NOVEMBER 1 ELDERS AGENDA

7pm; Belltown

1. Check-in
2. Word & Prayer
3. District Updates
4. Set Road Crew Agenda November 13
5. 9 Roots/Branches: next steps, fan out

COUNCIL NOTES - OCTOBER 4, 2011

SUMMARY OF COUNCIL MEETING NOTES Tuesday, October 4, 2011

7-9PM Bedlam Coffee

Present: Teresa Elenbaas, Eric Likkel, Biff Gaitan, David Anema, Rennie Araucto, Kristen VanderLinden, Mark Nelson, Cornell Blackwell

Escused: Mike Elenbaas, Kurt Munson, Ryan Engel

Check-in

- 10/9 Simon Cunningham; 10/23 Matt Wolfe; 10/30 Groundworks

Opening Prayer

Road Crew Agenda November 13, including updates: Children's Ministry; Finance

- Deacon Teresa’s updates:

o background checks about one third finished; proceeding well; could finish before Nov. 13 Road Crew;

o Big Kids Bible Workshop: trial program off to good start; figuring out support needs along the way; discussed how to invite participation

o Godly Play; Matt doing Door-person refresher training; one emerging issue – big kids returning to GP when BKBW not offered; Council discussed various options to explore; Deacon Teresa following up

- Teresa then spoke on behalf of Mike/Stewardship Team – basic summary is that giving has held steady; also pledged a budget to have for Road Crew to approve November 13

o Council asks Stewardship Team to promise budget ahead of time, then provide budget by said time, and invite questions, suggestions, feedback prior to Nov. 13

Road Crew schedule; inclusive? Addressing issue re: postponing mtgs., value of Road Crew lunches, etc.

- seems meetings on Sundays are good; attendance seems better; mood seems better; lunch facilitates staying

- avoid cutting meetings too short; let there be bit more substance; avoid “announcement” posture

- having kids present seems ok mostly, but parents w/toddlers and tantrum prone children would benefit from a structured sitter in the room

- Proposal: more regularly scheduled – perhaps even monthly – Road Crew lunches because of community building aspect; Council likes idea

Nine Roots/Branches: next steps, fan out

- Pastor Eric asks Council members if there are any specific “roots/branches” they want to help move forward, beyond what’s already noted below

- Re: Deacon Teresa’s ministry load, Cornell/Kristen pledge support

- How to communicate: seems necessary to recast vision; each piece seems easier to grasp now; proposal: Fred could illuminate one idea per Sunday; diagrams or visual aids helpful, too.

- Pastor suggests elders will be leaned on to help facilitate conversations one on one

Summary list of Nine Roots/Branches:

· Rooted/Linked - Romans 16:16b

· Visibility – Matthew 5:15-16

· Evangelism Beyond Sunday -1 Peter 3:15

· Dads/Dudes multiplied - Matthew 9:15

· Parenting Beyond Sunday

· $ Discipline - Jeremiah 29:11

· Deacons - More

· Get-To Vs. Have To - 1 Peter 5:2,

· Church Big Vs. Big Church; Word - Joshua 17:14-18

· Pastor Eric shares how sermon/scripture prep connected w/some or these themes: referenced “Get To vs. Have To” in context of Parable of Generous Landowner, Grumbling Workers (Matt. 20); “Evangelism Beyond Sunday” in context of Parable of Two Ironic Sons (Matt. 21)

Field Trip Sundays (propose Sunday morning alternative when big events overtake Belltown a few times a year)

- Pros and Cons; some people would not go to another church’s service; value in pursuing it would be to develop “Rooted/Linked” factor; might motivate people if there was a planned ER crowd event following the visit to the sister church; a serious “con” is that there are people for whom that fellowship/worship time is even greater need than for those who may opt to skip worship because of parking hassles.

- After consideration, Council rejects idea; suggests planning special kind of service for “problematic parking” days

Deacon Cornell offers closing prayer; meeting concludes