The Synod directed the Nunapitsinghak Committee and with APB to look into the present situation with the Children’s Home camp and prepare plans to renovate/repair the place. The land situation would need to be researched. In the future, this camp would enable use by our young people and children and may be rented or leased by other organizations.

The Synod delegates were asked to consider ‘frequency of annual Synod meetings’ during their next district meetings. The administration feels that the congregations may be ready to start this after the 2010 Synod where meetings may be held every other year. If this is the case, the Book of Order would need to be revised and some policies be created.

Elections, beginning in 2009, are for board members only with committees’ members to be appointed by the Alaska Provincial Board (APB). Rev. Lincoln Enoch was elected to the Alaska Provincial Board as an Ordained Pastor member until 2012. L.P. Walter Larson was elected as APB Lay Pastor Member to finish out a vacant term until 2011. Sister Elsie Jimmie was elected as a Lay Member to the APB until 2012. Brother Oscar Evon was elected as a West Coast District PBE member to finish out a vacant term until 2011. Brother Peter Matthew was elected as an East Coast PBE member until 2012. Seminary Board of Trustees has its own policy regarding elections under their By-laws. The Provincial President will serve as the Alaska BMW Director. The Unity Synod delegates are Peter Green, William Nicholson, and Clifford Jimmie.

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Reports and financial statements were heard from the President and APB, Provincial Treasurer,

Moravian Book Store (verbal), Provincial Women’s Fellowship, Alaska Christian College Representative (verbal), Moravian Hospital Chaplain (January-May 2008), Provincial Traveling Evangelist, Yup’ik Old Testament Translation Project, Provincial Hymnal Committee, Alaska Moravian Theological and Seminary, Board of World Mission, Christian Education/Youth Department, Nunapitsinghak or Children’s Home report. Informational handout was available and distributed from the Mission for Christ Ministries – Corbie Cross. There was no report from the General Bible Conference committee however announced the 2009 services would be May 28-31, 2009 at Bethel, Alaska. As schedule becomes available, it will be distributed to the congregations.

The Synod body supported the Bookstore Committee recommendation to lease the Bookstore building to Art Guild for definite time of period.

The 2009 proposed budget totaling $140,053.00 for Administration was presented and approved by the Synod delegates. The Theological and Seminary Program budget in the amount of $ 83,930.40 was presented and approved.

The Provincial Women Fellowship Singspiration will be held at Eek, May 1-3, 2009.

2009 Synod Resolutions passed:

1. Healing Committee Resolution # 09-01 That we must make every effort to avoid subjective or argumentative spirit with one another and to each fellow believer, realizing that this kind of spirit does not come from God’s Holy Spirit; that Book of Order, section V. Our Witness in the World, # 32 stating that we make no distinctions among believers, always keeping in mind, that in God’s eyes there is no distinction between His children who are in Christ – neither male or female, young or old, rich or poor, etc.; and that God forbids favoritism and doesn’t take sides, therefore, we as Christians must act and do likewise.

2. Healing Committee Resolution # 09-02: Establishing Provincial Support for Ikayuun, Inc.: That the Anchorage Moravian Pastor and AncMC Synod Delegate approach the 2009 AMC Synod to prayerfully support the creation and establishment of Ikayuun, Inc. and assure that member congregations of the Alaska Province are aware of this helping organization.

3. Christian Education Committee/Youth Council Resolution # 09-01: That, in hopes of more youth participation, the Alaska Moravian Church Youth Council sponsored annual meetings, become known as “the Alaska Christian Church Youth Conferences”.

4. Provincial Finance Committee Resolution # 09-01:  That the 2004 Evangelism and Outreach Committee Resolution # 04-04 stating: That the Alaska Moravian Church begin to increase its annual support to the BWM at the rate of 10% or more each year in order to enable more ministry and mission outreaches around the world, be rescinded.

5.  Provincial Finance Committee Resolution # 09-02:  That the Communicant membership (A.E.) fee be increased from $ 38.00 to $ 45.00 annually beginning in 2009.

2009 Synod Recommendations Adopted:

1.   Evangelism and Outreach Committee Recommendation # 1: That all members of the Alaska Moravian Church prayerfully support the appointed evangelist.

2.        Evangelism and Outreach Committee Recommendation # 2: That all Pastors encourage their congregation to regularly evangelize to help in winning the lost.

3.   Evangelism and Outreach Committee Recommendation # 3: To have all churches put a banner in a church entrance way to encourage congregants of scriptural passages. i.e., Acts 17:11

4.   Evangelism and Outreach Committee Recommendation # 4: That the appointed evangelist should be a full time ministry and not be given other duties such as pastor-work or installed to a congregation. Should he or she be unable to keep his/her evangelism schedule, (s)he may appoint other pastor(s) to take his place.

5.  Finance and Stewardship Committee Recommendation # 1: That more effort be made to complete Pastors’ application for life insurance thoroughly, and the insured be informed of the importance of signature.

6.   Finance and Stewardship Committee Recommendation # 2: That the minimum salary of lay pastor and ordained pastor be raised by 20% as follows:

Lay Pastor – from $ 650.00 to $ 780.00

Ordained pastor – from $ 750.00 to $ 900.00

7.  Christian Education/Youth Committee Recommendation # 1: That more adult chaperones from local congregations, be involved in church sponsored activities. 

8.  Christian Education/Youth Committee Recommendation # 2: That there is strong need upon Pastors, Acolytes, Lay Pastors, Elders-in-charge to have one-on-one pre-marital, pre-baptism, and covenantal counseling to prospective participants in the sacraments so that a clear understanding is established to those desiring to enter into God ordained commitments.

9. Christian Education/Youth Committee Recommendation # 3:  That all Alaska Province communicant members stop being luke-warm participants as Christians, and to start living with a passion for Christ and reveal His finished work on the Cross, in a proactive manner.

10.  Christian Education/Youth Committee Recommendation # 4:  That the Alaska Province start making tailor made church services for our children and youth based on the input without jeopardizing the fundamentals of Christianity.

11.  Christian Education/Youth Committee Recommendation # 5:  That our local leaders, i.e. church, school, corporations, governments, must stop cycles of generational sins that are hurting our young people and their children (alcohol, drug, child abuse) and start living out the personal desire of Christ in our personal lives. By doing so, we may become examples they need for proper living.

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Pastors and Elders recommendation on the concept of Spiritual Feast, a ministry process that is presently utilized as an instrument in a church to ‘seek and save the lost’ and to edify those who already saved and who have recently found Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, failed by a secret ballot vote of 24 Yes; 38 No.

  Wednesday evening service was conducted by the Yup’ik Old Testament Translation Project (YOTTP) Committee. Sister Elsie Jimmie delivered the message. Newly elected APB members were installed by Bishop William H. Nicholson during this service.

Appreciation went to the 2009 Synod volunteer cooks: Sisters Sophie John, Agnes Lewis, Maggie Mute, and Mary Wilcox. The Bethel Moravian Church and its leadership are thanked and appreciated for the use of the Fellowship Hall and Brother Vernon Kinegak for maintaining the building all week. Thank you to Brother Harry Nicholai and the Seminary students for setting up and all your hard work as tellers during Synod. And thank you to the Translators: Brothers Albert Beaver Jr., Pat Samson, Melvin Andrew, and Clifford Jimmie; to AVCP for use of their translating equipment. For Bethel folks who opened up their homes for hospitality, may God richly bless you all!

© Copyright 2006 Anchorage Moravian Church
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