Consistory Meetings Summary |
Summary of Business conducted at Consistory Meetings, 20 December 2006 and 10 January 2007
Consistory held a special meeting on 20 December to discuss a proposal to begin a fund raising campaign to generate money needed to purchase land with the intention of building a new church. After much deliberation, it was clear that everyone on the consistory supports moving forward to raise funds for future growth. But it was also evident that consistory felt it was not ready to take a fund raising proposal to the congregation at this time. To move this process forward, a team made up of Rick Pennings, Gary Brinkman, Evan Vanderwey, and Kevin DeYoung will work together over the next several months to vet questions relative to multi-sites for URC, a church plant, other sites for a new building, etc. Additional members from the congregation will be invited to join this team.
Consistory met on 10 January. Bob Sheehan presented a summary of URC’s Mercy Ministry/Social Action Initiative. This ministry carries out Initiative 9 of the “15 By 2010” Initiatives. Consistory members asked questions and made many comments. Bob will take these suggestions back to the Mercy Ministry/Social Action coordination team who will revise their foundational document accordingly. Consistory plans to approve the final document at its March meeting. In the meantime, consistory authorized “His Hands” (the name for this ministry) to move forward. His Hands will put up a bulletin board, put information relative to Lansing Christian Services in the bulletin, and recruit additional coordinators for the relationship between His Hands and Christian Services and with Reach.
Consistory passed a motion to create an Administrative Team who will begin their work in June 2007. This action carries out Initiative 13a. of the “15 By 2010” Initiatives. The team will be composed of the President (Pastor) or Associate Pastor, Vice President, Clerk, and one more member of the consistory. The Vice President will be the chair of the team. At least one member of the team must be a deacon. Consistory will also appoint a Treasurer who will serve as a non-voting ex officio member of the team. Effective in June 2007, the consistory will hold quarterly meetings on the second Wednesday in February, May, August, and November.
Consistory intends to fulfill Initiative 14a. of the “15 By 2010” Initiatives by asking the congregation to approve funding for an associate pastor beginning in July 2007. Funding for this position was in the 2007 Budget approved by consistory. The budget will be presented to the congregation for its approval at the congregational meeting on 26 January. Consistory intends to offer the associate pastor position to Ben Falconer upon his return to URC in July after completing his year of study at Trinity Seminary. CMOC will be searching for a successor to Ben as director of campus ministry and to Katie Middlestead as associate director of campus ministry. On behalf of the Consistory, Keith Widder will write a letter to the congregation discussing the anticipated changes in the URC ministry staff.
Gary Brinkman will form the nominations committee who will nominate candidates for the offices of elder, deacon, and deaconess.
The Diaconate will find someone to organize tri-annual GAB/Town Hall meetings. It is hoped that these gatherings will serve as a forum for communication between consistory and the congregation.
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