Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church I am forwarding the information below for your awareness. May it go well with you. Sincerely, Garland Robertson ...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end -----Original Message----- From: Nancy Funk [mailto:wdc@xxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 12:55 PM To: Nancy Funk Subject: Suggestions for names for ballot Importance: High IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL WDC PASTORS AND CHURCH MODERATORS (Please forward this to each pastor and moderator in your congregation - thank you!) Attached (and also pasted below) is a letter and ballot from the WDC Gifts Discernment Committee (formerly Nominating Committee). We are hoping to receive a response from every WDC congregation by March 15. Thank you for your help with this important leadership discerning process. -------------------------------------------- TO: Pastors and Congregational Moderators FROM: Western District Conference Gifts Discernment Committee (formerly "Nominating Committee") Dorothy Nickel Friesen, Conference Minister DATE: March 1, 2006 RE: Suggestions for names for ballot As we prepare for our annual delegate assembly this summer at Bethel College, July 14-15, we are gathering suggestions for names of leaders who will serve the Western District Conference for the next few years. The ballot is attached. You will notice that we already have a few names affirmed by the Gifts Discernment Committee to bring to delegates for their affirmation. However, there are lots of blanks! We want to invite you to suggest names to our committee. The Gifts Discernment Committee will then discern (based on responses and suggestions) whom to contact. You do not need to call anyone or make any contacts! Some people may already be serving in some committee for WDC. However, with the adoption of a new organization and structure at last year's conference, we told folks that everyone's term would cease (except for those elected to the Bethel College Board of Directors) and the Gifts Discernment Committee would be asking some "old" members and some "new" members to be part of the new commissions. So you are free to suggest anyone that you feel will serve well. *A short "job" description is listed for each commission *Terms are generally for three-years with a two-term limit (Note: Since the structure is new, some terms are one or two years to allow for staggering of terms.) *Each commission will generally meet once a month-with telephone hook-ups for those at a distance *Each person is expected to attend the annual conference sessions and Reference Council meetings (generally a late Saturday in October and a Friday afternoon Reference Council meeting preceding opening session of annual conference) Please return your suggestions via email/mail/phone to the WDC office by March 15, 2006. (One name-- or 20 names-will be appreciated. Please return the filled-out ballot so we have one from each WDC congregation.) Executive Board .is the overall visioning, direction-setting, prioritizing and policy-making board of the Western District Conference, acts on behalf of the delegates between Delegate Assemblies, creates structures and organization that employ the spiritual gifts of the conference in its witness to Jesus Christ; shall be composed of nine to twelve members-the three elected conference officers, six elected at-large members and three additional members appointed as needed by the Executive Board to bring desired balance and expertise to the board. Leadership Commission .helps congregations find and sustain pastoral leadership and serves the unique needs of pastors, youth ministers and church planters through encouragement, support, accountability and credentialing; resources elders and deacons as part of the ministry team with pastors. Resource Commission .empowers WDC congregations as they witness to Jesus Christ in the Anabaptist/Mennonite tradition, connect to God's mission in the world, and provide faith formation resources for all ages; encourages use of the Resource Library; supports and promotes training events (evangelism, peace and justice, worship, music, Christian education, etc.) for congregations and their leaders; has a broad agenda that requires careful allocation or resources and discernment according to WDC priorities. Stewardship Commission .gives oversight to WDC legal, financial, personnel and property matters and promotes and encourages participation in the ministries of the conference through communication, prayer, volunteerism and financial support with an emphasis on firstfruits giving. Retreat Commission .provides camp, retreat, and recreational experiences at Camp Mennoscah and other settings where Christian relationships and faith in Jesus Christ can be shared and nurtured in a variety of ways; oversight of Camp Mennoscah. Enc. 2006 Ballot ---------------------------- SAMPLE BALLOT FOR JULY 2006 Executive Board (2008) Jay Goering (1) Moderator (2-year term) (2008) ____________________ (2) Moderator-Elect (2-year term; then becomes Moderator) (2008) Marlene Faul (3) Secretary (2-year term) (2007) ____________________ (4) (2007) ____________________ (5) (2008) ____________________ (6) (2008) ____________________ (7) (2009) ____________________ (8) (2009) ____________________ (9) ___________________ (10) TBA ___________________ (11) TBA ___________________ (12) TBA Gifts Discernment Committee (Reports to Executive Board) (2007) ____________________(1) (2007) Ted Zerger (KS) (2) (2008) ____________________(3) (2008) Nancy Stucky (4) (2009) Alvin Penner (KS) (5) (2009) Ed Wiens (TX) (6) Bethel College Board of Directors (2006) Elsie Steelberg (not eligible for re-election) (2007) James Voth (2008) Kevin Wiens (2009) Doug Shima (2010) Dean Kroeker Leadership Commission (2007) ____________________ (1) (2007) ____________________ (2) (2008) ____________________ (3) (2008) ____________________ (4) (2009) ____________________ (5) (2009) ____________________ (6) Resource Commission (2007) ____________________ (1) (2007) ____________________ (2) (2008) ____________________ (3) (2008) ____________________ (4) (2009) ____________________ (5) (2009) ____________________ (6) Retreat Commission (2007) ____________________ (1) (2007) ____________________ (2) (2008) ____________________ (3) (2008) ____________________ (4) (2009) ____________________ (5) (2009) ____________________ (6) Stewardship Commission (2007) ____________________ (1) (2007) ____________________ (2) (2008) ____________________ (3) (2008) ____________________ (4) (2009) ____________________ (5) (2009) ____________________ (6) Current Gifts Discernment (Nominating) Committee (2006) Jeannine Janzen (KS) (2006) Ted Zerger (KS) (2006) Ed Wiens (TX) (2006) Nancy Stucky (KS) (2007) Don Janzen (OK) (2007) Al Penner (KS) Dorothy Nickel Friesen, ex officio Nancy Funk, Administrative Assistant Western District Conference, PO Box 306, North Newton, KS 67117; 316-283-6300; wdc@xxxxxxxxxxxx