I think our church is a work in progress right
now. We are in a process of discovery, learning how and what kind of church God
is making us into. The process is far from over. I think we will know much more
by the fall of 2018. Until then, I ask for patience, courage, and commitment
from all our members. Please join me in seeking the Lord concerning the answers
to the following questions. I have included my thoughts as of right now, but
nothing is final or written in stone.
Here are the seven questions I think are facing us as we
enter 2018:
1. How will we be connected to one another?
2. What will our worship and weekly schedule look like over the course of a year?
3. How will we reach out to and serve our community?
4. How will new people be connected to our church and what will that mean for our space usage?
5. What kind of volunteer base and financial resources will be available to us as we plan for ministries, outreach, mission endeavors, personnel needs, and developing our physical space?
6. What kind of organization and expressions of church government allow us to best fulfill our mission?
7. How will we keep people safe and secure will on our church property?
In previous posts I shared by thoughts on the answers to the first five questions. Today I share my thoughts questions six and seven. All of my answers will be available in my report to the church at the First Family Meeting in February.
6. What kind
of organization and expressions of church government will allow us to best fulfill
our mission?
According to the First Family Meeting on July 30,
2017, I was given the authority to appoint an ad hoc committee to meet with me
and Jeff to
study and recommend any needed changes to the church’s model of governance and
organization. Our first meeting was scheduled the weekend that Hurricane Harvey
hit us. We will now meet for the first time on January 28.
The members of this committee are Kathryn Albin, KC
Kimbrough, Linda Bradley, Matt Brewington, Ray Presley, Monty Brecheen, and
Dorian Ragnow.
Our church needs adequate organization and governance to
keep things running practically and legally. Our governance and organization will
need to have the confidence and participation of our membership. While our
governance and organization may adapt and change as needed, it should also
reflect the fact that we are Baptists and honor our church’s unique heritage
and history.
Having said all that, it is important to me that our members
do not have to invest an inordinate amount of time governing the church. My
preference would be that our members would invest their time and energy in
accomplishing the mission of the church, not governing the church. Governing
the church does not necessarily lead to accomplishing the mission.
Here are the guiding questions I will ask the ad hoc
committee to work through with me and Jeff. Once we have answered these
questions we will be able to make recommendations to the church.
1.
How do churches change? How does
transformation/adaptation occur within a congregation?
2.
What is church polity? What are the forms of
governance, or polity, that congregations utilize?
3.
What are the biblical, theological, and historical
foundations for the practice of congregational polity by Baptists?
4.
How is FBC Rockport currently organized to
accomplish its mission within a congregational form of church government? How
has FBC Rockport changed over the years in this regard?
5.
What are the problems and/or challenges with the
way FBC Rockport is currently organized to accomplish its mission and necessary
administrative/organizational tasks?
6.
What changes can be made to help the church
better accomplish its mission and the necessary administrative/organizational
tasks? What changes will need to be made to the church’s organizational and
governing documents?
7.
What specific recommendations will we make to
the church and how will these be made?
7. How will
we keep people safe and secure while on our church property?
In the wake of the shootings in Sutherland Springs
I formed an Emergency Operations Team to meet with me and Jeff to make
recommendations to the church regarding our emergency operations, including
security issues.
This groups includes Barney Reed, Tim Jayroe,
Patty Albin, Dianne Nielsen, Bobby Albin, and Dave McCoy. We have met once and
are preparing some recommendations for the church regarding the purchase of
some surveillance equipment and some things will make our parking lot safer. We
will also establish some emergency and security procedures to submit to the
church for approval. Following these procedures will require more ushers and
greeters for Sundays and Wednesdays, and will require annual training for these
volunteers as well as other volunteers in the church who work with youth and
children.
Please join with me in seeking the Lord concerning
our church organization, governance, and security.
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