(Continued from page 1)

a core in the sense that it is the heart of what will continue this church.  In fact, while we welcome everyone to the events of the church, offering Christ to all, only those willing to make this kind of commitment will be considered the leadership of the congregation.  At our annual Church Conference on September 29, we elected officers from among the 33 so far enlisted.  Of course, becoming part of the core is available to anyone who will be accountable for the three points above.
But it is also a corps in the sense that it is a group that is bound together for a common purpose.  While we have not worked out all the details, and we will certainly have many different opinions, what binds us is our commitment to risk to be the church Jesus Christ intends us to be.
So I have written it as the CORE/CORPS.  You can decide which spelling you prefer.

Here are some definitions:
CORE:  the basic or most important part; the essence.
CORPS:  1. a body of persons acting together under a common direction.
  2. a tactical unit of forces composed of two or more divisions and troops.
The purpose of a Christian congregation:  To be a vital, Christ-centered center for making disciples to transform the world. (Matthew 28:19-20)
The purpose of a Christian pastor: To be the visionary leader who does as the Spirit leads to encourage, support, direct, and provoke the people to risk everything to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:12)
Members of the CORE/CORPS will be accountable to each other to be a tactical unit for Jesus Christ in this community, and they assert the three statements listed earlier, recognizing Jesus Christ as our supreme Head. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

SECTION III. GUIDELINES FOR THE CORE/CORPS.
We recommend the following as some personal guidelines for someone who wishes to be serious in their discipleship:
ü Persons should seek to lead a life with daily personal prayer and scripture reading.
ü Persons should seek to practice an occasional form of fasting appropriate to them.
ü Persons should seek at least a daily contact with other CORE/CORPS members.
ü Persons should seek at least a weekly contact

with an unfamiliar person.
ü Persons should seek at least weekly Worship.
ü Persons should seek at least weekly involvement in a project serving others.
ü Persons should be involved in a small group or class as a learner.
ü Persons should seek eventually to be involved in a small group or class as a leader.

For our group life together, these corporate guidelines are important:
ü We seek together to be a community of prayer in daily contact with Him and each other.
ü We seek together reach agreement in Christ's name (Matthew 18:19).
ü We seek together for weekly Bible study and Christ-centered fellowship.
ü We seek together to find new persons to invite to become part of the CORE/CORPS.

Every meeting will no longer be judged by the business achieved but by the great commandment of loving God and loving our neighbors.
The business of the church will sometimes involve a task, but will most often come in a name of a person.  This is fitting, since our "task" is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Holding people accountable to the agreement will require challenging them directly (risking hurt feelings in order to best push the church forward).  It will require a forgiving spirit, committed to loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving neighbor and self.  We need to recognize that old habits die hard, that new ways will usually require long discussions, and we are all to be partners in this process.  The Holy Spirit may speak to you as well as the pastor or anyone else - you must be responsible to pass on the message.

Since 33 people are too many to gather often in the same place, we will set up divisions that will meet at different times.  These will be groups of 6-12 people who can meet together at least once a week, for at least a half hour to pray together, share dreams for future ministry, lift up the names of people the Spirit has laid on their hearts, and plan to go out to meet with those people.  I will meet with each group at least once.  Some will be at the church; most will be in members' homes.  In the first part of October we will be making these assignments.
I realize that many will have time difficulties; we will work around your schedule - as long as you commit to be part of the CORE/CORPS, we commit to

(Continued on page 3)