Final first quinquennial constituency session minutes september 26, 2010

POTOMAC CONFERENCE FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

SEPTEMBER 26, 2010 1

POTOMAC CONFERENCE OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS MINUTES OF THE FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

Takoma Academy Gymnasium, Takoma Park, MD September 26, 2010

10:00 a.m.

PRAYER Opening prayer was offered by Corinne Rawlins, Potomac Conference Executive Committee member.

WELCOME William Miller, President of Potomac Conference, and David Daniels, Principal of Takoma Academy welcomed all delegates and visitors to the First Quinquennial Constituency Session.

SPECIAL MUSIC The Takoma Academy choir presented two vocal selections.

DEVOTIONAL Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference President

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION Neville Harcombe, Columbia Union Conference Secretary

FQCS 10-01 OFFICIAL CALL

The official call of the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was presented to the delegates by Jorge Ramirez, Vice President for Administration.

QUORUM A quorum was met as follows:

741 church elected delegates authorized 600 church-elected delegates present

174 employee delegates authorized 115 employee delegates present

11 lay executive committee delegates

authorized 11 lay executive committee delegates present

7 lay constitution & bylaws committee

delegates authorized 4 lay constitution & bylaws committee

delegates present

25 committee-voted delegates authorized 22 committee-voted delegates present



5 Columbia Union/NAD delegates present

A total of 752 authorized delegates were present (78.5%) of which 79.79% were church elected delegates, constituting a quorum.

FQCS 10-02 SEATING OF DELEGATES

VOTED, to seat the delegates of the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

OPENING OF THE SESSION William Miller, chair of the session, declared the session officially open.

FQCS 10-03 PARLIAMENTARIAN

VOTED, to authorize Walter Carson, Office of Legal Counsel, Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, to serve as Parliamentarian for the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Dr. Carson gave a summary of parliamentary procedures to be used.

FQCS 10-04 PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES

VOTED, to approve the procedural guidelines as printed on page 9 of the Session Book. (Attachment A)

FQCS 10-05 LEGAL NOTICE

VOTED, to waive the reading of the legal notices published in the July 1 and August 1, 2010 issues of the Columbia Union Visitor.

FQCS 10-06 AGENDA

VOTED, to approve the Agenda as printed on pages 6 & 7 of the Session Book.

FQCS 10-07 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Potomac Conference Third Quadrennial Session, September 25, 2005

VOTED, to approve the September 25, 2005 minutes of the Third Quadrennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

FQCS 10-08 PRESENTATION OF NEW CONGREGATIONS

VOTED, to accept the following organized churches into the sisterhood of churches of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists:

Far West End – Richmond Cornerstone Glenmont Spanish Northern VA Ghanaian Washington Ethiopian Gaithersburg Brazilian Oxon Hill Spanish Bealeton Spanish



Chirilagua Spanish Roanoke Spanish Redeeming Grace Fellowship DC Spanish Damascus Spanish Leesburg Spanish

PRESENTATION OF NEW COMPANIES

The following new Companies were recognized with a note of appreciation, encouragement and support:

Centreville Spanish Culmore Spanish Dale City Spanish Deaf Evangelistic Adventist Fellowship Hopewell Spanish Martinsville Spanish Newport News Peninsula Korean Takoma Park Oromo West End Spanish Restoration Praise Center

PRESENTION OF NEW MISSION GROUPS

The following new Mission Groups were acknowledged and encouraged in their growth:

Blackstone Spanish Charlottesville Spanish Light Bearers Mission Lynchburg Spanish Reston Spanish Stafford Spanish Tappahannock Spanish Woodstock Spanish

DEDICATORY PRAYER FOR NEW CONGREGATIONS

Seth Bardu, Treasurer for the Columbia Union, gave a special dedicatory prayer for the new congregations.

FQCS 10-09 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE REPORT, CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve on the Constitution & Bylaws Committee for the next quinquennium: Jorge Ramirez Neville Harcombe Angel Santiago-Pinto Willy Benzaquen Lloyd Dallas, Sr. Ruth Statelmajer Richard Christian William Jones Clinton Adams



Lynda French Rod Lowe

FQCS 10-10 PRESIDENT’S REPORT

VOTED, to receive the report given by William Miller, Potomac Conference President, as presented.

FQCS 10-11 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION’S REPORT

VOTED, to receive the report given by Jorge Ramirez, Potomac Conference Vice President for Administration, as presented.

FQCS 10-12 AUDITOR’S REPORT: Potomac Conference, Potomac Conference Corporation, Potomac Adventist Book and Health Food Center, Shenandoah Valley Academy Takoma Academy

VOTED, to accept the Audited Statements of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, as of December 31, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, as well as the Audited Special-Purpose Schedules of the Potomac Adventist Book and Health Food Center, a department of Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as of January 31, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and the Audited Financial Statements of both Shenandoah Valley Academy and Takoma Academy as of June 30, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, as presented by Kim Westfall of the General Conference Auditing Service.

FQCS 10-13 VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE’S REPORT

VOTED, to receive the report given by Steve Wilson, Potomac Conference Vice President For Finance, as presented.

FQCS 10-14 FIRST PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, WILLIAM MILLER

VOTED, to invite William Miller to serve as Potomac Conference President for the next quinquennium.

FQCS 10-15 FIRST PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, JORGE RAMIREZ

VOTED, to invite Jorge Ramirez to serve as Potomac Conference Vice President for Administration for the next quinquennium.

FQCS 10-16 FIRST PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, STEPHEN WILSON

VOTED, to invite Stephen Wilson to serve as Potomac Conference Vice President for Finance for the next quinquennium.

LUNCH Elder Ernest Castillo, Vice President of the North American Division gave the blessing for lunch.

SESSION RECONVENED William Miller called the session back to order.



FQCS 10-17 SECOND PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, KEITH HALLAM

VOTED, to invite Keith Hallam to serve as Potomac Conference Vice President for Education for the next quinquennium.

FQCS 10-18 SECOND PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, RAYMOND PICHETTE

VOTED, to invite Raymond Pichette to serve as Potomac Conference Vice President for Pastoral Ministries for the next quinquennium

FQCS 10-19 SECOND PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINIATING COMMITTEE, DIRECTORS AND ASSOCIATES

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve as Potomac Conference Departmental Directors and Associates for the next quinquennium:

Lisa Myaing Adventist Book Center, CEO Glen Altermatt Associate for Pastoral Ministries-

Evangelism Robert Banks Associate for Pastoral Ministries-

South Desiree Bryant Associate Superintendent for

Education-North Nancy Melashenko Associate Superintendent for

Education-South Mary Ann Sheffer Undertreasurer Daryl Hevener Associate Treasurer Okemas Williams Associate Treasurer/Head Auditor Jose Esposito Hispanic Ministries, Director Johanna Prestol-Dominguez

Human Resource, Director

Lynette Christ Human Resource, Associate Director

Frank Cox Information Technology, Director Hugo Chinchay Planned Giving, Trust Services

& Stewardship, Director Denny Grady Youth, Director Sherilyn O’Ffill Youth, Associate Director

FQCS 10-20 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Consolidation of Conference & Corporations

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to merge the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, District of Columbia Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists and Virginia Conference Agency of Seventh-day Adventists into the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, and to direct the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and Officers of each Corporation and Unincorporated Association to execute all agreements and documents necessary to complete the transfer, donation and merger by January 1, 2011, and to take all further steps necessary to conclude the transfer, donation and



merger, including the election of necessary corporate officers for the newly created corporation.

FQCS 10-21 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Consolidation of Potomac Conference & Potomac Conference Corporation

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to merge the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, into the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, and to direct the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and Officers of this Corporation and Unincorporated Association to execute all agreements and documents necessary to complete the transfer, donation and merger by January 1, 2011, and to take all further steps necessary to conclude the transfer, donation and merger, including the election of new corporate officers if necessary.

FQCS 10-22 ADJOURNMENT OF POTOMAC CONFERENCE FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to adjourn the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

FQCS 10-23 CONVENE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CORPORATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to convene the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the District of Columbia Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.

FQCS 10-24 WAIVE READING OF LEGAL NOTICES IN COLUMBIA UNION VISITOR

VOTED, to waive the reading of the legal notices that appeared in the Columbia Union Visitor, July 1, 2010 and August 1, 2010.

FQCS 10-25 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Consolidation of District of Columbia Corporation & Potomac Conference Corporation

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to merge the District of Columbia Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, into the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, and to direct the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and Officers of this Corporation to execute all agreements and documents necessary to complete the transfer, donation and merger by January 1, 2011, and to take all further steps necessary to conclude the transfer, donation and merger, including the election of new corporate officers if necessary.



FQCS 10-26 ADJOURNMENT OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CORPORATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to adjourn the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the District of Columbia Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.

FQCS 10-27 CONVENE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE AGENCY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS INCORPORATED FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to convene the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Virginia Conference Agency of Seventh-day Adventists Incorporated.



FQCS 10-29 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Consolidation of Virginia Conference Agency Incorporated & Potomac Conference Corporation

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to merge the Virginia Conference Agency of Seventh-day Adventists Incorporated, into the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, and to direct the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and Officers of this Corporation to execute all agreements and documents necessary to complete the transfer, donation and merger by January 1, 2011, and to take all further steps necessary to conclude the transfer, donation and merger, including the election of new corporate officers if necessary.

FQCS 10-30 ADJOURNMENT OF VIRGINIA CONFEENCE AGENCY OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS INCORPORATED FIRST QUINQUENNIEL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to adjourn the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Virginia Conference Agency of Seventh-day Adventists Incorporated.

FQCS 10-31 CONVENE POTOMAC CONFERENCE CORPORATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to convene the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.





FQCS 10-33 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Consolidation of Conference & Corporations

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to accept the merger of Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, District of Columbia Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists and Virginia Conference Agency of Seventh-day Adventists into the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, and to direct the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and Officers of each Corporation and Unincorporated Association to execute all agreements and documents necessary to complete the transfer, donation and merger by January 1, 2011, and to take all further steps necessary to conclude the transfer, donation and merger, including the election of new corporate officers if necessary.

FQCS 10-34 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Motion, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee to approve the new amended and restated bylaws of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists as presented. Amendment to the Motion to add "regular standing" to Article VIII, Section 1, lines 34 & 35, defeated. Motion to vote on presented issues one-by-one, defeated. Motion to approve the following statement to be added in Article 7, Section 2c: "Nominating committee shall nominate only positions that currently exist. They shall not create a new position." VOTED, to approve the following statement to be added in Article 7, Section 2c: "Nominating committee shall nominate only positions that currently exist. They shall not create a new position." Motion that the membership of the organizing committee and nominating committee be 50% female/lay, defeated.



VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws committee to accept the new amended and restated bylaws of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists as presented (Attachment B) and refer back to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee the following items:

add "regular standing" to Article VIII, Section

1, lines 34 & 35

membership of the organizing committee

and nominating committee be 50%

female/lay

FQCS 10-35 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: Potomac Conference Corporation Board of Education Constitution

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws committee to accept the

Potomac Conference Corporation Board of Education Constitution as presented. (Attachment C)

FQCS 10-36 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: Shenandoah Valley Academy Constitution

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws committee to accept the Shenandoah Valley Academy Constitution as presented. (Attachment D)

FQCS 10-37 CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS: Takoma Academy Constitution

VOTED, to approve the recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws committee to accept the Takoma Academy Constitution as presented. (Attachment E)

FQCS 10-38 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Potomac Conference Corporation Third Quadrennial Constituency Session, District of Columbia Corporation Third Quadrennial Constituency Session, Virginia Conference Agency Third Quadrennial Constituency Session

VOTED, to approve the minutes of the Potomac Conference Corporation Third Quadrennial Constituency Session, District of Columbia Corporation Third Quadrennial Constituency Session and the Virginia Conference Agency Third Quadrennial Constituency Session held September 25, 2005, as presented.

FQCS 10-39 THIRD PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: POTOMAC CONFERENCE CORPORATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve on the Potomac Conference Corporation Executive Committee for the next quinquennium:

Ex Officio William Miller, Chair



Jorge Ramirez, Vice Chair and Secretary

Steve Wilson Keith Hallam

DC/MD John Wagner Steve Murphy Kermit Netteburg Karen Burke Carl Sobremisana Veena Alfred Jesse Nascemento Karen Seek

DC Metro Hispanic

Jose Esposito Juan Carlos Rodriguez Miguel Flores Carmen Martinez Raul Rodriguez

Northern Virginia Kathy Mitchell Ron Gadsden Becky Newman

Virginia Capital Jack Calkins Dan McManus

Virginia South Central Lisa Braye

Virginia Southwest Corinne Rawlins Virginia Tidewater

Dave Dildy

Virginia Valley Rick Labate Barbara Manspeaker

FQCS 10-40 FOURTH PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: POTOMAC CONFERENCE CORPORATION BOARD OF EDUCATION

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve on the Potomac Conference Corporation Board of Education for the next quinquennium:

Ex Officio

William Miller

Jorge Ramirez, Chair

Steve Wilson



Keith Hallam

Ham Canosa

David Daniels

Spencer Hannah

Desiree Bryant (non-voting)

Nancy Melashenko (non-voting)

Church Employees

Todd Coulter

Daniel Darrikhuma

Becky Durichek

Wendy Pega

Larry Rich

Angie Weems

Non-Church Employee Members

Rodney Cartwright

Tommie Melendez

Susie Shurtz

Audrey Sprinkle

Gary Wilson

FQCS 10-41 FOURTH PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: SHENANDOAH VALLEY ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve on the Shenandoah Valley Academy Board of Trustees for the next quinquennium:

Ex Officio

William Miller, Chair

Jorge Ramirez, Vice Chair

Steve Wilson

Keith Hallam

Ham Canosa

Spencer Hannah

Jeff Twomley

Church Employees

Shane Anderson

David Daniels

Joe Fralick

Bonita Shields

David Vandevere

Grant Wolters

Non Church Employee Members

Jim Callan

Ron Davis

Mike Dickerhoff

Joanne Gentry



Paul Griffin

Patty McLennan

Bill Strickland

Duane Swanson

Tony Williams

FQCS 10-42 FOURTH PARTIAL REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE: TAKOMA ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

VOTED, to invite the following individuals to serve on the Takoma Academy Board of Trustees for the next quinquennium:

Ex Officio

William Miller, Chair

Jorge Ramirez, Vice Chair

Steve Wilson

Keith Hallam

David Daniels

Weymouth Spence

Ham Canosa

Church Employees

Karnik Doukmetzian

Spencer Hannah

Richard James

Cavel Melbourne

Wendy Pega

Larry Rich

Non Church Employee Members

Rodney Cartwright

Chris Lunsford

Kim Malin

Glenn Pedersen

Juan Torres

Ivy Vedamuthu

Irving Westney

Al Wood

Marcel Wright

Yekaterina Unnikumaran

FQCS 10-43 REMOVAL FROM SISTERHOOD OF CHURCHES: FIRST MIZO OF AMERICA

VOTED, to remove the First Mizo of America church from the Sisterhood of Churches due to transferring to Chesapeake Conference.

FQCS 10-44 LAY VACANCIES ON COMFERENCE COMMITTEES

VOTED, to ask each church board to submit to the Vice President for Administration 1 or 2 names that meet the qualifications for the appropriate



committee. These would then be submitted to the Executive Committee for final approval to fill conference committee vacancies.

FQCS 10-45 EDUCATION IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON DC/METRO AREA

VOTED, to request the Columbia Union Conference Administration to consider the following action: Appoint a taskforce to:

1. Study the conflict that is caused by policies which limit school choice to the Adventist schools that are within the territory of the parents’ conference employment.

2. Assess the availability of Adventist schools in the metro area as it relates to demographic need and study the feasibility of establishing a cross-conference metro school district.

3. Develop an impact study with recommendations for each conference committee that participates in the metro school district.

4. Request that conference committees study the work of the taskforce and take action on the recommendations.

The information in this study will then be reported back to the local church.

CHALLENGE A challenge to the delegation was presented by William Miller, Potomac Conference President.

DEDICATION OF OFFICERS, CONFERENCE STAFF, PASTORS AND TEACHERS

William Miller, Potomac Conference President, offered a dedicatory prayer on behalf of the officers, conference staff, pastors & teachers.

FQCS 10-46 ADJOURNMENT OF THE POTOMAC CONFERENCE CORPORATION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST FIRST QUINQUENNIAL CONSTITUENCY SESSION

VOTED, to adjourn the First Quinquennial Constituency Session of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.

_________________________________________ William Miller, President

_________________________________________ Jorge Ramirez, Vice President for Administration

Final first quinquennial constituency session minutes september 26, 2010

Documents

Transcript of Final first quinquennial constituency session minutes september 26, 2010