Apr 15 2008
Congregational Meeting scheduled for April 27 at 11:15
Items for the April 27th Congregational Meeting (after worship)
This meeting is for discussion and feedback. No definitive decisions will be made.
1. Music Explorer Team
Pastors, Music Directors, and people engaged with music in general in and around Madison and nationwide have responded to our e-mails with a wealth of information about their music programs, their underlying purpose, range of offerings, challenges and rewards. We see our purpose as exploring more avenues for everyone to experience God’s grace through music. To this end, we look forward to feedback on our recommendation of a three-fold enhancement of our current music program. At this point, our recommendation is that ORUCC 1) launch a vibrant children’s program; 2) support and grow our current program, and 3) more fully incorporate the musical talents, and those who would like to be involved musically, into creating music at ORUCC. We are beginning to define specific ways to do each of these things, and welcome the input of the ORUCC congregation in our discussions. (Karen Falkner, Ruthanne Landsness – co chairs)
3. Spirituality Explorer Team
The Spirituality Explorer Team is looking forward to having the chance to share its current thinking with the congregation on April 27. The graphic shows some of the complexity that we’re trying to consider as we do our work:
• that our recommendations need to hold promise for both individuals and groups,
• that we address areas that include worship, reflection, learning experiences, and spiritual experiences outside of worship, and
• that we actively factor in the impact that space — both in and around our church building– has on those experiences.
We have had three meetings, and each of our 10 members has been diligently exploring the different aspects we’ve identified. We’ll be happy to share more when we gather on the 27th. (Rich Hamman, Barb Hummel –co chairs)
Graphic illustration from the Spirituality Explorer Team
Leadership Team Staff Proposal
We will be presenting a two-fold proposal for permanent staffing for the congregation’s input.
1. We call a ½ time Associate Pastor for Congregational Ministry (see below)
2. We commit to a ½ FTE in the area of muisc, the specifics to be determined.
This proposal does call for the equivalent of one full time position in addition to the current Senior and Associate Pastor positions. While it is an increase in staff time, it is not much more than our current staff size if all three paid musicians are included.
1. Proposed Associate Pastor for Congregational Ministry
Our strength – We attract people who see “loving our neighbor as ourselves” as the cornerstone of their personal faith. We have a strong, if informal, network of care.
Our need –this area of our church needs greater coordination in order to reach out beyond our current informal modes, and to address decreasing volunteer time on the part of members. We have a need to develop our ability to engage new and less active members in the life of the church – for their own faith development and sense of connection.
The person called will focus on the following:
• Coordination of volunteers and development of “member gifts”. Using organizational and programatic methods, this position will help us deepen a sense of vocation in our daily lives, utilize our many gifts in service to the church more creatively, integrate and develop new member involvement. This position would become a hub for helping members/friends engage in ministry within and outside the congregation. This coordination will allow for the most effective and efficient use of our human resources.
• Member care. This position would help us expand and organize our current member care (Pastoral Partners, Meal Ministry, Prayer Network, etc) and expand it all transitions and stages of life. This will be accomplished through small groups, fellowship opportunities, lay training, etc.
• Creative adult faith formation (shared with Senior Pastor). This position will develop small group opportunities, and “multi-disciplinary” approaches to spiritual formation (service learning, environmental spirituality, inter-generational activities).
2. Music
Conversations throughout the Next Generation Initiative have confirmed the desire for increased staffing in music. Currently, we have three paid musicians (Vicki Nonn, Bruce Gladstone, Vance Nelson). The future shape of our staffing is under consideration by the Music Explorer Team and the Leadership Team. At this time, we feel that it is important to identify this need, commit resources to it, and build on our rich musical history at ORUCC. As significant discussion and idea sharing continues through the spring and early summer, the Leadership Team will propose a continuing interim plan, a permanent plan, or some combination thereof.
