As you have already read (assuming you read from the front to the back) Jeff Downin, Zion’s Consistory President, announcement of a plan for “restructuring” the committees of Zion Church. One of the five developmental tasks of interim/transitional ministry (that time we have been living in during the past year and a half) deals with the “transition to new leadership.” Every year or so, there are the normal changes or transitions in leadership in church committees. Even so, it is also quite common for committee memberships to be seen as a life-long commitment.
That is, once you “get on a committee, you’re on it for life.” Many of you who are reading this right now know this to be true. During this past year and a half, however, there have been some significant changes, and we are now ready to launch a new set or structure of groups that will provide primary leadership for the programs and ministries for Zion Church into the future. These five ministry teams are:
► Christian Education & Youth;
► Congregational Life;
► Evangelism;
► Mission and Outreach; and
► Worship.
Beginning Sunday, July 4, and continuing throughout July, you will receive a detailed packet which will describe the new structure. This packet will include a description of the five ministry teams –not committees—each with its own unique mission statement and “job description.” The job description will include a list of detailed duties and responsibilities for each of the five teams. In this way, the mission and work of the five teams will be clearly stated. How many times over the years have you been asked to serve on a committee with words something like this: “Oh, serving on this committee just involves meeting once a month (and we don’t usually even meet in the summer); there’s not much involved.” This will not be the way you will be encouraged this time to consider joining one of the new ministry teams.
The future of Zion Church depends in great part on the vision and mission for its ministries within and without the walls of the church. These ministries will or will not happen in large part on how well you are able to support and recruit folks for these ministry teams.
As recent as this past Sunday in my sermon, I have said that one of the key characteristics of a “vital” church is its ongoing process of recruiting and training volunteers and lay leaders. So, if this call to form these new ministry teams is about anything, it is about bringing new vitality to Zion Church. It is also about a new call to leadership around the major ministries of our lives together: Worship, learning about our faith, our life together within the church, our mission to the community and world, and the ways we reach out with the gospel to members and seekers.
I want to encourage you to seriously and prayerfully consider where you and your gifts and talents and passion fit in this plan. I would be pleased, even excited, to discuss this process with you. I would love to spend some time exploring where you would fit into this plan. So, with God’s blessing and guidance, let’s move forward toward a new and vital future.
Faithfully, Pastor Hanberry
Pastor’s Pen...