Proposal to Progressively Plant a New Church in Northern Lehigh

Transcription

1 Proposal to Progressively Plant a New Church in Northern Lehigh to the Congregations of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of the Northern Lehigh Valley and Bethany Bible Fellowship Church of Whitehall from the Elders of Bethany Bible Fellowship Church of Whitehall and the Trustees of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of the Northern Lehigh Valley originally distributed on March 24, 2013 amendments by BFC Executive Board on April 5, 2013 altered by feedback from Bethany Q&A on April 6, 2013

2 Contents Introduction 2 Phase One: Collaboration 2 Public Face 2 Resources 2 Leadership 3 Gatherings 4 Sample Preaching Schedule 5 Congregational Meetings 6 Phase Two: Autonomy..6 Enacting this Proposal..7 Proposal to the Congregations 8 Special Congregational Meeting Agenda.9 Financial Statements of the Two Churches 10 Merger Budget 12 Appendix One: Rationale 14 Bibliography 15

3 Introduction We believe that the Gospel of forgiveness in Jesus' name is needed in every local community across the world. Calvary BFC in Walnutport has been a stalwart evangelical and Bible-teaching witness to the Walnutport/Slatington community, a community of 22,000 people with little evangelical witness. By strategically working together, Whitehall and Walnutport congregations will better impact both communities with more efficiency. This proposal is to progressively plant a new church in the Northern Lehigh School District. The initial phase of this progressive church plant is to operate like a multisite church with a shared pastoral staff, shared elder board, shared financial system, shared support staff, shared vision and outreach strategy, and shared public face, we become one church with multiple meeting places. Once the Northern Lehigh plant hits benchmarks laid out in this proposal, it will become an autonomous local church with its own leaders and vision. Phase One: Collaboration Public Face The Walnutport church is currently known to the public as "Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of the Northern Lehigh Valley." There is much that a name carries with it. Calvary BFC would be called Northern Lehigh Bible Fellowship Church." Similarly, Bethany BFC would be called "Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church." The literature that each church puts out and the signage they use would utilize new identical logos with their church name. Resources The church corporation in Walnutport transfers all properties, deeds, and cash funds to the Whitehall corporation. Together, we have one purse which is used to support the ministries of both churches. The Walnutport corporation will dissolve. Whitehall corporation will file articles of amendment to change the corporation name. The new Whitehall corporation opens a Doing Business As for the presence in Northern Lehigh. Whitehall Bible Fellowship Church Doing Business As Northern Lehigh Bible Fellowship Church. One of the factors limiting the growth of the Walnutport congregation is its landlocked facility. Together, we will immediately find a new home for this church. Elements to consider in this move will include: ease of parking, sufficient seating for 100+ worshippers, educational space for students, simple driving directions for worshippers to invite friends. All proceeds of the sale of properties and reserve funds of the Walnutport church at the time of the merger will be held in a designated fund for the purpose of future relocation of the Northern Lehigh church. 2

4 Leadership One board of elders will oversee both churches. One team of pastoral staff will minister the Word. Elders One elder board will oversee the ministry at both churches. It will propose a single budget with generous allocations for ministries at both churches. It will identify, train, deploy, and oversee ministry staff (both paid and volunteer) for the work at both churches. The first board of elders of the collaborating churches would be comprised of the current elder board of the Whitehall church. We value the incarnational ministry of elders in local churches and will immediately begin identifying candidates from both churches that can shepherd the people of God. In preparation for annual congregational meetings, the Elders will nominate qualified, gifted men from both churches to serve on the one elder board of the two churches. Pastors Like the circuit riding pastors of old, the pastoral staff of these collaborating churches will minister God's Word at both churches. As future staffing needs arise, the congregations will meet as one body to either call future pastors or endorse calls made by the elders. More about pastoral staff in the Gatherings section. Pastor Tim Schmoyer will be responsible to teach groups, preach weekly, oversee the organization of the churches, and cast vision for Whitehall church. (40-50 hours/week) Pastor Aaron Smith will continue pastoring the youth and young adults as he is now, he will also preach weekly, and cast vision for the Walnutport church. (40-50 hours/week) Pastor Al Dommel will teach groups, preach every 5-6 weeks, and organize small groups at both churches both for evangelism and discipleship. He will additionally develop and deploy outreach initiatives to the Walnutport/Slatington area. (30 hours/week) Membership Upon initiating this proposal, members of Walnutport will have their membership transferred to the Whitehall church. They are entitled to all rights and responsible for all requirements of membership in the Whitehall church. For the BFC Conference purposes, all statistics will be logged under "Whitehall." 3

5 Gatherings We will provide for the gatherings at the Northern Lehigh church with the following: live music at both churches It is our understanding that Walnutport has sufficient gifted musicians to accompany the worship of God. This proposal will need to change and can easily change if this assumption is not the case. Both churches will have the same set list and order of worship, as this builds the common experience in both churches. morning worship Morning worship gatherings will immediately adopt a short-term strategy to address the continuation of worship after consolidation. The long-term strategy seeks a more permanent solution. Live preaching will be conducted in the morning worship gatherings at both churches. The Elder Board will maintain the speaker schedule at both churches. The pastoral staff will study together on the same text and topic and deliver virtually identical messages at the two churches. Our long-term goal is to hire additional staff. The qualities sought in a pastoral staff member are evangelism, outreach, marketing, preaching and teaching. They will spend one day per week at the Whitehall church preparing for the Sunday gathering alongside Pastor Tim. evening worship If there is interest, Pastor Tim would love to lead an evening worship gathering at the Walnutport church each Sunday. It will feature hymns and praises, conversational Bible study, prayer, and testimonies. weeknite gatherings for children and youth Youth Group: Walnutport and Whitehall teens will gather together at the Whitehall church. The Sinking Spring church is multisite and holds all weeknite gatherings at the Sinking Spring church. Children's Ministry: In the near future, the elders will assess options for midweek children's gatherings. 4

6 N = North = Walnutport Sample Preaching Schedule S = South = Whitehall Mar Palm Sunday 31 Easter Apr 7 14 Proposal Distributed Get to Know You Sunday at Walnutport May 5 Congrega onal Votes at Both Churches Pentecost 26 MemorialDay June 2 N: Tim 9 N: Al S: Aaron July 7 14 N: Tim S: Aaron S: Al Aug N: Tim 25 S: Aaron Sept 1 Labor Day 8 Back to School 15 N: Al Oct 6 N: Tim Reform Day S: Aaron Nov 3 10 N: Tim S: Al S: Aaron Dec N: Tim 22 Christmas 29 N: Al S: Aaron 5

7 Congregational Meetings Annually, the Elders will publish one document which reports to the congregation on the status of the work at both churches. Additionally, this document will issue the proposed budget for the new year. The proposed budget will in one document outline the anticipated expenses for both churches. Also, the document will introduce the candidates that the Elder Board is proposing for offices within the church. The new church will not receive nominations for office from the floor of its Congregational Meetings. The Report Book will be distributed one month before the annual congregational meeting. The members and interested non-members of both churches will meet together once a year for a Church Congregational Meeting. Regardless of church, the members present at this business meeting make up the quorum along with the chairman and secretary. The members present vote on proposals which affect both churches. Phase Two: Autonomy As the God blesses our collaborative efforts, the churches will grow and we will begin to prepare for the separation of the two churches. Before separation would be considered, the elders require that certain benchmarks have been reached average attendance at the Northern Lehigh church 2. 4 lay elders worshipping at the Northern Lehigh church 3. Financial self-sustainability. Income at the church can meet its expenses. The board of elders will open a 501(c)3 corporation which will, upon recognition as a particular church, receive the assets from the Whitehall corporation. The board of elders will involve BFC Church Extension in the process of recognition at BFC Conference. This process is required by the Faith & Order of the BFC. Once recognition as a particular church is granted, the deed(s) will be transferred to the Northern Lehigh church corporation. Cash funds will be divided between the Whitehall church and Northern Lehigh church using this calculation: the excess funds in the operational account will be divided based on the last 12-months income. For example, if Whitehall offerings made up 60% of the total income and Northern Lehigh made up 40% of the total income and the operational account had $100,000, then the Northern Lehigh church would get $40,000 at the time of separation. Certainly this occasion would be a time of exceeding celebration. The two churches would meet to thank God and feast to His grace and goodness. The two churches would then begin serving as distinct groups. 6

8 Enacting this Proposal Amendment period by Leadership The Whitehall Elders and Walnutport Trustees will offer amendment to this proposal until both boards either agree or reject the proposal. If both boards agree, they will all sign the proposal and distribute the proposal to the congregations (see page 8). At the meeting in which the document is distributed, a Special Congregational Meeting will be called for one month from the date of distribution. (NOTE: This has taken place already. This proposal is the product of the Amendment Period.) Get-To-Know-You period Walnutport congregation will have a chance to get to know Pastor Aaron and Pastor Tim and their families on Sunday, April 7. Pastor Aaron will preach the Word. We will share a meal together after the worship gathering. Congregational Meeting at Both Churches Special Congregational Meetings will be held at both churches after morning worship on Sunday, April 14. The churches vote on the proposal with three possible outcomes: 1.If both congregations approve the proposal by 2/3 majority, the elders and trustees will enact the proposal's terms. 2. If the motion fails to receive 2/3 majority at a meeting, both elders and trustees will meet with the members of that church the following week to ascertain if amendment can appease 2/3 majority and the new motion will be voted on. If both congregations agree to the amended proposal by 2/3 majority, the elders and trustees will enact the proposal's terms. 3. If we cannot achieve 2/3 majority in both congregations, the churches will continue ministering as distinct groups. In the future, if the congregation in which the motion failed desires cooperation, they may initiate resumed negotiations. 7

9 Proposal to the Congregations We the undersigned do recommend to the congregations of Calvary Bible Fellowship Church of the Northern Lehigh Valley and Bethany Bible Fellowship Church of Whitehall the above proposal to unite the churches as one church which meets in multiple locations. We have prayerfully considered all the aspects of this proposal and invite you to also pray to Almighty God for His will in this matter. Both churches will hold their own Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday April 14, 2013 immediately following Morning Worship to vote on the following motion: "Resolved that we adopt the document entitled 'Proposal to Progressively Plant a Church in Northern Lehigh' and request our Elders and Trustees to enact the directives in the proposal." Calvary BFC Trustees Bethany BFC Elders George Paduch David Shaffer 8

10 Special Congregational Meeting Agenda April 14, 2013 Opening Prayer: Roll Call of Officers Statement of Purpose: Action: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the proposal made to us by the Elders of Bethany BFC of Whitehall and Trustees of Calvary BFC of Walnutport. After discussion, the membership of the church will vote yes or no on the following resolution: Whereas, we see the benefits of collaborating to begin a fresh work in the Northern Lehigh area, be it therefore Resolved that we adopt the document entitled Proposal to Progressively Plant a Church in Northern Lehigh' ' and request our Elders and Trustees to enact the directives in the proposal. {{ From BFC Faith & Order -- The purpose of the special meeting must be stated at the beginning of the minutes of the meeting, and business shall be limited to the stated purpose of the meeting. Any action must be properly recorded. }} Adjournment with prayer Minutes signed by Secretary of the Congregation 9

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12 Bethany Bible Fellowship Church Whitehall, PA Balance Report March 12, 2013 ASSETS Checking Accounts Embassy Bank Team Capital Bank General Opera on 26, Building Fund included AWANA Elder Benevolent Missions 16, Senior Fellowship WMS Youth , Savings Accounts Team Capital Bank 4, Vehicle Fund 4, Church Plan ng Fund Vanguard (12/31/2012) 2, , Online Accounts Paypal.com General Income Tanzania Medical Trip TOTAL ASSETS 53, LIABILITIES Mortgage Team Capital Bank Mortgage 1 566, Mortgage 2 139, ,

13 Proposed Merger Budget INCOME Whitehall Income 2012 Undesignated Income 248, , Designated Income 46, Total Income 294, Walnutport Income 2012 Undesignated Income 29, , Opera ng Savings 45, An cipated Rental Income 10, , , EXPENSE Wh ACTUAL Wa ACTUAL Comb ACTUAL MERGER MINISTRIES EXPENSE EXPENSE EXPENSE BUDGET AWANA 3, , , Benevolence 1, , Choir Chris an Educa on Training 1, , Christmas Program Church Picnic Guest Speakers 1, , Global Outreach (Missions) 18, , , Junior Church Men's Breakfast Fellowship Outreach , , , Senior Fellowship Socials 1, , , So ball Sunday School & Nursery 3, , , Vaca on Bible School 1, , , Youth Group 1, , , Total for MINISTRY 32, , , , OFFICE Bulle n Inserts Prayer Calendar/Daily Bread Paper , Copier Service and Ink 2, , , Adver sement , Website Postage Mailings Offering Envelopes Checking Services Miscellaneous Supplies 4, , , Total for OFFICE 9, , ,658.00

14 Wh ACTUAL Wa ACTUAL Cmb ACTUAL 13 MERGE COMPENSATION Pastor Tim 71, , , Pastor Aaron 16, , , Al Dommel 17, , , Visita on Ministry 7, , , Administra ve Assistant 8, , , Sexton 8, , , Payroll Expenses Workmen's Comp Total for COMPENSATION 112, , , , PROPERTY U li es Electric 5, , , , Gas/Oil 2, , , , Phone/Internet/Fire 2, , , , Walnutport Parsonage U li es 1, , Water/Sewer , , Building Mortgage Principal 25, , , Mortgage Interest 42, , , Walnutport Parsonage Maint. 1, , , Building Insurance 3, , , , Future Construc on 31, , , Deacons General Expenses 3, , , , Snow Removal 2, , , Van Insurance Van Maintenance 1, , , Music and Sound Piano and Organ Tuning Audio/Video Equipment , Cleaning Supplies, Paper Goods 2, , , Flowers Decora on , Total for PROPERTY 123, , , , BFC CONFERENCE BFC Church Assessment 3, , , BFC Publishing/Prin ng Delega on to Conference Total for BFC CONFERENCE 3, , , TOTAL EXPENSE 281, , , , Income over/(under) Expense 4,

15 Appendix One: Rationale Biblical Support When the Church began, the first Christians met together for worship in the Temple and broke bread from house to house. This seems to indicate that the total number of Christians gathered as one, but also gathered in smaller gatherings throughout the region. Later, as the Church began to spread from one region to multiple regions, doctrinal questions were resolved as one body during the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15. This demonstrates that while the Church met in multiple locations, it was still one congregation. Additionally, Romans 16 indicates that the Church of Rome gathered in various houses throughout the city. Historical Support The early American church grew because of the ministry of selfless men called circuit riders. They would preach in the church in one village and run off to the next village on horseback regardless of the weather. It is reported that the average life expectancy of a circuit rider was 35 due to the harsh lifestyle. Despite the short life of the man, the churches grew from their ministry. In fact, the early BFC had circuit preachers. In our mutual history, the same man had charge over Northampton (from which the Whitehall congregation originated) and Walnutport from 1894 to 1896, again from 1917 to 1933, and again in 1939 and 1940 (see Appendix Two). Additionally, Northampton shared a pastor with Nazareth for many years. We are not sure how the whole system worked in those years, but Doris Wire records in the Whitehall congregation's history book regarding the decade of "the church was... a circuit with Walnutport, with an arrangement of preaching every other Sunday in each place. Pastor Kratz drove an automobile back and forth. Quarterly conferences alternated between the sites. The Northampton class would travel to Walnutport in auto-caravan processions" (Wire 27). With one-quarter of our history sharing one pastor among our two churches, certainly it can be said that our churches share more in common than a surname! 14

16 Bibliography Books Consulted Driscoll, Mark and Gerry Breshears. Vintage Church. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Jones, Tom editor. Church Planting. Joplin, Missouri: College Press McConnell, Scott. Multi-Site Churches. Nashville: B&H Publishing McKinley, Mike. Church Planting is for Wimps. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Malphurs, Aubrey. a New Kind of Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books Surratt, Geoff, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird. A Multi-Site Church Road Trip. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Surratt, Geoff, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird. The Multi-Site Revolution. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing Websites Consulted deo-gloria.blogspot.com/2007/02/mark-driscoll-on-multi-site-church.html theresurgence.com/2011/05/18/are-multi-site-churches-biblical 15

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