The Charis Fellowship held its annual business meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2023, on the final day of national conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. An online informational meeting was previously held on July 6, with audio and video recordings made available to all registered delegates to help provide greater awareness of items that were to be voted on this year. Voting was then conducted throughout the week following conference through a secure online ballot. 176 registered delegates from Charis Fellowship churches across the US and Canada participated in the 2023 vote, and all items voted on were approved.
Tim Sprankle (Leesburg Grace Church in Leesburg, Ind.) was affirmed as the executive director-elect to begin a two-year term in August 2024. Kip Cone (Winona Lake Grace Church in Winona Lake, Ind.) was affirmed to begin serving on the Fellowship Council this year. Dave Nicodemus (Grace Polaris Church in Westerville, Ohio) and Andrew Leasure (Bridge Church in Martinsburg, W. Va.) were both elected to also begin serving on the Fellowship Council this year.
Conemaugh Valley Grace Brethren Church joining as a new member church and the 2024 Charis Fellowship budget were both unanimously approved. The 2023 Resolutions from the Social Concerns Committee, as well as the ratification of the appointment of Tim Hodge as Secretary and Doug Courter as Treasurer, were all approved with a 99% yes vote. Updates to the Constitution and Manual of Procedure, as well as Artic Barnabas becoming a new cooperating ministry, were also approved with over 98% in favor. Finally, over 95% of delegates voted yes for the recommended extension of the current Charis Fellowship Position Statements. Several excellent comments and suggestions were also received from delegates, and they have been passed on to members of the Fellowship Council.
Thank you to all delegates who participated this year, and to all churches who submitted their statistical report and Fellowship Contribution. Also, to the three men who completed their five-year term serving on the Fellowship Council, thank you for serving the Fellowship well (Rex Rogers, Rich Schnieders, and Jonathan Wiley). If you have any questions or need additional information, contact the Fellowship Office here.