Phase 1!

We have completed the first part of Phase 1 of the Shaping Our Future process and the SOF ministry team is in the process of collating and “packaging” the results.  The goal of Phase 1 has been to ascertain our preferred ministries; that is, of all the things that churches do, what is it that we at Bellevue First Congregational Church want to keep doing or start doing. 

The raw data from the after-worship forums in Fenwick Hall and a special session with our youth show much of what one would expect, such as our commitment to outreach, to education, and to music, but also some wonderful nuances, such as the desire for an expanded music program geared toward the tastes of youth and young adults.

So in addition to moving forward with discussions about the facility needs necessary to achieve our preferred ministries, we will need to consider staffing.  Based on my observation of the SOF forums, I can see the need for adding at least three staff people, two of whom should be full time in order to best realize our dreams.  Wow!

But that is why I enthusiastically came here … because I know the potential for exciting new ministry is incredible.  In fact, I was chatting with a person interested in our second pastoral position who did an internship (after my departure) in the Church I served in Chicago.  The candidate asked me why I accepted the call to Bellevue and I responded that I am here because this church has more potential than the Church in Chicago.  There was a bit of a pause and she said, “But while you were there the church was listed in a Lilly Foundation study as one of the 300 Excellent Protestant congregations in America.”  To which I responded: “Yep.  So imagine what kind of ministry can be achieved here.”

Her Profile is on its way ….

Great music … a deep commitment to diversity and social justice … an expanding education program … an exciting future with unlimited possibility … who would not want to be part of this community?

See you in Church.

Kevin