(Please disregard the screwy numbering below. My word processor has a mind of its own.~J)
Process Agreement for Peace Mennonite Church (Fall 2010)
Issue:
The church building does not meet our current space needs for worship, child care, or Christian education.
Steps Taken:
-
Established a working group to lead the congregation in addressing the issue. (Those who have served: Ken Lohrentz, Joe Casad, Barbara Yoder, John Young, Sue Young, Adam Kehler, and Gary Brunk.)
-
Had preliminary congregational discussions about options for expanding current space.
-
Building group conducted research on various options, and they developed four plans for expanding current space with cost estimates.
-
Coordinating Committee got information from loan provider regarding how much money we would be eligible to borrow. (According to Mennonite Mutual Aid, our current loan is $74,000; we could reasonably get an additional $75,000 loan.)
-
Building Group held small group discussions about current space and space needs. (Report given at August 2010 Congregational meeting and available on church blog.)
Further Process Goals:
-
To approve a process agreement.
-
To involve new people in the building working group.
-
To identify and investigate possibilities for acquiring the space the church desires.
-
To examine available funding and possible funding sources.
-
To develop one or more proposals for addressing the church’s space needs.
-
To communicate the proposal/s to the congregation for discussion and discernment.
-
To make sure voices of all active Peace Mennonite participants are heard on this issue.
-
To find a way for Peace Mennonite to have more space for worship, child care, and Christian education.
Process and Timeline:
-
October 17, 2010; Congregational Meeting
-
Present process agreement for discussion and affirmation.
-
Recognize those who have served on the building group and encourage others to consider joining this group.
-
Present information to congregation regarding financial situation and setbacks on current property.
-
Have open discussion/brainstorming regarding possible ways to address the issue: expand space on current site; buy another facility; rent another space; buy Barbara Yoder’s house and remodel current space; share space with another organization. . . . other options?
-
Encourage people to prepare something for “show and tell” at the January meeting.
-
-
October 2010-January 2011
-
Nominating Committee will find 3-5 people willing to serve on the building group.
-
Those interested in a particular option for expanding church space will prepare “show and tell” for January Congregational Meeting.
-
-
January 2011 Congregational Meeting
-
- Affirm building group members.
-
Invite people to present “show and tell”: brief reports on options for which people have gathered preliminary information. (Plans for adding on, buildings available for rent or purchase . . . )
-
Congregation will discern which options should be explored further.
- January-April 2011:
-
Building group will assemble more detailed information on various options for increasing space. Such information will include rough cost estimates and timelines.
-
Coordinating Committee will do any additional work needed to determine available funding and will begin thinking about funding possibilities.
-
Coordinating Committee will call congregational meetings outside of our normal quarterly meetings if needed.
-
- April 2011 Congregational Meeting:
-
Building group will present rough reports on various options.
-
Coordinating Committee will report on financial situation.
-
Congregation will come to consensus on which option or options deserve further investigation.
-
-
April-July 2011:
-
Building Group will further research options as decided at the Congregational Meeting.
-
Building Group and Coordinating Committee will meet to assess where we are and create an updated process agreement.
-
Coordinating Committee will call congregational meetings outside of our normal quarterly meetings if needed.
-
-
July, 2011 Congregational Meeting:
-
Building group will report on further research.
-
Coordinating Committee will present updated process agreement for consensus.
-
Making the Decisions:
We pray that all decisions made regarding our church space will come as a consensus of those active church participants who attend a Congregational Meeting. Church leadership will take definitive steps only when the church as a whole has agreed on a path.
If there is a decision before the congregation and there is no consensus, the moderator of the discussion will allow time for each voice to be heard. Discussion participants will share their views calmly and will listen respectfully. Time for silence and prayer will be taken as needed during discussions. If consensus cannot be reached at the end of the discussion, the decision will be deferred until the next meeting–which may be a special meeting called for the purpose of making this decision. In between meetings, people will be encouraged to have one-on-one and group discussions about the decision. At the next meeting the decision will be presented again and consensus will be sought.
The decision-making process outlined in the Peace Mennonite Constitution allows for decisions to be made by a 75% affirmative vote if consensus cannot be reached. (Church members in attendance at the meeting constitute the voting body.)
Leave a comment