Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer

1. An Open Letter to Metropolitan Community Church of Our Redeemer

2. Since the Congregation Meeting, October 28, 2007, there has been some confusion over the pastor’s report and proposal. Some brought their concerns to the last board meeting. This input was welcomed and is appreciated. This presentation will try and clarify the issues concerning our next step in the ministry and the future of our community. Since the Congregation Meeting, October 28, 2007, there has been some confusion over the pastor’s report and proposal. Some brought their concerns to the last board meeting. This input was welcomed and is appreciated. This presentation will try and clarify the issues concerning our next step in the ministry and the future of our community.

3. Our Church is growing ... …the congregation numbered 25 when services were held at the old YMCA …the congregation numbered 25 when services were held at the old YMCA ... and growing ... …the congregation grew to 45 and gained a pianist / choir director when services were held at the 7th Street building … …the congregation grew to 45 and gained a pianist / choir director when services were held at the 7th Street building … ... and growing still ... …the congregation bought a beautiful building and has grown to 130 members … HALLELUJAH ! ! …the congregation bought a beautiful building and has grown to 130 members … HALLELUJAH ! !

4. What should WE, the church, do?

5. A Church needs to move forward . . . … by providing comfort and outreach to those in need. … by showing we are children of God through our sports leagues. … by providing Christian witness by gathering food, clothing, pet food and money for organizations within the community. As Christians, we are charged to grow and change continually. Don’t spiritual principals call us to do this? What would Jesus do? Would Jesus discriminate? OUR Church needs to move forward . . . … by improving or enlarging our facilities. … by increasing the number of our ministerial staff to provide MORE care and services for US, the congregation. … we are at the beginning of a leadership explosion within the congregation and that needs Blessed fuel. A Church needs to move forward . . . … by providing comfort and outreach to those in need. … by showing we are children of God through our sports leagues. … by providing Christian witness by gathering food, clothing, pet food and money for organizations within the community. As Christians, we are charged to grow and change continually. Don’t spiritual principals call us to do this? What would Jesus do? Would Jesus discriminate? OUR Church needs to move forward . . . … by improving or enlarging our facilities. … by increasing the number of our ministerial staff to provide MORE care and services for US, the congregation. … we are at the beginning of a leadership explosion within the congregation and that needs Blessed fuel.

6. Our Church is growing ... Option 1 ... and growing ... We do nothing. If we do nothing, we will tend to slide backwards. Do our spiritual principles call for growth and change? We can still improve or change our facilities. We can still be in prayer for a leadership explosion. ... and growing still ... HALLELUJAH ! !

7. A Church needs to move forward and one way is to increase the energy and coverage of ALL the needs in the congregation. We could have more leadership input. We could have different leadership input one Sunday per month. We could move into the future of our congregation at a greater than one full-time ministerial position by having 2 part-time pastors We could have development in Christian Education. We could have stewardship and financial development. We could have more energy in our clergy. We could TRY this out for one time; for one year to see if this is what we need. We could see that anyone, even our own pastor, can use a support “group” – a person to hear his own concerns and thoughts. A Church needs to move forward and one way is to increase the energy and coverage of ALL the needs in the congregation. We could have more leadership input. We could have different leadership input one Sunday per month. We could move into the future of our congregation at a greater than one full-time ministerial position by having 2 part-time pastors. We could have development in Christian Education. We could have stewardship and financial development. We could have more energy in our clergy. We could TRY this out for one time; for one year to see if this is what we need. We could see that anyone, even our own pastor, can use a support “group” – a person to hear his own concerns and thoughts.

8. Our Church is growing ... Option 2 ... and growing ... We TRY AN EXPERIMENT FOR ONE YEAR ONLY – to see how a part-time, fully ordained minister would meet our needs as a congregation. If it doesn’t work out, the money is from church members and friends, not the church. We already have $5500 in pledges – almost HALFWAY THERE ! If it doesn’t work out, “for one year only” means we don’t have to continue and no one has to do bake-sales in front of Wal-Mart. FOR ONE YEAR ONLY EXPERIMENT TRY AN ... and growing still ... HALFWAY THERE ! HALLELUJAH ! !

9. A Church needs to move forward and no one of us is going to be here forever. We need to look to the future of our congregation, of our church, our facilities, our ministry. We need to bring in younger, movers and shakers to see that the ministries begun through Outreach, Benevolence, community service are carried on. We need to make sure our facilities are kept up and look into our long-term needs of space. We need to make sure we, our partners, our gifts to the church and our legacy planning are in the right way and our wishes are in the right place. We need to consider that Reverend Jeff will be in a more demanding job in a year. That 40 plus hour week job and the church’s 30 plus hour week calling is more than anyone usually faces. In five years, the school system job will give him a good retirement and insurance plan for his future. We need to see if searching for a new, full-time pastor is our path. If it is, we will have to have a search committee and re-evaluate our budget to accommodate a reasonable salary package. We need to re-evaluate how we treat our pastor in all the “competitive” areas compared to other churches. A Church needs to move forward and no one of us is going to be here forever. We need to look to the future of our congregation, of our church, our facilities, our ministry. We need to bring in younger, movers and shakers to see that the ministries begun through Outreach, Benevolence, community service are carried on. We need to make sure our facilities are kept up and look into our long-term needs of space. We need to make sure we, our partners, our gifts to the church and our legacy planning are in the right way and our wishes are in the right place. We need to consider that Reverend Jeff will be in a more demanding job in a year. That 40 plus hour week job and the church’s 30 plus hour week calling is more than anyone usually faces. In five years, the school system job will give him a good retirement and insurance plan for his future. We need to see if searching for a new, full-time pastor is our path. If it is, we will have to have a search committee and re-evaluate our budget to accommodate a reasonable salary package. We need to re-evaluate how we treat our pastor in all the “competitive” areas compared to other churches.

10. Comparable Area Churches

11. Our Church is growing ... Option 3 ... and growing ... We have to have a committee to put out job opportunity inquiries, to interview and determine the top candidates.The congregation will hear the finalists and vote for one. We hire a full-time (40 hours / week) pastor. ... and growing still ... HALLELUJAH ! !

12. Help Us Take the Next Step From the October 28, 2007 Congregational Meeting, it was approved to go forward with the process of contractual formation and job description for an Associate Pastor. It is moved to enter into a quarter-time pastoral position contract and commit to raising $12,000 by April 1, 2008. (This motion is seconded by our pastor who has prayerful considered this option.)