Overview of Open Congregational Meeting 10/28

The Emerging Unified Church of Carlisle

Overview of Open Congregational Meeting

October 28, 2012

The second of three scheduled Open Congregational Meetings this fall was conducted on Sunday, October 28, 2012, at Otterbein U.M.C.  Following a joint Allison/First Church Conference, Pastor Jim explained that the formal Church Conference will be held on December 9 at a time and location to be announced later.  The meeting was attended by thirty-five members.

Pastor Jim stated that the progress of the Transition Team has been moving along nicely with several Focus Groups nearing the completion of their work.  He announced that he doesn’t see any impediments to our beginning to worship together in July.  He noted that challenges lie ahead, and we don’t possess all of the answers.  However, there is great excitement as we complete our tasks.  As soon as we have our new name, we will be able to complete all of the legal documents required by the conference and state.  The Worship Focus Group will be planning combined services to celebrate our new name and later in July after we have come together as one.  So far, 104 individual have been involved in forming our new church.  Listed below are some of the questions and comments raised during the meeting.

1.      Who are the visionaries of the new church?  The pastors and a number of people around the Transition Team’s table.

2.      After the chair of the Site Location Focus Group gave a brief report, it was asked if something else was in the works rather than selecting a site and building there.  Both Earl Keller and Pastor Jim responded.  They referred to the need for a final location vote by the new church in 2015-16 as stated in the Imagine document which the Transition Team has been following.

3.      What is being done to keep members in the new church?  The pastors have recognized the problem and the need to do a better job communicating the vision.  A communications contractor will be hired to help us with video presentations, printed materials and internet communications.

4.      The history of mergers suggests that we will probably get smaller before we get bigger.  Does the Transition Team see any urgency in the time schedule?  Initially, we were not sure that we could make it by July 1.  We are now determined to make it by July 1.  Lois Weibley quoted a long-time member of First after she had been asked why she hadn’t left the church, “Oh, my, you don’t leave your family just because something is going wrong.”

5.      Pastor Jim announced that he now has a coach who’s worked with churches who have unified all over the country.

6.      Comment: “We have to form the church before we look at building a new church building.”

7.      Comment: “We have only been at Allison for five years and undergone nothing but change.  I look at it as a great opportunity to be a part of something new.”

8.      Pastor Jim acknowledged that all three churches are at different emotional levels.  Each is at a different emotional stage – a mixture of grief and loss and excitement. Allison church has been dealing with the issues of loss and change longer than First or Grace. First church’s response to the loss and change is fresher, and Grace has not had to deal to the same degree with all that the good folk of Allison and First have been and are dealing with. When they do, Allison and First will lead them through it.

9.      Comment: “I am really excited about this.  I want to be a part of the team making things handicapped-accessible.” 

10.  Pastor Jim would appreciate if we hear something that is not true that we tell that person to talk to a pastor. We want to get accurate information out. Do you think these rumors are born out of fear?  Yes, I believe that some fear that no one will care about them in the new church.

Finally and before Pastor Mira led us in prayer before we departed, Pastor Jim talked about Bishop Irons. “Neil was very regretful about his departure.  He talked to me about four weeks before he left.  He was tearful.  He’s never had to quit anything before since giving his life to the church in West Virginia.  It was tough for him to say that he couldn’t go on.  He really wanted to stay.  Our plan to replace him is temporary and brings a level of uncomfortability and gives us more work to do.  However, we believe in the mission.  It’s not about us.”   Next Open Congregational Meeting on Nov. 18 at 5 pm at Allison.