Pastor's Blog: Making More Ministry Possible
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Over the last months, we have seen numerous strategic objectives from our recent Vision 2020 ministry plan come to fruition. As the old saying goes, “It’s always great when a plan comes together,” and I have to say that I am most pleased over the efforts of so many in our church, both staff and laity, who have dedicated themselves to making our vision become a reality.
As you may remember from the list of “thumbnail proposals” that captured the essence of our church’s vision, the proposal regarding the Structures section was that we aimed for a strategy that would “make ministry possible.” In other words, the only reason to attend to structural concerns is for the purpose of facilitating transformational ministry. Whether organizational structures (like committees, teams, and councils) or those that comprise our church’s physical plant (buildings, classrooms, hallways), every aspect of such matters should ultimately facilitate the accomplishment of the church’s mission. Otherwise, we’re nothing more than a leaky cup incapable of holding, or even better, dispensing a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name.
One of the key objectives in this area has to do with our facilities and how they enable us to grow and develop our already effective ministries. You may remember that back in January of this year we appointed at our Semi-Annual Church Conference a Space and Facilities Needs Assessment Committee. That committee brought their recommendations to the Deacons, which consisted of giving increased attention to five major ministry areas in our church: Youth, Children’s, Multi-Purpose (with special emphasis on Contemporary Worship), Storage, and Parking. The committee found each of these ministry areas to be hindered by less than ideal facilities. Consequently, the Space and Facilities Needs Assessment Committee’s recommendations were picked up by a Building Committee, who then contracted with a local architectural firm, Turner Batson, for an initial design plan on how these five areas of need might be addressed. The Turner Batson firm and our church’s Building Committee have made several presentations to various groups and constituencies in the church, and now comes the time for the larger congregation to have its say.
This Sunday afternoon, September 9, at 3 p.m. in Heritage Hall, we will gather for a churchwide conversation on the present design plan. This plan is still very much a work in progress so that this conversation will afford everyone the opportunity to express their thoughts on where our church goes with this part of our strategic vision. Because our desire is to reflect everyone’s opinion and to bring as many people along on this journey as possible, your presence at this gathering is vital.
My experience in other churches tells me that such a time in the life of the church can be galvanizing, as the various constituencies join together in a larger consensus that makes everyone feel as if they’re moving together in a unified direction. Or, conversely, it can also be a most disruptive experience, especially if some groups in the church don’t feel as if they’ve been adequately heard. Obviously, we’re striving for consensus and unity; we certainly don’t need or want division where none presently exists.
So, I look forward to seeing you this Sunday afternoon as we come together in what I hope and pray will be more ways than one. Come ready to join in as together we anticipate how we can consider our facilities’ needs and challenges in ways that release us from unnecessary constraints and free us to do everything we sense God’s Spirit leading us to do.
“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God (Hebrews 3:4).