COUNCIL NOTES MARCH 22, 2011

7-9PM; Bedlam Coffee, Belltown: David Anema, Eric Likkel, Mark Nelson, Teresa Elenbaas, Ryan Engel, Beth DeVries, Rennie Araucto, Kurt Munson

1. Road Crew review - good meeting March 13? Seemed like good turn out; most people stayed; not a drawn out group discussion, simple presentation format; good to combine mtg. w/worship; not sure if lengthier forum type mtg. would work after Sunday worship; considering May 15; week before, redistribute “40 Days of Discernment” questions, invite people to email feedback to be read at meeting; Council recommends mtg. begins after worship and is somewhat open-ended; should have food again AND childcare

2. "40 Days of Discernment" - leading the church to engage - who/what/when/how?;beyond redistributing original email invitation to engage, Eric asked if anyone would be willing to lead 10:15 prayer time – Kurt and David willing to lead 15 minutes of prayer

3. SWOT notes - publish? Council affirms idea of “low tech” printed SWOT poster set out on Sundays, inviting people to contribute; NOTE: value will be cheapened if people don’t have specific framework – “why is this important?” Must be framed with context of “40 Days” AND seeing what COUNCIL has considered

4. Gentri-church - anything valuable to communicate to ER? Some liked article, yet detected tone of criticism toward traditional; saw some valuable description of current church approaches; NOTE: this approach radically contrasts with conventional church; article could be helpful to show Emmaus Road is part of movement; launches framework for “coop” approach; Eric to publish summary, invite others to read

5. INHABIT conference April 29/30 - Kurt, Eric, David A. so far... any others? Three of us will go

6. Sustaining Pastoral Excellence - $ for a project? Mark N. has ideas in “tech grant” ; Rennie has some film/TV ideas, too.

7. Updates

· Stewardship Team; giving still at OK level; usually drops in summer; should invite folks to keep it up through summer; Ryan asks when official vote on budget, including “austerity measures” will happen; suggestion is that we keep the May 15 Road Crew on task with gathering emiotional, spiritual feedback, then COUNCIL takes lead coming up with one or two budget proposals, and Road Crew votes @ June mtg.; Stewardship Team meeting last week of March, following early month meeting

Children's Ministry - tour of ER families; policy progress; Eric/Teresa met Friday the 18^th; Teresa shares progress report on background check policy; also updates on “Sermon Time” proposal for older kids; talked through timeline of feedback gathering; COUNCIL approves

Mission to Belltown - Pastor Eric shares six encouraging opportunities/signs:

neighbor's apartment of prayer

belltownvolunteers.org;

"Magic Wands" surveys

May20 Dr. Tech & Preacher @ Street Bean;

May29 Groundworks;

Aug2 Block Party

INHABIT conference

8.

Calendar (what's coming up); COUNCIL points out June 19 is Fathers Day, reschedule Road Crew for June 12 (Eric publish); April 12 Elders meet w/o Pastor; schedule June 14 Elders (have new Elders present by then; Beth’s last mtg); July 19 COUNCIL

Other: all-family Sunday blew past; we’ll reschedule (Eric/Rennie)

• Sunday attendance; why so low? A. UGM crowd smaller due to shift in choices for initial program members, now going elsewhere; B. though there’s been gradual decline, feels “sudden”; COUNCIL discusses adjustments to our Sunday experience, to respond to smaller crowd – several ideas floated

Food Groups; do we have healthy oversight and leadership? Biff is our NH liaison; Eric will ask Biff to oversee Food Group ministry, make sure leaders reminded; Eric update webpage to reflect changes