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Minutes of the Committee for Unity
Met at near Grain Valley, MO,
January 9, 1999
Committee Minutes of the Association for the Unity of Restoration Saints. Meeting was held at 4504 S. Seymour Rd., Grain Valley, MO. Present were Joseph Smith, Wayne Bartrow, Gary Wheeler, and William Whenham. After the meeting was called to order a round of prayer was offered unto God. First discussed was the difficulty experienced by some of the committee members who must travel long distances to attend the meetings held here. Gary Wheeler then reported upon the organization call Pastors of Zion. They meet on the second Saturday of each month with usually 8-10 in attendance. David Black is its chairman and Bob McLeod is the secretary. David is the pastor of Farview Branch where Joseph has been invited to preach. Some of this committee have been invited to share with them about the unity movement. Gary expressed that time restraints may limit the degree to which we may be able to explain our goals. He also indicated that another organization, the Association of Central Missouri Restoration Branches, meet once a month. They seemed to be less willing to meet with us, however. It was agreed that the love of Christ is essential if any effort to unify the saints into one body is to be successful.
The next item of consideration was the Priesthood Conference scheduled for February 13-14 in Geneseo, IL. The following itinerary was adopted and is to be included in the next unity newsletter mailed to the saints.
Saturday, February 13, 1999
Breakfast (Rise and Shine).....0800am - 0900am
Prayer Service.....0900am - 1030am
Business Session.....1045am - 1200pm
Lunch (Together at church).....1200pm - 0130pm
Business Session.....0130pm - 0500pm
Supper (Together at church).....0500pm - 0630pm
Song Service.....0630pm - 0700pm
Class (History of Church Organizational Structure).....0700pm - 0830pm
Open Discussion.....0830pm - 0900pm
Committee Meeting.....0900pm - 1000pm
Assignments on Saturday:
Prayer Service.....William Whenham, presiding
Business Sessions.....Joseph F. Smith, chairman
Song Service.....Joseph Holiday, leading
Priesthood Class.....Gary Wheeler, instructor
Sunday, February 14, 1999:
Breakfast (Together).....0800am - 0900am
Prayer Service.....0900am - 1030am
Preaching Service.....1100am - 1200pm
Lunch (Last meal together).....1200pm - 0130pm
Assignments for Sunday:
Prayer Service.....Wayne Bartrow, presiding
Worship Service.....Dwight Deitrick, presiding
Peter Gould, preaching
Note: If for any reason the Committee cannot meet on Saturday evening, they will attempt to gather immediately after the lunch on Sunday afternoon.
Reunion Supplies will be obtained by Dwight and Wanda Deitrick. It is requested that Gail and Omer Losier be in-charge of food preparation. Gene Mitchell is to be approached about taking responsibility as Reunion Director and Gary Wheeler will assist him, if he accepts. Wayne Bartrow is to contact Gene, Gail and Omer and report on their response. Outreach to other regions in the country was recommended by Bro. Wheeler. Consideration was given to contacting Bro. Richard Smith, who is with the Evangelistic Outreach Council of the Restoration Elders Conference, to see if there are any areas we might work together. William Whenham is to contact him about arranging a meeting with us for that purpose. Some question was raised about the Networking/Advertising Committee and progress they have made. It was noted that at the upcoming February Conference, they will have been established for one year. A report will e requested at that time and recommendations solicited. Also a report will be requested concerning our Tax Exempt application.
The March 14th combind worship service scheduled for Waldo Branch was discussed. It was thought that a song service followed by a half-hour sermon by Joseph and a brief introduction of our working harmony agreement would suffice. Bro. Whenham recommended that the H.P. Paul Gage be put in charge of the service. Joseph suggested that Edith Whisler could be the organist. These were not definitive, but we agreed to continue working on the order of worship and to bring our ideas to Geneseo. This concluded the business conducted and the meeting was adjourned.
Wayne Bartrow, Acting Secretary - Committee for Unity.