Several people asked for more information on the Stewardship Team.
Carolyn Boorsma
Mike Fluit
Tara Mantler
Phil Spoelstra
Mike Talsma
and me, George Saylor
How did they become Stewards?
There has always been a leadership/advisory team in place,
even before I became the Pastor called to lead this mission.
But it's gone through several stages:
- Church Planter Search Committee (Pre 2006)
- Church Planter Advisory Committee (2007)
- Planters Advisory Team, Birth through year 1 (2008)
- Pastors Advisory Team (2009)
- Stewardship Team (2010-Present)
How did they get on the team?
We are a self-selecting team.
Each year team members re-commit to the role, or step down.
Names are put forth by the group for prayerful consideration.
Invitations are extended.
Some folks have said "no thanks."
Interestingly to me, no one on Stewardship has ever asked to be on the team.
They were all approached, and some of them practically persuaded, to join the team.
What are the requirements?
First, they demonstrated a genuine love for Jesus and maturity in faith.
They are qualified according to the bible.
Second, they demonstrate an understanding and passion for our mission.
The are folks who seem to "get it"- we are a church to the unchurched, we want to reach the unreached.
Third, they are gifted in leadership.
They are the type of person who makes stuff happen and gets stuff done.
In big or small ways, it was evident that they were all catalytic people.
Fourth, they were all generous givers.
These folks give first to God, and they do so through Connections.
It is part of how they worship God and show Jesus is Lord of their lives.
They all give differently, but they all give generously.
(FYI, our church has a separate "Counting Committee" that handles money.
As Pastor, this is out of my hands.)
Someone asked, "Why haven't we seen more of the Stewardship Team?"
First, it should be known that we never kept them "hidden."
When anyone asked who was on Stewardship, or what we did, we answered.
But second, and more importantly, they never asked.
They never took the role to be put in the spotlight and never asked to be put "on stage."
They took the role to serve, and that is was everyone on the team, and anyone who has served on the team, has done.
Bonus Question: how much has the team changed?
Mike Talsma is the only original member.
We've had 6 people serve who are no longer on the team.
Each of them finished their term, and let the group know it was time to step aside.
What do they do?
They do exactly what you think they do, if you think about it...
- They serve quietly and humbly.
- They take care of much of the unglamorous mechanics of running a church.
- They take care of the finances and keep everything legal.
- They have the books audited.
- The provide me with incredible support.
- They oversee the staff and hold the accountable to their jobs, while providing them with support.
- They have responded to numerous financial and other requests.
- They have started to create structure and organization, such as:
- a safe church policy,
- benevolence policy,
- rental policy and more.
- They work and pray to discern God's plan for Connections: what needs to happen in our existing ministries, what new ministries should we be starting?
- They all serve in other roles in the church: treasurer, worship, family ministry, small groups, and more.
OK, that's probably enough for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment