Conversations

I want to update you on some conversations that I have been involved in with my Dad, Randall, and Bill Weber (visiting the Brooks). The nuts and bolts of it is this: I think that everyone is looking for some more formalized steps to be taken. Bill mentioned that he would like a report about the church plant--its status and plans--for the SPCF meeting in February. (Side note--who is going to be able to make that meeting? It will most likely be in Cincinnati). My Dad (a Shore elder) mentioned that the eldership has not been formally invited to partner with the plant. He said they knew about it, but they had not discussed anything as a group yet. I explained that we were holding back for a little while at Reuben's request, but Dad said that this plant ought to be introduced sooner so that it can feature in the strategic planning of Shore for 07. I also made a request to Bill that perhaps SPCF be able to write up something specific for our church plant team as to our responsibilities and expectations as an SCPF team. We all agreed that a better understanding of roles--both within SPCF and with their relationship to us--is important.
So, in light of all this, I think I need to do a few things. Firstly, I am going to send an email to Dick Crabtree, asking him to formulate with the board in February an outline of responsibilities we have to the board and expectations we can have of them. Secondly, I am going to draft up an official kind of invitation to Shore, explaining what we are doing as a plant team and inviting them to partner with us in it. Having those formalities aside will pave the way to some more productive discussions of what the plant will look like and who will have what kind of authority in it. I will send the draft to you guys so that you can put you input into it before I send it on to the church. I will also talk to Reuben about it to let him know what's going on. Thirdly, I will put together a kind of statement about the church plant for the meeting in February. If you guys can send me some individual reports to put in, that would be really helpful. Just a little on how fundraising is going and so forth.
Well, I think that is enough for one blog! Enjoy the holidays!