Landisville Mennonite Church
Ministry Leadership Team minutes
October 12, 2009, 7:00 PM
Members Present: Gerry & Rose Baer, Jonathan Bowman, Dan Burkhart, Gina Burkhart, Julia Fisher,
Christy Kauffman, recorder, Lynn Roth, Carolyn Rudy, Randall Shull
1. Opening
Randall began the meeting with a prayer.
2. Approving Minutes
Minutes from the September 14, 2009 meeting were approved as written.
3. Reporting:
Community Life—Carolyn Rudy
Wednesday Night Out schedule:
- November—Pastor appreciation
- December—Hymn sing
- January—Nils Martin & Briana Eshleman sharing of their semester in South Africa
- February—Game night
- March 6—Winterfest
- April—not scheduled, due to Easter
Pastoral Care—Julia Fisher
Working on small group formation
- Has idea of the current small groups in place.
- Received no response from recent announcement asking for persons to consider being a part of the
planning process for small groups
- Will ask the congregation who is interested in being a part of a small group
Missional Life—Dan Burkhart
We have three participants who will form a team with Landisville Church of God to teach Bible classes in a Hempfield School District school and for two 7-week sessions. They will begin the end of October. This team will be recognized in a worship service.
Christian Formation—Jonathan Bowman
The Sr. Youth retreat went really well. The kids seemed to have fun, and they focused on John 15.
Sexuality sermon series
Team reflected hopes and concerns on the current sexuality sermon series—Male and Female God created them.
Gina Burkhart’s transition as Assoc. Pastor of Worship
Pastor Randall and Board chair Nelson Kling are working on transition details. The current worship planning model will be maintained. They’re still talking about an interim or other ways of coverage, and we will be kept updated. Randall asked for questions.
Lancaster Mennonite Conference structure conversation
Lancaster Conference is looking at their structure and has invited leaders to give feedback after congregational feedback. Information may be distributed in church mailboxes, with interested persons meeting together for discussion.
Ethiopian Evangelical facility needs
Pastor Demeke shared in the district meeting that the congregation owns the Main St., Landisville building but is being pushed to the max, and wants to move to a new facility. Team discussed what it would look like to share facility space with this congregation. The leadership groups from Landisville and Ethiopian Evangelical will plan to get together to talk.
Columbia church
Within the last year, Columbia Mennonite Church closed, and there is a vision for something new to be birthed. For the past months, a team has been praying for Columbia, and is committed to church planting. Landisville has been asked to consider ways to support the project called “Vision Columbia.”
4. Agenda:
Ministry Leadership Team Structure
Randall met with Nelson Kling and Lavern Yutzy for council on next steps for restructuring. Pastoral team will work on addressing questions related to the structure, drawing on additional resources and a taskforce from Church Board for feedback. A final recommendation will go to Church Board.
Budget conversation
Lynn Roth updated Team on current budget conversations with the Congregational Leadership Board and the finance committee. Giving has not been down but has stabilized as priorities have shifted. At this point we have overextended ourselves with missionary support. The finance committee recommended to Board that we go to a unified budget January 1, which Board approved. A congregational meeting is scheduled for November 12 to discuss with the congregation the transition to a unified budget. The finance committee met with Gerry & Rose Baer, Ministers of Education, to discuss the Lancaster Mennonite School education fund, and how to work at education support in the future.
5. Future agenda
a. Mission and priorities
i. How do/will we know when our mission is being advanced?
ii. Which scripture passages might we dwell in to be formed in our mission?
Next Meetings: November 9, December 14