COUNCIL MINUTES - JANUARY 10, 2008

Present: Eric Likkel, Chandra Mullenix (recorded minutes), Andrew Mullenix, Mark Rosnick, Mark Nelson, Christina Gerrish-Nelson, Mike Colyn, David Anema


7:15 Began meeting with brief devotions, opening Prayer

• From Philippians 2, Paul espoused Timothy’s great value as a leader being his genuine love and care for God’s people; keeping that in mind helps us all carry out leadership tasks/responsibilities with God’s love as primary directive

7:20 Finances - heard from Mike Colyn and Stewardship Team
• Refered to Stewardship Team Meeting notes & printed 2008 Budget.
• currently $38,000 in the bank
• Discussed state of giving in ER; realized there is much more potential

NOTE: Eric calculated giving of the current “regular crowd” (see minutes from Stewardship Team)
• Appears to be a “small faithful core” of givers
• Congregants start to feel impact if we wait to do things until adequate funds
• Need to inspire every person regularly involved with church to give regularly
• Surprised by dispelling of the “myth of Emmaus Road’s giving potential”
• Simultaneously discouraging & empowering/enlightening; discouraging that there are “hold outs” yet encouraging that the church, at current size and makeup could handle healthy budget
• Council views non-giving as a sign that the value of regular, sacrificial giving “just hasn’t clicked,” rather than a malicious intent

NOTE: Our history of volunteers reveals a period where certain volunteers chronically neglected to show up—what worked to solve problem? Direct approach: “If you’re going to volunteer, show up; otherwise, get off the list.”
• Observation: We’re really nice… too nice, perhaps; about volunteering back then, about money still
• Q: Can we get the point across, yet remain sensitive in ways we need to be?
• Seems we continue to budget more spending than we bring in (though we consequently do not spend at budgeted level)
• Council and Road Crew growing weary of budget meetings; discouraging: choose NO MORE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR, re: church finances
• Q: Should we create budget on current or past giving?
• “A life of worship is a life of communal giving” (How do we communicate this?)

Q: How can we encourage increased giving from members who can give?
Inspiring ideas listed on Stewardship Team notes (see notes in agenda):
o Expose White Box; place up front
o Quarterly statements
o Children’s Ministry position sponsor
o Tithing testimonies—“doesn’t feel good all the time, but it is good”
o Teach how offerings are part of worship, mark of discipleship
o Regular monthly prayer at offering time with/without testimony
• All giving is giving; make “like communion”, ceremonial
• Would love to see kids regularly involved; cultivating habits

Q: Bring “inspiration” ideas to Road Crew, or choose actions as Council?
• Council decided to ask Road Crew members “How do you want to do this?” before Jan. 31st meeting

ACTION ITEM: Eric post “inspiration” ideas on blog prior to Road Crew

Q: Does Emmaus Road’s office rent really qualify as an “offering”?
• Background: at some Road Crew meeting, decision was made to view a portion of ER’s monthly rent as financial support for the smaller church plants sharing space (The House, Awake, Greenbean, etc.)
• Council discussed inviting office mates to pay their share, BUT offer $ support directly to them, allowing them to use $ for rent or whatever; a policy of “You’re paying your share; Emmaus Road will support you for $___ a year, then evaluate the need for next year
• Council acknowledged that if Emmaus Road commits to this for a year, we commit to staying at office for that time period, as opposed to feeling free to get out of it before that time is up.

ACTION ITEM: Eric discuss change in office rent shares with Cluster

Q: Should we hire a Ministry Coordinator, as budgeted?
• Eric asserts that Emmaus Road would definitely need to hire for this position, if it were not for Chandra Mullenix’s efficient volunteering; but for now, Chandra is making it possible for Emmaus Road to do without a hired MC.

Q: Do we hire Children’s Ministry Coordinator, as budgeted?
• Christina voices concern that we have “ideal” candidate now; would be tragic to lose them if we chose not to fund position
• However, Christina not feeling concerned about her own burnout
• On the other hand, it would be morale boosting for families to have solid Children’s Ministry program, with balanced leadership from Christina and a hired CMC; Christina’s role could shift back to “umbrella work” vs. teaching; she could also participate in our main worship service again


8:20 Eric presented ideas re: Spark Plugs and Glue - fostering individual relationships in Belltown (including update on Americorps position)
• Spark Plugs: Christians, the Church, being the spark of imagination, Spirit-filled vision, for neighborhood; providing energy, initiative, enthusiasm INFORMED BY FAITH, that leading people toward redemptive experience IS WORTHWHILE; this fills great need in neighborhood
• Glue: Neighbors do not talk among themselves; Christians can become the table, the water cooler, the “well,” around which positive conversation/dialogue in neighborhood can be fostered
• Ministry of intentional proximity: two guys sailing becomes more – becomes two Christians reaching out to new crowd, once strange, now familiar, in neighborhood; Strategy for Emmaus Road: to send people out to connect to a place, organization in Belltown, through individual relationships; micro-mission fields at local neighborhood level
• E.g., Eric’s relaitionship building with Joe Corsi, apartment manager of Concept One in Belltown

ACTION: Eric round up Spark Plugs and Glue folks (some from 12 Spies); cast vision; support in endeavors to traverse into Belltown


Eric presented Green Space idea - cultivating congregation to community relationships in Belltown (fifth Sunday plan)

• Background: Blue represents those inside space of church; Yellow represents those in space outside church, neighbors = blend the Blue and the Yellow in active service TOGETHER, and you get Green Space; church relating to neighbors, working together
• Idea springs from movement of Christians beginning to say “It’d be good to be part of neighborhood” by doing something WITH neighbors (as opposed to FOR neighbors, but without them).
• 5th Sunday as a church with the ‘hood participating. Abbreviated worship first
• Goals: Greenspace activity needs to be Relevant, relational, and fun/exciting!, would involve parents with kids
• In some ways, a resurrection of plan ER had 9ish years ago; but in past, church never connected with others; some members used designated Sundays as excuse to stay away

COUNCIL’S THOUGHTS:
• Someone would need to be dedicated to coordinate; big project
• Seems daunting to involve neighborhood; adapt to scale (neighbors within one or two blocks)?
• Relevant question: What’s appealing to neighbors? What’s relevant?
• Seems strategic to first find connection with “outside group”; network with P-Patch, Belltown Community Council, and/or newly emerging Belltown Covenant (?)
• Some fun ideas: Regular hockey game in the parking lot on Second Ave; NW microbrew testing, Music Fest ☺; not necessarily Greenspace in terms of service projects, but definitely fun ways that might foster community in Belltown

ACTION: Eric network/research 5th Sunday Greenspace options; briefly present idea at Road Crew, but no plan for scheduling yet

Eric presented Belltown Covenant story:
• Invited to discussion by David Coffee of Recovery Café; David then learned of Eric’s idea for Belltown ministerial group; David invited Eric to join conversation with other Belltown people of faith around same idea; group met throughout fall months
• December: group decided to put bigger invitation together, called Belltown Covenant
• Important factor: Belltown Covenant not ever going to be a group which speaks for one another, or unanimously; retain diversity, independence, theological convictions, etc.
• But driven by missional thrust: What an we do together for purpose of neighbors?
• MHGS & NHM on board; ER currently only church involved; Ideally will include all area (Belltown) churches
• First meeting January 30 at New Horizons

8:50 Council closed meeting with prayer; shuffled over to Pig’n’Whistle