ROAD CREW: MORE FOOD, MORE FELLOWSHIP

Our next Road Crew lunch is Sunday, November 13. Why meet over lunch after worship? At the October Council meeting, the Elders and Deacons agreed that Sunday lunch meetings seem better attended than our previous Thursday night meetings. The quality of our Sunday meetings seems better than week nights, also, because we've been worshiping together ahead of time; we are ready to hear and discuss ministry with a better spirit. This coming Road Crew meeting will include voting on a proposed budget, officially welcoming new members, and hearing an update regarding Children's Ministry. Beyond the "business" of ministry, though, we will be enjoying fellowship. Bonding over food is as important as voting over decisions together; the Council decided we should do this more often. As we move forward as a church, look forward to more food and fellowship on Sunday afternoons!

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.

ELDER CHANDRA MULLENIX FULFILLED TERM

Dear Road Crew,

I've been a joyful Elder for nearly 2 years, and will be stepping aside from the Council at the end of August. It's been such a gift to get to know & pray for those in my "district", and I look forward to maintaining the friendships I've deepened. Among other opportunities, this will open the door for me to re-enter Sunday morning volunteer roles in Children's Ministry.

Council will begin the nomination process soon for the next Elder.

chandra mullenix

NEW ELDERS

Road Crew, most of you participated in the October/November nomination process to raise up two new shepherding Elders. You have been waiting patiently to hear results! Instead of two, you actually raised up three! Everyone in the pool received nominations; the hope and intention, though, was to identify at least two people who would receive the most. What emerged from the count, however, were three individuals who shared the most nominations; it seems wise to follow that lead and receive three new Elders. This Sunday, Mark R., Rennie Araucto, and Kurt Munson will be publicly ordained during a prayer time in our worship service. Thank God who provides leadership from, and for, His church.

In the very near future, you will most likely be contacted by one of the Elders, David Anema, Chandra Mullenix, Beth DeVries, Mark R., Rennie Araucto, or Kurt Munson, who will identify themselves as "your elder," a person who will pray for you, be available to discuss ministry matters, and help you find your way into fellowship and service.

NOMINATING ELDERS, NOVEMBER 2009

It is time to pray and raise up two Elders to join three remaining: David Anema, Chandra Mullenix, and Beth DeVries.

Final Candidate Pool as of October 18:
Amy Araucto
Rennie Araucto
Brad Bishop
Cornell Blackwell
Anna-Marie Chainus
Kurt Munson
Christina Nelson
Tim Phipps
Mark R.

Calling (Roles/Goals) of Elders among Emmaus Road
• Meet regularly to pray for church, share updates
• Shepherd congregation through visitation, prayer, listening; seek to connect with members in the margins – ill, absent, lonely, confined
• Advise and inform Road Crew
• Encourage Deacons, other leaders, along w/Pastor
• Assist Pastor in calling and appointing leaders
• Receive/release Road Crew members
• Consent to term of two years minimally

Criteria (Emmaus Road's particulars, in addition to biblical criteria):
• Member of Road Crew (no time requirement)
• Relationally connected (no Small Group membership requirement, but encouraged)
• Prayerful; student of Word
• Will not serve if married to another Elder nominee
• Not overly burdened by role as Deacon
• Meet biblical requirements: 1 Timothy 3:1-12; 5:17; Titus 1:6-9 provide a non-exhaustive list of biblical qualifications for those recognized as Elders in the church

Schedule
1. October 15: Elders finished speaking to members across districts to gather a pool of willing candidates.
2. October 18: candidate list published online and distributed Sunday morning to Road Crew; members encouraged to pray for one week.
3. October 25-November 1: Road Crew members privately communicate two nominees/choices to Pastor Likkel; email, call, write, fold ballot in white box on Sunday, etc.
4. November 2: Pastor contacts emerging candidates and discusses Eldership
5. November 15: Pastor announces church's new Elders
6. November 22 (or thereabouts): New Elders ordained/installed; previous Elders blessed and released

CHOOSING ELDERS: AN UPDATE

Twenty-six of you Road Crew members made nominations.
Just about everyone in the candidacy pool received nominations.
A smaller handful of folks did receive a majority of nominations, though, providing some clarity about who I should approach, concerning leadership and service as an elder.
I will be initiating a "first round" of discussions over the next few days.
Please pray for me, for yourselves, for God's will to be done.
Amen.

NOMINATING ELDERS

Emmaus Road installed seven Elders to help shepherd the flock in 2006.  Prior to this group's term, the Road Crew and Council updated our church's decision making process for nominating Elders.  As the two-year term has ended, four of the Elders have chosen to step down from the office: Mark Nelson, Andrew Mullenix, Juliana Pope, and Dan Ruiter (who had already served terms prior to 2006!).  We thank God for their service.

Time to pray and raise up three Elders to join the three who remain (keeping a ratio of approx. 1 Elder per 11 adults).

Calling (Roles/Goals) of Elders among Emmaus Road
• Meet regularly to pray for church, share updates
• Shepherd congregation through visitation, prayer, listening; seek to connect with members in the margins – ill, absent, lonely, confined
• Advise and inform Road Crew
• Encourage Deacons, other leaders, along w/Pastor
• Assist Pastor in calling and appointing leaders
• Receive/release Road Crew members
• For new Elders, two-year term (renewable for two consecutive terms – four years total)

Nomination/Ordination Process 2008/09

Pastor grants final approval/ordination after Road Crew nominates candidates to serve two-year terms from a pool of fellow members w/following qualifications:
• RC members of at least one year
• Active in small group
• Prayerful; student of Word
• Will not serve if married to another Elder nominee
• Not overly burdened by role as Deacon
• Ready to fulfill shepherding tasks, meet regularly w/Elders to share updates, pray
• Meet biblical requirements: 1 Timothy 3:1-12; 5:17; Titus 1:6-9 provide a non-exhaustive list of biblical qualifications for those recognized as Elders in the church

Oct 30 Road Crew honors outgoing Elders; Pastor publishes list of potential Elders (Road Crew mtg. and via email)
Nov 23 Each Road Crew member has nominated three individuals (via white box or email)
December 1 Pastor tallies nominations; speaks to candidates; narrows number down to three
January 22 Pastor ordains incoming Elders

Eligible Road Crew members
Members one or more years, active in small group, not serving as Elder within last year; not married to current Elder

Jon-Paul Benoit Aug-07
Sarah Byrd Apr-02
Ryan Engel Jun-07
Kristin Engel Jun-07
Anna-Marie Chainus Jun-02
Beth De Vries Apr-97
Biff Gaitan Jun-05
Chandra Mullenix Apr-05
Kurt Munson Jan-08
Christina Nelson Apr-02
Angie R Jan-02
Mark R Jan-02
Reba Ruiter Feb-00
Cynthia Tanis Apr-01
Dan Vos Feb-01
Jason Wood Nov-04

1. select three individuals
2. place choices in white box through November 23 or email Pastor Eric Likkel (eric@emmausroad.net)