GRAND RAPIDS, MI (June 16, 2006) – The work of two retiring Evangelical Covenant Church leaders was honored Thursday during the morning business session of the 121st Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Bob Dvorak retired as superintendent of the East Coast Conference, and Neil Josephson has resigned the presidency of Covenant Bible College International. <\/p>\n
Dvorak served as superintendent for eight years, from 1998 to 2006. Acknowledging that Dvorak is widely known in the denomination as a minister and superintendent, President Glenn Palmberg said, \u201cHe is even more broadly known because of his tours with the Brown Hymnal Society.<\/p>\n
![\"Palmberg](\"http:\/\/old.covchurch.org\/uploads\/er\/zE\/erzESxCKBMSgQ5wVsqoO4A\/Dvorak.jpg\")
Palmberg recalled the first time he heard Dvorak lead a Brown Hymnal Society singing event, which included his \u201cfamous blood medley,\u201d in which he sang from all the hymns in Covenant hymnology that focus on the blood of Jesus. \u201cIt\u2019s quite a moving experience,\u201d Palmberg quipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert, you are dearly loved by the church,\u201d Palmberg said. That love was reflected in the words Palmberg read as he presented the plaque:<\/p>\n
The Evangelical Covenant Church salutes Robert C. Dvorak for faithful service as a leader who respects its values, inspires its mission, honors and defends its constitution, counsels and ministers to its pastors, and supports its unity. As superintendent he has been bold and creative. Bob has led with a conviction of the dynamic call to the church as Christ\u2019s body in our world. He has reached out in times of need, caring for ministers and churches in pastoral love and wisdom. Bob is a true churchman, whose impact has extended beyond the conference to the denomination and the work of Christ\u2019s larger Church. He is respected by his peers and loved by his fellow superintendents and pastors. The Covenant Church and the conference thank God for Bob\u2019s love for people, irenic spirit, commitment to excellence, and deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ, in whose name and spirit this service was given.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe East Coast has been a great place to serve,\u201d Dvorak said (top photo). \u201cI feel so blessed.\u201d He apologized for the things that may not be operating smoothly, but told the attendees from the conference to \u201cBuck up – Howard Burgoyne is coming, and I\u2019m sure he will get it all fixed.\u201d Burgoyne was installed as the new superintendent during Thursday evening\u2019s worship service.<\/p>\n Palmberg praised the work of Josephson (lower photo), who has led Covenant Bible College since 1990. The plaque reads:<\/p>\n Josephson fought back tears as he was honored. Still, he displayed his humor as the hundreds of people in the room gave him a standing ovation – \u201cIf I could only tell you how many of my students have ended my classes that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMainly I\u2019m overwhelmed with gratitude,\u201d Josephson said. \u201cIt has been a great privilege to serve in this part of God\u2019s vineyard.\u201d He likened ministry to the story of loves and fishes. \u201cYou just bring what you\u2019ve got and let God do the work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Josephson encouraged people to consider sending their children to Covenant Bible College for the year of intense discipleship it provides, even though \u201cthere\u2019s no big payoff of a pot of gold at the end of this.\u201d<\/p>\n Bible colleges across the United States and Canada have struggled in recent years, as students are increasingly choosing to immediately attend a college to get a degree that will land them a job. Noting that some people consider it foolish to spend money to attend a one-year institution that doesn\u2019t grant a degree, Josephson said, \u201cPassionate discipleship will always seem crazy to people who want to follow Jesus from a safe distance.\u201d<\/p>\n He concluded his remarks with a quote: \u201cThe larger the island of knowledge, the longer the shoreline of wonder.\u201d He then encouraged his listeners to enlarge their own islands of knowledge, and then make certain to take time to walk the shoreline.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.<\/p>\n![\"Neil](\"http:\/\/old.covchurch.org\/uploads\/dV\/sy\/dVsy3dTZF9rYHEAbUOEH3w\/Josephson.jpg\")
For his vision for building the Church of Jesus Christ by equipping and growing young people into whole life disciples; for excellence in leadership of a unique ministry that has an impact on the Covenant church and the kingdom of God far beyond its size; for his bold leadership in a time of significant expansion for Covenant Bible College International; for the quality of faculty and staff members he recruited, producing a strong spiritual and academic program; for his gifts to the wider church, particularly in Christian formation programs and CHIC planning; for his warm and collegial spirit in working together with other leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church; and, in all things, for his deep dedication to Christ, his love for the church, his skill as an educator, and his passion to see people grow to be more like Jesus.<\/em><\/p>\n