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.

EMMAUS ROAD'S FUTURE; BEYOND 40 DAYS

Over "40 Days" we asked God to guide us; we took time to listen; we gathered to speak. May 15 Road Crew notes have been posted online already; May 24 Council notes are also online. Council agreed that the Road Crew meeting was positive; the church was affirmed; ministry was celebrated; we seem enthusiastic about continuing; people did not suggest too many specifics. What has emerged, then, in terms of Emmaus Road's future? God does not often hand out specifics, yet he does guide us into the paradox of sacrifice and abundance, feeding, growing, and multiplying us as his people. He also gives us signs, pointing us toward him. He assures us he is building us up, individually, and as a church. As we cooperate, in faith, he leads us forward. Here are nine themes - nine signs - which DID emerge out of this recent period of prayer, learning, and dialogue. Eight of these were brought by the Pastor; one was suggested by Council:

Rooted/Linked (see video)

Visibility

Evangelism Beyond Sunday

Dads/Dudes multiplied

Parenting Beyond Sunday

Church Big vs. Big Church

$ Discipline

Deacons - more

Get To versus Have To

What these mean, in terms of specific actions in time and place, is our next challenge to discern. I hope you share the urgency and excitement I have, about Emmaus Road's next steps. June 12 is our next scheduled opportunity to hear more about these signs, these themes, and figure out summer and fall plans. Consider these signs/themes as pieces of vision God is giving us.

ROAD CREW MINUTES MAY 15, 2011

12:00 PM Pastor greeted everyone;

· restated goal of mtg; to hear from one another following a “40 Day” period of prayer and reflection, asking God to guide Emmaus Road forward; taking notes on what is shared into Council/Elder mtgs prior to June 12 Road Crew “business” mtg.

· read Emmaus Road’s Name/Story, Motto, and statement of Call/Mission – “Emmaus Road in Belltown; Emmaus Road around the Sound”

People invited to share:

· Eric began: shared story of “Totcho’s” involving Mark/Angie and neighbors @ Greenwood Artwalk

· Suellen shared inspiration garnered from loving acts of fellow members painting their house

· Kurt shared story of Sacramento church that had faded, then come back to life, growth, based on testimony of women attending INHABIT conference recently

· Mark N. shared how unique Emmaus Road is, in terms of “fit” for certain people, including himself, coming from a non-active church life previously

· Erin testified that since belonging to Emmaus Road, she is feeling more solid in faith, more able to share faith and find people faith around her at work

· Rennie/Amy shared story of their own journey through complacency, coming to realization that issues connecting/relating to church had less to do with church, more to do with their own lifestyle/efforts; once they chose to re-engage, belonging to church felt different, good again

· Andrew/Chandra shared how begin part of Emmaus Road, then New Horizons, eventually led to foster parenting pursuits; realized strength of church community essential to personal support as future parents

· Cornell feels pressure to work Sundays; resisting because cannot imagine losing this crucial relationship with spiritual family, and identifies the pressure as part of a spiritual conflict

· Anna-Marie encouraged by prayers of church; has impacted work, school

· AM also looks forward to sharing ministry w/other congregations; shared testimony, stories, would strengthen all

· Mike E. shared how fears around future of children’s ministries abated as he considered the strength of multi-congregational approaches

· Mike also shared that he knows he could be more transparent about his church family w/those outside Emmaus Road

· Beth affirms Parenting Beyond Sunday as a prime responsibility; church’s collective efforts to nurture children must happen in concert with parents’ own initiatives; there is a unique witness kids receive in fellowship of church, special relationships with diverse crowd they would be less likely to know outside church

· Beth also affirmed promotion of Emmaus Road versus isolation; AND cultivating value of each of us putting our $ where our mouth is to continue sharing ministry together

· Mark N. echoed Beth; stated how important it is not to kick the $ down the road, to pursue change now, not at moment of crisis

· Mark N. believes that exposure to the fellowship of diversity that is Emmaus Road is THE program that is most important for children of church to experience

· Suellen testified to the truth and mystery of divine supply; faith is required, leaning on God’s provision without seeing it all, moving as Spirit leads in shared ministry of obedience, sacrifice, risk, trusting God will give what is needed to continue forward

· Tracey reflected on meaning of how Christ gives, not as world gives; there is a balance achieved, real peace, when perceptions of needs and actual provisions meet; sometimes it is more one than the other, but it is not the natural, worldly way, of only focusing on provision, not dealing with perception

· Alicia testified to the love evidenced in Emmaus Road

· Alicia also testified to how God has provided spiritual strength, ability, power, to follow through in difficult ministry scenarios, she would have previously avoided before being part of Emmaus Road

· Angie emphasized the need to be engaged with one another; to grow spiritually, one must belong to communicative, intentionally encouraging, gently pushing community; e.g. prayer for each of us is strengthened when we pray together communally

· Eric challenged everyone to come fifteen minutes earlier Sunday mornings to facilitate praying together more than we do during our typical hour of worship liturgy

1:15 PM DISMISSAL

All held hands in prayer; shared primarily prayers of thanksgiving and praise.

ELDER NOMINATION: APRIL 25 - JUNE 12

Beth DeVries has more than fulfilled her term as elder and is stepping back from the role in the very near future. This follows the term fulfillment and/or departure of two other elders over the last year, leaving us with three continuing: Rennie Araucto, Kurt Munson, and David Anema. Therefore, it is time for us to identify two members of our body to serve as elders.

Schedule

April 25-May 14 - Elders speak to members and gather list of willing candidates

May 15 - publish finalized "nominee pool" online and during Road Crew meeting; church encouraged to pray and begin submitting nominations May 29; Road Crew members privately communicate two nominees/choices to Pastor Likkel; email, call, write, fold ballot in white box on Sunday, etc.

June 5 - final Sunday to submit nominations; Pastor contacts emerging candidates to discuss serving as elder

June 12 - officially welcome and "install" two elders (who would minimally serve through June 2013)

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 (in addition to biblical criteria, Emmaus Road's contextual particulars):
• 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

ROAD CREW MARCH 13 NOTES

On a rainy Spring Forward Sunday morning, having lost an hour of sleep, AND contending with green St. Pat's Day Dashers filling up the street parking, we still had a pretty decent turnout! It shall be remembered as our 1st Annual Lenten Road Crew Lunch. Jeff and Suellen Yerger crafted a delicious array of soups and breads, all prepared at home. We began our meeting officially welcoming Lara Fullner-Grennan and Erin Fullner into the Road Crew. The remainder of the meeting consisted of a 20 minute presentation: Pastor Eric Likkel's "state of the church" address, sharing joys and sorrows, and an invitation to engage in "40 Days of Discernment" together; Mike Elenbaas offered an update on Emmaus Road's finances; charts online. We concluded with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday and enjoyed FOUR birthday cakes for Cornell (thank you, bakers). There were no votes or decisions called for, but a passionate plea to engage in prayer, consult with one another, interact with the Pastor and Council, and return to share what the Lord places on your heart - May 15. Big decisions will be made together - June 19.

"40 DAYS" OF DISCERNMENT

Emmaus Road, we are in one of those seasons, asking God to give us specific guidance as a church. What is most important to God, for this body? How does he want us to grow and change? Accept the invitation to join in "40 DAYS" OF DISCERNMENT. This is an intentional period of prayer and deliberation as we prepare to make some big decisions together in a few months. It is not literally a forty day process - it is a little longer - but since it is launched the first Sunday of Lent, it is handy to think of it following the church calendar. Here is what you are being asked to do:

Pray

• confess your hopes, dreams, and fears about Emmaus Road to God; listen for his response
• ask God to reveal his will AND show us the resources to carry it out

Join the SWOT conversation online (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats); respond to the blog entries from January and February or email Pastor Likkel.

Share your perceptions with the Pastor, Elders, and/or Deacons

In your Small Group discussions, talk about how the process is going, especially around the end of April and beginning of May.

Follow-up:

May 15 Road Crew; sharing testimony from the "40 DAYS"

June 19 (or 23) Road Crew; vote on Council proposals; install two new Elders

FYI, Council Calendar is online: 3/22 Elders&Deacons; 4/12 Elders; 5/10 Elders&Deacons