ROAD CREW MINUTES, JUNE 12, 2011

12:10 Road Crew welcomed; pizza was served; agenda was stated

12:05 Pastor presented NINE SIGNS OF GROWTH, or NINE PIECES OF VISION (see details in agenda):

Rooted/Linked (see video)

Visibility

Evangelism Beyond Sunday; 1 Peter 3:15

Dads/Dudes multiplied

Parenting Beyond Sunday

Church Big instead of Big Church; Joshua 17:14-18

$ Discipline

Deacons – more

Get To versus Have To

12:40 Pastor explains how church will pursue these changes:

Each/every church member encouraged to discern how personal passions, gifts, experience overlap with one or more area; communicate back to Pastor/Council

Council to organize, launch teams of members to oversee and cultivate each area of growth.

Pastor commits to keeping NINE SIGNS visible, recasting vision(s), keeping them in Council agendas, and reflecting these from pulpit and in liturgy on Sundays, too.

Q&A

Not many comments/questions; one member appreciates Pastor's pledge to keep NINE SIGNS visible in front of church so they do not fade into "flavor of the month" forgotten words.

Financial update showed improvement in monthly income/expense ratio; no cuts currently advised (picture below); if giving remains consistent through summer, outlook for next year brighter.

12:45 Reminder to sign up to participate; members also asked to make Elder nominations by next Sunday, June 19.

Next Road Crew - September 11, 2011; Agenda = Children's Ministry and Parent Ministry launch; $ update.

Final prayer offered; Road Crew dismissed.

ROAD CREW AGENDA JUNE 12, 2011

Goals of Meeting:

1. Receive Council Proposal
2. Q&A
3. Sign Up to participate

_______________________________________

12:00 WELCOME ROAD CREW; STATE AGENDA

12:05 PRESENTATION: NINE SIGNS OF GROWTH

12:20 PROPOSAL: NEXT STEPS

Road Crew; Council; Pastor

12:25 Q&A re: PROPOSAL

12:45 SIGN UP; DISMISSAL

NINE SIGNS OF GROWTH, or NINE PIECES OF VISION: Details

Rooted/Linked (see video)

· Cooperate w/churches, ministries, for greater programming, training, community service, fellowship, administrative efficiency, church planting, etc.

· Leverage established relationships w/Seattle CRC Cluster; Belltown Covenant partners; Parish Collective; other?

Visibility:

· Improve access to church community/ministry; not about niche marketing, pen switching, sheep stealing

Evangelism Beyond Sunday; 1 Peter 3:15

· Embrace story of our name, Emmaus Road; acknowledge how introducing people to Jesus begins “out there” with EACH OF US, even if it someday leads to Sunday

· Embrace evangelism/discipleship among “non-churchable”

· Gospel transparency among each of us; have hope; be prepared to explain

Dads/Dudes multiplied

· Social activity of Emmaus Road as important as worship, bible study, community development

· Should be multiplied for women, parents, other groupings?

· Simple “structure” and low expectations seem to help it happen

Parenting Beyond Sunday

· Families need to be equipped for evangelism/discipleship @ home

· As Mon-Sat. faith development strengthened, Sunday programs put in proper perspective

· Generations of neglect/passivity in church culture requires persistent challenging

Church Big instead of Big Church; Joshua 17:14-18

· Different measurements of ministry yield insight into how “small” churches can make significant impact in people’s lives; God multiplies

· Related to vision of Emmaus Road becoming more Rooted/Linked

$ Discipline

· Continue changing culture of complacency into culture of urgency around $ generosity, sharing, faithful tithing

· Embrace sacrificial giving as important part of every Christian’s response to Gospel (get to, not have to)

Deacons – more

· Beyond current Elders and acknowledged Deacons, there are others who could benefit from joining leadership Council, working not as isolated, occasional responders, but regularly contributing, equipped leaders

Get To versus Have To

· Changing experience, feelings, and perceptions around serving and ministering, from “I have to do my duty” to “I get to participate in God’s work with my gifts/resources”

· Address specific issues, including:

- isolation

- stuck in thankless role; under appreciated

- feeling over-extended; saddled with multiple layers of responsibility

- Nursery/Godly Play volunteers missing out on worship

- Misperceptions of magnitude; a look at actual numbers of Sundays assigned may reveal load to be lighter than one thinks (e.g.; only 12 Sundays of Godly Play this upcoming fall)

· Discern how to evaluate support/equip each other to thrive in service

· Carefully set expectations, rather than blindly inherit

· Celebrate what we get from giving, what we learn in serving

ELDER CANDIDATE POOL

Finally, Road Crew, I am able to furnish a list of potential Elder nominees:

Cornell Blackwell, Mike Elenbaas, Biff Gaitan, Erin Fullner-McCready, Dan Ruiter, Reba Ruiter

Road Crew members, pray and discern, by Sunday June 19, two people you will nominate from this list to step into the Elder role at Emmaus Road, serving from summer 2011 through summer 2013 or beyond. I will receive your two nominations via email, in person, on a slip of paper folded up in the white box, by telephone, or any other discreet means you would like to employ. After receiving all of your nominations by June 19, I will talk to the individuals the church is affirming and discern with them whether they are ready and willing to accept this leadership role. I hope to have clearly identified Elders by Sunday June 26. Pray for the Lord's guidance throughout this process; it is a collective effort that God wants us each of us to carry out in faith.

Incidentally, if the list seems like it could be longer and more inclusive, consider the following: the Elder candidate pool begins larger, but then is paired down to Road Crew members who

- are not currently serving as an Elder (or recently stepping away from Elder role)

- are not married to an Elder

- have not requested having their name removed from the list of potential Elder candidates

Read more about this process.