Summary of Mission Council Input Session

The Mission Council hosted a constituency input session on Wednesday, July 13.
Among the strengths of the Mission Council identified by those present was the Council's routine practice of engaging in a deliberate process of discernment when facing complex issues.  They have considered all sides to an issue, managed strong feelings and made a decision for the benefit of the community as a whole, recognizing that sometimes that might be different from individual preferences.  They also celebrated the partnership based on care and respect that is enjoyed between staff and council.

In considering idea for improvement, the group identified several major areas.

• Increasing accountability to the congregation by developing intentional relationships with various ministry areas and finding new ways to communicate regularly with the community about Mission Council activities and concerns.
• Seeking community input through focus groups or other strategies to help the council keep aware of community interests and perceptions.
• Notice and celebrate accomplishments
• Increase the number of Council initiatives
• Update organizational structures so that people know who is on the council and how the council relates to various ministry entities.

There was good discussion about ways that staff and council might develop new ways of working together that allow the council to take on more responsibilities for strategic leadership.

Considering the possibilities that might emerge from this Re-visioning process, the council recognized a desire for some training/development that would enable members to assume the important role of leading the community through creating the next phase of ministry at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.




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Transition Update - July 2011

Revisioning, Transition, Living into God’s Future for Us.   We’ve given a variety of names to this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months. 

River and Garden, Shift, Ministry Assessments, Constituency Meetings.  We’ve used a variety of tools to help us on this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months. 

When are we getting a new pastor? Why is it taking so long? Why do we have to think about it?  We’ve asked a lot of questions on this journey we’ve been on the last 12 months.

On the first Sunday of July, 2010, Trinity found itself facing a complex set of changes: 

• A beloved and respected pastor had just retired. 
• Years of faithful prayer, coaching, and work had radically and rapidly expanded our ministry. 
• Our second site was 10 months old. 
• The “pastoral care team” concept was just beginning to catch hold. 
• We were in a time of deep financial challenge. 

The question on that first Sunday of July, 2010 was, “What do we do now?” 

The answer was, “be faithful, be prayerful, be patient, be thoughtful, be creative, be smart.” 

On the first Sunday of July, 2011 it is safe to say that we have come a long, long way to better understanding our ministries, our systems, our challenges, our opportunities, and our needs. All of our major ministries have gone through a process of defining their mission, assessing their work, and listening carefully to those who support them and those they serve. Each group has identified the barriers they face and the hopes that shape their futures. Each group is now working to identify steps to take to move beyond the barriers and into the future.  (See other posts to check out their work.)

Among the next steps, as we move into late summer, will be opportunities for “big picture” conversation for the whole congregation. We are also beginning to shape a vision for staffing at Trinity-Lynnwood and Pointe of Grace. In the last ten years we’ve grown substantially in the number of members, the number at worship, the number of people engaged in and served by Trinity’s ministries. During that same period, staffing has declined. One thing we know already is that simply replacing a pastor is an inadequate answer to Trinity’s real needs. Click here to find a recently developed chart that leadership is using to help identify specific areas of need.

We are grateful for the congregation's willingness to take a good look at itself as it moves into God's future.  Our commitment to not settling for a "knee-jerk" response to our needs will pay off in a healthier congregation and in stronger ministries and presence in our communities.

Blessings, 

Trinity’s Staff and Council

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Faith Formation Constituency Input Summary

Approximately 20 people gathered on June 29 to contribute their feedback and ideas about Faith Formation at Trinity/Pointe of Grace.

The Faith Formation purpose is to make space for all ages to discover and assumetheir unique roles in partnership with God.

The group enjoyed sharing stories of how they witnessed youth prepared to provide faith-grounded leadership in crisis situations, how children and youth feel safe and welcomed in their programs, how a young person remains steadfast in the face of challenges to his faith, and how differing ideas were respectfully shared in adult Bible Studies.  These stories revealed the importance of relationships, safe space, involvement of all ages, listening to and respecting each other and being equipped in faith as contributors to our Faith Formation ministries.

Many ideas for improvement were generated.  Some of the most emphasized ideas included (1) Increasing opportunities for study and learning by all ages; (2) increasing the amount of adult involvement with children in youth, since direct relationship is so important; (3) more church-wide social activities; (4) non-traditional worship and learning opportunities; and (5) consistent learning themes througout various church programs. 

An equally wide array of thoughts emerged about new opportunities that might be pursued.  Some of them included (1) A strong leadership/mentoring training program to help people live into their God-given call; (2) Student-led worship; (3) Continued involvment in Jeremiah Center ministry; and (4) More service opportunities for all ages.

Looking at the challenge of overtaxed and insufficient staff and volunteers, the group suggested having a volunteer coordinator that would help people find where they fit, setting acheivable priorities and making sure that everyone knows what is currently available.  Recognizing that families are overwhelmed and often over-booked, the group suggested modeling making "space" as an effort to be intentionally counter-cultural.  They also talked about the changing expectations in the church culture from the idea of staff doing everything to lay people taking more and more responsibility.  They suggested it is important to recognize and affirm one another in this process, keep conversations and relationships going, continue to raise awareness of this shift, and provide eduction and experience of the new things we are stepping into.

Discussion wrapped up with the group celebrating the great foundation that has been laid and recognizing that we are looking to grow and build on that foundation.

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Worship Committee Input Session Summary

The Worship Committee held its constituency input session on Monday, June 27.  The committee's purpose is to create a system of opportunty for people to use their individual gifts so that the worshipping community can encounter GOD!!
The group identified numerous factors that contribute to the quality of worship, some of which included planning and preparation, good preaching, great music, decoration, variety, lay participation, a consistent message that all are welcome and meaningful moments of ritual.

Ideas for improvement of what is currently being done centered around (1) offering more opportunities for expression of people's creativity in planning and leading worship; (2) exploring non-Sunday worship options to expand outreach; (3) experiment with a variety of different worship forms and times to see which ones generate sustained commitment; (4) include explanatory notes in worship bulletin to help us better understand the meaning of worship elements.

Discusison on important opportunities to consider focused on imagining ideas about how to create more opportunities for lay involvement in creative planning and conducting of worship.  The committee recognized that a significant amount of their work has been directed toward managing the details of worship services and wants to explore the possibility of re-organizing how it functions in order to expand the lay role in generating creative input and content for worship experiences.

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