Congregational Growth Ministry Team minutes
Last meeting: Jan. 13, 2009
Attendees:
Gary Akgulian
Rich Flamang
Bob Heil
Shannon Howard
Lance Schmidt
Jen Wageman
Staff:
Pastor Dismer
Jan Sommerfeld
Guests:
Chris Allen
Kevin Hash
Linda Hash
Excused:
Collin Goldschmidt
Dale Hershfield
Welcome: The team
welcomed Chris Allen, who was invited as a possible new team member and Linda
Hash and her son, Kevin, who attended the meeting to earn a confirmation
spiritual gifts credit.
Items that may require Council action: None
Items that may require budget/finance coordination: None
Important items of information:
Welcome team update:
This is a work in progress that is awaiting final budget information. The team
discussed a suggestion by Jenell Barth regarding the placement of member and
guest information in conjunction with our future welcome center. She suggested
that an information and visitor center area could be created in the office with
minimal expenses utilizing the two bulletin boards in the upstairs hallway and
purchasing tables for sign-up activities. The information currently posted on
kiosks in the Gathering Area would be posted in the information and visitor
center area. While the team favored the concept of having all information one
place, it might be difficult to get people – especially visitors – to go to the
out-of-the-way office area. However, the general consensus was that this idea
warrants merit and consideration for 2009.
2012 strategic vision/tracking membership growth: The team reviewed figures that were received in some the
following categories to measure the church’s growth and track trends
semi-annually over the next four years in order to meet the goal of a 5 percent
annual increase in members and program participation set by the Council in its
2012 strategic vision:
1.
New members
registered in New Member Sessions
2.
Simply Giving
participants
3.
Sunday School
students
4.
Confirmation
students
5.
Transfers/deaths
6.
Inactive
members
7.
Worship
attendance
8.
Adult
education classes attendance
9.
Members who
complete Time & Talent forms
10.
Members who
serve at FELC – or in the community – but don’t complete a formal Time &
Talent form
The team agreed that
in order to achieve our goal of 5 percent increase in members and program
participation, it will be crucial to find ways for members to connect with each
other and to the community. Discussion followed.
2009 goals: The
team reviewed details of this year’s task forces. Bob entered a brief synopsis
of each task force in a new “Goals, Planning and Reporting Worksheet” that was
given to each ministry team in order to help ministry teams accomplish their
goals.
2009 team
roster: The 3-year terms of
the following members end in February: Gary Akgulian, Bob Heil and Lance
Schmidt. Team members were asked to invite folks who may want to join the
Growth Ministry Team to the Feb. 10 meeting.
Submitted by:
Jan Sommerfeld