Overview of Open Congregational Meeting 11/18

The Emerging Unified Church of Carlisle

Overview of Open Congregational Meeting

November 18, 2012

The third of three scheduled Open Congregational Meetings this fall was conducted on Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Allison U.M.C.  The meeting was attended by thirty-nine members.

Pastor Jim stated that some of the Focus Groups are beginning to wind down as others are just starting their work.  His biggest joy has been working together with so many good folks from our three churches.  His greatest fear is that he will be unable to get us excited about the vision of our new church.  Likening the situation to Moses, he asked, “How do you get people excited about a land that they have never seen?” 

Listed below are some of the questions and comments raised during the meeting.

1.      Comment:  “I was amazed and dismayed that I could have voted several times.”  Response: “We have to trust people.  This is all about trust.”  No one indicated that they had seen any voting irregularities.

2.      Question:  “What kind of administrative structure?”  Response:  Randy Noaker explained the recommendation to create a Leadership Council which is like a board of directors.  The details of the “LC” are covered in the 11/8/12 Transition Team Overview.

3.      Question: “Is this form of organization OK with the Discipline?” Response: Yes, our Conference is encouraging this structure.

4.      Question: “Will the LC hire the staff or will it be the personnel person on the LC?” Response: the Leadership Council will do the hiring.

5.      Question: “Will the LC be appointed or elected?” Response: elected by each church’s charge conference. (A later questioner asked how each church will be sure to get its three members on the initial LC.  These three members will be determined at each church’s charge conference.)

6.      Question: “How often will the LC meet?” Response: monthly year-round.

7.      Question: “Will each church actually have two charge conferences.” Response: yes.  One to approve the Plan of Union which gives our new church the authority to establish the LC.  The second will be each church’s charge conference to elect its three members to the LC.

8.      Question: “Will we get the Plan of Union in advance.” Response: no, initially.  However, Pastor Jim promised to take the request to have the Plan of Union in advance to the Transition Team. 

9.      Request: an update from the Site Location Focus Group.  Response:  Earl Keller, SLFC chair, explained that they will be meeting with four realtors to explore available properties. They have developed criteria and will rate all potential sites.  In response to the query about possible donated land, Earl informed us that that offer has been withdrawn by the owner. 

10.  Note:  Any decision on a new site must be made by the new church.  The new church doesn’t exist yet.  That’s why it is so important that we organize and that starts with the approval of the Plan of Union.  We cannot make a decision before the new church has been incorporated.

11.  Question: “What is the date for the decision on a new site?”  Response: Imagine listed the date as 2015-16.  The Plan of Union uses the language “by” so that there is flexibility to approve a new site if one becomes available between the time of incorporation and the deadline for deciding on a permanent site.

12.  Question: “Is there a Plan B in case the Plan of Union is not approved.” Response: no, because those who have studied it think it is best.

13.  Question: “Can members of the Transition Team be on the Leadership Council.” Response: yes.

14.  Question: “Could the site of a new church building be outside the borough of Carlisle?” Response: yes, but it would have a Carlisle address.  There are few sites, if any, of 12-15 acres of land available in the borough.

15.  Question: “What about finances for 2013 and contributing to a new church site?” Responses: Jeff Harpel and Jay Layman.  The three churches have been asked to budget like they have done in the past.  2013 will be our baseline.  The legal details about contributing to a new church site have to include language in case a new building would not be erected within a specified amount of time.  These monies are regulated by the Stewardship Foundation operated by our Conference.  It was expressed that we must have a legal out stipulated for these monies.

16.  Question: “Is there to be a vote to build a new building.”  Response: yes.

Before ending this meeting with prayer at 6:11 pm Pastor Jim said, “If I offended anyone, I apologize. I’ll be glad when the anxiousness is over.  Once we can see what we are planning, we will get excited.”

Our churches’ charge conferences will be on Sunday, December 9, 2012.

Further details will be announced.