In this newsletter I would like to discuss some challenges and opportunities that face the church today. In changing times, our unwavering goal is to glorify God and represent the New Testament church. While we cannot prevent change, we don't have to let change distort our identity. Instead, we can use change to reinforce our Apostolic identity and mission.
Review of Operations In December 2011, we began a review of all operations at World Evangelism Center in St. Louis. We have hired Collaborative Strategies, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in this kind of work and has experience with nonprofit and church organizations. They conducted focus group meetings and interviews with executives, employees, pastors, and other ministers totaling about one hundred people. CSI gave a preliminary report to the General Board, and we are now working on specific problems and solutions with the goal of completing the review in July. The preliminary review revealed four main strengths of WEC and UPCI operations: an effective plan of world evangelization, financial stability despite challenging economic conditions, respect for leadership, and great commitment to our mission on the part of ministers and employees. At the same time, it identified four main challenges: overlapping functions, weaknesses in some aspects of management and institutional culture, need to strengthen centralized functions (particularly inaccounting, human resources, and information technology), and issues of governance. To address these challenges, we have formed four work groups: Accounting, Publications, Communications/ Marketing, and Organization. From these work groups we expect three kinds of recommendations: technology, process, and organization. One major outcome will be to address the need for information technology by upgrading, reimplementing, or replacing software. We expect that some recommendations can be implemented administratively, while others could require Executive Board, General Board, or General Conference action. I will keep you informed as specific proposals emerge from the process. General Board Actions The Executive and General Boards met in March. In addition to handling ordinary business, including oversight of finances and divisional operations, the General Board took several significant actions.
Communications Technology Committee In 2009-2010 a special Restructuring Committee of the General Board considered various proposals regarding UPCI operations. In September 2010 this committee recommended that we consider updating our Articles of Faith, Constitution, and Position Papers "regarding the use of current communications technologies." The General Board referred this recommendation to a special committee for further study. The reason is that our existing language regarding television and video is outdated and does not adequately address newer technologies such as online media, satellite and cable deliveries, DVDs, tablets, and smart phones. (Two Position Papers discuss computers, the Internet, and technology in general.) Moreover, we are seeing the merger of traditional television with technologies that we have already accepted. Our historic language may not communicate effectively and comprehensively to a new generation of believers, converts, and ministers. At the recent board meeting the Communications Technology Committee presented four options:
The General Board's discussion emphasized the following parameters:
Loan Fund The UPC Loan Fund is making great progress. In nine months we have 80 investors with $3.1 million in investments. The return is very attractive in that most CDs at banks are offering typically less than 1%. The Loan Fund offers 3.5% if invested before the end of March, with 4% for three years and 4.5% for five years. On April 1 the rates of return reduce to 3%, 3.5%, and 4% respectively. IRAs, including rollovers from IRAs and other qualified plans, can be invested in the Loan Fund. Go to www.upcloanfund.org or call Stephen Drury at 314-837-7304 X309. The Loan Fund is a great stewardship choice. It offers our churches and members a better rate of return, provides capital for UPCI church loans, and enables some interest income (the spread) to go to the UPCI instead of secular banks. United Insurance Solutions We continue to expand our Property and Casualty program for churches. We are writing policies directly with Philadelphia Insurance Company that offer a complete package of coverage based on a church's needs. We are looking for seasoned agents in each district who would like to affiliate themselves with our program and write church insurance within the Philadelphia offering. If you have an insurance need or have an agent referral, contact Duane Pope at[email protected] or 888-713-5137. Sincerely in Christ, David K. Bernard |
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April 2014
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