RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … At the outset of the October 11 meeting of the RMC Executive Committee, Mic Thurber, RMC president, welcomed new members to the committee: Ana Alvarez, layperson from Colorado Springs Hispanic; Randy Fueilly, layperson from Durango; and Anton Kapusi, pastor from Pueblo.

Following their individual introductions, and a presentation of present activities and plans to the new Executive Committee, all RMC departmental directors were voted for the current quinquennium. The directors, who are committee invitees, left the deliberations in order for the committee to discuss and vote on them to continue in their current positions. RMC president, Mic Thurber, whose wife Jana was being voted on for her positions as Prayer Ministries Coordinator, Women’s Ministries Director, and Ministerial Spousal Support Director, also left the room. Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for administration, chaired in his absence. All directors were returned to their respective positions, and Thurber resumed the chair.

Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for finance, presented a current financial statement. “Through August of this year, RMC total tithe is down by 2.01% or (236,957.58). Our base tithe, which excludes windfalls, was down by 5.17% or (609,254.58),” he reported.

The Committee accepted the financial report subject to audit. The audit review was presented in which RMC received a favorable opinion. Also voted was establishing the RMC compensation review committee for the quinquennium.

Gottfried informed the Executive Committee that at their next meeting, he will present a preliminary budget for 2023.

Inglish reported pastoral vacancies in six districts, including Aurora First Church–Lead Pastor; Colorado Springs Central–Lead Pastor; Golden Church–Lead Pastor; Fort Morgan District–Lead Pastor; Littleton Church–Associate Pastor and Lead Pastor; Palisade District–Lead Pastor. The committee was briefed on where each of these churches stand in the process of finding the next pastor.

A motion was passed to close the Holyoke church following a report that the church voted in business session to close.

It was also voted to extend an invitation to fill an Executive Committee opening for a layperson from Wyoming. The name will be released if and when that person accepts the position.

The committee was briefed about bringing Good News TV, an independent ministry not affiliated with RMC, to the Denver area. The presentation was made by Luke Skelton, supported by local church leaders who are helping to make it possible. The ministry has been registered with the Secretary of State office in Colorado as a non-profit, received their Tax Identification Number, and has applied for 501 (c)3 status. According to Skelton, they have been up on free, over-the-air TV on channel 26.5 for several weeks, bringing a select variety of programs from Hope TV, 3ABN, and other ministries. Viewers are already calling in.

With travel plans to attend meetings in Chicago regarding the upcoming Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, Mic Thurber asked Doug Inglish to chair the remainder of the meeting.

A report was given by Lisa Cardinal from the subcommittee appointed to make recommendations on the protection of employees who may disagree with the action of the constituents to allow for ordination of candidates of either gender. In the preceding committee meeting, which set up the subcommittee, a temporary policy was suggested by RMC president Thurber and approved, which is as follows:

  • No worker will lose his or her job because of their personal view on women’s ordination.
  • No pressure will be brought to bear from administration for a worker to change his or her view on women’s ordination.
  • No worker will be kept from any normal advancement opportunities because of their personal view on women’s ordination.
  • No potential worker who is otherwise appropriate for a given position when coming into our conference will be denied it by conference administration based on their view on women’s ordination.
  • Attendance and participation in fellow pastors’ ordinations has always been voluntary in Rocky Mountain Conference. That practice will continue.

A survey of conferences who have moved forward on ordination for either gender indicated that they have had no problems with employees who did not agree, but that if any problem arose, they were confident that there were already policies in place to deal with dissension that became inappropriate. It was the opinion of the subcommittee that RMC also has policies sufficient to address inappropriate dissension, which place the Executive Committee as the final arbiter of any such cases, and that no further policy is necessary. Upon their recommendation, no action was taken.

The status of the Bloomfield NM Hispanic Church, which has considered moving to the Texico Conference, was discussed. Further investigation is needed to know what will be required to complete the process.

The committee discussed the emphasis Risk Management has placed on having clear separation between RMC and independent ministries over which we have no oversight. Donations, seats on the board, and even rental of facilities must be carefully monitored in order to not become entangled so that courts could find us financially liable for the actions of such a ministry. It is possible to engage in a level of cooperation while clearly remaining separate organizations, but it is vital that RMC oversee relations with any such entity. This is not a value judgment on these ministries. Our administration and affected departments (such as Property and Trust) are already reviewing all such relationships and making necessary adjustments.

The committee accepted proposed dates for 2023 meetings which are as follows: February 21, April 11, June 27, August 22, October 17, and December 12.

The next RMC Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for December 12.

–RMCNews