Alaska Provincial News
APB President Report to Synod 2007
By The Rev. Peter Green, APB President
Feb 23, 2007, 11:59

During this week we have many issues that we will be dealing with and we ask that you will make every effort to be in attendance until the adjournment. This is the time of listening to God, and asking what new things He is asking of us. Your participation is a blessing!

As we know from the Synod last year we approved and passed the amended Articles of Incorporation. This was a supporting document needed in order to complete the application process for the 501(C)(3) IRS tax exempt status. After the Synod this administration followed through with the application process and submit it to IRS for review and approval. On March 24,2006 letter of approval and recognition from IRS was received for the tax-exempt status under 501(C)(3). If this administration was to share accomplishments during this term of office, this is worthwhile to mention.

As a directive from the 2006 Synod, the Alaska Provincial Board appointed the Land and Policy Committee members as follows: Nelson Angapak, Walter Larson, Willie Phillip - Tuluksak Representative, James Berlin Sr., Will Updegrove, Manny Konig, and Peter Matthew - Quinhagak Representative who was later changed to Frank Fox upon recommendation from NVK in Quinhagak.

Hymnal committee apointments are as follows: (requested during Hymnal Committee report) Charlie Lewis, Vernon Samson, David John, Sarah Owens, and Mary Gregory.

During March 3-4, 2006 I attended the Mission Society Summit with Brother Tom Conrad at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Also per request of the BWM Director I attended the BWM spring meeting with Brother David Nanalook at Atlanta, Georgia on March 31-ApriI1.

In spring of 2006, Brother Rick Wagner who then was a CE Director resigned and left the Alaska Moravian Province. As directed by the Synod, APB negotiated the salary line item with the CE Director but agreement was not met. Job opening for the CE Director went out until fall of 2006 with no response except for 1 applicant from within Province.

Brother Arthur Coolidge was appointed by the APB to fill the position part-time as needed and at times when CE Department needs to be directed, Le; AMYF.

Both the Alaska Village Electric Co-Operative (AVEC) and the Coastal Village Region Fund (CVRF) fish plant renewal lease agreements in Quinhagak were settled. APB worked with Chris Cooke, attorney, to work on the revised terms. On April 27, 2006 the Provincial Land and Policy met to address the NVK housing lots situation in Quinhagak. Brother Frank Fox, Quinhagak Representative was in attendance with Walter Larson, Will Updegrove, James Berlin Sr. and Robert (Manny) Konig.  The committee moved and approved to transfer surveyed 1-16 lots on the Mission reserved land to Native Village of Quinhagak for sole purpose to build housing. The following day, Alaska Provincial Board had a special meeting in Quinhagak to ratify this decision. After thorough discussion, Motion was made to ratifiy and to approve the Land Committee decision by a resolution. APB passed a resolution to transfer 1-16 lots by quitclaim deed to NVKfor purpose to build housing.

Provincial projects -In summer of 2006 teams from the Moravian church in Wisconsin and North Carolina came and did some work in Bethel and Nunapitchuk. Other ministries were teens with the Leadertreks Ministry who did VBS in Bethel and volunteer work, and Corbie and Nancy Cross, Christ for Ministries, who went to Goodnews Bay with group of young people. Our Moravian brothers and sisters from lower 48 are interested to come back to do volunteer work and VBS in Bethel and nearby villages, June 8 - 24, 2007 and possibily with a group from the Morongo congregation of Banning, California.

The congregations within the Alaska Moravian Province are asked every year to submit concgregational annual reports to the Provincial office following their church council annual meetings. Based on 7 reports received for 2006, there were 17 children baptisms; 1 adult baptism; 19 confirmed; 5 marriages, and 9 memorial/funerals.

All the Provincial committees that are elected or appointed are listed in the Boards and Committees listing. Provincial committees are encouraged to organize and elect their officers. All meeting minutes are to be recorded and copy send to the APB office to be filed. Committee chairs-SAd/orsecretaries are sjrQ1lg!yencouraged to submit their annual reports prior to Synod. Now that we have audits, the A~ needs to have a better accounting system and minutes/reports are one way to do this.

We praise God for the faithfulness and commitment of the Conrads to keep the Seminary operating after the Caldwells left. As we know, Ray and Val were here since October 2004 and made preparations to open the school in the fall of 2005 in which we see the school in operation. However, Brother Ray was unable to continue due to his health and per recommendation from his doctors. The Seminary Board of Trustees reviewed applicants and recommended to hire Brother Tom Conrad as the next Dean. Brother Conrad begin his duty on July 1, 2006.

May God richly bless each and everyone of you as we serve Him. Remember your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Alaska Provincial Board .

Rev. George Pasitnak, Member

L.P Billy Olsen, Member (appointee until 2007)

L.P. Arthur Coolidge, Member

L.M. Moses Owens, Secretary

L M. Andrew Beaver, Member