Annual Congregational Meeting
The 2023 Annual Congregational Meeting is Sunday, November 12, 2023 immediately following the second service at church. We invite members and non-members to attend this meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to vote on open positions on the Board of Deacons and Permanent Committees (Nominating, Personnel, Finance and Property Committees), as specified in our Bylaws. Everyone will receive a ballot and is encouraged to give us their feedback. However, only members’ votes will be counted. We ask you to pray diligently for this meeting.
If you are requesting new business, please present the request in writing to the church clerk, Karen Douglas, by Wednesday, October 25, 2023 as stipulated in the Bylaws.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS
The Board of Deacons will host Town Hall Meetings to give the congregation ample time to ask questions about the nominees and church business. This enables us to complete the Congregational Meeting efficiently. We strongly encourage you to attend if you have questions. The Town Hall Meetings are:
VOTING INFORMATION
Our Bylaws include these voting requirements:
- A quorum is required for the vote to take place. Twenty (20) percent of active church members must be present to form a quorum.
- Deacons must be affirmed by no less than 80% of the votes cast by the members present in the quorum at the business meeting.
- If a person nominated for the role of Deacon does not garner 80% he is not considered affirmed by the congregation and may not assume the role. A new nominee will be presented at the next business meeting.
- Permanent committee members (Nominating, Personnel, Finance and Property Committees) are elected by majority vote.
Nominating Committee
There is one (1) opening on the Nominating Committee. The current members remaining on the Nominating Committee are: Jenny Anderson, Curt Fitchett, Carol Houseal, Patrick Kelley and Christine Ruoff.
Phoebe Bosma
Phoebe has attended Brandywine for 17 years and been a member for 10 years. She has served with Brandywine Kids and in MOPS leadership, while also participating in MOPS and MOMSnext. Phoebe and her husband Jim have five children who are active in Brandywine Students and Brandywine Kids. She is the office manager for the family’s business and is a part-time swim instructor at the YMCA. Phoebe wants to serve on the Nominating Committee “to use the gifts God gave me to help people get connected and use their skills and gifts to serve Christ.”
Mike Loughery
Michael has been a member of Brandywine and attended for seven years. He has served at VBS for five years, assisted with the rebranding of Brandywine and participated in Pastor Nate’s Shepherd’s Training. Michael has five children: three adult children and two teen/tween. He works in marketing and communications. Michael says, “As I have gotten to know the Brandywine family over the last seven years, and been a part of this community, I am continually looking for ways to be involved. When I was approached about being on a committee, I thought this would be a great first step to becoming more deeply connected to and supportive of the church. My connection to Brandywine and its members has also been very personal, and helped me through some valleys. I want to pay it forward, so to speak, and do what I can to be more involved with Brandywine.”
PROPERTY COMMITTEE
There are two (2) openings on the Property Committee. The current members who are remaining on the Property Committee are: Carl Jones and Charlie Bricker.
Gerald Jan Murray
Jan has attended Brandywine for 24 years and has been a member for one year. He has served as an usher and assisted in the 1st grade Sunday class. He has also been an active member of the Brandywine Softball Team. Jan and his wife Laurie have two adult children. He is a Senior Web Developer for Nemours Children’s Hospital. When asked why he wants to serve on the Property Committee, Jan said, “I am eager to help care for our church in a different capacity than I had previously served, and the property committee gives me that opportunity.”
Joe Scalia
Joe has been a member of Brandywine for seven years and attended for 11 years. He has served with Brandywine Kids on Sunday mornings and Awana (T&T). He is beginning his sixth year as a small group leader with Brandywine Students. Joe and his wife Mandi have three children who are active in Brandywine Students and Brandywine Kids. He is a small business owner of a plumbing and heating company. When asked why he wants to serve on the Property Committee, Joe said, “I consider it an honor to be nominated. I want to be used however God sees fit.”
Nominee #3
Nominees’s bio here
#4 Nominee
Bio here
Personnel COMMITTEE
There are no openings on the Personnel Committee. Members of the Personnel Committee are: Robin Hinmon, Steve Taylor, Hans Vans Hees and Kendra Young.
FINANCE COMMITTEE
There are no openings on the Finance Committee. Members of the Finance Committee are: Kevin Dombrowski, Tim Glavin, Elise Martin and Sam Waltz.
board of Deacons
There is one (1) opening on the Board of Deaons. Additionally, two (2) Deacons are being reappointed but the congregation must still vote on them during the Annual Meeting.
Current Deacons who remain on the Board are: Tim Cura, Jeff Ernst, Kendall Hinmon, Tim Houseal, Willie Mah, Brandon Ontjes, Steve Stirparo, Chris Vincent and Pete Zuber.
Ryan Hayes
Ryan has attended Brandywine for 11 years and has been a member for eight years. He has served as a small group leader with Brandywine Students, a member of the safety team and as a Deacon. Ryan and his wife Katy have one young son. He is self-employed. Ryan says he wants to serve as a Deacon because “I love this church with my whole heart and I love to serve my savior Jesus Christ in this local body.”
Ryan has been nominated to serve an additional term on the Board of Deacons.
Craig Montgomery
Craig has been a member of Brandywine for 14 years and attended for 22 years. He has served as a small group leader, teacher for the Sunday morning adult class, Finance Committee, Nomination Committee and Board of Deacons. Craig and his wife Julie have two children who are active in Brandywine Students. He is a small business owner of an insurance company. Craig says he wants “to continue to serve the body and the church in whatever way the Lord can use me. I want to help shepherd with humility and be a servant to God and His flock.”
Craig has been nominated to serve an additional term on the Board of Deacons.
Bill Wilson
Bill has attended Brandywine for 23 years and has been a member for seven years. He has served as an assistant teacher for Brandywine Kids, an usher, on the media team and on the nominating committee. Bill and his wife Lynn have two adult daughters. He is a Research and Development Director at a chemical instrumentation company. When asked why he wants to serve as a Deacon, Bill said, “I want to take on more responsibility in the church and give back more to the congregation.”
