On December 4, 2022, the congregation of Emmanuel Baptist Church met for the annual Vision Night event. Leaders of the ministry areas at EBC outlined their vision for the coming year and sought to answer the question put forth by our interim pastor Dr. Robin Jumper: “How will Emmanuel Baptist Church obey the Great Commission in 2023?”

The event also included a business meeting which brought proposals before the church body for adoption. The following are the results.

2023 Budget Proposal and Adoption

The proposed 2023 budget was presented and adopted. Please request additional information from the Finance Ministry Team.

Also, a proposal was approved to transfer funds designated for Emerald Coast Orphan Care when details can be worked out.

Lead Team Nominations

Approved Servant Lead Team – Frank Cheslock (Chairman of Deacons), Butch Raber (At Large – Vice Chairman of Deacons), Edwardo Freeman (Finance Team Lead), Dan Bowers (Personnel Team Lead), Thomas Clark (At Large), Kevin Kronmiller (At Large)

Approved Finance Ministry Team – Edwardo Freeman (Team Lead), Linc Grant, Randall Jefferson, Jimi Clark, Traves Taylor, Ashley McCallum, Clint Fowler

Approved Personnel Ministry Team – Dan Bowers (Team Lead), Jerry Diven, Alan Hutto, Erin Gaillard, Dave Cramblet, Alice Cheslock

Approved Leadership Team Pool – Heath Honaker, PJ Lazo, Laura Fowler, Ron Senkle, Thomas Rowell

By-Law Language Change

The change to section 2.1 of the church by-laws passed, but with an approved amendment that the language be changed to say “affirmative vote of at least 85%.”

Original Post:

December 4, 5:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church

Join us for prayer, celebration, and vision as we look back over this past year to all that God has done and continue to believe in Him for even more than we can imagine in the coming year. The business meeting will cover the 2023 Proposed Church Budget, Lead Team Nominations, and By-Law proposed changes listed below.

Lead Team Nominations

Each Lead Team candidate is to be a member of EBC, characterized by spiritual maturity, be involved in the church, be of high morals, and have a healthy family life as described in Scripture.

Servant Lead Team is composed of individuals selected from EBC membership who advise and assist the Lead Pastor in overseeing the mission, overall execution of the vision, ministry, and operations of EBC. They are a “sounding board” for the Lead Pastor and provide “front-line” feedback on the condition/interests of EBC members. They hold the Lead Pastor accountable for maintaining and executing the mission of EBC.

Nominated Servant Lead Team – Frank Cheslock (Chairman of Deacons), Butch Raber (At Large – Vice Chairman of Deacons), Edwardo Freeman (Finance Team Lead), Dan Bowers (Personnel Team Lead), Thomas Clark (At Large), Kevin Kronmiller (At Large)

Ministry Teams oversee the conduct of the specific ministry tasks for which they are responsible. They are responsible to EBC in the conduct of their tasks and will share reports of their activities through regular business meetings and church publications.

Finance Ministry Team in conjunction with the EBC Administrator, the Finance Ministry Team is responsible for the formulation and management of EBC’s annual budget. This team will meet on a periodic basis to discuss the financial health of EBC operations.

Nominated Finance Team – Edwardo Freeman (Team Lead) Linc Grant, Randall Jefferson, Jimi Clark, Traves Taylor, Ashley McCallum, Clint Fowler

The Personnel Ministry Team is responsible for establishing policies, salaries, benefits, and any other items related to the employment of EBC Staff. They also assist the Lead Pastor, as required, in addressing personnel related matters.

Nominated Personnel Team – Dan Bowers (Team Lead), Jerry Diven, Alan Hutto, Erin Gaillard, Dave Cramblet, Alice Cheslock

Nominated Leadership Team Pool – Heath Honaker, PJ Lazo, Laura Fowler, Ron Senkle, Thomas Rowell

Please direct any questions or comments to Dr. Robin Jumper GRJumper@baptistcollege.edu and/or Bruce Baber faithfultiger@cox.net.

Proposed By-Law Language

CURRENT

Section 2.1 Selection of Lead Pastor

In pursuit of a new Lead Pastor, the Servant Lead Team, Deacon Ministry Team, and Ministerial Staff will nominate for EBC approval, a Pastor Search Team comprised of EBC members to seek out a Lead Pastor candidate.

The Pastor Search Team will make every effort to make decisions by consensus. The Pastor Search Team will identify a candidate Lead Pastor for consideration and present their nomination to the Servant Lead Team and Deacon Ministry Team. It is also understood the Pastor Search Team, Servant Lead Team, and Deacon Ministry Team will make every effort to be united in consensus prior to a nomination being presented to the Emmanuel Baptist Church body. The Search Team will bring only one candidate forward at a time.

The presentation and affirmation of the candidate Lead Pastor shall be at a business meeting in accordance with Article III, Sections 2 and 3. The meeting will include a presentation of the Pastor Search Team’s recommendation and a vote by EBC members. An affirmation vote requires at least 90% of the required quorum and authorizes the Search Team to complete and document the agreements constituting the call of the Lead Pastor.

PROPOSED

Section 2.1 Selection of Lead Pastor

In pursuit of a new Lead Pastor, the Servant Lead Team, Deacon Ministry Team, and Ministerial Staff will nominate for EBC approval, a Pastor Search Team comprised of EBC members to seek out a Lead Pastor candidate.

The Pastor Search Team will make every effort to make decisions by consensus. The Pastor Search Team will identify a Lead Pastor candidate for consideration and present their nomination to the Servant Lead Team and Deacon Ministry Team. It is understood the Pastor Search Team, Servant Lead Team and Deacon Ministry will make every effort to be united in consensus prior to a nomination being presented to the Emmanuel Baptist Church body. The Search Team will bring only one candidate forward at a time.

The presentation and affirmation of the Lead Pastor candidate shall be at a business meeting in accordance with Article III, Section 2. The meeting will include a presentation of the Pastor Search Team’s recommendation and a vote of EBC members. The selection of the candidate shall be approved by the affirmative vote of 85% of the EBC members present and voting at said meeting.

An affirmative vote of 85% of the EBC members present and voting at said meeting authorizes the Search Team to complete and document the agreements constituting the call of the Lead Pastor.