July 2, 2025 members’ meeting

Plainview Members’ Meeting
July 2, 2025

1. 2 Songs [Dennis Yoder]

2. Opening/Prayer [Marty Schlabach]

It is easy for us to overlook day-to-day faithfulness, the virtues of how we live. In turn, these virtues will turn into greatness (Matt. 25).

3. Alms update [Marty Schlabach]

Lavon Miller of Hutchinson, KS, is currently able to work two hours/day, in addition to physical therapy. He has financial needs.
Our alms fund has $8,899. Marty proposes that we send $4,000 to help Lavon. No objections were raised, so we will plan to send this money.
There is money in the fund, so if you are aware of a need let us know.

4. BHP update [Dennis Yoder]

Since the beginning of the year, BHP received nearly $16,000 in donations. BHP also ran a deficit of more than $17,000.
A loan of $29,000 is due to be paid by the end of the month. We are close to being able to pay that with incoming dues.
There is a possibility of a surcharge being added for those over 65 who are Social Security exempt. That has not been decided.
As a point of interest, nearly 75% of our congregation’s BHP members are Social Security exempt. That likely does not reflect the ratio in the congregation as a whole; some of those who are not exempt are not on BHP.

5. Update on Sebastian Byler [Dennis Yoder]

Andrew thanked the church for the support over Sebastian’s surgery. He is recovering much better than expected. The Bylers are cautiously optimistic about the potential for Sebastian to walk in the future.

6. Faith Builders Christian School Patron Council/Committee discussion [Andrew Byler, Roy Hershberger]

Andrew passed out a proposal for the restructured patron committee.
One advantage of the new structure is that it can provide the principal more support in decision-making. The patron council will share the responsibility of the decisions.
Andrew explained the proposal.
Roy reminded us of major decisions that have been made in the past years and others that will need to be made in the future. It seems wise that the churches that send their children to the school have considerable voice in the school. We have had considerable voice, but the school has grown to the point of needing a change. This means there will be more work for the representative of the church.
The ministry was involved in creating this plan.
Andrew emphasized that the person elected does not need to be a patron of the school.
  • We could choose whether the patron committee member also was responsible for billing.
  • In Andrew’s opinion, there would be value in the representative having children so they have more connection to the school. However, a grandparent could also serve. Roy believes that it would be helpful if the representative had children in school. It is conceivable that there could be someone experienced in education but who did not have children in school who could serve.
  • Jonathan asked whether if it will be hard to find agreement with the other churches on the patron committee. Are the values similar enough? Andrew pointed out that Faith Builders would continue to enforce its general parameters. For the things that the committee needs to decide, Andrew believes the members could come to agreement.
  • The reason for not electing FB employees is to provide outside representation and avoid conflict of interest.
With a hand-raise vote, we affirmed the proposal.

7. FBCS patron committee nomination [Roy Hershberger]

Andrew’s three-year term on the council had been extended by a few months.
Andrew is eligible since this is a restructured committee.
The person we elect should care about education and support Faith Builders.
We will take nominations for this position. Send your nomination to Roy by WhatsApp (or communicate it to him in some other way). The three with the most nominations will be voted on Sunday.

8. Laudate Chorale [Roy Hershberger]

Laudate Chorale will be here Saturday evening, July 19. We need to find lodging for some of them. Lodging will be assigned and communicated before the program so it will not take space during the program. A signup sheet will be in the back of church.

9. Church seating [Roy Hershberger]

Roy invited discussion about the seating arrangement in church.
  • Are there changes we should be considering?
  • Should we consider a youth or intermediate bench?
Comments:
  • Matt: I like the way it is. It mixes us and we can talk to different groups.
  • Kendall: I agree, I like the expectation our current arrangement sets that we can talk to people not in our age group.
  • Jonathan: I also like the way we have it. I like sitting in families. If in the future youth would begin to congregate in the back, I would be concerned.
  • John Yoder: I like it the way it is. Because of my hearing, I can hear better sitting on the outside.
    • Ushers can try to accommodate people’s needs.
    • Some prefer to sit on the sides because of stiff necks or other reasons.
    • It’s nice for families with young children not to sit too far forward.

10. Brotherhood agreement [Roy Hershberger]

In January, we discussed several clothing adjustments at length. We left some of those unresolved. We plan to bring those discussions to the next members’ meeting. For now, we expect one another to maintain our current agreement.

11. Children in the sanctuary [Roy Hershberger]

Roy asked what we think about children running in the sanctuary.
  • Mike: I don’t like it.
  • John: I would rather not see it. I don’t think it’s proper.
  • Michael: to me it’s not acceptable.
  • Micah: I remember, growing up in this church, being told by men not to run or jump in the sanctuary during fellowship meals. Children can be reminded by people other than their parents.
  • Chris: I agree with Micah. I appreciate when the community acts on what they see.
  • Mike: I feel the same way. I would want anyone to talk to my children if they are doing something they should not.
  • Jacob: Respect for the place you’re in needs to be taught. Children can learn that. Children can be oblivious to the effects of their games on the elderly.
Roy affirmed the comments above.
John Yoder agrees that running in the sanctuary can be excessive. He is concerned about children running in the parking lot where vehicles are moving around.
John Nisley mentioned children playing by the road as a danger.
We want to teach and train to reduce the likelihood of accidents.
John Mark: Backing in can often be safer.
  • What about playing in the sanctuary on sewing days?
    • Sometimes children play with song books or the pulpit mic.
    • There are other spaces in the foyer to play.
  • What about if it’s raining and we’re having fellowship dinner?
    • Perhaps this is OK if they’re not running and being loud.
    • Maybe we as parents can help direct this.

12. Children in the nursery [Roy Hershberger]

Children should be given direction not to play in the nursery and wake sleeping babies or disrupt a mother putting her child to sleep.

13. Early Easter service [Roy Hershberger]

We are ready to make an early Easter service a tradition.
  • Joe is heading this up.
  • We will begin with 20 minutes of singing, outside if the weather permits.
  • A pastor will bring the message.

14. Conclusion [Roy Hershberger]

It’s a joy to live with one another in church. Loving one another even through difficult things brings strength.
We should also not take lightly the applications of principle that the church has agreed to. Let us hear where the church is at and be respectful of our applications.
We closed with a song.