The regular meeting of the elders and deacons was held on Thursday evening, 15 October 2026. Mark opened the meeting reading from Jonah 3, and there was a considerable time of prayer. Our prayers focused on God’s mercy. And we plead for Him to save the lost in Benoni.
David presented the September finances. Income held steady at R176K, right on budget. Expenses were R175K against a budget of R176K. Municipal expenses were low in September, but they will rise sharply in October, by about R20K due to the final meter reading from the prepaid meter installation and only estimated usage applied since April. They will settle lower due to our solar. There is also around R100K of identified necessary expenses ahead outside of budget. Together, these will pull our reserves below the three months cashflow threshold. While we are in a strong position, we will need to watch our spending carefully to end December.
Mark reported that fifteen people have completed the membership classes and now need to be interviewed. Deacons have committed to the interviews before our November executive meeting. The executive unanimously approved Colin and Laura Bousfield into membership. 8 guests have RSVP’d for Pizza with the pastor on Sunday, 18 October, the start of our next membership process. There have been 2 resignations this month. Our membership currently stands at 201. We have done extensive work on our church database and WhatsApp community over the past month.
Mark briefly spoke about our mission, our discipleship path, and our vision. We exist to reach Benoni with the gospel, and equip all for life. We want people to get connected (join membership), get equipped (join a community life group), and get involved (join a ministry). And we want to plant a conservative evangelical Baptist church with our healthy DNA in Benoni.
After our AGM, we thought it wise to clarify how we determine who is present for a vote. This is nessessary because to modify our constitution, we require the approval of 75% of the members present at the meeting. But how is who is “present” determined? When a vote happens some members may have signed in, but leave after the service. Some members may be in the kitchen, counting ballots. Some members may be in the bathroom. Some members are caring for children outside or in the mothers room. Some members recuse themselves because a vote may be about them. Seldom does the secretary vote. And the chairman only has a casting vote. On the day, the attendance register tells us who arrived. But it cannot tell us who is in the room when a vote is taken. And so we’ve been advised by our parlimentarian, Adrian Pearson, that the votes cast can. We determine who is present by counting the votes cast. This is not new. The same question has come up before, but for the sake of transparency we wanted to clarify to the congregation how we operate. But we will not leave it there. The executive has commissioned the constitution committee to bring uniform wording on this throughout our constitution. This change may be tabled at the general meeting in November 2026 for voting at the general meeting in Febraury 2027.
The executive also commissioned the constitution committee to consider the leadership section of the constitution. At the AGM it was suggested from the floor that we replace Leadership with Executive in our constitution. Mark is happy to move in that direction. But it must happen alongside changes to the present Executive section. This is to protect what Scripture teaches. Elders lead. Deacons serve. This cannot be tabled before the general meeting in February 2027 as we’ve already committed to bringing changes to the church discipline section (see the FAQs) of our constitution for acceptance at that meeting.
The executive unanimously approved digital voting at our quarterly general meetings, subject to ratification by the general meeting. Members will vote by WhatsApp poll, or by physical ballot if they prefer. In the weeks of 25 October and 1 November, we will send an email asking members to check their own details. In the weeks of 8 and 15 November, scrutineers will be in the lobby with printouts to help. We trial ran digital voting at our executive meeting successfully. And we hope to trial run digital voting at an SOS meeting in the future.
The end of year lunch is on Saturday, 28 November. It will be a spit braai. The executive had previously agreed to sponsor the salads, bread rolls, and ice cream, as well as a jumping castle. The executive chose a three meat option, and agreed that the church will subsidise R65 per person. We are waiting on further quotations. The office will select the caterer and share the choice with the executive before the order is placed. Barbara and Rina will man a ticketing table in the fellowship hall from Sunday, 18 October.
Christmas Eve is on Thursday, 24 December. We will start at 5:00pm, with mince pies, coffee, and tea in the fellowship hall. Rina will drive this. Our ward councillor, Mary Goby, has confirmed that we can carol in the parks in Farrarmere without notifying the EMPD or the local council. We plan to carol in the parks in the week leading up to Christmas Eve. We may arrange a children’s nativity play, and Debra will need to drive this. Barbara will drive the procurement of candles. R1K is set aside for the mince pies, and R1K for candles. The executive unanimously allocated the remainder of the evangelism fund to the Christmas Eve event, which leaves R4K for marketing in the run up and post the event.
Wednesday, 4 November is the South African municipal elections. On Sunday, 1 November, we will set aside our time for fasting and prayer. Andre will preach on intercessory fasting in the morning service. Straight after the service, we will gather in the fellowship hall for a prayer meeting, followed by communion. This was approved unanimously. Will you fast? Will you pray? Our city and country needs it.
The left bank of line array speakers in the main hall has failed. All four drivers. Replacements were quoted at R225K. Gerhard has found a possible replacement part. He has ordered one, and will test it. If it works, both the left and right banks will need replacing, at a cost of around R20K. The executive unanimously approved financial provision if the test is successful.
The executive unanimously affirmed David as treasurer for the next year. We do not have a secretary available from among the deacons. We have invited Kevin to our executive meetings as a guest, while we train and test him. He may be nominated at a future general meeting. We will share this with the congregation for the sake of transparency.
We do not presently have functional departments. We prefer ministry teams who do ministry, to committees that discuss ministry (this will be a future constitutional change). The executive unanimously approved the slate of ministry team leaders which will be made available to the congregation for consideration before the November general meeting.
The executive unanimously agreed on a priority list for church renovations, with no spending authority attached. First, two aluminium glass doors on the boys’ Sunday school rooms, for child protection. Second, maintenance on the roofing over the hallway toilets, which is urgent maintenance. Third, acoustic panels in the fellowship hall, needed for fellowship. Fourth, replacing the pews in the main hall with chairs in sections, to delay a second service for as long as possible. Fifth, repairing the pool table, for our young adults and youth. We also agreed to repurpose the three pews in storage as outside benches.
The was one confidential matter that we will not report on.
Please do pray for those tasked with leading and serving at Benoni Baptist Church. We feel the burden of the task, even as we joyfully set ourselves to it.
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