Present: Pastor Eric Likkel, Deacon Dan Ruiter, Elder Biff Gaitan, Treasurer Mike Colyn, Elder Beth DeVries, Deacon Sarah Groen-Colyn, Elder Suellen Yerger, Elder David Anema, Elder/Deacon Ben Lappenga; guests Mattheus and Pieter Colyn
Absent: Elder Chandra Mullenix, Deacon Mark Nelson
Pastor Likkel convened meeting pretty close to 7PM, gave overview of agenda, opened with prayer.
Distributed lists, one including all Small Group Leaders and Members, and another including all the people regularly participating in worship and/or small groups. Also included a breakdown of singles versus families.
As first item on agenda, Pastor presented a list of Joys and Sorrows.
Council gave much time to second item on agenda: Leading Emmaus Road as an Effective Council.
Agreed on some improvements toward effectiveness:
- Communicating Leadership Roles more clearly; currently, confusion reigns among the Emmaus Road crowd, as to who, what leaders are and do; this causes Pastor Likkel to bear an inordinate amount of responsibility and creates bottle necks; slides worked; post-worship prayer led by Elders worked;
- Council also discussed creation of Council "offices" filled by Elders/Deacons to carry out specific tasks, including scheduling meetings, gathering Council members, compiling the agenda with Council input, co-leading Road Crew, taking on Sunday announcements and greetings; expanded job descriptions of Council could be published to help congregation discern how and with whom to communicate; this is addressing, or realizing, part of what it means to be the "priesthood of all believers" the Apostle Paul writes about.
- Council also acknowledged tensions within Emmaus Road, between those favoring a "congregational" model, or style, of governing (everyone votes on everything), versus a hierarchical model (one person in charge; others take orders and carry out). Emmaus Road is neither; Reformed polity is often based on "Presbyterian" Elder led system(s).
- Advantages of a clearly communicated leadership/governance structure: demonstrates maturity, stability.
- Decision was made to create offices and nominate officers: President (set agenda for next meeting at end of each meeting; gather Council members via phone, email, etc.), Vice President (carry on in absence of President, and assist President), and Secretary (minutes, archives, distribution), will be from among the Elders, but elected by both fellow Elders and Deacons. Treasurer would be a Deacon. Didn't elect officers yet; will do so at April meeting.
- Council wondered if Cynthia Tanis is a Deacon, as Worship Support Team leader; Beth DeVries to ask Cynthia to update Leadership Board with photos of new Elders and Council roles.
- Council decided to schedule more meetings for remainder of year than the ones which lay ahead (April, July).
Council discussed third item on agenda: Was the "Missing Tuba Player" addressed at recent January Road Crew?
- format was popular (telling allegorical story; dividing Road Crew into smaller discussion groups around tables).
- meeting lacked closure, "takeaway", next steps; suggestion: Council could "capture" Road Crew's "heart," "themes" from discussions; promise Road Crew that they will deliberate and lead
- One theme related to Road Crew meeting: Emmaus Road's size, growth potential; this led to a discussion about Emmaus Road's worship location, New Horizons, and how its physical limitations might hinder the church's growth/size; Biff was appointed a liaison to New Horizons in the area of the "face lift" they would like to accomplish (probably talking to NH's Jon James); such would expand the physical space Emmaus Road uses for worship
Pastor finished by quickly presenting several Strategic Events for Strengthening Bonds, and Building Bridges.
Dr. Groen-Colyn closed the meeting with prayer.
SOME ITEMS FOR NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA:
Election of President, Vice President and Secretary
Schedule additional Council Meeting(s) between current April and July meetings.
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