Dear Friends,
I want to first thank all of you who’ve become part of the Visioning process. As I write this, the Vision Task Force (VTF) has just collected the first round of Congregation Feedback Forms. All this information will be extremely helpful as they move forward with their work.
The next thing you’ll receive will be a draft set of Core Values. The VTF will develop these using your feedback, their discussion and prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Once you’ve had a chance to look over this draft and offer your final suggestions, it’ll be presented to Council.
Please keep in mind that not every Core Value can be included in the final draft. The goal is to simply to define the top 5 to 7. This doesn’t mean that other values aren’t important; it just means that these are the values we hold to be most important.
The VTF will use the same sort feedback process with the Mission and Vision Statements. They’ll present you with draft statements, and once you’ve offered your final thoughts and suggestions, those statements will be presented to Council.
The Council will then weigh in with their thoughts and prayers, and then the final statements will be presented to the congregation for a vote.
As you continue to be part of this process, I want to share with you a quote from a video that the VTF has been watching. One of the things the presenter, Reggie McNeal, talks about is how we, as the church, often think from the inside out. We focus on what we’re doing and then wonder why more people aren’t joining us.
And then he says something that’s really challenging:
“So often we get caught up in thinking about ourselves, that we don’t even see whom we’re missing. Just think about all those folks we’re counting on not to be at worship on a Sunday – the police and other emergency workers, restaurant workers, and grocery store clerks.”
We’re glad that they’re there to serve us, but how ought our faith in Christ’s love compel us to serve them? I urge you to pray about that.
Praying with you,
Pastor Rob Spicer
