Executive Committee
Michaelynn Ryan--WPC memberKC Watkins--chair--CATC
Jack Brace--former session member of WPC and
Jack Brace--former session member of WPC and
youth director at CATC
Catherine Bailey--elder CATC
James Kearny--pastor CATC
Catherine Bailey--elder CATC
James Kearny--pastor CATC
Matt Owen--pastor WPC
(left to right)
This group has been formed at the request of the sessions of WPC and CATC to organize the work and set a time line for doing this new church. We have been meeting weekly since Stan Wood's first visit October 6-9. We will submit our work to the Joint Sessions of the two churches on November 22nd for discussion and hopefully approval.
At that point, we will report to you, the congregations, everything that the Sessions decide to go with. These items should include:
1. A demographics group.
2. A Mission Design team and a process for the combined congregations to discern the new shape and purpose of this church.
3. A time line including the closing of both churches and the opening date of the new one.
4. Perhaps, even a name.
(left to right)
This group has been formed at the request of the sessions of WPC and CATC to organize the work and set a time line for doing this new church. We have been meeting weekly since Stan Wood's first visit October 6-9. We will submit our work to the Joint Sessions of the two churches on November 22nd for discussion and hopefully approval.
At that point, we will report to you, the congregations, everything that the Sessions decide to go with. These items should include:
1. A demographics group.
2. A Mission Design team and a process for the combined congregations to discern the new shape and purpose of this church.
3. A time line including the closing of both churches and the opening date of the new one.
4. Perhaps, even a name.
posted by Scribe @ 5:21 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
This is great!
I am glad Mars Hill is not the only tech savvy church in town.
-Kudos
I am curious as to what other information would be helpful to people - what are some of the questions that came out of Sunday's time with Stan Wood?
I would like to offer a few observations and suggestions to the Executive Committee and the Mission Design Team. I understand that the mission of the greater church has been set in scripture, and that what we do as a church on Capitol Hill in designing our application of the global mission locally is the task set before us as a new congregation. I would therefore suggest that you approach the creation of the new church in the way in which the last sermon series was addressed: as having two principle parts so that we all may (1) love God with all our hearts, minds soul, and strength, and (2) love our neighbors as ourselves.
I would recommend temporarily setting aside the terms mission and missional in order to discover the practical application of those two precepts in the community. The Church body is made up of people that will be instrumental in fulfilling those commandments, but it is the administration of the new church that provides the vehicle for the people of the church and the custodial duties of a physical location for facilitating that mission. As you have said, it is not a question of what God would have us do- that is laid out in scripture. It may, however, be desirable for to develop two separate teams.
The first team (the strategy team) should have assigned members with theological learning, business plan development experience, and marketing skills with the task of developing a mission statement for the new church, and provide what might be analogous to a combination of business plan and program points for a design team to execute. The business plan and program points should be sufficient to provide a starting point for the creation of a new organizational chart (including staff, laity, committees, and community) to more successfully achieve the goal of loving God and loving our neighbors.
The most critical aspect of any venture once a plan is drawn up is the execution of that plan by the second team (in charge of tactics). The second team should develop tactics to address the physical parameters of the spiritual mission and the practical application of the mission and business plan. This would the physical application of elements necessary for the effective execution of the strategy. This is the nuts and bolts of things, and includes:
1. Policy and Operations
2. Personnel and Organization
3. Finances, Accounting, and Record keeping
4. Public Affairs and Marketing
5. Facilities and Logistics
6. Event Coordination
7. Continual Strategy Development
Ordinarily, modern churches deftly handling the mundane activities of the first three areas face the most opportunities for improvement in the next three and neglect the last issue area almost entirely. The situation we face turns this pattern on its head and provides us with a real opportunity to develop a vibrant local church with far-reaching effects, like a pebble in a pool. If a focused effort is undertaken particularly in 4, 5, and 6 above without regard for limiting paradigms the possibility exists to multiply the impact of Gods love in the lives of many.
I would reiterate the thought that Capitol Hill provides a rare opportunity to be innovative, give people the opportunity to experience God’s loving presence in worship, and witness to a community populated by those who more readily embrace the unconventional in an effort to experience the love of God. The behaviors seen on Capitol Hill reflect a strong desire to experience God’s love.
Once again, do not be limited by the design of the space or the location of the building. (The following thoughts are more detail level, but I hope they will not detract from the prior message). If we find that pews limit the flexibility of worship, we should tear them out. If we are not utilizing the building to its fullest capacity for activities and service to the community we may need to consider how to utilize it in a more blessing and engaging fashion. If the location of the building on the back wall of a large structure obscuring motorists from knowledge of its existence from the main thoroughfare, we may need to develop a method for overcoming that, and for more effectively marketing the church to the local population through any number of means, but if the people come, the facility, and the church membership must be prepared to receive them. How do we display the elements of the palette in use by the worship committee? Is there a need for a gallery space to display artwork? Is there a way to redesign the interior of the building to allow for more effective application of space? Is there another use for the facility that may help us to bless the community? Does the need exist for an onsite caretaker? All of these concrete details need to be considered to practically apply God’s will and to worship and serve most effectively. Remember- Christ came so that we might have life, and more than abundantly. Do not allow yourself to limit the expression of God’s love in this rare opportunity.
The Peace of Christ be with you-
Jet
Post a Comment
<< Home