Closing Out the Year - Meetings and Newsletters

The year 2009 is drawing to a close. The last Missouri BBF meeting of the year will be at West Division Street Baptist Church in Springfield on Monday, December 7. It will be primarily a time of food, fellowship, and a choir concert. However, there will be a short business meeting before supper to handle three urgent matters. These are:

• A vote to give MOBBF money from the Property Fund to Sonrise Baptist Church in Ozark to help purchase property;
• A vote to provide 18 months of support to Branson Baptist Church (a new church plant) from the New Works Fund;
• Take commitments from churches to provide financial support for the installation of new HVAC equipment at Camp Sagmount. This will make Sagmount a year-round property with both heating for the winter and air-conditioning for the summer.

We normally do not conduct business at the December meeting, but these three items cannot wait. All of these projects were presented at the November meeting in St. Louis, and they are also in the October/November issue of the newsletter.

Speaking of the newsletter, some of you are probably wondering what happened to the October issue. The short answer is there isn't one. Instead there is a combined October/November issue which is six pages instead of the usual four. It is at the printer now, and will hopefully be put in the mail on the Monday after Thanksgiving. We will mail it sooner if it is ready sooner, but when we sent it to the printer we were told that the earliest it will be available is November 30.

The schedule for the December meeting is:
5:15 pm – Business meeting
6:00 pm – Supper (a big Baptist fellowship meal)
7:00 pm – Christmas concert with the Baptist Bible College Choir

The location is:
West Division Street Baptist Church
3104 West Division Street
Springfield, MO 65802
417-862-8644
http://www.wdsbc.org/

September MOBBF Meeting

The September meeting of the Missouri BBF was held on September 14 at Marshall Baptist Temple in Marshall, MO. On the drive up, we obtained photographic evidence that Pastor Mark Rounsaville (Baptist Temple in Springfield) can indeed multi-task. And this wasn't even his church's van!

Pastor Claude Fields and the church were great hosts, for what Pastor Fields announced was officially the "Bob meeting." Encouraging messages were brought by Pastors Bob Sharp (Crane), Bob Stephenson (Springfield), and Bob Baker (Buffalo).

Music was provided by Pastor Eric Campbell (Walnut Grove) and some of his family and church members. A good time of fellowship was had by those attending.

At the business meeting, Pastor Charlie Bell of West Division Street Baptist Church in Springfield was elected as the new MOBBF State Chairman. This left the position of Vice-Chairman open, and Pastor Eddie Lyons of High Street Baptist Church in Springfield was nominated and elected to that position. The terms of all officers run until the end of 2011.

Being Baptists, it was necessary to conclude the afternoon by sitting down for a good meal, ably prepared by members of Marshall Baptist Temple. We thank Marshall Baptist Temple for being such great hosts.

Current Officers

The terms of all officers will expire on December 31, 2011.

Chairman-Charlie Bell
West Division Street Baptist Church
3104 West Division Street
Springfield, MO 65802
Church: 417-862-8644
Email: pastorbell@wdsbc.org

Vice-Chairman-Eddie Lyons
High Street Baptist Church
900 N Eastgate Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
Church: 417-862-5502

Secretary-Mark Rounsaville
Baptist Temple
2655 North Grant Avenue
Springfield, MO 65803
Church: 417-831-2631

Treasurer-Claude Fields
Marshall Baptist Temple
1595 West Vest Street
Marshall, MO 65340
Church: 660-886-5054

MOBBF Meeting is Next Week

The next meeting of the Missouri BBF will occur on September 14, from 1:00-5:00pm at:
Marshall Baptist Temple
Pastor Claude Fields
1595 West Vest Street
Marshall, MO 65340
(660) 886-5054

Speakers include Pastors Sharp (Crane), Stephenson (Springfield), and Baker (Buffalo). Elaine Sharp will be the ladies speaker at 4:00pm.

The vote for the new MOBBF State Chairman will take place during the business meeting. Per section 4.2 of the MOBBF Bylaws, the new Chairman "will be elected by a majority vote of those affiliate MOBBF churches in attendance and voting. Each affiliate MOBBF church in attendance shall be entitled to one vote, [and...] the election shall be by open vote." YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO VOTE. The person elected as State Chairman will serve until December 31, 2011, when the terms of all officers will expire.

The afternoon will conclude with dinner at about 5:00pm.

We hope to see you there!

August Issue of MOBBF Newsletter

The August issue of Missouri Fellowship Partners (the MOBBF newsletter) was mailed today. A PDF file of the newsletter can be obtained by sending a request via email to missouribbf@gmail.com.

August MOBBF Meeting

The August MOBBF meeting was a blessing and encouragement about what God is doing through the ministries of the churches of our state. We expect more and greater things for the future. Phil Housley, Bill Dowell, and Eric Campell brought very stirring and timely messages to challenge us.

At the business meeting, Pastor Fred Young of East Side Baptist Church in Independence and Pastor Charlie Bell of West Division Street Baptist Church in Springfield were nominated for State Chairman. The election will be held on September 14th at Marshall Baptist Temple where Brother Claude Fields pastors.

We want to thank Baptist Temple in Springfield for graciously hosting the meeting.

MOBBF Policies - Church Planting and New Works Funds

*If you would like a copy of the MoBBF Policies as a PDF file, send a request by email to missouribbf@gmail.com, and we will reply to the email with the file attached*

MISSOURI BAPTIST BIBLE FELLOWSHIP POLICIES

I. New Works Fund

A. Eligibility Requirements for Receipt of Funds. The chairman of the Missions Committee will submit to the Fellowship a new church plant pastor for consideration of receipt of New Works Funds after the following policies and procedures are satisfied:

1. The church plant pastor must be sponsored by a church whose pastor is actively attending and supporting the MOBBF.

2. The sponsoring church has accepted responsibility for the guidance (spiritual, physical and financial) to the church plant pastor. The church plant pastor must commit to report to the sponsoring church monthly.

3. The church plant pastor must commit to consult with the pastor of the sponsoring church before the decision to organize is made.

4. The pastor of the sponsoring church must agree to personally appear before the Missions Committee to recommend the church plant pastor.

5. The church plant pastor must agree to:

a. Adhere to the Twenty Articles of Faith; and

b. Incorporate as a Baptist Church.

6. The church plant pastor must complete and sign the MOBBF Support Application and submit it to the MOBBF chairman not less than one month prior to consideration.

7. The church plant pastor and his wife must be interviewed by the Missions Committee on or before the date for his consideration.

B. Approval of New Church Plant Pastor. At a regular meeting of the Fellowship, the Missions Committee will submit a church plant pastor for consideration. The church plant pastor shall be accompanied by his wife and the pastor of the sponsoring church. After presentation and recommendation by the Missions Committee and upon consideration by the Fellowship, the provision of funds to the church plant pastor shall be voted upon by the Fellowship. Approval shall require a simple majority of the Fellowship members in attendance and voting.

C. Limitations on Funds. Upon approval of the church plant pastor for the receipt of funds, the church plant pastor shall not receive more than $1,500.00 per month for the first year, $1,000.00 per month for the second year and $500.00 per month for the third year, for a total not to exceed $36,000.00 over a 36-month period.

D. Modification and Discontinuation of Funds.

1. The Missions Committee will make a review of the church plant at six-month intervals to re-evaluate need and eligibility. The Missions Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to modify or discontinue the New Works Fund support.

2. In the event of the church plant pastor’s resignation, the New Works Fund support will cease immediately. No further New Works Fund support shall be paid on behalf of the church plant unless and until the successor church plant pastor has satisfied all the requirements set forth herein.

3. In the event the church plant ceases to function as a church, the Fellowship shall be entitled to recapture from the assets of the church plant all New Works Funds advanced. The Fellowship’s right of recapture shall be superior to all claims, if any, against such assets by the sponsoring church.

Sagmount Web Site Is Now Accessible

Take a minute and look at our Sagmount Baptist Camp website at http://www.sagmount.org/

Sagmount Baptist Camp is owned by the MOBBF and run by the Sagmount Camp Property Committee, which is appointed by the MOBBF board of directors. The current chairman of the Sagmount Camp Committe is Pastor Ray Brinson.

MOBBF Newsletter

The July 2009 issue of Missouri Fellowship Partners (the MOBBF newsletter) was mailed yesterday (July 22). A PDF version can be obtained by sending an email requesting a copy to MissouriBBF@gmail.com.

We want to highlight a Missouri BBF church or ministry in each issue of Missouri Fellowship Partners. We have begun with Springfield Bilingual Baptist Ministries in the current issue. If you have a MOBBF church or ministry that you would like to provide a report about in a future issue, please contact us.

Welcome

We would like to welcome you to this new site. It is here to serve you and inform you better about what is going on with the MOBBF. Quick links on the right will help you navigate through the information more quickly.

MOBBF Bylaws

*If you would like a copy of the MOBBF Bylaws as a PDF file, send a request by email to missouribbf@gmail.com, and we will reply to the email with the file attached*

BYLAWS OF MOBBF

Section 1.0 Adoption
In accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 355 of the MO Revised Statutes, the board of directors of MOBBF adopts the following bylaws to regulate and manage the affairs of the MOBBF consistent with law and the articles of incorporation.

Section 2.0 Affiliate Churches
Affiliation with the MOBBF is open to any Baptist pastor of a supporting Baptist church believing in, and adhering to, the Word of God, and subscribing to the Articles of Faith appended hereto.

Section 3.0 Officers

3.1 Designation of Officers and Duties.

3.11 CHAIRMAN.
The chairman shall preside over all business meetings of MOBBF and shall carry out the action authorized and directed by the board of directors. The chairman shall also serve as a member of the board of directors. The state chairman also represents the MOBBF as one of the National Directors of the BBFI. He is responsible to attend all director business meetings held in conjunction with the National BBFI to represent our state and provide leadership for our Fellowship.

3.12 VICE-CHAIRMAN.
The vice-chairman shall act as chairman in the absence of the chairman and shall assist the chairman in the fulfillment of the chairman’s duties. The vice-chairman shall also serve as a member of the board of directors.

3.13 SECRETARY.
The secretary shall have responsibility for preparing the minutes of the director’s meetings, for authenticating records of MOBBF, for keeping as permanent records the minutes and actions required by law to be kept at MOBBF principle office and for preparing correspondence on behalf of MOBBF. The secretary shall also serve as a member of the board of directors.

3.14 TREASURER.
The treasurer shall maintain all appropriate and required financial statements of income and expenses and shall receive and disburse funds in accordance with the lawful actions of the board of directors. The treasurer shall also serve as a member of the board of directors.

3.2 Qualifications of Officers.
Officers must meet the same eligibility requirements set forth herein for directors.

3.3 Terms of Officers.
Officers shall have the following terms:

3.31 CHAIRMAN.
The term of the chairman shall not exceed three years; however, the chairman may be elected for two consecutive terms.

3.32 VICE-CHAIRMAN.
The term of the vice-chairman shall not exceed three years; however, the vice-chairman may be elected for unlimited successive terms.

3.33 SECRETARY.
The term of the secretary shall not exceed three years; however, the secretary may be elected for unlimited successive terms.

3.34 TREASURER.
The term of the treasurer shall not exceed three years; however, the treasurer may be elected for unlimited successive terms.

3.4 Election of Officers.
Officers shall be nominated and elected in the same manner as members of the board of directors.

Section 4.0 Directors
MOBBF shall be governed by a board of directors which shall be comprised of not fewer than three persons.

4.1 Qualifications of Directors.
To qualify as a director the person must be a pastor and member of an affiliate MOBBF Church actively participating in and supporting MOBBF, and the person must accept, believe and practice the Articles of Faith appended hereto.

4.2 Election of Directors.
Directors shall be nominated and elected at the annual business meeting of MOBBF as the need arises to replace those whose term will expire. Directors will be elected by a majority vote of those affiliate MOBBF churches in attendance and voting. Each affiliate MOBBF church in attendance shall be entitled to one vote. Nominations shall be from the floor and the election shall be by open vote.

4.3 Terms of Directors.
Directors shall have the same term applicable to the office they hold with MOBBF.

Section 5.0 Meetings and Selection of Host Churches

5.1 Monthly Meetings.
MOBBF meetings will be conducted on a monthly basis, typically, on the first Monday following the first Sunday of each month, however, the date of the monthly meetings may be fixed from time by the board of directors.

5.2 Annual Meetings.
The October monthly meeting shall be designated the annual meeting for the purpose of election of officers.

5.3 Host Churches.
Pastors desiring to host a monthly meeting must submit a written request to the Chairman for consideration on or before the October meeting. The selection of a host church shall be entirely discretionary with the chairman.

Section 6.0 Committees of the Board
The board of directors may create one or more committees of the board and appoint two or more directors for each committee, who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The creation of a committee and the appointment of directors must be approved by a majority of all directors in office.

6.1 Sagmount Camp Property Committee

6.11 Property Chairman and Treasurer.
There shall be a property chairman and treasurer for the Sagmount Camp Property Committee (both positions can be held by one person) who will be elected at the annual meeting of MOBBF in the same manner as the board of directors.

6.12 Duties of Property Chairman.
The Property Chairman shall preside over the Sagmount Camp Committee and shall be under the supervision and control of the board of directors.

6.13 Duties of Property Treasurer.
The Property Treasurer shall maintain allappropriate and required financial statements of income and expensespertaining to the Sagmount Camp Property and disburse funds in accordance with the directives of the board of directors.

6.14 Terms of the Property Chairman and Treasurer.
The term of the property chairman and treasurer shall not exceed one year, however, the property chairman and treasurer may be elected for two consecutive terms.

6.15 Property Committee Directors.
There shall be three directors for the Sagmount Camp Property Committee who will be elected at the annual meeting of MOBBF in the same manner as the board of directors.

6.16 Duties of Property Committee Directors.
The Property Committee Directors will conduct the ordinary course of business necessary for the operation of the Sagmount Camp Property under the supervision of the Property Chairman.

6.17 Terms of Property Committee Directors.
The term of the property committee directors shall not exceed three years and they shall not serve more than one term.