Intentional Interim Transition Ministry. Phase 2 Congregational Consultation Report. September 25, 2016

Transcription

1 A Reprt f the Transitin Leadership Team t the Cngregatin f First Baptist Church Halifax Intentinal Interim Transitin Ministry Phase 2 Cngregatinal Cnsultatin Reprt September 25, 2016 The Transitin Leadership Team (TLT) is pleased t present ur cnclusins frm the Phase 2 Cngregatinal Cnsultatin in this Reprt t the cngregatin. This Reprt is inclusive f recmmendatins t cmmence a search fr a new Senir Minister. Transitin Leadership Team: David Dexter, Chair; Hugh Kirkegaard, Anne Marie Krueger Naug, Clyde Evans, Je O Brien, Lee Nichlas-Pattill, Dianne Kkesh, Rev. Lynn Uzans. 1

2 The Transitin Prcess At First Baptist we determined t fllw a 3 Phase frmal apprach in a transitin frm current leadership t new leadership ver a perid f apprximately three years. Phase 1 was the time leading up t the departure f Rev. Jhn Byd. Phase 2 has been the time f cngregatinal cnsultatin and transitin ministry, and Phase 3 will be welcming the new Senir Minister. T see ur detailed mandate given in June 2014 cnsult the Appendix at the back f this reprt. In Phase 2, which is the subject f this reprt, ne f the critical aspects f an Intentinal Interim Transitin Ministry prcess is t give the participants, mainly ur members, time t reflect n wh we are, what ur histry has been, and what might be pssible fr wrk and missin in the future. In this part f the prcess we hnr ur past, ur Baptist histry and identity. We are grateful fr the curageus leaders we have been blessed t knw and with whm we have served. We knw that all Baptists, all Christians, all servants f the Lrd are nt the same. We knw that as a Baptist cngregatin we, with Gd s help, determine ur gals fr ministry. We knw that we are called t serve in ur time and place, in the circumstances and in the cmmunity in which we find urselves. During transitin we take a breather, we pause t reflect, we re-discver ur strengths, ur weaknesses, the challenges psed by the wrld arund us, and we gird urselves fr the wrk ahead while preparing t embrace a new leader fr the tasks nw at hand. Significant Phase 2 Transitin Accmplishments Time. We cannt underestimate the value f the time taken during transitin. Let s lk at what has happened: We have placed a cmfrtable distance frm ur past rutine. We have std strng, and n ur wn, sustaining ur ministries. We have taken the time t be as inclusive f everyne s views as pssible. We have cnfirmed what is mst imprtant t us. We have n big divisive issues, n crisis. We have reflected thughtfully abut the challenges f ministry in the wrld tday. We have settled n a leadership style fr the next wrk f First Baptist Church Halifax. 2

3 Overall, tday we are in a better place because f this prcess, because f Rev. Lynn Uzan s presence and leadership, and because f an increased self-awareness and resulting selfcnfidence fr meeting the challenges f ministry in the future. Cngregatinal Cnsultatins-Intrductin In ur Phase 2 wrk with ur Transitin Minister, Rev. Lynn Uzans, we have cnsulted widely amng ur faith cmmunity. We have made a jyful nise abut ur transitin wrk drawing in as many flk as pssible t ne r mre f the numerus and varied settings fr discussins abut hw ur faith cmmunity matters t us and what ur ministry and service might lk like in the future. This has included cngregatinal meetings, in-hme grup meetings, bard and cmmittee meetings, wrship services, questins psed bth individually and in varius grups, and in private meetings and cnversatins. We have cmpiled many respnses frm all age grups and a brad crss-sectin f ur membership and friends. We have heard abut successes, failures, talked abut what we culd d better, learned f the value f recnnecting with ne anther, and spken f the challenges we see fr the future. We have heard what we might d less f, what we want t keep ding, what we might start ding. We have heard a great passin fr ur independence, fr ur liturgy and wrship, fr the empwerment we receive frm this faith cmmunity fr ur wn persnal wrk and missin, and fr a call t be f service in the cmmunity. Frm all f ur many respnses received in plenary sessins and privately, r in writing, the mst challenging part f the TLT s wrk has been t distill the key messages that give insights t a sense f where we are nw, and hw ur missin fr the future may evlve, and what ur needs fr leading that missin will be. In this wrk there are naturally many persnal stries, anecdtes and sme issues t be addressed. Nne are dismissed. Yet we must be able t see the frest fr the sake f the trees within. Cngregatinal Cnsultatins-Summary and Cnclusins What We Knw and is Cnfirmed 1. A cngregatin with a lng histry f maintaining the Baptist identity f independence: Bible Freedm is the histric Baptist affirmatin that the Bible, under the Lrdship f Christ, must be central in the life f the individual and church and that Christians, with the best and mst schlarly tls f inquiry, are bth free and bligated t study and bey the Scripture. 3

4 Sul Freedm is the histric affirmatin f the inalienable right and respnsibility f every persn t deal with Gd withut the impsitin f creed, the interference f clergy, r the interventin f civil gvernment. Church Freedm is the histric Baptist affirmatin that lcal churches are free, under the Lrdship f Christ, t determine their membership and leadership, t rder their wrship and wrk, t rdain whm they perceive as gifted fr ministry, male r female, and t participate in the larger bdy f Christ, f whse unity and missin Baptists are prudly a part. Religius Freedm is the histric Baptist affirmatin f freedm OF religin, freedm FOR religin, and freedm FROM religin insisting that Caesar is nt Christ and Christ is nt Caesar. 1. A cngregatin that values well-dne liturgy: Preaching Music Lay participatin 1. A cngregatin that has taken early steps as an pen and affirming cngregatin 2. A cngregatin that has been resilient when facing challenges Early frmatin Fire New church Cnventin 1. A cngregatin that has made a difference in ur cmmunity Affirming cngregatin Refugees Scial Justice issues Inter Faith Relatinships Racism Where We Are Challenged 1. A cngregatin challenged t sustain delivering n its missin in tday s fast-paced wrld : An aging demgraphic Members d nt always knw ne anther well; ur challenges, ur gifts. 4

5 Our faith cmmunity can struggle with relatinship building, faith develpment, n-ging and cnsistent cmmunicatin, and grwing the membership. A faith cmmunity that desires meaningful cnnectin t cmmunity service, cmmunity affairs, and scial justice issues. A cngregatin wishing t sustain a full sense f pastral care frm visitatin t prayer and educatin grups. The TLT heard a desire fr feeling mre a part f the church family, f being listened t, invited int, f being cmfrtable in the church family. In the view f the TLT this ties int a desire t build a strnger sense f cmmunity amng ur members. A part f this wrk wuld include a full discussin and understanding f visitatin ; what it means, what are realistic deliverables. Members are enriched and empwered by the wrship experience, but cnnectivity t the church and its prgrams and activities is minimal. Intuitively, this is nt a sustainable situatin fr the church itself, and therefre may nt be sustainable fr the members. Active engagement with ur prgrams and ministries is a challenge. Members have clearly identified ur Missin as the pririty versus a cncern ver resurces r dllars. At the same time, amng leadership there remains a cncern and a sense f burden with gvernance, finances, prperty, and sustainability. Nne f these issues figured prminently in ur cngregatinal cnsultatins. There is n sense f crisis amng the brader membership. Cnclusins-Where We Are Nw 1. First Baptist is a cngregatin with tremendus capacity and ptential fr ministry. Many f the elements fr a dynamic, grwing, cmmunity-engaged ministry are present at First Baptist Church Halifax. 2. A Cngregatin wh knws wh we are. Baptist. Independent. Free. Seeking Gd s will. 3. A Cngregatin that values the wrship and fellwship experience as empwering fr their wn lives and persnal missin. 4. A Cngregatin that wants t make a difference thrugh active missin, bth persnally and as a crprate bdy, t the cmmunity and wrld arund us. We are multi-talented, resurceful. 5. A Cngregatin histrically pen t, and ready fr challenges. 6. A Cngregatin struggling t find its fting in a fast-paced, new wrld. Hw d we cnnect, invite, participate mre effectively with ur cmmunity? 7. A cngregatin lking fr fcus and leadership t realize its ptential. 5

6 Leadership Recmmendatins T enable and empwer this ministry a leader must pssess: Key Attributes: These descriptins are the primary characteristics we wuld be searching fr amng thers. Humble, persnable, fcused (purpseful and gal-riented) Inspiratinal Empathetic, listener Team builder, team player, cmmunity-builder T enable and empwer this ministry a leader must have a clear sense f purpse: Key Respnsibilities: Wrship Well-dne liturgy. (Carefully planned, flexible, cntextual) Visin and fcus fr Missin While identifying hw we may serve thers, build cmmunity amng the members as we engage in service t thers. Identify ur resurces and enable thers fr ministry Determine what ministries can be led by, r delivered by lay persns, and hw such ministries can be effective, sustained, and supprted. Recmmendatin That, the Diacnate recmmend t the cngregatin a Search Cmmittee be frmed, immediately upn the acceptance f this reprt by the cngregatin, t find candidates fr the psitin f Senir Minister f First Baptist Church Halifax wh meet the requirements fr this psitin as identified in this reprt, and wh pssesses a sund thelgical and ecumenical backgrund t be delineated by the Diacnate. Next Steps 1. Presentatin t the cngregatin f this Phase 2 Preliminary Reprt f the Transitin Leadership Team n Sunday September 25, Subsequent changes t be made, if any. 2. Diacnate t begin frming the Search Cmmittee, prepare its mandate, the psitin descriptin, and the necessary mtins in preparatin fr the Octber 30, 2016 cngregatinal 6

7 meeting. (One r mre f the TLT pssibly n the Search Cmmittee). Ideally, the Search Cmmittee wuld be in place fr that meeting s apprval. Transitin Cntinues During the search fr a new Senir Minister, Rev. Uzans will cntinue t be ur Pastr and will cntinue her wrk amng us in cnsultatin with the Diacnate and the Transitin Leadership Team. Appendix Transitin Leadership Team First Baptist Church Halifax Terms f Reference Intrductin On April 14, 2013 the Cngregatin f First Baptist Church Halifax (FBCH) apprved, n the recmmendatin f the Diacnate, the frmatin f a Transitin Team t guide the Cngregatin thrugh the time preceding the retirement f ur Senir Minister t the calling and arrival f a new Senir Minister. The Cngregatin apprved an apprach t be used fr this change in ministry knwn as Intentinal Transitin Ministry. This means that a prfessinal Transitin Minister, trained in the wrk f leading cngregatins thrugh a change in ministerial leadership, wuld be emplyed fr a perid f mnths prir t the calling f a new Senir Minister. The Diacnate was charged with the respnsibility f develping the Terms f Reference fr the Transitin Team. Intentinal Transitin Ministry The cncept f Transitinal Ministry is a 2-3 year prcess which begins with the activities preceding the departure f the current Senir Minister, cntinues with the leadership f an Intentinal Transitin Minister, and ends with the arrival and welcme time f a new Senir Minister. As the transitin prcess at First Baptist is ultimately a cngregatinal respnsibility, there will be many pprtunities fr member input and engagement during this 3-year transitin perid. The Transitin Leadership Team will give guidance and leadership t the many activities required, enabling and crdinating the wrk f the members, Bards, and Cmmittees f the Church as required in rder t transitin t a new Senir Minister. Membership f the Transitin Leadership Team Fur t six members f the Cngregatin will frm the Transitin Leadership Team. These members shuld have spiritual depth, knw the Cngregatin well, and be widely respected by the membership. The Deacns shall recruit the members f the Transitin Leadership Team and present them t the 7

8 Cngregatin fr apprval. Membership may change ver the three-year perid and the Team is authrized t change its cmpsitin with new members apprved by the Diacnate. Transitin Leadership Team Mandate The Transitin Leadership Team is respnsible fr c-rdinating the prcess f change thrugh the stages f departure f Rev. Byd, preparatin and search fr the Intentinal Transitin Minister and arrival f the new Senir Minister. The Team will drive the prcess, identify tasks and ensure these are cmpleted. It is nt intended t replace r duplicate any Bard s r Cmmittee s respnsibilities. It has a mandate frm the Diacnate t seek ut individuals r grups t cmplete required tasks. It will recmmend t existing Bards r Cmmittees that they shuld cmplete specific tasks at certain times thrughut this three-year time perid. Respnsibilities The Transitin Leadership Team is respnsible t crdinate all aspects f the change in FBCH Senir Ministry. This includes, but is nt restricted t: Cntinuusly educate the Cngregatin abut the prcess f transitinal ministry. Prepare the Cngregatin fr the departure f Rev. Jhn Byd. Cmpile varius demgraphic statistics and infrmatin abut FBCH Develp a prcess t select and engage an Intentinal Transitin Minister (the Transitin Minister ) Assist the Transitin Minister in the cnsultative prcess with the FBCH membership t discern the requirements fr new senir ministry. Recmmend the parameters fr a Search Cmmittee fr a new Senir Minister Prepare fr the departure f the Transitin Minister Welcme and assist the new Senir Minister Timeline Generally, the wrk f the Transitin Leadership Team will cmprise three phases: Phase 1: The time leading up t the departure f the Rev. Jhn Byd May 2013 t January - April 2015 Help t celebrate the ministry f Rev. Jhn Byd Cmpile demgraphic and ther infrmatin n FBCH Prepare a psitin descriptin fr Transitin Minister Cnduct a cmprehensive review f the emplyment package fr the Transitin Minister and submit it thrugh the Diacnate fr Cngregatinal apprval Educate members f the Cngregatin and staff abut the Transitin Minister s rle & respnsibilities Search fr a Transitin Minister Plan fr and welcme the Transitin Minister Phase 2: The time f Transitin Ministry 8

9 April 2015 t January - April 2017 Welcme and intrduce the Transitin Minister Assist the Transitin Minister in the cnsultative prcesses with the FBCH membership t discern the requirements fr new senir ministry. Develp a new Senir Minister prfile Cnduct a cmprehensive review f the emplyment package fr a new Senir Minister Recmmend the parameters fr a Search Cmmittee fr the new Senir Minister Arrange farewell t the Transitin Minister Phase 3: The arrival f a new Senir Minister Early t Mid 2017 Plan fr and welcme the Senir Minister Prvide advice t the new Senir Minister n learnings frm the transitin prcess Reprting Requirements The Transitin Leadership Team is accuntable t the Diacnate, and thrugh them t the Cngregatin. It will attend Diacnate Executive, r full Diacnate, meetings as it deems necessary. On behalf f the Diacnate, it will reprt directly t the Cngregatin frm time t time. It will prvide regular updates t the Bard f Management. June 1,