church extension. The amount to be raised during the quadrennium was $5,150,000. The Confer- ence Council of Administration proposed a goal of $242,000 and an or- ganizational structure to promote it. 12 A considerable block of time was given in the 1956 Conference to reporting on the progress of the Crusade and to inspiring the churches to carry on. The final report showed that the Conference paid the goal in full.
d. Missions Advance Program: The 1958 General Conference adopted a Missions Advance Program. The Conference accepted its proportion of this program and assigned quotas to churches for a total amount of $245,- 054. The final report as of December 31, 1963 showed that $225,153 was received. Of this amount $138,400 was paid to the E.U.B. Board of Missions and $86,752 was retained for Conference use. Seventy-seven churches paid in full and thirty-four did not. 13
e. Church Extension Fund. Up to 1956, aid was given to missions and established churches for expansion by borrowing money in the name of the Conference and repaying it in yearly payments. This did not provide sufficient funds. A committee was appointed to develop a new plan.
A special session of the Conference was held on February 16, 1957
11 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1951, 42.
12 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1955, 38.
13 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1964, 54.
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CONFERENCE HISTORY
to hear the report of the Committee. The plan adopted was,
(a) To establish a Conference Church Extension Fund.
(b) To borrow money up to an aggregate amount of $500,000.
(c) To loan money to churches and conference mission projects.
(d) To organize an advisory committee on church extension, and an execctive committee. 14
Vance Cribbs of Middletown was elected the first chairman of the committee.
The superintendent reported in 1958 that $115,000 had been borrowed from individuals, organizations and churches. This had been loaned to churches which paid five percent interest. Investors received four and one-half percent. A permanent fund was also established. The total of this in 1958 was $1,171.
The Director of Development, elected in 1961, was given supervision of the Ex- tension Fund which reached in that year almost $500,000. He reported in 1962 that money had been loaned to 23 churches. This increased to 41 in 1963 and the interest rate to investors was raised to 5 percent and to churches to 51/2 precent. The per- manent fund totalled $25,470 in 1964.
The interest rate was increased in 1969 to 6 percent to investors and 61/2 percent on loans. The permanent fund increased to $30,216 in 1968.
The Director of Development reported in 1967 that during the previous six years $7,500,000 worth of church and parsonage construction was completed in the Ohio Miami Conference. During the nine years of the Extension Fund operation $1,- 313,825 was loaned to churches in the Conference.
Beginning in 1951 a Secretary of Stewardship was elected, who made annual re- ports to the Conference. In the early years the secretary distributed literature, planned stewardship institutes, wrote articles for the Miami Messenger, promoted the every member enlistment, including the United Church Canvass. Tithing was strongly recom- mended.
In 1959 the Conference conducted a Conference-wide simultaneous Every Mem- ber Canvass, preceded by a series of institutes and training sessions. Only 40 percent of the churches participated, but the stewardship secretary reported that it "lifted up the eyes of many of our laymen to greater programs for the church and greater giving to the programs."15 A year-round Call to Commitment Program was initiated in 1962. This with a continuing emphasis on the Every Member Enlistment raised the level of giving in the churches.
After 1963 a report on stewardship was not given in the Conference. From then on the emphasis was incorporated in, or got lost in, the report of the Program Council.
The Nine Step Plan was introduced by the Denomination in 1964 and by the Conference in 1965. This program of self-study, program planning and financing was highly recommended by many church leaders. But apathy and lack of cooperation on the part of pastors robbed it of most of its potential value. The Program Council's re- port in 1965 said, "We urge each local church to avail itself of the kit and make what- ever adaptions seem necessary to use as an effective tool." 16 It was recommended in a half-hearted way the following two years.
14 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1957, 28ff.
13 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1960, 94.
16 Ohio Miami Conference Minutes, 1965, 105.
126
CONFERENCE HISTORY
The Ways and Means Committee of the Conference in 1950 asked the bishop to appoint a Committee on Delinquency. The annual reports of this committee were mostly factual. It was discontinued in 1955.
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