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COLLABORATION TASK FORCE - INFORMATION PAGE 

(Information is listed by dates; please scroll downward)

(See Task Force Report 7/20/2010 for various scheduled meeting dates going forward and a Tentative Timeline)


 

Task Force Report  (06.30.10)

On June 20th and 27th the three churches voted to proceed with exploring collaborative ministry together.  The vote was as follows:  Holy Trinity 40 for and 17 against  (70%),   Christ Lutheran  83 for, 20 against, 1 abstention (80%),  Good Shepherd 30 for and 6 against (83%).

So now we go forward.  Next week the committee will meet to make plans on how we will proceed in our investigation.  We will bring names from each congregation of people to serve on committees that will focus on specific areas of our ministries.  The areas we have identified for collaboration are:   Fellowship (promoting strength within our congregations),  Community (outreach to the needs of the people of the Spokane Valley),  Worship and Music, YouTh, and Christian Education.   Along with this, there will be committees involved with the Structure of this ministry.  They will be looking at assets and liabilities of each church,  property, location, budgets and staffing.

As you can see, there is much to be done.  Please contact your representative on the committee to let them know in which area you would be willing to serve on a committee.   Committee members are:  CLC / John Duenow and Mark Thompson,  Good Shepherd / Darwin Ronngren and David Lucas, Holy Trinity  Squeaky May and Sue Nurvic.  Our timeline is directed toward an October vote on our findings and recommendations.  This means we will be very busy July thru September.  Please pray for guidance for our churches and how God wants you to be part of the answer.  Whatever the results, we must all be together on any new ventures or they will fail. 

Thank you to all who chose to have their voice heard.  We know that our individual churches are very dear to us and our Christian ministry is set before us, so let us go forward together to discover what God is “up to” here in the Spokane Valley. 

Yours in Christ

The Task Force Committee

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Collaboration Task Force

Contact Information

Christ Lutheran Church

  • John Duenow      johnsallyd@aol.com                   994-0284
  • Mark Thompson   marksthompson1@msn.com       951-5065

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

  • Darwin Ronngren  dndronngren@msn.com               443-8996
  • Dave Lukas          upthecrik@msn.com       922-5942 (H), 220-5740 (C)                  

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

  • Squeaky May       squeak26@comcast.net   891-6412 (H), 951-7512 or        891-6412 (C)
  • Sue Nurvic          nurvis@msn.com                        928-3254

Facilitator

  • Lunell Haught      http://www.haughtstrategies.com       509-443-1319 (voice/fax)

 

Focus Area Committees

  1. Structure  - Darwin Ronngren
  2. Youth  - Sue Nurvic
  3. Community Outreach - Squeaky May
  4. Education – Dave Lucas
  5. Worship and Music – John Duenow
  6. Fellowship – Mark Thompson

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Collaboration Task Force Meeting Minutes July 7, 2010

Vision:  To collaborate with fellow Lutherans to create an engaged, active Lutheran presence in the Spokane Valley in the areas of Fellowship, Community Outreach, Youth, Education, Worship and Social Services.

In attendance  Lunell Haught, Mark Thompson, Dave Lucas, Squeaky May, Darwin Ronngren, John Duenow, Sue Nurvic

4:40 pm   John opened the meeting with a prayer

Darwin shared 7 standards of meeting together based on Bible passages.  UNDER THE SPECTRUM THAT  "PEOPLE OF FAITH CAN FOSTER SAFE, CIVIL  SACRED SPACES FOR DISCOURSE" THERE ARE SEVEN SPECIFIC AREAS OF ACTION SUPPORTED BY BIBLICAL CITATIONS.  THOSE SEVEN GOALS WE MIGHT SEEK FOR OURSELVES ARE

1)  WE COMMIT TO BEING QUICK TO LISTEN AND SLOW TO ANGER.  (James  1:19); 

2) WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.  HOW CAN WE CURSE OTHERS ALSO MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD?  (James  3:9-10);   

3) WE CAN DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY AND "BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE".    (Ephesians  4:2);   

4)  WE MUST  BE MINDFUL OF OUR LANGUAGE WHEN DISAGREEING.  (Proverbs  18:12);    

5)  WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS WE PURSUE THE COMMON GOOD, "FOR WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY".   (Ephesians  4:25);    

6)  WE WILL PRAY FOR OUR POLITICAL LEADERS  AND "ALL WHO ARE IN HIGH POSITION".   (I Timothy  2:1-2);    

7)  WE COMMIT TO PRAY FOR THOSE WITH WHOM WE AGREE AND THOSE WITH WHOM WE DISAGREE, "THAT THEY MAY BE ONE".  (John  17:22).    

Lunell gave each congregation a letter of agreement for her services.  These will be taken to the church councils.

Thoughts and ideas

  • Consistency in communication (we hope to have a space on the JVLM website to post information available to all 3 congregations).  The committee will provide updates to when people ask what's going on we can refer to this, not speculation about what's happening - to provide some rumor control.
  • Concern about moving ahead in summer / urgency of moving ahead
  • GS would have had more yes votes for collaboration if the people at Holden were counted
  • John brought a list of committee volunteers from CLC
  • Website will post agenda for current meeting, original letter to congregations, vision statement, last meeting minutes, contact information for all committee members
  • What to do with other churches who are interested in what we're doing?  If their Council want to formally request a discussion about potential participation we can take it up at that time.

 

 Ground rules  (for this committee and all sub committees)

  • Unified voice from committee:  consistent, timely communication with congregations 
  • Positive – looking ahead
  • Disagreements:  Face to Face - if you don't agree bring it up at the meeting, not in the parking lot.  We all want to hear what we really think.  Communicate with each other by phone to avoid misunderstanding.  Only use email for sharing information.
  • Consensus model to make decisions. Lunell will bring 'gradients of agreement')
  • Open to opinions, best if people write them to the committee (email/note) and sign them
  • Adopt a timeline
  • Open minutes

Focus  Areas

Six committees consisting of 2 people from each church.  One member from the Task Force will chair each committee.

  1. Structure  - Darwin Ronngren
  2. Youth  - Sue Nurvic
  3. Community Outreach - Squeaky May
  4. Education – Dave Lucas
  5. Worship and Music – John Duenow
  6. Fellowship – Mark Thompson
  • Defining sub committees  includes but is not limited to…
  1.  Structure  -  assets and liabilities of each church,  property, location, budgets and staffing
  2. Youth - programs directed at K-12/18 and under.  A strong youth board from the 3 churches already exists - gathering input from the youth involved in programs and envisioning new possibilities.
  3. Community Outreach - Preschools and Day care from the 3 churches, assessing community needs, supporting existing programs and Social Services
  4. Education – Sunday School, Adult Ed, Confirmation, VBS expanding programs 
  5. Worship and Music – Choir, styles of worship, times for worship
  6. Fellowship  - promoting strength within our congregations, small groups, addressing needs of individuals and groups within our congregations such as elderly, young families, wellness, ministering to the sick, etc
  • Each focus group will address their area of inquiry with:
  1. What is available / What is needed
  2. What are our assets
  3. What to do

All groups will meet together on July 13, 2010 at Christ beginning at 6:00 pm  The first hour will be explaining the charge to the committees, getting to know each other.  At around 7 we will share dessert and break up into individual committees.  John and Mark will take care of the coffee/juice for the meeting.  Task Force committee will each bring a dessert.

July 21, 2010 will be the next Task Force meeting at 4:30.

Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm 

Sue Nurvic, Committee scribe

Additional Information:

These people volunteered at the Town Hall Meetings

Pat Linesman 255-6879 (need a SS)

Marla Lucas  922-5942 for Choir/Small ensembles that could travel

Larry Butler  220-5456  Christ Day Care (I think)

Larry Butler 509-228-5456  Interest in Valley center services /LACS

Clarence Howard 928-1002 CL

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Spokane Valley Lutheran Collaborative Ministry  Meeting 

  July 13, 2010    6 pm   Christ Lutheran

The meeting was opened with prayer by Linell Haughty

In attendance :  Linell (facilitator), Task Force Committee, volunteers for Focus

Area committees.

Linell presented an overview of where we are at this point.  She stressed that we are committed to be together in our communication so that all 3 congregations will receive the same picture of our progress. 

Darwin Rogering read the group goals for communication.  This is set as a standard for all of the committees involved in the collaboration research.

1)  WE COMMIT TO BEING QUICK TO LISTEN AND SLOW TO ANGER.  (James  1:19); 

 2) WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.  HOW CAN WE CURSE OTHERS ALSO MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD?  (James  3:9-10);   

3) WE CAN DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY AND "BE PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE".    (Ephesians  4:2);   

4)  WE MUST  BE MINDFUL OF OUR LANGUAGE WHEN DISAGREEING.  (Proverbs  18:12);    

 5)  WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS WE PURSUE THE COMMON GOOD, "FOR WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY".   (Ephesians  4:25);    

 6)  WE WILL PRAY FOR OUR POLITICAL LEADERS  AND "ALL WHO ARE IN HIGH POSITION".   (I Timothy  2:1-2);    

 7)  WE COMMIT TO PRAY FOR THOSE WITH WHOM WE AGREE AND THOSE WITH WHOM WE DISAGREE, "THAT THEY MAY BE ONE".  (John  17:22).    

Linell reviewed the Ground Rules (for this committee and all sub committees).  In discussion,  the last ground rule was added.

  • Unified voice from committee:  consistent, timely communication with congregations 
  • Positive – looking ahead
  • disagreements:  Fae to face - if you don't agree bring it up at the meeting, not in the parking lot.  We will want to hear what we really think.  communicate with each other by phone to avoid misunderstanding.  Only use email for sharing information..
  • Consensus model to make decisions.  (Linell will bring 'gradients of agreement')
  • Open to opinions, best if people write them to the committee (email/note) and sign them
  • Adopt a time line
  •  Open minutes
  • Time out for Prayer (especially good when you “hit a wall” in discussion)

Linell reviewed each focus area and introduced the Leadership Committee member who has responsibility for that team.  Then each member introduced the Focus Area members for his/her team. 

 

1.  Structure – Darwin Rogering

Assets and liabilities of each church, property, location,, budgets and staffing

2.  Youth – Sue Nordic

Programs directed at K-12 / 18 years and under.  A strong youth board from the 3 churches already exists – gathering input from the youth involved in programs and envisioning new possibilities

3.  Community Outreach – Squeaky May

Preschools and Day Care from the 3 churches, assessing community needs, supporting existing program and Social Services

4.  Education – Dave Lucas

Sunday School, Adult Ed, Confirmation, BBS, expanding programs

5.  Worship and Music – John Due now

Choir, styles of worship, times for worship

6.  Fellowship – Mark Thompson

Promoting strength within our congregations, small groups, addressing needs of individuals and groups within our congregations such as elderly, young families, wellness, ministering to the sick, etc

Having set the ground rules, and explained the focus areas, Linell continued with a charge to each committee.  As the separate committees meet for the first time, Linell requested that we use a circle process so everyone speaks in open conversation to;

  • Who is in your group?

What do you bring to the group?

What does each other person bring?

  • What is the purpose of your (Fellowship, Community Outreach/Social Services, Youth, Education, Worship and Structure) group?
  • What information do you need in order to move ahead (survey of what's been done, current status in Valley, key players) etc.

As the  committees meet separately with their members, they will explore

  1. What needs are there related to this focus area?  How to research this
  2. What gifts and abilities do we bring to this area?
  3. What ideas emerge as a result?

Linell emphasized that we must “go forward in strength” – this includes the assets each individual brings to the process as well as the strengths we discern in our congregations. 

The group broke for dessert and then met individually to start the discernment process. 

During the individual committee time, Linell circulated among the groups to assist in focusing the discussion. 

Concluding, all teams met together for a “wrap up” of the evening.  Committees will set individual meeting times.  Linell wishes to meet with the individual committees as we proceed.  The leadership team will meet on Tuesday, July 20th at 4:30 at Holy Trinity. 

The meeting was closed with prayer by Linell.

Sue Nurvic, committee scribe.

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Collaborative Ministry Task Force Meeting -  7.20.2010

(See below for scheduled meetings going forward)

Meeting opened at 4:45 with prayer by Squeaky May.

Present:  Lunell Haught, John Duenow, Dave Lucas, Squeaky May, Darwin Ronngren, Sue Nurvic

Thoughts around the table.  Are we moving too fast?  Is there enough time to do the job well?  This is countered by the need to move on – carrying through with an important task and doing it in a timely manner.  Structure committee is on its way with asset surveys almost completed.  Community Outreach now has a complete committee of 6 beside the chair person.  Worship committee is complete.  Education still needs 2 more members from HT.  Youth needs 2 members from CLC.  Members of the committee were pleased with the July 13th gathering.  They felt it was structured appropriately.  Lunell reported that from her meeting with Pastor James they had decided to recommend that the 3 church Pastors speak to discerning God’s will during the month of August and Lunell will meet with Pastors Matt and David also.

Darwin shared www.ELCA.org as a good website to find out information about ELCA churches, etc

Lunell talked about priming – this is how we influence others to get a positive or negative frame we bring to our task which is reflected to our congregations.  We are moving forward with joy.

The path or process for church involvement looks something like:

 Outreach leads to Fellowship/Youth involvement leads to Education leads to Worship

Structure allows us to accomplish this process with intention and clarity.

Next meeting plans:

Fellowship committee will meet on 7.27.10 at CLC at 5 pm

Community Outreach will meet on 7.27.10 at 6:30 at CLC

Youth committee will meet on 8.3.10 at 5:00 at GS (regular board meeting)

Education

Worship committee meeting at HT tonight at 6:30

Structure Committee will meet 7.22.10 at 10 am at GS

Website – posting of meetings will be sent to Sue or Lunell; Joyce Walker will post on the JVLM website.

Tentative Timeline:

  • August 10 at 4:30  Task Force meeting
  • Week of August 16  Committees Meet (report on research)
  • Week of Sept 7th Lunell will meet with individual committees
  • September 21st  All committees meet  5-7 pm
  • September 26th  Task Force meeting  12 noon  to review reports
  • October 10th   presentation of Recommendations  to Congregations

Meeting adjourned at 6:20 pm

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