Meeting Minutes
Board of Elders (“BoE”)
January 10, 2015
Present: Liqin Chen (Chair), Pastor Caleb Chang, Ke-Chieh Chu, Lawrence Gan (Board of Deacons [“BoD”] Representative), David Ho, Timothy Lu, Haiguo Wu (Head Deacon), Terry Yang (Secretary), Jian Zhang (BoD Representative)
Invited for MetroSouth Property Purchase discussion: Pastor Wei Jiang, Hongshu Guang (Core Co-Worker Team Chair), Ida Shaw, Yushan Tian, Gabrielle Yu
Absent: Yuguang He
Elder Liqin opened meeting at 9:05 am.
Pastor Caleb and Elder K.C. shared celebrations and events that occurred during the just completed holiday season.
Pastor Caleb gave a quick update on upcoming events:
Pastor Caleb also gave a quick recap on recently completed events:
Deacon Haiguo provided update on potential insurance resolution for repairing water damage caused by leaks during the main building re-roofing project and the development of new policy and procedures (to be submitted for BoE approval when completed) related to the Capital Fund to improve the evaluation, prioritization and budgeting of capital expenditures.
Brother Hongshu provided update on state of MetroSouth church plant:
Brother Hongshu presented proposal and rationale for CBCGB to purchase an approximately 3.5 acre property in Sharon that would immediately provide some relief for current space challenges as well as provide for future development of a 10,000 square foot main church facility. Some Elders and CBCGB-resident architects also visited and favorably reviewed the property.
MetroSouth proposes that CBCGB purchase the property, using a combination of cash offerings and loans pledged by 27 MetroSouth-resident families to cover the $342,500 purchase price, on the closing date of February 19, 2015. The loans would be repaid to the lending families from MetroSouth’s operating surplus in the CBCGB General Fund.
BoE reviewed CBCGB Bylaws currently in effect for options to approval proposal. Although BoE unanimously supports the purchase of the property for MetroSouth use and the funding mechanism (pending consultation with the Finance Committee and the BoD), BoE decided that the MetroSouth proposal does not qualify under CBCGB Bylaws as an “emergency” based on the information provided, and therefore would require the Bylaws-specified two months advanced notice to the Church Council to be introduced as a main motion for CBCGB membership approval at a Special Membership Meeting, so that proper communication of information regarding the property purchase can be disseminated to CBCGB members prior to the Meeting. BoE requests that should MetroSouth abide by the closing date of February 19, 2015, the 27 MetroSouth-resident families should complete the purchase of the property through another means prior to approval by CBCGB membership during a Special Membership Meeting; upon CBCGB membership approval, property deed will then be transferred to CBCGB. MetroSouth requested that BoE representative explain to MetroSouth congregation rationale for BoE decision; BoE granted request.
Deacon Lawrence presented proposal to revise the Church Facility Usage Policy to reflect adjustment for inflation and ease of yearly review. BoE requested that the revised rate adjustments be reviewed for accuracy; BoE approved revision to rate definition for Category 4 rentals and movement of rate adjustment chart to Policy Appendix to enable BoD to adjust rate schedule as necessary without submission to BoE for approval. BoE tabled consideration of final draft of revised Church Facility Usage Policy pending final proposed rate adjustments.
Elder Liqin provided update on:
Elder Liqin reflected on Pastor Steve Chin (from Boston Chinese Evangelical Church)’s sharing during December’s Church Council Meeting, especially related to servant leadership.
BoE discussed which ministries to schedule for review this upcoming year; BoE tabled discussion to e-mail.
BoE assigns Elder Timothy to oversee policy reviews.
BoE assigns Elder David to maintain comprehensive list of all committee chairs (including terms) and members.
BoE identified need to update the long-form Ministry Matrix and assign Elder to chair the Deacon Nomination Committee; further discussions tabled due to time limitation.
Discussion tabled until next regularly scheduled BoE meeting in February 2015 due to time limitation.
Elder David proposed revised Local Missions Committee Charter (now designated as the Community Outreach Committee Charter) distributed on November 14 to BoE by e-mail; BoE approves Charter as attached. BoE tables appointment of chair due to time limitation.
BoE appoints Elder Yuguang Acting Secretary during Elder Terry’s absence from the February and March BoE Meetings.
Pastor Caleb closed meeting with prayer at 1:05 pm.
長老團會議記錄
2015年1月10日
出席：陳利欽（主席），章開第牧師，朱克潔，甘良生（執事會代表），何明治，盧忠信，吳海國（執事會主席），楊德禮（秘書），張建（執事會代表）
邀請（參加討論南區建堂）：韋江牧師，關洪書（核心同工團隊主席），邵利方，田玉山，忻賢芳（核心同工團隊成員）
缺席：何煜光
陳利欽長老上午9：05會議開始禱告。
開第牧師和克潔長老分享了剛過去的節日期間的慶祝情況及一些事項.
開第牧師簡報近期將要到來的事項：
開第牧師也對最近剛完成的事項作了小結：
吳海國執事報告了教會主樓房頂返修過程中漏水引起房屋損壞保險賠償的解決方案（將提交長老團審批）。牽涉到資本基金運用的問題。
關洪書弟兄報告南區分堂近況：
關洪書弟兄報告南區購地的建議及理由。建議的購地面積為3.5英畝，可以解决目前的擁擠情況並為今後發展建立一萬平方英尺教會主樓做好準備。本教會一些長老及建築師已經去看過並且看好這塊土地。
南區子堂建議本教會來購買這塊產業。資金来源為南區27個家庭的現金捐款及他們認獻的貸款，目前總數已經超过成交額$342,500美元。成交日為2月19日。貸款將由南區子堂日常運行的餘額償還給貸款家庭。
長老團審議了CBCGB有關章程。長老團一致支持南區子堂購買這塊地產以及他們的籌資計劃，但是由於這議案按CBCGB章程還不能構成 “緊急事項”處理，因此，需要按照章程規定的提前2個月向教會聯會理事會提交出的主要動議，然后經由CBCGB會員在特別會員大會審批。這樣關於購買地產的動議可以在大會表決之前有效地傳達到教會會員。長老團要求南區子堂的家庭在2月19日的成交日用其他方法買下這塊地產。在CBCGB會友大會批准這項動議之後，再将房產契約轉移到CBCGB名下。南區子堂要求長老團派代表去南區向南南區子堂的會眾作出說明。長老團同意南區子堂的這項請求。
為了對應通貨膨脹及方便年度審核，甘良生執事提出修改教會產物使用政策。長老團要求對修訂後的費率調整的準確性進行審查；長老團批准修訂為4類將租金和調整率圖表放在附錄中。如此執事會以後根據情況調整費率時就不必再提交長老團審核。由於最終的費率還未定，長老團推遲對該項教會產物使用政策議案的討論。
陳利欽長老作以下進展報告：
陳利欽長老對波士頓華人佈道會的陳卓明主任牧師（ Rev. Steve Chin）在12月教會聯會上關於僕人式領導的分享做了回應。
長老團對新一年各事工的安排進行了討論。具體細節將通過email繼續討論。
長老團分配盧忠信長老兼管政策審查。
長老團分配何明治長老更新所有委員會主席（包括條款）和成員完整列表。
由於時間關係，長老團對各事工人事安排的討論被推遲。
由於時間原因推遲到二月長老團會議討論。
何明治長老提出修訂本地宣教委員會章程（現為社區宣教委員會章程）。該議案於11月14日通過email分發至長老團各成員，並經由長老團通過如附件。由於時間關係，長老團推遲對該委員會負責人的指派。
長老團指定何煜光長老在楊德禮長老缺席期間，擔任今年二月及三月會議的代理秘書。