RMCNews – Denver, Colorado … A final December 13 meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee in 2022 concentrated mainly on financial matters and adopting a preliminary budget for the Conference for the following year.
Presented by Darin Gottfried, vice president for finance, the financial report showed a small increase in total tithe of .43%, but with inflation being so high through this year, the Conference has lost a bit of spending power.
“Expenses are under budget through the month of October and will likely result in the year ending with a financial gain. The Conference currently has 4.55 months of working capital and is moving toward the goal of six months at a steady pace,” Gottfried said.
Following the financial report, Peter Chamberlain reported on the Audit Review Committee as required. The Conference was found to be in compliance and running soundly.
Gottfried presented a preliminary budget and a significant amount of time was spent talking about the opportunities of growth and the challenges expected next year. “Increased employment costs due to inflation, that are much higher than normal, have increased expenses and make it a challenge to have a balanced budget,” he said.
“The Rocky Mountain Conference has been greatly blessed,” Gottfried said “but tithe has not kept up with cost increases which is leading to a much tighter budget in 2023. We know that the Lord will bless, and we are excited to see the many amazing things that happen in the rest of this year and into next year.”
The RMC treasurer expressed appreciation for the tremendous giving and support of the Adventist Church in RMC. “We are praying that you and RMC are greatly blessed in the new year!” he concluded. The committee accepted the preliminary budget for 2023.
The final budget will be set in February after we have the final numbers for the year, but the acceptance of the proposed budget allows us to function until then. While the area cost of living will not see an increase, the proposed budget will include the full recommended raise for all employees beginning in July 2023. This allows us to remain competitive with other conferences for the services of pastors and teachers.
An update on the changes in how we relate to independent/supportive ministries after conversations with Conference attorneys and with Adventist Risk Management, was presented by Doug Inglish, vice president for administration.
“While it is possible to continue to have positive interactions with such ministries, it is necessary to guard against entanglements which courts can interpret as making us equally liable for the actions of other ministries. It is not all sorted out yet, but the picture is becoming clearer,” Inglish said.
Due to the necessity of disentangling from relationships with supportive ministries, it is no longer possible for RMC to continue dedicating a portion of the Advance Offering to La Vida Mission. The board of the mission understands the reasoning and expressed gratitude toward RMC for support given to the activities of La Vida.
In other agenda items, the Executive Committee voted to fill vacancies of additional members of the K-12 board. Names will be released pending the acceptance by those persons.
The Mid-America Union, which manages emeritus credentials, requires conferences to vote in support of requests for members of our respective territories. Therefore, the committee voted in favor of supporting the change of status for Jana Thurber from Commissioned Emeritus to Ordained Emeritus.
The committee had a short retrospective discussion on procedures and processes at our August Constituency meeting that might be passed on to the Bylaws Committee as suggestions for their consideration ahead of the next Constituency meeting. There was general consent to giving the issue further study.
In another action, the committee voted to close the Craig Adventist Church after the report that the congregation no longer meets, has no property, and has no functioning officers, and the church no longer has functioning members who can vote to close themselves. The RMC treasury department will collect what remains of the church books and any living members will be transferred to the Conference Church in a future executive session.
It was also reported that a teacher in the Pinon Hills Elementary School has resigned. The school has a plan for the remainder of the year and they will finish strong.
The committee also approved the transfer of the former Montrose School property to the Montrose Hispanic Church from the Montrose Church.
The next RMC Executive Committee is planned on February 21, 2023.
RMCNews. Photo by Rajmund Dabrowski.
