Eastiew Community Church
Eastview Community Church

Today at Eastview

Annual Business Meeting Challenges Congregation

Marc Neufeld - 2008-09-29

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.
-Proverbs 24:3-6

Eastview history was made on September 28, 2008, as a deficit budget was proposed to the members in attendance at the Annual Business Meeting. While seen as only semantics by some, the move would have meant not balancing the budget by reconciling it with money from elsewhere in the budget for the first time in the church’s existence.

The move demonstrated the desire by Council and the Property and Finance Committee to be more accountable and “transparent” to the congregation in the months and years to come. A motion was seconded to vote on whether or not to amend the proposal, and while this was passed, the meeting did not meet quorum requirements so a revised budget was not voted on. Ballots will be placed in mailboxes for Sunday, October 5, and can be dropped off upon completion at the Information Desk in the West Foyer.

Current Council Moderator Steve Dick opened up the evening in a prayer reminding those in attendance that our business meetings are not just for making numbers fit, but for reviewing our mission for God. Following the prayer were testimonies from the latest members of Eastview’s Staff: Sonja Lepp, Lyle Morris, and Laura Kornelsen (see the latest edition of the Eastview Link for more information on the staff changes).

The central discussion, however, focused on the eventually vetoed budget proposal. Many points were raised from both sides; some saw the deficit budget as setting the church up to fail, while others saw it as an opportunity to rise to the challenge and not settle for complacency with a ‘perfectly’ balanced budget. “That’s what I love-” said Steve after the proceedings; “lots of discussion. And there was never the move to cut expenses or ministry. The heart of the Church is to recognize ministry and make it work.”

Senior Pastor Delbert Enns agrees, calling to mind the old expression that it takes a village to raise a child, and in the same way “it takes a lot of committed people to make things work and come together. We need people, and while the outcome [of the ABM] was not as planned, it allows for greater ‘village’ participation. Discussion opens the door to greater participation.”

The meeting ended with some closing remarks from Steve and Delbert and a time of both open and group prayer, and while there were many different discussions and opinions presented at the Annual Business Meeting, the hope is that we as a congregation and members of Eastview will continually find ourselves challenged to rise to the occasion and meet the needs of our church.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to email for clarification. Also read what Steve Dick has to say about "Your Challenge, If You Choose to Accept It."