Did you know that our church was infiltrated by spies last fall?
As she began her work in our church as Director of Community Outreach, Liz Fledderjohann asked some people who were not members of our church to visit a worship service, and then meet with her to discuss their initial impressions. She informed the Elders that there would be some. She used an inquiry approach to help us determine how visitors might perceive our church.
At our Council Meeting on February 16, Liz presented the results of her research to the Council. We were pleased to discover that many of the visitors had positive comments about the worship service, singing, and the sanctuary. One person said that “it really felt like church.” Another added, “the liturgy was refreshing.”
Along with positive comments about the friendliness of our church, we also noticed comments that reveal the need to be prepared to welcome people who are not familiar with our church customs. Some visitors pointed out that it was too noisy and crowded to visit after the worship service. Others said that they would have liked to stay for Adult Education while their kids were in Sunday School. One visitor struggled to find our nursery, and wished there had been a more convenient place to change her child’s diaper.
In the coming months, Council will continue to discuss the comments from this informal study, so that we truly are prepared to welcome people into our church fellowship.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Safe Child Policy
In 2004, the Council approved a policy that was intended to protect children from harm while they were participating in the children’s ministries at our church. Included in this policy are guidelines for any leader in a children’s ministry (eg. Sunday School, Jr. or Sr. High Youth Group, Cadets, GEMS, Story Hour, Nursery, etc.), qualifications for serving in a children’s ministry, rules for responding to allegations of abuse, recommendations for safe classrooms and nursery, and the requirement that anyone who serves as a leader or helper in the children’s ministries at our church should fill out an application which allows the church to run a background check on all who volunteer in our church’s children’s ministries.
Although that policy was approved in 2004, it was never fully implemented. As we strive to have a greater influence in our community, and as we hope to effectively enfold new members in to our church family, it is important that parents of young children have a high level of confidence in the children’s ministries at our church.
This year, we are planning to implement the child safety policy that was approved in 2004. This means that we will be asking all children’s ministry volunteers to fill out an application that will allow a police background check. Although the policy originally allowed people who had served in children’s ministry prior to 2004 to forego the application, we will be asking all who serve in these ministries to participate in this process, so that we can let people know that we have worked to ensure the safety of children who participate in our church ministries. The staff members of our church have all filled out their applications, and we will be asking volunteers to fill them out prior to the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.
Although that policy was approved in 2004, it was never fully implemented. As we strive to have a greater influence in our community, and as we hope to effectively enfold new members in to our church family, it is important that parents of young children have a high level of confidence in the children’s ministries at our church.
This year, we are planning to implement the child safety policy that was approved in 2004. This means that we will be asking all children’s ministry volunteers to fill out an application that will allow a police background check. Although the policy originally allowed people who had served in children’s ministry prior to 2004 to forego the application, we will be asking all who serve in these ministries to participate in this process, so that we can let people know that we have worked to ensure the safety of children who participate in our church ministries. The staff members of our church have all filled out their applications, and we will be asking volunteers to fill them out prior to the beginning of the 2011-12 school year.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Choir Loft Pews
In the fall of 2010, the Worship Planning Committee had a discussion about how we utilize our worship space. We noticed that during our worship services, we often have people standing between the pulpit and the first row of pews in the sanctuary. Whenever the bell ringers play, the praise team sings, or children are dismissed for worship center; the front of the sanctuary can feel crowded. During that discussion, we also noted that the choir loft is not used too often. The choir will often sing while standing around the piano, or on the steps by the pulpit, and the space that is filled with the choir loft pews is rarely utilized.
The committee first discussed the possibility of remodeling the front of the sanctuary. After discussion and research, they decided the cost of such a project was prohibitive at this time. As an alternative, the committee explored the possibility of removing the choir loft pews, and utilizing that space for our worship services.
In January, the Worship Planning Committee submitted a motion to council asking them to remove the pews from the choir loft. The Council approved this motion, and asked the Building and Grounds Committee to see if there are aesthetic considerations that have been overlooked, and to schedule a time to remove the pews. We anticipate the Building and Grounds Committee will report back at the February Council meeting, and that the pews should be removed from the choir loft sometime in the next few weeks.
The committee first discussed the possibility of remodeling the front of the sanctuary. After discussion and research, they decided the cost of such a project was prohibitive at this time. As an alternative, the committee explored the possibility of removing the choir loft pews, and utilizing that space for our worship services.
In January, the Worship Planning Committee submitted a motion to council asking them to remove the pews from the choir loft. The Council approved this motion, and asked the Building and Grounds Committee to see if there are aesthetic considerations that have been overlooked, and to schedule a time to remove the pews. We anticipate the Building and Grounds Committee will report back at the February Council meeting, and that the pews should be removed from the choir loft sometime in the next few weeks.
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