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Conference Calling - September 12, 2018
From: Doug Goodwin, Executive Secretary

Greetings, members and participants in BC Conference.

I plan to send you a regular update on how plans and decisions are emerging for the transition of BC Conference (and Whitehorse and Banff) into a new Pacific Mountain Region starting January 1, 2019. This update will be a little longer than subsequent ones, I hope!

Region 3 Commission: The Commission that will make high-level decisions about the new Region is the BC Conference Executive. It meets November 1-3. At that meeting there will be a number of things to decide but the major piece of work will be working on Ends policies that define what “goods” the Region will provide (what services, programs, supports, etc.) to whom (who, or what groups, will receive the bulk of the benefit the Region provides?). It will also be adopting a budget that will include the decision on whether or not the Region will ask for an allocation from congregations of up to .5%, as authorized by the General Meeting.

Finances: The Pacific Mountain Region will receive far less money from congregations than the Conference has been receiving but we are hopeful we will still have enough finances to do much of the work we have been able to do to date, as well as take on the additional work the restructuring of our church mandates. This has meant changes, losses and adjustments, but I am pleased that we should still be in good shape going into 2019.

Programming: You can assume that almost all of the programming we have become accustomed to in BC Conference will continue into 2019, including major work in LeaderShift, property development, and support for pastoral relations. We are figuring out how to support clusters and expect to be able to do so in a significant way. We expect we will be able to provide more direct support of congregations and congregational life, although exactly what that looks like is unknown presently. We are also taking a second look at support for Youth and Young Adult and Children’s ministries with an eye to enhancing these areas of work.

Staff: Most of the major staff decisions have been made although there are still a few that are being planned. I hope to be able to give details in a near-future update. The only change to Conference staff presently in Presbyteries is the loss of Carolyn Rogers in Kootenay Presbytery. Carolyn will attend the Vancouver School of Theology this year where she is studying for a M.Div. degree. Other changes are happening at the Conference office. Again, I hope you can be patient while these are finalized so I can let you know what the whole picture looks like when it finally all comes together.

Presbyteries: We will be working with Presbyteries, primarily through their treasurers, to transfer remaining funds from the Presbyteries to the Conference. Presbyteries are encouraged to carefully review the check lists kindly provided by the General Council office about what they need to do to end their work and prepare to transition into becoming a Region. If your Presbytery does not have a check list, please let me know.

General Meeting: The Region will need to hold a General Meeting by the end of June 2019. The Conference Executive is holding a special meeting to decide on a date and a venue for this first meeting. I should be able to let you know more about the date, venue, and format of the General Meeting in my next update (God willing!).

Office of Vocation: We just heard today that Brenda Fawkes has been hired by the national Office of Vocation to be the staff person providing service in the Pacific Mountain Region and Region 3 (south Alberta), beginning January 1. Brenda is well-known to BC Conference, presently working at the Vancouver School of Theology with students and having worked at all levels of the personnel and pastoral relations work in the Conference (in fact, we had hired her to help set up our new Candidacy Pathway processes back in 2013-2014!). As Office of Vocation staff, Brenda will be working for and accountable to the General Council, not the Regions, but all are aware that a close working relationship will have to be developed between all involved in personnel-related work. We are pleased that it will be Brenda we will be working with.

Executive Minister: I have been given a term lasting until the end of June 2019 to serve as Executive Secretary (to the end of the year) and Executive Minister in 2019. In fact, I have actually begun my Executive Minister tasks already as I work with Region 3 (south Alberta) on creating the structures and principles for a new Region. While I think this model of having an Executive Minister serve multiple Regions in an unsustainable one, I must admit I have enjoyed the challenge of the work and the new people I have met… and I am looking forward to discovering the beautiful scenery of southern Alberta.

Personal: I still feel blessed to be working with such wonderful people in a job that seems to suit my inclinations, skills and gifts so well. Despite the additional work these new duties demand, I have been healthy, ensuring I get rest, relaxation, and stimulation from a variety of activities and friendships. After June 2019 I am not sure what my next step will be. Retirement is an option, but a more likely one is continued employment in another job, hopefully a church-related one. I am in a good, win-win position so there is no need for concern about me and my future, but I do appreciate your prayers for discernment.

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