Renewal Team Report

Phase 1 renewal process

  • Analysis
  • Discovery Weekend
  • Report of Southeastern District Renewal (SED) Team

Suggested Action Itemsby the SED Team

Action #1 - Governance and organization – One of the barriers to growing spiritually and moving forward in mission is confusion, burnout, and frustration. The gift that God gives us to overcome this is organization and this is achieved through an effective governance model.

Action #2 - Soul accounting – To address the decline in membership, a more intentional approach to soul accounting should be undertaken. There are a variety of ways that this can be done. The bullets below are some possible suggestions.

Action #3 - Communication – Communication is critical for alleviating mistrust and confusion and for enabling the growth of mission and ministry.

Action #4 - Spiritualty – The Church is the Body of Christ and is a spiritual entity. Therefore each member taking responsible for feeding spiritually is critical to a healthy congregation. This involves both prayer and being in the Word through daily meditation and regular group Bible study.

Phase 2 renewal process

Appointment of Bethany Renewal Team

  • Pam Jay
  • Ashleigh Gunderson
  • Alba Farquhar
  • Sue McKinney
  • Dan Meyer
  • Mimi Perkins
  • Richard Perkins
  • Pastor Jagow
  • Pastor Davis
  • Kevin Carlin* recently moved to Williamsburg

Initial conclusions of the Bethany Renewal Team following review of SED report

Build on strengths/rebuild strengths

  • Preschool
  • Music

Address challenges

  • Assimilation, spiritual gifts, shepherding (what SED team referred to as “Soul Accounting”)
  • Governance & organization
  • Spiritual fulfillment – worship, bible classes, Sunday school
  • Communications – website, social media, newsletters, all PR options
  • Small group “holes” – young families, 6th grade to youth, young adults

Visioning session with SED coach Mariana Marko – October 31

Parish Planning Council & Renewal Team

Assessment of “Core Values” which capture our (Bethany’s) personality and tell our story - The congregation’s DNA

Bethany’s core values

  • Welcoming and inviting
  • Children and families
  • Celebrating Christ’s love through worship and music
  • Serving others/outreach
  • Preschool - Definitional program” at BLC

BLC’s Mission Statement (tool for leadership, not a motto)

  • Our purpose is to bring people to Jesus Christ and to nurture growth in faith and service to others.
  • Short Form: The Bethany Family: Growing in Faith and Serving Others
  • Summary:Invite, Celebrate, Grow, Serve

SWOT analysis – Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats

  • Strengths
  • Preschool
  • Core people
  • Music
  • Weaknesses
  • Stewardship – aligning requirements with resources
  • Communication
  • Opportunities
  • Spiritual formulation/growth
  • Music
  • Preschool
  • Military families
  • Threats
  • Attrition (loss of members and visitors)
  • Burnout
  • Resistance to change

Renewal team next steps

Devise specific action plans consistent with our core values and our stated mission to address each of the identified challenges (identified previously but repeated here):

  • Assimilation, spiritual gifts, shepherding (what SED team referred to as “Soul Accounting”)
  • Governance & organization - see report of Governance Review Team
  • Spiritual fulfillment – worship, bible classes, Sunday school
  • Communications – website, social media, newsletters, all PR options
  • Small group “holes” – young families, 6th grade to youth, young adults