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 2
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Louis Odon presented the report of the Board of Missions as found in the Report boks. It was voted to print the report in the Conference Journal. (See Report No. 5)
The report of the Board of Trustees was presented by Clifton Hatfield, Secretary of the Board. It was voted to print the report in the Journal. (See Report No. 6)
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Ralph Tinsley presented the Statistician's Report for 1969. It was voted to print the report in the Journal. (See Report No. 8)
The Treasurer and Auditor presented extensive reports on all Conference finances and funds. It was voted to approve the reports with the Auditor's Report to be printed in the Journal. The remaining records of the Report are to be retained for future reference. (See Report No. 9)
Jams Flinchbaugh presented the report of the Board of Ministry. It was voted to receive the report and to refer it to the Board of Ministry of the West Ohio Conference for action. (See Report No. 4)
Gary Eubank reported for the Board of Pensions. They plan to publish in the Conference Journal the up-to-date service record of all active and retired ministers of the Conference for pension purposes. It was voted to approve the report. (See Report No. 7)
Emerson Bragg presented a revised Constitution for Otterbein Home for consideration by the Conference. Under Article II-Management; it was voted to amend the paragraph immediately following the letter "C" concerning term of office of a trustee by the addition of: "The tenure of office of a trustee shall not exceed three consecutive terms." The paragraph as amended will read: "The term of office of a trustee shall begin upon election and shall continue until a successor is elected. The tenure of office of a trustee shall not exceed three consecutive terms." It was voted to adopt the proposed revised Constitu- tion as amended.
Upon motion by Harvey Hammink it was voted to validate the actions of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Missions for the year.
Harvey Hammink was granted the privilege of the floor. He called Dr. and Mrs. Eschbach to the platform where he presented them with a check in the amount of $268 with these words: "It is a privilege and an honor that doesn't come often to a layman to express our deep appreciation for what you have done this past year. This check is an expression of my love and the love of all of us for having had the opportunity through all of the years of knowing you and of struggling along this past year under your whip hand." Carl and Ruth responded with appropriate words.
Dr. Claude Garrison, Superintendent of the Columbus District and chair- man of the Bishop's Cabinet spoke, saying what a great privilege it had been to have Carl Eschbach as a member of the Area Cabinet. "I do not often, if ever, question the wisdom of a bishop concerning his appointments of district superintendents, but I would at least have a little reservation that he would permit us only one year with Carl Eschbach. I do want to say how much we have appreciated having him in our midst."
Bishop Ensley said, "We would have been poorer indeed if he had never come into our fellowship." Concerning Dr. William K. Messmer he said, "He has fitted in wonderfully well and he is also a brother to all of the men of all of the conference in a most splendid way."
Bishop Ensley recognized the presence of Dr. Sumpter M. Riley, Jr., Superintendent of the Lima District and Rev. Louis Shockley, Director of Wesley Center, Dayton. They were presented to the Conference.
The business session being concluded the Conference entered into the Service of Uniting Fellowship. To depict the continuing fellowship in the new West Ohio Conference, Dr. Eschbach called to the platform the five District Superintendents under whose direction the churches of the Ohio Miami Con- ference will come for the ensuing year. The men and their districts were: The Rev. Howard W. Brown, Cincinnati District; The Rev. Harold Dutt, Dayton North District; The Rev. Richard P. Coad, Dayton South District; The Rev. Waldemar A. Haupt, Springfield District; The Rev. Robert A. Byler, Wil- mington District.
A folder had been prepared for each district which contained a list of the former Ohio Miami churches that would be a part of that district henceforth. In turn Dr. Eschbach read the list contained in a folder and then presented the folder to that particular District Superintendent, commending to him the care and the concerns of these churches and people. It was a very simple but
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effective way to close the one hundred sixty-one years of Ohio Miami Confer- ence history. It was an equally effective way to highlight the ever on-going of the church as well as the greater priority of the Kingdom as compared to a single Conference.
Directed by Milford Ater the Conference stood to sing with vigor the hymn "God of Grace and God of Glory." The benediction was given by Dr. William K. Messmer, for twenty years the Superintendent of the Ohio Miami Conference, now the Administrative Assistant to Bishop Ensley.
Mrs. Wagner at the piano played "The Glory of God in Nature" by Beethoven as the postlude.
In the afternoon at 2:00 o'clock the main auditorium of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium was filled as lay persons and ministers of the former denominations from all over Ohio joined together in worship to celebrate the Union of the Conferences in Ohio.
Ushers serving the Conference session were: The Rev. Harry Deaven, The Rev. Fred Luzader, The Rev. Wendell Butt, The Rev. David Schneider, The Rev. James Riley and The Rev. J. C. Herbert.
REPORTS
(ANNUAL SESSION)
Conference Superintendent for the Staff No. 1
Council of Administration No. 2
Memoirs
No.
3
Board of Ministry
No. 4
Board of Missions
No. 5
Board of Trustees
No. 6
Board of Pensions No. 8
Statistician (Summary) No. 8
Auditor and Treasurer No. 9
Ordinands - Biographical Sketch
No. 10
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
REPORT NO. 1
The Conference Staff Report
To our esteemed Bishop F. Gerald Ensley, to our fellow Pastors, lay mem- bers and friends of Ohio Miami Conference, at this one hundred and sixty-first annual meeting I bring you greetings in the name of Christ our Saviour.
I begin this report in the words of a co-worker who lived long years ago and who never failed to bring a personal concern in all the reports and letters he prepared. In this spirit I say to each one personally,
"I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ." Philemon 1:4-6
This is a composite report of the Conference staff and as such reflects the responsible leadership and wise stewardship of my colleagues, Charles Mess- mer, Louis Odon, and Owen Delp. Their experience and assistance were most valuable in this interesting and rewarding year of transition. I am greatly indebted for their cooperative support.
In Memoriam
Three members of our retired ministerial family passed away during the year. Dr. W. I. Underwood, beloved Pastor and honored leader, died July 7, 1969. He united with the Conference in 1910, was ordained in 1916 by Bishop George M. Mathews, and served Otterbein Chapel, Miamisburg, Germantown, and Clifton Church, Cincinnati. He retired in 1950 and made his home in Cincinnati.
Mrs. E. R. Turner, the widow of Dr. Turner, passed away August 8, 1969. She served with her husband the following churches of our Conference; College Hill, High Street (now Dayton Hope), Cheviot, Middletown (now Faith), and Beavertown (Church of the Cross). Following Dr. Turner's death in 1961, she returned to the teaching profession and served for a time on the faculty of Wilmington College and at the University of Dayton. Funeral services were held at Middletown Faith Church by the Rev. Clifford Stearns and Dr. Emerson Bragg.
Miss Minnie Fliehman, a local Elder of the Conference, died May 22, 1970. She attended the former Bonebrake Theological Seminary and later the Hart- ford Seminary, Hartford, Connecticut. She was ordained an Elder in 1921 by Bishop A. R. Clippinger and served primarily in the area of Week-Day Reli- gious Education in various communities of our Conference.
A detailed statement of these "servants of the Church" will appear in the Conference Journal.
The Ministry
The pastoral changes in the Conference since the last annual session are as follows:
Dale W. Smith, a local Elder, was assigned to the Dunlap Church last fall. A. Allen Bryan, a United Theological Seminary Student, was assigned to the Clayton Church shortly after the close of Conference.
In the fall William Worth, Pastor at College Hill, asked to be relieved of his ministerial duties so he could take a position in a social agency of Hamilton County. Since then College Hill has been served very faithfully and acceptably on a part-time basis by William Schuster, a minister of Maine Conference who is in the chaplaincy program at Bethesda Hospital.
Fred Heath, Pastor at Residence Park Church, requested assignment on a part-time basis and has completed the Conference year on that basis.
William Ramey, a Pastor of the Virginia Conference, was appointed by Bishop Ensley to serve as an Associate Pastor of First Church, Dayton.
William Hensley, Pastor of Mt. Airy Church, was appointed by Bishop Ensley to serve the Concord United Methodist Church at Englewood, Ohio.
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Four of our ministers have requested superannuated relationship at the Annual Conference. They are Harvey Hahn after 41 years of service, Grover Letner after 46 years of service, Frank Cross after 18 years of service, and Carl Eschbach after 41 years of service. These men have been referred to the Board of the Ministry for appropriate recommendation to the Conference.
The Board of the Ministry will also recommend for appropriate action the members who are eligible for ordination as Elder and those fulfilling re- quirements for ordination as Deacon.
Activity of the Year
This has been a year of transition and growing involvement in the matters that relate to the West Ohio Conference. One year ago we voted to accept the Plan and Basis of Conference Union. Considerable study and mutual sharing produced this excellent plan. It was our responsibility to im- plement the plan by bringing together the Boards and Agencies of the four conferences involved into a satisfactory, workable, and mutually agreeable unit. I am happy to report this has been accomplished in a fruitful manner and from our coming Conference at Lakeside there should emerge a structure capable of forwarding the ministry of Christ's Church in the life of today's world. It would be unrealistic to think all decisions are final-there will always be improvements to be considered.
Statistics have long been a means of measuring the progress of the Church. A full report of our records prepared by the Conference Statistician, Ralph Tinsley, will be found in the book of reports published before Conference. How- ever, I call your attention to a net loss in church membership of 347, a loss of 110 in average Worship service attendance and a loss of 534 in average Sunday School attendance. There may be a slight cause for rejoicing to be found in an increase of 505 preparatory members under 16 or a total of 4,095. I have also noticed on the five-months report for 1970, a net gain in member- ship for those reporting. All reports are not yet in.
The financial reports are to be found in the Treasurer's record and Audi- tor's statement. I call your attention to several items:
At the end of 1969, acording to the authorization of the Conference, we paid the sum of $173,039.66 toward our share of Pension equity in the new Conference. We expect to make an additional payment, considerably smaller, when the financial books of the Conference are closed.
We have also received resources from the Fund for Reconciliation in sup- port of the youth ministry of Parkside Homes totaling $9,000, and the Drexel youth ministry totaling $7,500.
The Ohio Miami Conference Church Extension Fund will merge into the West Ohio Conference Church Development Fund. The final financial reports indicate Ohio Miami will take into the new corporation
Total assets of $665,008.16
Total liabilities and reserve of $661,865.16
Camp Miami continues to serve as a center for Conference activities, including the Annual Conference session, the W.S.C.S. Annual Conference, the summer activities, and as a place for retreats for many of our local churches.
The attendance at the 1969 summer session included 382 juniors, 98 junior highs, 144 at senior and music camps, and 591 in family camps.
During most of the weekends of the fall, winter, and spring months there have been groups at the camp, making use of the facilities.
The treasurer's report will indicate the business activity of the Camp. The present indebtedness, including all recent improvements, stands at approxi- mately $61,000.
The activity of the Board of Missions has continued as in previous years and a complete report of its actions will be presented. Highlights of its work are as follows:
On June 29, 1969, ground was broken for the new activities building at Hamilton Park Avenue Church. This spacious addition will enable the church to reach out and do a better job with the youth of the community.
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PROCEEDINGS
On August 3 ground was broken for the new education building at the Fletcher Church. This large addition to the existing church will provide edu- cational and fellowship needs adequate for the future of this church.
On October 26 the beautiful new parsonage at Ware's Chapel was dedi- cated. This is a $35,000 home in an ideal rural setting. This house is heated by electric heat and represents many hours of donated labor by members of the church and community.
On November 2 the new education building at West Elkton Church was dedicated. This spacious addition for Sunday School and fellowship repre- sented many hours of donated labor by members and friends of the church.
On December 14 the new $40,000 parsonage at Clough Church was dedi- cated. This beautiful home completes the new Clough Church building program for the present time and provides a spacious home for the pastor and his family.
Dedications are being planned in the near future at Cherry Grove for the completed portion of the new church plant and at Fletcher and Park Avenue, Hamilton.
The Program Council and its director have had a very busy and success- ful year in working with representation of the other conferences toward a uni- fied program. During the spring months all of our boards and agencies met with the boards of Sandusky, Southeast and Ohio Conferences. From these combined meetings, in which we shared in planning and leadership, recom- mendations of all four merging conferences will come before the new Annual Conference session at Lakeside.
As important as the agreed-upon recommendations, was the opportunity of getting acquainted with members of the boards of the other three confer- ences. Though not all board members can continue to serve on the new boards, Ohio Miami will be represented on all and the experiences of the spring meet- ings will have been helpful.
Our laymen and ministers have made excellent contributions in these or- ganizational matters. We are convinced the influence of the best of Ohio Mi- ami's heritage and concern for the future will be felt in the new conference.
The Board of the Laity was organized shortly after the last Conference session and was heartily endorsed by the Conference Council. The following officers were elected: Mr. Jay Jacoby, Lay Leader; Mr. John Burns, Associate Lay Leader related to the Commission on Stewardship and Finance; and Mr. George Frey, Associate Lay Leader related to the Commission on Lay Life and Work. This group furnished leadership for the Stewardship program in the fall when they visited local churches to explain the terms and meanings of the new financial budget for 1970. This was a valuable experience for our churches.
The members of the Women's Society of Christian Service, under the leadership of President Mrs. John Knecht and her officers, have participated in two inspiring and significant gatherings. One, the meeting at Camp Miami April 30th, which stressed the important leadership of the women of the Con- ference from the early beginning to the present day, emphasizing the mission- ary outreach of the Gospel. Two, the uniting Conference of the W.S.C.S. of the four previous conferences held at Westerville, Ohio, on May 22nd. I mention these gatherings particularly, for they demonstrate the loyalty and enthusiasm with which the women have supported and promited the witness of the Church in its entirety.
I speak a word of appreciation and gratitude to the office staff. Dorothy Miller completed her service as Conference Bookkeeper on January 31st and recognition of her service is noted in the minutes of the Council of Administra- tion. Anne Moore has continued as bookkeeper, secretary to three staff per- sonnel and handler of the multitude of duties that come with closing a long- established office. We are most grateful for her thoughtful and understanding way that not only moved the work of the Conference forward but did so in a pleasant and congenial Christian spirit. We are indebted for her splendid service.
I add a special word of gratitude for my wife, Ruth, who not only in this
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year of superintendency but in all my ministry has supplied resources of un- derstanding and love in our common efforts of Christian witness.
I close this report mindful of the fact that only the highlights of the year's work have been mentioned. I am aware of the daily testimony of both clergy and lay alike that undergirds the witness of the church. For this devotion and commitment to Christian living that brings praise to God's name we humbly say,
"Thank you, Father, for the privilege of sharing in the service of your Church."
Respectfully submitted, CARL B. ESCHBACH CHARLES C. MESSMER
LOUIS O. ODON W. OWEN DELP
REPORT NO 2 SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CONFERENCE COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION
The Council met two times in 1969 following the session of Annual Con- ference: September 23, at Heritage Church, Mt. Healthy; and December 9, at Lagonda Church, Springfield.
Actions Taken September 23, 1969
Upon request of the Program Council, appointed the following persons as coordinators :
Young Adult Ministries-Joel S. Baer
Family Life Ministries-James B. Duvall
Worship Chairman-J. Lowell Lakes
Voted to approve the action of the Board of Missions concerning the follow- ing churches: Middletown Faith, Miamisburg Parkview, Normandy, Hunter Community, Zion (Cincinnati). (Report on file.)
Voted to approve the action of the Board of Missions concerning Hamilton Park Avenue Church and authorized the Conference Trustees to co-sign the notes necessary to secure loans for the proposed building program.
Voted to validate the actions of the Board of Trustees from May! to Sep- tember 23.
Voted to approve the recommendation of the Minimum Salary Commission concerning persons and amounts to be paid each to bring salary up to Confer- ence minimum standard.
Voted to approve the recommendations for the forming of a Conference Board of the Laity. The following were appointed as officers:
Conference Lay Leader-Jay R. Jacoby, Sulphur Grove Conference Assistant Lay Leader-John Burns, Belmont
Voted the Superintendet and Program Director authority to appoint a third officer for the Board of the Laity.
Voted to re-elect the Conference Staff Relations members as listed in the 1968 Conference Journal. R. L. Pounds, W. Freshley, Jay Jacoby, Walter Arnold, Jack Davis, Jr., and Emerson Bragg.
Voted to elect Wendell Hohn as treasurer to handle operating funds for the Conference until June 10.
Voted to approve the appointment of William Hensley to the Ad Hoc Nomi- nating Committee of the unting Conferences in Ohio.
Voted to approve the request of the Board of Pensions to transfer $6,000 from the Accumulated Insurance Fund to care for pension payment deficits in 1969.
Voted to support the Board of Pensions and approve the forwarding to the Columbus office of their request for a full-time executive officer to care for
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CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
pension matters in the United Conference.
Voted to approve the necessary adjustments in budget figures for operating a Conference office until June 10 and sharing the cost of a District office after that date. The budget figure amount was moved from $13,600 to $19,000.
Actions Taken December 9, 1969
Voted to approve the actions of the Board of Missions for the following churches: Bevis, Beardshear, Pleasant Ridge, Eastmont, and Phillipsburg. (Report on file.)
Voted to validate the actions of the Board of Trustees concerning a number of churches since September 23, for the William Reichert Fund, the Trustees Permanent Fund, Camp Miami deeds, the Extension Fund Reserve, and the sale of the Conference Manse. (Report on file.)
Voted to approve the following recommendations of the Student Aid Com- mittee :
1. Transferring to the combined Boards of Ministry and then to the new Board of the Ministry, June 1970, the responsibility to assist seminary students.
2. To authorize the United Theological Seminary to administer interest earned in the scholarship funds held by them, according to the intent of the donors. Report of such distribution to be made each year to the Board of the Ministry of the West Ohio Conference.
3. Present Student Aid Committee to continue until June 1970 and that they bring a recommendation concerning designated Scholarships at Otterbein College to a subsequent Council of Administration meeting. (Report on file.) Voted to approve the Conference Youth Fellowship budget for the six months of 1970 and the proposed handling of such funds.
Voted to approve the recommendations of the Conference staff concerning balances of these non-conference funds :
Crisis in the Nation-To be used for Drexel Church Youth Ministry.
Fund for Renewal-To be returned to the General Board of Missions with a request it be used for Migrant Work in the West Ohio Conference.
Fund for Reconciliation-Balances in the Fund be sent to West Ohio Conference office in Columbus at close of 1969.
Camp Miami Improvement Fund-Balances as of December 31, 1969 be sent to West Ohio Conference office, Columbus, Ohio. Rev. Charles Messmer to have the privilege to draw on these funds as needed for Camp Miami.
Voted to adopt the resolution of the Board of Publication to hold funds for the MIAMI MESSENGER in the Dayton office.
Voted to adopt the resolution that the MIAMI MESSENGER be continued through June 1970.
Voted to approve the report of the Committee on Nominations with regard to persons related to Ohio Miami Conference who are being proposed for the ballot at Annual Conference.
Voted to request that death benefits Plan B as related to the Board of Pen- sions be effective December 23, 1969.
Voted not to collect group life insurance premiums for the period of Decem- ber 24, 1969, and March 24, 1970, and that such funds already received be re- funded.
Voted to authorize the holding of a closing session of the Ohio Miami Con- ference on the morning of June 10, 1970, in Columbus, Ohio.
Voted to refer the matter of completing the history of the Conference and its publication to the Conference Historical Society.
Voted to refer the recommendation concerning support for La Raza Unida to the Board of Christian Social Concerns of the Program Council.
Voted to hold $1,000 for contingencies not covered in the Conference budget for 1970.
The Council met two times in 1970: March 10, at Normandy Church; and May 14, at Camp Miami.
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Actions Taken March 10, 1970
Voted to approve the actions of the Board of Missions concerning the follow- ing churches: Drexel, Miamisburg Parkview, Beardshear, College Hill, and Prince of Peace. A request from Malachi for financial support was forwarded to the Division of National Missions. (Report on file.)
Voted to validate the actions of the Board of Trustees since December 9, 1969. (Report on file.)
Voted to adopt the report of the Auditor, Mr. Wesley Clark, for the year 1969. (Report on file.)
Authorized the Conference Commission on Archives and History to send a letter to each pastor and church concerning the publication of a Conference History. The financial interest in such a project is to be sought.
Voted that the per diem granted by General Conference to delegates to the General Conference in St. Louis, April 20-24, be supplemented to a total of $22 per day for each of the four delegates from the Conference. The needed amount is to be taken from the contingncy fund of the Conference.
Voted that the Conference staff prepare the program for the closing session of the Ohio Miami Conference be held June 10 at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, Ohio.
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