Exciting and Uplifting News
In 2005, the Church
Council established a Visioning Committee charged with the
responsibility to develop a Vision/Mission for St. James. This
committee has been meeting since May 2005 to discern God’s purpose for
St. James, and how we should go about carrying out that purpose. Early in April, the Church Council unanimously adopted the
recommendations of the Visioning Committee.
Committee Members:
Lesley Fallu, Heidi Eisermann, Trevor Doolan, Sam Doolan, John Harvell,
George Kenson, and Joe Marrone
Report of the Visioning
Committee
Mission Statement
St. James United
Methodist Church is a community united in faith, committed to making
disciples of Jesus Christ by proclaiming the “good news” of God’s
grace.
Vision Statement
St. James United
Methodist Church fosters discipleship through worship,
education, evangelism, and
service.
Goals
To strengthen our faith community we
will:
-
Worship together
in one service. At the May 9, 2006, Church
Council meeting it was decided the worship time would be 9:30
am.
-
Expand
Christian Education opportunities
-
Improve congregational care
-
Create an
evangelism ministry
-
Continue to
encourage service to those in need
The
specific goals to be carried out in the 2006-2007 year are:
-
Initiate a single worship service
-
Increase emphasis on
education for all
-
Hold focus groups to discuss education needs
-
Develop a job description for a
Christian Education Director
-
Hire a Christian
Education/Youth Director
-
Create an evangelism
ministry
-
Establish
visitation/communication teams
-
Find a volunteer to serve as Communications
Director who will report to the Church Council
-
Continue to educate the congregation about the
connectional church, our Mission Shares, and the commitment
to the larger church family
After many years of
functioning as essentially two congregations, we will now come together
as one united community of faith. In addition, there will be
increased emphasis on evangelism and outreach, a program to care for and
nurture all members of the congregation, and expanded Christian
education opportunities. This is cause for celebration because it
will signal a new era in the life of St. James church.
We
rejoice in this plan, and invite everyone in the congregation to join
together in helping to make it a success. Please pray that our congregation
will be led by the Holy
Spirit as we work together to carry out God’s will in this community. |
