Evergreen Quarterly Meeting - Tomorrow!

Good Morning Evergreen Fam!

Our August Quarterly meeting is coming up next Saturday, August 15th from 10am to Noon Pacific. It will be in person at Panther Lake Community Church, and online by Zoom. The Zoom link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3828576559?omn=84777911525

I've attached the Agenda and minutes of our June Quarterly meeting to this email. I'll be sending out the financials the day before the meeting.

I really want to encourage everyone to attend this meeting. We will be welcoming in at least one church which is very exciting.

Additionally, as you know, Evergreen works best when we have the benefit of all of our diversity. Quorum is not determined by the number of people present, but by having at least one person from each of our caucuses present. We are at our best when you add your wisdom, your insight, and your opinions to our decision making process. It takes each of our uniqueness, individually and as caucuses to make Evergreen what it is, and that should also be at the table when we're making our business decisions.

Please do feel free to forward this email to people in your churches so they too, can participate in our meeting!

Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th!

AGENDA FOR EVERGREEN ASSOCATION QUARTERLY MEETING, AUGUST 15, 2026
10:00 Preparing for worship worshipful work—Doug
Opening Prayer – One of our Evergreen Leaders
Agenda for consideration—Leslie
Financial Report – Morgan
Costa Rica Ministry Partnerships – Doug
Welcoming Montesano Community Church
Biennial Gathering Update - Paul
Other Reports

10:45 Caucus Meetings and Agendas
HISPANIC --- minutes, financial, discussing Costa Rica mission opportunities,
Affirming Montesano Community Church
ASIAN --- minutes, financial, discussing Costa Rica mission opportunities, Affirming
Montesano Community Church
BLACK --- minutes, financial, discussing Costa Rica mission opportunities,
Affirming Montesano Community Church
EURO --- minutes, financial, discussing Costa Rica mission opportunities

11:15 Reconvene Board Meeting

Caucus Reports

Hispanic
Asian

Black
Euro
12pm Close in Prayer
Calendar for 2026
August 22 nd – Evergreen Southern California Area Gathering
October 8 th – 10 th – Evergreen Annual Meeting – CrossWalk Community Church,
Napa, CA

Minutes of the June 13, 2026 Evergreen Quarterly Meeting
Churches Represented: Cambridge Drive Community Church, Church by the Side of the Road, Evergreen Grace, Confraternidad Cristiana Ebenezer, First Baptist Church McMinnville, House of Hope Fellowship, Iglesia Bautista Nueva Esperanza, Japanese Baptist Church, Karen Community Church of Greater Seattle, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Mesa Abierta, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, New Community of Faith, Panther Lake Community Church, Queen Anne Baptist Church, Shell Ridge Community Church, Urban Grace the Downtown Church

We came to order at 10:13am.

Preparing for Worshipful Work: Doug is currently in Costa Rica to further several of the things we started back in March, and figure out a possible partnership with the Great Rivers Region. They have a much more traditional approach to mission work, but there is still a chance to partner. The original mission house at the FBC Limon is in disrepair and repairing it might be something we can work on. He shared that there’s those in our country who think that Christianity should be enforced, sometimes out of a legitimate concern over who gets into Heaven. They want to focus on the rules. But the Apostle Paul said that actually we shouldn’t be worried about who gets into Heaven, but be worried about how we are living out the words we’ve received from Christ. This is the spot Evergreen lives into. The journey is how to live with each other in love. We have the opportunity to center forgiveness and love, instead of rule enforcement. We get the perspective of others who are different than us. Sometimes it’s not going to be nice, or feel good, but it will always teach us new and important things. This is the gift of diversity that many do not have, and you can see the consequences of that. Instead of what do the rules say, let us ask what does justice say, what does helping the person who is suffering look like. We should rejoice in the blessing of our diversity and the wisdom we are afforded.

Deacon Mike Poe opened us in prayer.

Agenda for Consideration: Leslie asked the caucuses to review the agenda for consideration, including the minutes, the financial report, the question about what information should be part of a Church onboarding packet or program, and the Costa Rica Mission Opportunities. Financial Reports: Morgan shared about the Executive Minister’s Healthcare costs, Staff travel is being reviewed to make sure, Bank Fees, Interest Income is high because of good Interest on the CDARS, the Income is over about 108%, and expenses are a little high, also about 108%, which is pretty evenly matched, only off about $1300 from our budget.

Church Onboarding Procedures Question: Doug is asking the caucuses to consider what things should be in an onboarding process and document for new churches as we continue to grow. Things we think new churches should know or be prepared for in joining Evergreen. We’re thinking of new churches as those who have been with us for less than four years, and new churches joining us.

Invitations: Paul shared about the 50 th Anniversary of Ordination Celebration for Rev. Dr. Marcia Patton, as well as the other events in the Calendar, including Faith and Family Day at T-Mobile Park, the Taste of Evergreen, the Evergreen Clergy Backpacking Trip, the Evergreen Southern California Gathering, the BST Arc Initiative Pilgrimage to Manzanar, and our Biennial Gathering.

Costa Rica Update from Pastor Doug: As Evergreen we’ve always had a regional connection to a space outside the United States. Historically that has been Haiti, but Haiti is no longer safe due to their civil war, and our primary contact in Haiti are missionaries who are retiring soon. So we’re looking at Costa Rica, a very diverse
country, to find partnerships with. He highlighted three main possible mission areas:

UBL – one of the few progressive seminaries in Central America. Already have a program where they help clergy from the US interact with theological thought in Latin America. Intensive for 10 days and do that journey, and also a way to do that online entirely.

Talitha Cumi and Talaya Cumi Clubs – Discipleship Clubs for preteens, which push back against the patriarchy in Latin America. This would be a partnership, and learning opportunity, not a teaching space.

Limon – There is a bilingual Afro-Carribean community in Limon. Suffer from some of the same discrimination and poverty as some African Americans in the US. A lot of opportunities we can consider for mutual relationship with different opportunities there.

Caucus breakouts started at 10:55am
Caucus breakouts ended at 11:25am

Black Caucus Report: Stephanie Commandest reported the Black Caucus approved the minutes and the financial report. Costa Rica was discussed, especially the Talitha Cumi clubs. One thing they wanted to get help with was books that were written in English that they can read with the girls. In these learning sessions, the mentors
working with the girls provide a meal, and are doing so out of their own pockets – maybe that’s a way we can help with funding that. Also discussed learning with UBL a bit. For church onboarding they discussed how to interpret what Evergreen does and is, and what sets us apart from the “regular way” things are done. They wanted to highlight the simplicity of the grant application process. A black caucus delegation has already
met with the Talitha Cumi girls clubs in Limon, and so they’ve made direct contact and introduced themselves. This will continue to be discussed at the Black Caucus meeting. Felix Pacheco Aispuro of the Hispanic Caucus prayed for the Black Caucus.

Hispanic Caucus Report: Hector Perez reported that the Hispanic Caucus accepted the minutes and the financial reports. They are very optimistic about the Costa Rica project, and the Hispanic Caucus is interested in supporting the project, and also see what other opportunities the Caucus can provide as a group to those in Costa Rica. The church onboarding process and Mesa Abierta will be asking Dr. Victor Vasquez to translate the onboarding process into Spanish. Rev. Yoke Wong of the Asian Caucus prayed for Hispanic Caucus.

Asian Caucus Report: Pastor Angeline Lau reported that the Asian Caucus approved the minutes and financial reports. The Asian Caucus will broadly support the Costa Rica project, but many Asian Caucus churches already have mission work they’re doing, but are glad to add the Costa Rica missions as well. For onboarding they suggest a boiler plate of organization charts, and regular events. Also a buddy church system, and church welcome that would help new churches acclimate and meet one another. And Chuck Johnston of the Euro Caucus prayed of the Asian Caucus.

Euro Caucus Report: The Euro Caucus approved the minutes and the financial reports. Paul reported on the Costa Rica trip, and highlighted the different ministry opportunities. The Euro Caucus is interested in doing the work, but following the lead of our siblings in the Black and Hispanic Caucuses as we do so. For the onboarding, they suggest a single place where the information about our Caucus model and Consensus can be found, plus also some kind of training about these important things, and also our Baptist Freedoms. Marcia Patton and Shurden’s books are great resources also, but need training guides. Also how to connect and encourage laity to contribute and attend in person, because the Evergreen Vibe which needs to be experienced. Deacon Mike Poe of the Black Caucus prayed for the Euro Caucus.

Next Quarterly Meeting will be August 15, 2026 at Panther Lake and online.
Rev. Yoke Wong closed out meeting in prayer at 11:51am.

Respectfully Submitted,

Minutes of the June 13, 2026 Evergreen Quarterly Meeting
Paul Schneider
Recorder