“Doing for the community, not simply for the church and the
church’s survival; rather, witnessing for the community itself.”
Attendees: Pastor Lee Brumback, Hank Jud, Melinda Jud, Pastor Carol Kniseley,
Pastor Jim Kniseley, Pastor CeCee Mills.
Opening
Pastor Mills opened with prayer. Pastors Carol and Jim Kniseley shared
information with Pastor Mills about the helpfulness of a Thrivent supplementary
disability insurance policy in the event that the latter has to cut back to
half-time.
Old/Continuing Business
Rejoice Report
Pastor Mills reported progress on four action items
from Rejoice’s January 16, 2011 ministry review:
·
Train for community ministry – Pastor Tray Smith is coming at the end of February with two
assistants to train members of the congregation in community ministry. In preparation, Rejoice’s leadership team has
created a business plan and identified the five leaders for the project.
·
Identify partnerships with
existing community organizations – Rejoice
representatives have visited Dominion Village (an eldercare/assisted living
community), which is excited about Pastor Mills conducting services. Rejoice’s pianist is aware of five other
elder communities that might partner with Rejoice. Discussion with the Alzheimer’s Association
is already under way.
·
Seek assistance from
Conference churches; Seek churches to share space
– Ralph Barrett attended the Tidewater Conference pastors’ meeting, though only
four pastors were there. He is preparing
a sheet for next time. (However, Pastor
Mills and Melinda Jud are also on the agenda for next time.) Next Rejoice will check on area non-Lutheran
churches that might want to use its space.
Pastor Kniseley suggested contacting the Baptist Association.
·
Negotiate with the landlord --The landlord just had surgery, but will be available next week. (Note:
Since this time, the landlord has agreed to accept Rejoice’s $12K invested
in the build-out against the rent, and also to decrease the rent. He is working with them.)
In addition, Rejoice has acquired a new mission
partner (St. Paul’s).
Response to Team Letter to Bishop Mauney
·
We are invited to present at the Ministerium, to be
held October 11-12, 2011, at Virginia Beach.
·
Pastor CeCee and Melinda Jud will give a
presentation tied to our input to the 20/20 Vision Goals -- asking the pastors
“What can you do to help?”, inviting them to “Come to our meeting,” and
offering to present at their churches.
They can also be asked to become partners with Rejoice.
·
Team members should attend, to participate in the
small group discussions that follow. Our
team will contribute questions to be addressed in the small groups.
Response to Team Letter to the Synod Council
Our input to the 20/20 Vision Goals has been
accepted, with one very small change:
“20% growth in minority candidates actively
recruited to take calls in areas of demographic change” has been changed to “20
minority persons actively encouraged to discern their vocational call, which
may be to rostered service as a Pastor, Associate in Ministry, or Diaconal
Minister.”
The reason for the change is that at this time the
Synod averages less than 10 candidates entranced per year. Our team’s original proposal would suggest tripling
this number, with two thirds being minority, which risks sounding preposterous.
New Business
Fredericksburg Area Lutheran Revival, October 2011
Representatives from Resurrection
Lutheran (Fredericksburg), Our Saviour (Warrenton), St. Peter’s (Stafford), and
Christ (Fredericksburg) will attend a planning meeting at Resurrection on
February 20, 2011, 3:00 P.M.
2011 Synod Assembly
·
The theme of the Assembly is evangelism (something
like “Ambassadors for Christ: Telling the Story, Sharing the Faith”). Pastor CeCee will moderate a team lunchtime
workshop entitled “Telling the Story through Lutheran Revival.” The workshop will open with an overview of
ELCA Lutheran Revival.
·
Members of four Virginia Synod churches
who participated in the 2010 Hampton Roads Lutheran Revival (including
AAOT members) will then take part in a panel discussion about their
experience of that event.
·
They will be joined by members of three to four
churches (including AAOT members) currently at
work on the planning team for a 2011 Fredericksburg area Lutheran
Revival. Topics will include tailoring of the revival concept to the
community, and the experience of renewal during the planning process itself.
Dates
Fredericksburg, Revival Planning Meeting – Sunday,
March 20, 2011, 2:30 P.M.
Team Meeting – Sunday, May 15, 2011,
Resurrection in Fredericksburg, 3 P.M.
Closing - Pastor Brumback closed
with prayer.