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August 01, 2007
August Newsletter
Pastor's Pen
With all of the talent at Faith, I wish someone or several people, who have an interest in statistic analysis, would step forward during this interim period to help us process the data. What I envision being charted out is the relationship between our average rate of church growth over the last 10 years with the relative aging of our congregation.
The study might compare the percentage of people over 65 who were in the church ten years ago with the current percentage of those in our church currently over 65. Then, given our current rate of growth (that would have to be calculated as well), these figures could be extrapolated to suggest what our average age in the congregation might be say five or eight or ten years from now.
To me, this would be a valuable piece of information because it would
give us an idea of how highly we ought to prioritize "Numerical Growth" when we consider goals for the next leg of our journey. Such knowledge would most likely alter exactly what skills we would be looking for in a new, installed pastor.
Someone has said, "Do try harder, try differently." This may be good advice. Instead of every person repeating all they've done here for the last ten years--VBS, for example, we could bring in other energetic folks to share in our ministry so that those who have done so much in the past would not be expected to continue shouldering the entire burden. It would be easier on the knees and a relief to our spirits.
Of course, we don't know what the statistical analysis might suggest. Currently there may be sufficient influx of new members coming in at such a rate that we need not be concerned about bringing in the next generation and eventually passing on the torch to them.
However, even if it turns out we have a significant concern on our hands this is serious, but I don't believe it ought to be met with trepidation and hand-wringing. From all I've seen, I'm confident this congregation has the wit and resolve to see what needs to be done and then make it happen. There is a huge amount of creativity here. Just yesterday I heard from one member who told me about a church-growth effort made in his daughter's church which enjoyed amazing success.
Sure, past efforts have not succeeded wholly well in bringing in newcomers. But, if it becomes clear that church growth needs to be our "Number One Focus", we can develop a plan and work the plan. And, if, along the way, we conclude what we selected was not fruitful, then we simply selected the wrong church-growth activity. All that needs to be done is to find what efforts will work for us. Such planning, in my mind, ought not to be relegated to any one committee or just to session leaders, it would have to be something that involves an organized, sustained, church-wide effort. Brain-storming and thinking outside the box would be our allies.
Why do I bring this up? Well--now that I'm here--this is the ideal time to think about our road map. My being here, in between installed pastors, provides a unique window of opportunity to detect road hazards and map out the needed course of travel.
As I understand the plans ahead, you all will have the opportunity to participate in the envisioning process. This may be done through small-group discussions ("Cottage Meetings") at various homes. However, if that doesn't seem enough for you to express adequately your ideas and if your feelings or if your dreams need to be molded and given definition, please do not hesitate to come by the office, or invite me over to hear what you have in mind. We can dock our boats together.
Pastor Ron
Worship Information
Sunday, August 5th Sermon: Spreading the Gospel
Acts 8: 26 - 40
Communion
Sunday, August 12th Sermon: Evangelism
Luke 15: 1 – 7
Matthew 24: 1 – 7, 10 – 12, 23 – 27, 36 - 42
Sunday, August 19th Sermon: Faith
Hebrews 11: 1 – 6
Romans 4: 1 – 5, 18, 22 - 25
Sunday, August 26th Sermon: Hope
Hebrews 7: 11, 18 - 25
Clerk's Corner
At its July 10, 2007 meeting the Session met with Pastor Kevin Bowers of Bethany Presbyterian Church who is the designated Transitional Care Consultant for our Congregation. He outlined the various steps that must be followed in ultimately issuing a call to a permanent pastor for Faith Church. In following up this discussion Elder Don K. Gentry, as Chair of the Personnel Committee, has generated a plan, approved by Session, for carrying out the requisite reflection study, and for the nomination process to membership on the Pastor Nominating Committee, as set forth in the guidelines of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, Committee on Ministries. The recommended plans will be communicated to the Transition Care Consultant for review and to the Committee on
Ministry for approval. More information is posted elsewhere in this Newsletter. The Congregation will be kept informed of the next step that involves the selection of the Pastor Nominating Committee.
Elder David McKinnis is organizing a Building and Grounds work session on Saturday, July 28, 2007. Members of the Congregation are invited to participate.
Elder Glenn Sparks has been requested by Session to make a presentation on behalf of Pastor Robertson at the upcoming meeting of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley at Central Presbyterian Church on September 22, 2007. The Congregation is cordially invited to be present at the ceremony where Pastor Robertson will be officially installed as Pastor Emeritus.
The next Session meeting is scheduled for August 14, 2007.
The Congregation is greatly indebted to David and Ann Landgrebe for sponsoring the recent beautification project of the church grounds. The beauty of the patio area has been significantly enhanced by the planting of a Japanese Maple tree, and the border areas of the church building display a riot of different color
from the flowers in bloom.
Jurgen Honig
Clerk of Session
Keeping our facility safe and secure
The building and grounds committee reminds everyone who uses our
facilities on off hours to carefully check that all doors are locked and fully closed when the last person leaves. Your help with this matter is appreciated and will help us protect our church facility.
Do You Need Spiritual Food Mid-Week?
Come and join about 300 local women at Bible Study Fellowship, an interdenominational Bible Study. This year we will be studying Matthew, which will include most parts of Mark and Luke.
The study is 32 weeks, and oh the things you will learn.
There is a children's program, ages 2-6, they will study Matthew just as the adults, however, there is NO childcare the first day.
It begins September 13, at 9:15, Kossuth Street Baptist Church.
If you would like more information ask, Mary Lou Varys, Carol Gentry, or Janis Matouk.
Sympathy
Mary Lou Varys' mother, Ruth Meyer, died on Sunday morning. She would have been 90 this September. The memorial service is tomorrow in Atlanta, Georgia. Burial will be in Belleville, IL in August. The congregation expresses our wholehearted condolences to Mary Lou and her family.
Traditional Plan for Calling a New Pastor
The Session of Faith Presbyterian Church met during its regular July meeting with the Transitional Care Consultant (TCC) assigned by the Committee on Ministries (COM) of the Presbytery to our Church to aid us in the process of Calling a new pastor. During that meeting a twelve step “Congregation Transitional Process- Stages of Transition” was outlined- See document below. The Session chose to begin the process now as it will take some time to complete the entire process.
As a result of the meeting, a plan was prepared to start the process. The Session formulated two action steps, one to complete the required “Congregational Reflection Study” and one for the nomination of the “Pastor Nominating Committee.” See document “Plan for Faith Presbyterian Church” below.
The “Congregational Reflection Study” must be completed as the first step in the process of Calling a new pastor. A complete plan for this study is also covered below in the document – “Faith Presbyterian Church, Congregational Mission/Reflection Study”.
CONGREGATIONAL TRANSITION:
FROM PASTOR EXIT TO NEW PASTOR INSTALLATION
Process as outlined in Presbytery Documents
STAGES OF TRANSITION
1. Pastor Leaving/Dissolution of Relationship -COMPLETED
2. Choosing an Interim Pastor - COMPLETED
3. Engaging the Congregation in a Mission/Reflection Study
-Session will have primary responsibility.
-See attached plan approved by the Session for accomplishing a mission/reflection study
-Plan was submitted to Committee on Ministries (COM) of the Presbytery for approval
4. Electing the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC)
-Congregation will elect pastor nominating committee at a called meeting by the Session after Reflection Study is completed and approved by the COM of the Presbytery.
-Session may recommend size and nominations for committee.
-See attach plan approved by the Session for the election of the PNC.
5. Assessing the Finances- assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee by the Session.
-Determine the compensation package needed attract a new pastor.
-Determine the need for any budget adjustments.
-Inform the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) of financial ranges available.
-Budget for pastor search and relocation costs.
6. Getting Organized for the Search- (PNC)
7. Writing and Submitting the Church Information Form (CIF) -(PNC)
8. Collecting and Screening Personal Information Forms (PIF) -(PNC)
9. Interviewing Potential Pastors -(PNC)
10. Selecting the Nominee by the PNC including listening to the candidate preach and negotiating the terms of Call and seeking COM approval -(PNC)
11. Making the Official Call Decision -Congregation
12. Installing the Pastor
Plan for Faith Presbyterian Church
Mission/Reflection Study and
Nomination Process of the Pastor Nomination Committee
To comply with the requirement for a Congregational Reflection Study (Step 3) in the Search and Call Process, the Session of Faith Church has taken the following actions:
1. The Session approved the plan for congregational input and study format prepared by the Personnel Committee for compliance with requirements for a Mission/Reflection Study proposed by the Committee on Ministry (COM) Reflection Packet, 2003.
2. The Session designated the Chair of the Personnel Committee as the official liaison to the Transitional Care Consultant (TCC), a member of the COM, for the completion of Steps 3 and 4 of the Search and Call Process for Obtaining an Installed Pastor as outlined in the Flow Chart presented to the Session by the TCC.
3. The Session requests that the Session’s Liaison communicate the recommended plan for the Mission/Reflection Study to the TCC for review and approval by the COM.
To comply with the requirement for the Election of a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), (Step 4) in the Search and Call Process, the Session of Faith Presbyterian Church has taken the following actions:
Once the Reflection Study is completed and permission is granted by the COM for the congregation to elect a PNC, the following plan for the election process will be followed.
1. The Session will call a special congregational meeting for the purpose of the election of the PNC by the congregation. The notice for the meeting will be given ten days prior to the called meeting of the congregation.
2. The Session will recommend to the congregation that the size of the PNC not exceed nine members.
3. The Session will prepare a slate of nominees for the PNC for recommendation to the Congregation, assuring broad representation of the congregation.
4. All nominees will be contacted to determine their willingness to serve if elected.
5. A ballot will be prepared in advance of the congregational meeting with space for nominations from the floor. Care will be taken that persons nominated from the floor have agreed to serve if elected.
FAITH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CONGREGATION MISSION/REFLECTION STUDY
West Lafayette, Indiana
During the past three years, the Session has taken action on the renewal and updating of a number of statements and documents that pertain to the Mission/Reflection Study as recommended by the Presbytery Congregational Reflection Packet. Due to the desire to incorporate much of that work into the Reflection Study and the fact that our new Interim Pastor has a rich background in guiding a number of churches through the Reflection Study process, the Session of Faith Presbyterian Church proposes the following process for the study. It is our belief that the attached plan fulfills the purpose as proposed by the Presbytery Document while serving the needs of the local congregation.
Process Proposed for Congregational Reflection Study:
1. The Session has designated the Chair of the Personnel Committee as the contact person during the Reflection Study Process for communicating with the Transition Care Consultant (TCC), a member of the Presbytery, Committee on Ministries (COM).
2. The Session will designate a recording clerk for the purpose of completing the “Congregational Reflection: Record” sheets.
3. The Session will ensure attendance at Reflection Study meetings by the lay leaders of the church and make every effort to encourage attendance at the reflection meetings by members and friends of the church.
4. It is proposed that three types of input be afforded the congregation into the process: (a.) Small group meetings held in member homes, (b.) group meetings held at the church, or (c.) the opportunity to respond in writing to the reflection study document.
5. It is proposed that the Interim Pastor Ron Green, who has facilitated studies for a number of congregations in the past, serve as the Advisor for the Congregation’s Reflection Study and that two elders with special expertise and experience in meeting facilitation serve as the Congregations Reflection Study Facilitators. One or more session members will be present at each meeting.
6. The congregation will be asked to individually complete the handout “Our Congregation at the Present.”
7. During the meetings the following input will be gathered:
a. What have been the past and present strengths of our church?
b. What are the trends and needs of this congregation and this community and how will these trends and needs impact our future? What is God calling us to do to meet those needs?
c. What vision does the congregation have for Faith Church’s future?
d. What specifically will we do to strengthen our congregation and community ministry over the next year?
e. What must the interim pastor and lay leaders do to assure that this is accomplished?
f. What kind of skills and experiences do we need in our next pastor?
g. What should the mission of this Church be in the future?
8. At the conclusion of the congregation reflection meetings, the session will compile all the results and complete the “Congregational Reflection: Record” and all required attachments as specified in the Congregational Reflection Packet.
9. The session will review the results of the Congregational Reflection Study and prioritize the conclusions of the congregation in terms of importance placed on each item. The session will host a congregational meeting or luncheon to present the session’s conclusions from the congregation’s input and to gain feedback on the priorities.
10. The “Congregational Reflection: Record” and required attachments will be submitted to the COM for review, approval and for granting permission for the congregation to elect a PNC.
Conclusion - The above processes were approved by the Session and submitted to the COM of the Presbytery for approval. We will make continued up-dates to the congregation as the process continues. Questions may be directed to the Chair of the Personnel Committee and Liaison to the TCC of the COM for the Congregational Study and the nomination process for the Pastor Nominating Committee.
Reported by: Don Gentry, Chair of the Personnel Committee and Session Liaison to the TCC
Sunday Evening Bible Study
Sunday Evening Bible Study begins on Sunday, August 26. We meet from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at the Moore’s, 4840 Jackson Highway. Sharing, prayer, and discussion-based study. All are welcome. Contact Nancy Moore at 583-4583 for more information.
This fall semester we will do something different: read and discuss the Heidelberg Catechism. Heidelberg is the warmest and least polemical of the reformed catechisms and is a good summary of reformed teaching and its Biblical basis. Copies of the catechism will be provided. None of us will agree with everything Ursinus and Elevianus wrote in 1563, so stretch your mind by pondering a text that we often use in worship.
Presbyterian Habitat House 2007 Jeopardy
Habitat for $100, Alex -- Answer: Stockwell, Indiana
Where are the Presbyterians building their 2007 Habitat House?
Habitat for $200 -- Answer: $4730.72
How much do the Presbyterian Churches still need to raise for their $44,000 goal?
Habitat for $300 -- Answer: September 15, 2007
Alex, when will the groundbreaking take place for the Presbyterian Habitat House?
Habitat for $400 -- Answer: September 22 and October 6
When can I help do actual construction on the Presbyterian Habitat House?
Habitat for $500 -- Answer: Ohio State
Who can I watch Purdue beat after a long day of volunteering for the Presbyterian Habitat House?
That's right, the Presbyterian churches of Tippecanoe County will be starting the 2007 Presbyterian Habitat House on September 15, 2007 in Stockwell. There will be a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday morning at 8am. All are welcome to attend. Our partner family is Crystal Wilson and her family.
For the two Saturdays September 22 and October 6 we will need 4-6 volunteers from Faith to work with volunteers from other churches. On 9/22 we expect to be doing roofing and on 10/6 we will probably be hanging drywall and siding. Please contact Dan Trinkle for more details on the work schedule.
If you are more comfortable with a spatula than a hammer, don't despair. We will need some volunteers to help provide lunch and snacks for workers. Stay tuned for more details.
Habitat will allow us to begin construction regardless of our funding level (we have a good track record with Habitat), but we would prefer to have our funds squared away before September. When you make a donation to Habitat, please designate it for the "Presbyterian Habitat House".
And have no fear, if you volunteer on October 6, you should still be back in plenty of time for the Purdue-OSU game. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee the outcome.
Birthdays
August 1 Tegan Houtsma
August 6 John Mason
August 9 Donald Winship
August 10 Everett Johnson
August 10 Anna Johnson
August 11 Julia Berends
August 13 Josephine Parker
August 15 Miranda Bosler
August 17 Alexander Cartwright
August 17 Ann Freeman
August 18 Cressia Hanson
August 18 William Meriwether
August 18 Mayim Stith
August 21 Glenn Sparks
August 23 Andy Kirby
August 25 Luke Jacobus
August 29 Alyssa Bingle
Anniversaries
August 3 Stan & Jan Hem
August 12 Jurgen & Jo Honig
August 12 Hannis & Fran Thompson
Community Worship Services
• Sun., August 5 St. Mary’s Healthcare 2:30pm
• Sun., August 12 Tippecanoe Villa 1:30pm
• Sun., August 12 Friendship House 3:00pm
• Sun., August 19 NO Davis Manor
• Sun., August 26 Rosewalk Commons 2:30pm
The Deacons invite you to become a part of this ministry
Worship With Us
We invite you to join in the worship of God each Sunday morning at 9:30am. We also invite you to participate in the prayers, fellowship, work and activities of this church.
For more information about this opportunity to be involved at Faith Presbyterian Church, please call or talk to any member of Session or call the church office at 743-3683.
Posted by faithpres at August 1, 2007 09:25 AM