“Doing for the
community, not simply for the church and the church’s survival; rather,
witnessing for the community itself.”
Shelley Fields (Team Leader), Pastor Lee Brumback, Jerry Folks, Liv Hauge, Esther Johnson, Isiah Johnson, Hank Jud, Melinda Jud, Pastor Carol Kniseley, Pastor Jim Kniseley, Russ Martin, Pastor Lucille Mills (via speaker phone), Bill Smith.
Old Business
Potential Partnerships with Rejoice. Resurrection in Fredericksburg has agreed to contribute $100 per month to Rejoice, along with pulpit exchange. Our Saviour in Warrenton will vote on a proposal to contribute a month’s rent ($3,000) at its annual meeting next month. Pastor Jim Kniseley will contact the pastor of Christ in Fredericksburg about possible partnership. (Additionally, Lutheran Men in Mission supports new starts, and has Rejoice on its list.)
In the interest of a possible partnership, Bill Smith, of St. Peter’s in Stafford, has familiarized his council with the role of our team in the synod, and our vision for Rejoice in the Chesapeake region. We were delighted to welcome two members of his council, Jerry Folks and Russ Martin, to our meeting!
Note: Pastor
Gunsten has emphasized that assistance
to Rejoice should take the form of partnerships in ministry, rather than
mere payments toward rent. (In regard to
new mission starts, the synod is determined to have “no more parachute models”
– i.e., no more dropping a new start in a location without partnerships and
mutual ministries.) All of us should consider pulpit exchange, and other avenues for deepening our relationship with
Rejoice.
Rejoice Report. Pastor Mills reported that Rejoice needs the architect’s design in order to get approval for the buildout of the new office park location. (Installing signage is contingent upon this approval.) However, they should get the design by Oct. 20, 2008, and then the caterer who is co-tenant of the building will begin to oversee the buildout. Thrivent Helping Hands will assist with the actual move, targeted for December – though it could take place in January.
Rejoice’s October 15, 2008 Ministry Review (attended by team members Shelley Fields, Hank Jud, and Melinda Jud). The review was not considered official, since the congregation is not yet in its new space. The focus was on ways in which the Synod and the Church-Wide organization could be helpful. Discussion focussed on Rejoice’s preparation for getting into the new space; once in, its need for a methodology for service to the community; its need to provide the Synod (and the AAOT) with a definition of the help needed; its participation in a new survey that will assist in recognizing things that others (visitors) will notice; and how it will continue to work toward being a multicultural congregation.
Region Nine
Strategy Session. At the time of
this meeting, the conference was to be in early 2009; however, by mid-November,
the new dates were December 4-5, 2008. Shelley
Fields, Pastor Gunsten, Pastor Mills, and Hank and Melinda Jud represented our
Synod.
St. Peter’s, Stafford, Council Members’ Report. Jerry Folks and Russ Martin, of St. Peter’s in Stafford, VA, accompanied Bill Smith to the meeting. They reported on St. Peter’s efforts over the last six months to develop long-range plans for outreach and social action. We were delighted to have their very insightful participation in our meeting!
Miscellaneous
·
Other
Denominations’ Anti-Racism/Multicultural Efforts – The Episcopalian Diocese
of Southern Virginia has not responded to our requests to share ideas and
insights. Melinda Jud will contact Eric Merehing for names of other possible
contacts.
·
Status of
Team Web Site – Hank Jud is nearly ready to send our home page to Deb
Worley at the Synod Office so that it can be hosted from the Synod site. Our team will then have direct control of
updates, via Hank (vs. going through Eric Carlson, who maintained our page on
Resurrection Lutheran’s site).
·
Team
Banner – Shelley Fields has contacted Vicki Divilbus, a liturgical textiles
artist, who can create a banner for $600 to $1000, depending upon size and
other characteristics. (See www.celebrationart.net for
samples.) She will look at our web page
for ideas, and will then send pictures of potential designs. Once the design and cost are known, Pastor
Jim Kniseley will check with the Synod Council about possible funding. We would like to have the banner in time for
display at the 2009 Synod Assembly.
New Business
Multicultural Outreach Task Force. TBA, at our next meeting.
Report on Convocation of Synod Committees. At the convocation, Shelley Fields received an invitation on behalf of our team to present to the Worship and Missions Team of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, in Richmond, VA. The latter is particularly interested in ideas for approaching the Black community. Shelley and Hank and Melinda Jud will participate in the presentation on a January date yet to be determined.
Who We Are, Our Calling, Our Name. We engaged in a searching discussion acknowledging the limitations of words to accurately and fairly identify various African American/African Descent/African/Black/ ethnicities. Pastor Mills underscored the need to use terminology, however limited, in order to indicate our intentionality in outreach to these communities. We continue the conversation – and our efforts to faithfully communicate the strategic importance of all identities (including European – as merely another ethnic identity) to the Body of Christ.
Future Goals
·
Team
Input to 2020 Vision – We need to define this – with special emphasis on
how to avoid overemphasizing numerical measurements. (An Anti-Racism Academy?)
·
Youth
Involvement – Include a Youth role in our Multicultural Outreach Task
Force.
·
Publicity
Opportunities – Defer until our Multicultural Outreach Task Force is
mobilized.
·
Interest
Form – Should indicate levels of interest (Receive Info, Team Membership,
etc.)
Next Meeting Date
Sunday, January 11, 2009, Fredericksburg, VA (precise
location to be announced).
Action Items
1. After defining its needs for the Synod, Rejoice will provide a copy to the AAOT.
2. Tim Waltonen, Carol Hargro, and Bonnie Mantta will further develop plans for the Multicultural Outreach Initiative.
3. Melinda Jud will check with Eric Merehing for information about who to contact in other denominations regarding anti-racism/multicultural outreach efforts they are making.
4. Shelley Fields and Melinda and Hank Jud will meet with the Worship and Missions Team of the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, in Richmond, on a January date to be defined.