RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … With the youth camp season being over, Brandon Westgate, RMC youth director, reported to the August 22 Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Executive Committee on the camp program, which saw 362 campers at GVR and at MSR. “It was an impactful summer,” said Brandon.

Campers were looked after by 55 staff members, out of whom six requested baptism or re-baptism. Brandon also shared providing some redemptive discipline that was needed among the staff and how it can ultimately be a positive experience both for the program and for the affected staff.

“All research from summer camp data collected nationally indicated that 90+% of the campers who attend camp list one of their top reasons for attending summer camp is to deepen their walk with God. About half of our campers are not Seventh-day Adventist. Among the baptized 41 campers this year, several of them were not Adventist, and more than 100 campers requested baptism.”

“Our goal is not to convert them to Adventism, but to connect them with their Creator in a way that is meaningful to them. Our mission is ‘Making it easy for kids to know God,’ which dovetails nicely into the RMC idea of ‘Knowing Christ and making Him fully known’,” Brandon said.

Diane Harris, RMC director of education, reported on the new school year, with the personnel changes and the strong enrollment of 778 students for preschool through twelfth grade schools in RMC.

The current RMC financial situation was reviewed by Darin Gottfried, RMC vice president for finance.

Darin reported that RMC finances showed a decrease in gross tithe given through June of 2023 of -2.78% or -$255,698. When windfall tithe is removed from the equation, base tithe would be up by 4.34% or $371,297. With six months left for reporting, we are praying that the finances will end the year strong as the next year’s budget is built and inflation continues to increase expenses.

Rocky Mountain Advance showed a 5.73% increase over last year. “We are very blessed by this increased giving, and plans are being made to help our small schools with technology from the newly created Education Technology Assistance Fund that is made up of 5% of this offering,” said Darin.

The Conference showed a slight 0.65% gain through the first six months. The gain is mostly because of expenses being under budget by a significant amount.

Darin closed his presentation by expressing, “our gratitude for your continued support of your local church and the Rocky Mountain Conference.”

Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for administration, reported on pastoral openings filled in Hispanic Southwest district (Santos Valdez), Canon City (Joshua Sholock), Ft. Collings (Daniel Escalante), Campion Senior Pastor (Rodlie Ortiz), Boulder Associate Pastor (Mollie Duper), Littleton Associate Pastor (Logan Earles), and Grand Junction Senior Pastor (Steve Hamilton). Also, Eric Bahnmiller will be hired as a Bible Worker in the Carbon Valley/Ft. Lupton area.

Current church ministerial openings are in Colorado Springs (senior and associate), Campion Church (associate), Franktown (senior), and Ft. Morgan. He also informed that upcoming church openings will be in Gillette, Pueblo, and The Adventure in Greeley.

Due to ambiguity in Colorado law, which states that “church leadership” are mandatory reporters for sexual abuse, our attorney has advised that RMC set up a policy that defines the term “Church Leadership.” An advisory group will propose a policy to the Executive Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Alan Brass, who accepted an invitation from the Executive Committee to serve in a vacant position for a lay person from southeast Colorado, joined us for his first meeting.

The partnership between Western Adventist Foundation (WAF) and the Trust Department was enhanced by granting, to certain of their officers, the ability to sign transfer documents for matured trust assets. This will streamline operations and move RMC into line with other conferences who have a relationship with WAF.

The 2023 Town Hall schedule was announced to the committee.

  • Northeast Colorado: September 21 at Campion Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • Southeast Colorado: September 24 at Pueblo Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • Denver Metro: September 24 at Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • Wyoming: October 8 at Casper Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • Southwest Colorado and New Mexico: October 14 at Pinon Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • Northwest Colorado: October 15 at Grand Junction Seventh-day Adventist Church

The committee discussed the presentation of the goals and aspirations of the Conference as a follow-up to what the Executive Committee approved the last meeting. Mic Thurber, RMC president, informed they will be shared with a wider constituency at the upcoming Town Halls in September and October.

The next Executive Committee meeting is planned for October 17.

—RMCNews