The Fellowship Council, the leadership group of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, is meeting today and tomorrow in Seal Beach, Calif.
The group gathered this morning at Grace Community Church, a Grace Brethren church in Seal Beach (Steve Williams, pastor), to hear reports from national ministry leaders.
Among those reporting are Larry Orme, reporting on behalf of Tim Boal, executive director of GoTo Ministries; Dr. Jeff Gill, reporting on behalf of Dr. Bill Katip, president of Grace College and Seminary; Viki Rife, executive director of Women of Grace USA; John Schumacher, military chaplain endorsing agent for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches; Dr. Dave Guiles, executive director of Encompass World Partners; Joel Richards, president of Association of Grace Brethren Ministers; Don Shoemaker, chair, Social Concerns Committee; Ed Lewis, executive director, CE National;and Ken Seyfert, CEO of the Grace Brethren Investment Foundation.
The group heard reports from the delegates to the Charis International Leadership Encounter, which was held in November in Bangkok, Thailand. Mike Yoder, lead pastor of Grace Polaris, a Grace Brethren church in Columbus, Ohio, and Keith Minier, pastor of Grace Fellowship, Pickerington, Ohio, joined via telephone. Clancy Cruise, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church, Marysville, Ohio, and Bartley Sawatsky, pastor of Renew Church, a Grace Brethren church in Mississauga, Ontario, serve on the Fellowship Council and reported in person.
After lunch with the national organization leaders, the group discussed the charter of the Charis split into committees for further discussion.
The meetings continue through tomorrow at the Seal Beach church.
(Click here to view Facebook photos from the meetings.)