The following names have been nominated by the Board of Nominations and comprise the official ballot for the 2016 Annual Meeting.

Transcription

1 2017 Annual Meeting Ballot REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF NOMINATIONS The following names have been nominated by the Board of Nominations and comprise the official ballot for the 2016 Annual Meeting. Biographical sketches on these candidates has been included. The listing of nominees may be altered on official ballot, if any candidate declines before the time of election. EXECUTIVE BOARD (six-year terms) Merideth Randles, Emmanuel Covenant Church, Seattle, WA Phil Print, Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN Paula Frost, Faith Covenant Church, Manistee, MI Carl Helfrich, Community Covenant Church, Kirkwood, MO (one-year term) Vicky Reier, Arvada Covenant Church, Arvada, CO BOARD OF NOMINATIONS (five-year terms) Paul Andrew Petersen, Bellingham Covenant Church, Bellingham, WA BOARD OF THE ORDERED MINISTRY (five-year terms) Karen Hallberg Ingebretson, Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church, Grand Rapids, MI Daniela Flores, Vida Plena Church, Chicago, IL Darrell Nelson, Mission Covenant Church, Poplar, WI Debbie Hamilton, The River Covenant Church, Soldotna, AK BOARD OF PENSIONS AND BENEFITS (five-year terms) Bruce Peterson, Crossroads Church, Egan, MN Valton Barrett, Kingdom Builders Covenant Church, Conyers, GA John Douglas, Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE (six-year terms) David Kim, Metro Community Church, Englewood, NJ Susan Poston, Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN Karen Manlove, Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH James Rose, First Evangelical Covenant Church, Anchorage, AK BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY (five-year terms) Erin Oleniczak, North Park Covenant Church, Chicago, IL Jay Carstenbrock, Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, Glen Ellyn, IL Virgil Applequist, Northwest Covenant Church, Mount Prospect, IL Mary Miller, Bethany Covenant Church, Berlin, CT ANNUAL MEETING OFFICERS FOR 2017 & 2018 (two-year term) SECRETARY Michael DeLong, Evangelical Covenant Church, Milwaukee, WI HOW TO GET INVOLVED Would you like to serve or do you know someone that could serve on a Covenant administrative board? Go to for additional information. You wind find descriptions of boards, recommend potential candidates, or fill out a resume for us to consider you. Page 1 of 8

2 Found Faithful Develop Leaders 132 nd Annual Meeting OF THE EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH JUNE 22-24, 2017 Detroit, Michigan CANDIDATES BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION This folder contains biographical information and a personal statement for each candidate on the 2017 ballot. Page 2 of 8

3 CANDIDATE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Evangelical Covenant Church Annual Meeting 2017 General Information Regarding Biographies: - An asterisk ( * ) before a name indicates incumbent. - All information was provided by the candidate. - Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. - Experience indicates past and present activities. - Guide to abbreviations: CBC = Covenant Bible College - Acronyms: CHET = Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos CHIC = Covenant High in Christ CMB = Covenant Ministries of Benevolence MHIPE = Ministerios Hispanos de la Iglesia del Pacto Evangélico NPU = North Park University NPTS = North Park Theological Seminary Board of Nominations Process for Recommendation of Candidates for Denominational Boards: Candidates are recommended and gathered from: Conference Annual Meetings, Conference Boards, Superintendents, local churches (pastors and laypersons), ECC Ethnic Associations, Council of Administrators, and via ECC Website. Candidate recommendations are reviewed and discussed by Board of Nominations during board meetings. Candidates recommendations are reviewed and approved by President of the ECC and Executive Minister of the Ordered Ministry. Local church pastors are contacted for reference checks for layperson candidate recommendations. Superintendents are contacted for reference checks for credentialed candidate recommendations. Candidates are contacted after all approvals and reference checks are completed to request consideration for denominational board ballot. EXECUTIVE BOARD - One candidate needed for each position. Merideth Randles, member of Emmanuel Covenant Church, Seattle, WA. Own and manage Milliman s Seattle health practice specializing in health care actuarial consulting. Experience: Board member for Compassion Tanzania, a Christian non-governmental organization focused on building wells in the most needy areas of rural Tanzania, Board Member, Development Committee; School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: As a youth, I accepted Christ as my personal savior and am blessed to have maintained my faith walk ever since. I believe that only through the gift of grace are we saved from our sins and that Jesus, the Son of God, is the only path to salvation. Phil Print, member of Crossroads Church, Woodbury, MN. Lead Pastor. Experience: Church Planting Northwest Conference, Adjunct faculty at Bethel Seminary, Preaching/Communication. Personal Statement: I surrendered my life to Christ as a junior in High School. Being part of a rule-based church, it wasn t until a guest speaker explained grace that I was moved to put my faith and trust in Jesus. Paula Frost, member of Faith Covenant Church, Manistee, MI. Experience: Speaker at Covenant Camps: Covenant Heights, Pilgrim Pines, Lake Beauty Bible Camp, Covenant Pines and Portage Lake Camp, led marriage retreats, Consultant at Covenant Churches and church plants, Campus ministry to the United States Coast Guard Academy, Sunday school teacher, Committee Member of the Littleton Public Schools School Board Special Education. Page 3 of 8

4 Personal Statement: Jesus is my living Savior, teacher and friend. As God in the flesh, I worship him. I trust in his atoning work of living, ministering, dying and rising to life everlasting as the only acceptable path to unbroken fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit. I agree with the written Word that apart from me (Jesus) you can do nothing. Therefore, I seek daily and constant connection to Christ through reading Scripture, fellowship with believers in a worshipping community, personal spiritual practices and disciplines and active engagement within the world God has placed me. Carl Helfrich, member of Community Covenant Church, Kirkwood, MO. Attorney, The National Law Firm. Experience: Central Conference Executive Board, Harbor Point Ministries Board, Church Planting Commission, Children s Home Board, Young Life Leader, Church Council Chairperson, Vice Chair, Treasurer, New Covenant Legal Services, Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. By this I mean that I seek to follow his will for my life and that I depend on his sacrifice for my present and continuing relationship with God. (1-year term; elect 1) Vicky Reier, member of Arvada Covenant Church, Arvada, CO. Retired/Private Consultant. Experience: Served on the Adult Commission, Search Committee for Lead Pastor at Arvada Covenant, helped to develop the Art of Neighboring Initiative, worked for Youth for Christ in Topeka, KS, Vice-Chair of the Board for Colorado Homeless Families. Personal Statement: I am a Jesus follower. I confess that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. He is the only way to God and through His death and resurrection, I have been saved from the penalty of sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit is at work within me to conform me to the image of Christ, according to the will of God. There is nothing I can do apart from faith in Christ to be saved. My life is intended to glorify God and serve Him and others. BOARD OF NOMINATIONS - One candidate needed for each position. Paul Andrew Peterson, Member of Bellingham Covenant Church. Lead Pastor. Experience: Vision Casting, Preaching/Teaching, Leader Mentoring, Worship Leading and Pastoral Care. Church Plant Coach, Pacific Northwest Executive Board, Whatcom Country Ministerium, First Camp Board, ECC Vitality Pathway Training. Personal Statement: I came to faith as a teenager and continued to grow in my faith as I took small roles as a leader. Christ remains central to all I am and desire to be. BOARD OF THE ORDERED MINISTRY - One candidate needed for each position. Karen Hallberg Ingebretson, member of Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church. Pastor of Community Life. Experience: Director of mission Mobilization and Connection, Covenant World Mission, Faculty and Director of Outreach, Covenant Bible College, Youth Pastor, Glen Ellyn Covenant Church, Sunday School Teacher Personal Statement: Jesus Christ is my life and hope, as I seek to live in relationship with the Triune God, in response to his love, mercy, forgiveness and grace. Jesus gives me purpose for life each day and I long to live a life that glorifies him in my words, actions, and relationships. Daniela Flores (Dany), member of Vida Plena Church, Chicago, IL. Church Planter, Pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Experience: MHIPE, Executive Board for the Central Conference of the ECC, Hispanic Task Force NPU, Treasurer C.H.E.T. Chicago Extension, Nominating Commission Board of the Central Page 4 of 8

5 Conference, Pilot Mentor Program for NPTS, VIVE Chicago, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: I believe in one God, the Creator and Preserver of all things, infinite in the being and perfection. He exists eternally in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are the one substance and equal in power and glory. I believe God is just and merciful; and at His initiative. He has called me to be His. I believe God loves me; that He has personal knowledge of me. My personal faith also involves my person responsibility to God to know his will in and for my life. Darrell, Nelson, member of Mission Covenant Church, Poplar, WI. Lead Pastor at Mission Covenant Church. Experience: Facilitator for Congregational Vitality, Church Consultant on behalf of Congregational Vitality, Town and Country Commission, Committee on Ministerial Standing, served on North Country Evangelical Fellowship, Church Council Member, Sunday school teacher. Personal Statement: I came to faith in Jesus Christ through a Covenant Church that reached out to me in high school. I was from an unchurched family and came to Christ as a sixteen year old. Debbie Hamilton, member of The River Covenant Church, Soldotna, AK. Executive Director of New Hope Counseling Center. Experience: Executive Director of a non-profit faith based Counseling Center, State Board Licensed Professional Counselors, Church Council Member, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: I believe fully in the Apostles Creed. I believe scripture to be valid and reliable and to be the only authority for faith, doctrine and conduct. I believe that all have sinned and are therefore separated from God and deserve death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23), and that only by accepting Christ and his payment for our sin on the cross can we receive forgiveness and be brought back into a relationship with God. I believe that, not only does God want to pardon us through Christ, but that he also wants be in an active relationship with us and to transform us into the likeness of Christ as we daily walk and surrender our lives to Him through the study of the Word, prayer, fellowship and service. BOARD OF PENSIONS AND BENEFITS - One candidate needed for each position. - Bruce Peterson, member of Crossroads Covenant Church, Egan, MN. IT Business Partner, Senior Manager. Experience: Northwest Conference Executive Board Treasurer, World Vision Half Marathon Run for Clean Water, Church Council Chairperson, Treasurer, City of Eagan Technology Working Group, Advisory Committee University of MN. Personal Statement: I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he came to earth in the form of a human, and was crucified on the cross for our sins. He ascended into heaven and will come again to gather those who are justified by faith. Valton Barrett, member of Kingdom Builders Covenant Church, Conyers, GA. Owner Prolan Logistics, Blue Mountain Services, BH Farms, MetJam. Experience: Church Treasurer, Chair and Head of Feed the Hungry Ministry, Executive Board Southeast Conference, Finance Committee, Forresters Homeless Shelter, Board Member Georgia Motor Trucking Association, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: I believe that Jesus the Son of God gave His life to redeem me from sin, He is the risen Christ, my Savior and Lord. John Douglas, member of Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN. Retired Experience: Minnehaha Academy Board of Education Board Page 5 of 8

6 Chair, NPU Board of Trustees, Church Council Member, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: My faith was instilled by devout parents and grandparents. My adult faith journey was started through confirmation at North Park Covenant and nurtured at North Park Academy. I believe in Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. I seek to love the Lord with all my might and my neighbor as myself. I try to love mercy and to seek justice for others. BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE - One candidate needed for each position. - David Kim, member of Metro Community Church, Englewood, NJ. Energy Derivatives Broker. Experience: Board of Benevolence, Executive Board Liaison, President s Circle Member, Northwestern University Alumni Admissions Council. Personal Statement: I believe the Holy Bible as the infallible word of God and the ultimate authority in matters of faith and action. I believe in the trinity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe in the virgin birth, sinless life, death and resurrection of Jesus. I believe in salvation and resurrection of believers is through Jesus alone. Susan Poston, member of Salem Covenant Church, New Brighton, MN. Retired. Experience: ECC Executive Board, Current Vice Chair Minnehaha Academy s Board of Trustees, Chaired the Executive Minister searches for Love Mercy Do Justice and Start and Strengthen Churches, Significant role in implementing one of the first Church/School collaborations in the Minneapolis Public Schools, Church Council Chairperson and Member, Sunday School Teacher, Board member for the Children s Theatre Minneapolis, Arts Education Leadership Award from the Minnesota Alliance for Arts. Personal Statement: I am a sinner saved by grace. Created by God and redeemed by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, I strive to become more like Jesus my Lord. I believe in lifelong learning and rest in the knowledge that through worship, prayer and time spent in God s Word and other literature, I am more like Jesus today than I was yesterday. I believe that the life of a Christian is a life of mission and service. A third-generation Covenanter, I look to grandparents parents and a host of saints as my human role models who have shown me how to live and love like Jesus. Karen Manlove, member of Monadnock Covenant Church, Keene, NH. Finance Director, Pilgrim Pines Camp and Retreat Center. Experience: East Coast Conference, Church Council Treasurer, Board of Directors NHDI, Board of Directors Swanzey Cal Ripken. Personal Statement: Raised in a faith based home, I was introduced to Christian theology and values as a child. I continue on the journey of discovering who Jesus was and is today. I believe that God is the creator and source of life and love and I strive to follow the teachings of Jesus every day. James Rose, member of First Evangelical Covenant Church, Anchorage, AK. Director of Aarigaa Anchorage, Covenant Youth of Alaska. Experience: Team member for CYAK s Campaign for the Aarigaa House, Founding member for Veritas Forum coming to UAA Campus, Church Council Member, YMCA Soccer Coach. Personal Statement: I believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the promised one and true Son of God who has come, died, and been resurrected to the glory of God and the salvation of the world! Jesus Christ is my Savior, Lord, and I have been adopted as his brother as God s beloved child. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY - One candidate needed for each position. - Erin Oleniczak, member of North Park Covenant Church, Chicago, IL. Occupational Therapist. Page 6 of 8

7 Experience: Volunteer with Mercy Ships, Sierra Leone, Africa, Church Council Member, Feed my Starving Children, Girls on the Run Coach and Site Coordinator, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and Lord. I am grateful for the Christ-like examples that my parents modeled for me as a child, and my experiences in youth group and Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp that helped me make my faith my own. God continues to be my rock and foundation in my marriage and in motherhood. In all the ups and downs of life, God s grace and love remains constant, and I believe my greatest calling is to serve Him and to share His love with others. Jay Carstenbrock, member of Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, Glen Ellyn, IL. Planning Deputy and Transition Manager Experience: Covenant Conference Boards, Committees, Commissions, Church Council Chairperson, PADS (providing shelter and food for homeless), Metro Chicago Youth for Christ Board Member, President of the Board for the Repeat Boutique, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: Jesus Christ the risen Son of God, is my Lord and Savior! I owe Him everything and I seek to love Him fully and love others as He commands. Virgil Applequist, member of Northwest Covenant Church, Mount Prospect, IL. Retired. Experience: NPU Board of Trustees, Church Council Chairperson, Church Council Treasurer, Church Council Member, Associate Casualty Actuarial Society. Personal Statement: I was raised in a Christian family and Covenant church. Have always sought to live a more Christ like life my entire life. By living a caring lifestyle for others; to show the importance a Christian life can have to help others. Mary Miller, member Bethany Covenant Church, Berlin, CT. Lead Chaplain, Covenant Village of Cromwell. Experience: Board of Ordered Ministry, NPU Board of Trustees, Board of Pensions and Benefits, Board of Nominations, Board of Benevolence, Covenant Companion and Home Altar Writing, Feed My Starving Children, National Day of Prayer Leader, St. Vincent DePaul Food Program. Personal Statement: I was raised as a Christian in Broadway Covenant Church in Rockford, IL and have grown in trust and love of the Lord since. His saving and transformative grace, spirit, and joy are the abundant life I have found throughout life s blessings and burdens. ANNUAL MEETING OFFICERS - One candidate needed for each position. - Secretary (2-year term; elect 1) Michael DeLong, member of Evangelical Covenant Church, Milwaukee, WI. Pastor ECC Milwaukee. Experience: Central Conference Executive Board Member and Board Secretary, Central Conference Finance Team, Badger District Clergy Coordinator, Central Conference Superintendent Search Committee, Trustee for North American Baptist Seminary (now Sioux Falls Seminary), Sidewalk Sunday School, Bright and Rising Arts and Education Consortium, Board of Director Chair Christian Theatre Arts in Milwaukee, Church Council Member, Sunday School Teacher. Personal Statement: In the fall of my junior year in college, I had a near-death experience that brought me to the end of myself. The doctor who attended me said he had not save me, but Someone had, and added that I had better find out Who that Someone is! After reading a small Gideon New Testament, and attending a friend s Easter service, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in As I grew in faith and understanding, I heard God s clear call to pastoral ministry, resigned my teaching position, and enrolled in seminary in Jesus continues to teach me every day about Himself and His Kingdom Page 7 of 8

8 what He desires for me and of me. Jesus is my Savior, my Lord and my King. He has saved me for His Glory and for the proclamation of His Good News of Salvation and the Kingdom of God. Page 8 of 8