20th September 2011
The passage for the evening was from John 14 about Jesus being the Way, the Truth and the Life and what these could mean for our church. We express these things well corporately, but may be lacking at the personal level. A time of prayer followed.
Discussion items:
- Michelle Ritchie will be prayed for in her new role on October 2nd - the message will be about the focus for worship. Alan has been investigating the relationship between mission and worship.
- Dave was present to report on the areas he has been working in this year. He also reported on the options and costings for upgrading the auditorium, which will be paid for out of the rental the Grace is paying. Approval was given for this.
- It was agreed that due to a number of key people being unavailable and other circumstances, it will not be possible to hold a Summer Camp next year, although it is hoped to have some kind of combined gathering.
- The Elders will be meeting with Grant Harris form Windsor Park Baptist (a North Shore church the same size as us) to discuss how their Eldership operates.
- To help build relationships between the Leadership Team and the Elders, it was decided to hold combined meetings once a term.
- The SWOT analysis was developed further - next stage will to be combine our thoughts with those of the Leadership Team.
The meeting closed with prayer.
16th August 2011
The passage for the evening was from John 15 about the vine and the branches. A time of prayer followed.
Discussion items:
- The 360º review of the Senior Pastor has been completed and the results collated, will now be fed back.
- A cost of living increase has now been applied to pastoral staff salaries.
- Michelle Ritchie has accepted the role of Worship Curator.
- Attendance figures have been down in July, but baptism numbers have been encouraging. Another Baptism Sunday is planned for October.
- Giving has been on budget for the year for both general and missions.
- Fig Tree Anglican are sending a team over in September to encourage the church in response to the earthquake - they will do anything they can to help out.
- Initiatives have taken place to help care for the staff over the winter months. The Elders decided they would like to participate in this by shouting a morning tea.
- Ants was present to report on some of the key issues facing the missions area over the next few years. These include:
- do we continue our role as a sending agency as well as a sending church?
- how separate should the missions area should be from other church ministries - strategically and financially?
- how do we best support new missional projects = both here and overseas?
- We started on a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis looking at our current position and the future.
The meeting closed with prayer.
7th June 2011
This was the first meeting for the new Elders, so everyone introduced themselves to the group. The passage for the evening was Acts 5:33-39 which gives us encouragement as we prepare for the next stage of our journey - if it is of God then it will happen! A time of prayer followed.
Discussion items:
- Graham Early used to attend Elders meetings as a second representative from the CLT. Di Sargent will be the new representative.
- The partnership with Grace Vineyard continues to go well with a number of positive spin-offs. Continuing to work on building relationships - it will be some time before they are back in their buildings.
- Good attendance at the Start-Up series with generally positive feedback. Important that we ensure everyone feels cared for and don't feel left out or left behind.
- There are a number of staff who have been unwell or moved on from their roles recently leading to an unsettled feel - a matter for prayer.
- Need to pick up the 360° review of the Senior Pastor which has been delayed by all the interruptions.
- Richard and Sally Smith and Matt and Ruth Wright have been recommended by the Missions Council as overseas mission workers. This was ratified by the Elders.
The meeting closed with prayer.
19th April 2011
The reading was from Isaiah 48:7-8 - God is revealing new things, not able to be anticipated. A time of prayer followed.
Discussion items:
- The meeting to clarify the relationships between the Missions Council, CLT and Elders has finally taken place and all are happy with the proposals with minor refinements.
- The implications of the earthquake have put a lot of pressure on staff. It has emerged that Graham Early is unable to maintain his role on the CLT at this stage so that he can focus on other areas, and his resignation was accepted with regret. This role will be picked up by other members of the CLT for the remainder of the year.
- The current journey with Grace Vineyard has huge potential with two of the largest churches in the city working together. There are strengths and weaknesses in both churches and we can learn a lot from each other.
- An amended budget was presented in line with requested changes. No allowance has currently been made for property expenses at this stage - once rental from Grace Vineyard has built up we will be able to look at this.
The meeting closed with prayer.
15th March 2011
The reading was from Esther 4:9-14 - "for such a time as this". With the upheaval following the recent earthquake, these words take on extra significance for us both as individuals and a church. A time of prayer followed.
Discussion items:
- Information about the wide range of areas of response to the earthquake was given - a wonderful response from so many people and the leadership team has really stepped up. There has been a wide range of pastoral needs presented, and there is a long road ahead for many.
- Further budget cuts have been made in consultation with cost centre managers. Reducing expenditure further would require staffing cuts. The situation will be monitored carefully to ensure we do not accrue a large deficit.
- Discussion around the proposed formation of a group to oversee and help resource new non-sustaining ventures, both here and overseas. There are a number of issues to be worked through, but the idea was warmly received in principle.
The meeting closed with prayer.
15th February 2011
The devotion for the evening focussed on how Christ sees the Church - as the bride and His body. Common theme of His love for the Church, and we are called to do the same, rather than be critical.
Discussion items:
- Considerable discussion about decision making processes and ensuring that there is clarity about the role that different groups (e.g. CLT, Elders) have in the decision. Will review the "decision making quadrant" model which aims to clarify the roles of different groups in decisions
- Elders have a role representing and reflecting the response of the congregation back to the CLT and catching a vision ourselves for what God is doing, and fostering and encouraging this.
- Decided that we would reduce the length of the devotional time to provide more space for praying at the beginning as well as at the end of the evening.
- Alan presented a list of five goals to work towards as we start on the local community journey. These were strongly endorsed.
- Measures have been taken to reduce the potential budget deficit for 2011, but still a shortfall against last year's giving. Decided to attempt further reductions.
The meeting closed with prayer.
9th December 2010
The devotion for the evening was based on Luke 7: 36-50 where Jesus is in the home of Simon the Pharisee and a woman comes in and washes Jesus feet. How do we make others that "don't fit" feel welcome, particularly thinking of the Grotto and other events leading up to Christmas? Also shows how much God wants to love and forgive even those with "many sins".
Discussion items:
- The 360° review of the Senior Pastor is under way, although not all interviews have been able to take place yet
- A report has been developed to clarify the relationships between the Missions Council, CLT and Elders, which contains some proposed changes. This was approved in principal, and will now go to a combined meeting for further refinement and hopefully to ratify it.
- Focus on baptism this week - 16 people to be baptised.
- A brochure is being prepared giving an overview of what baptism is and how the process works at Spreydon, and an information sheet is also being prepared for those who are going to companion someone in baptism clarifying their role and giving some guidelines.
- After further discussion at the CLT, it has been decided that Alan will have the oversight for Sunday night services next year.
- Considerable discussion on the budget for next year. We will finish 2010 with a significant deficit, and in difficult financial times we will need to be prudent with the resources we have and look for potential savings. Have endeavoured to invest in people for the future where possible.
The meeting closed with prayer.
17th November 2010
The devotion for the evening was a reflection on the many musical artists who are still touring singing the same songs they made popular many years ago. We too have timeless songs - how good are we at listening to these and singing them to others. The passage was Luke 1: 39-56.
The Core Leadership Team visitor for the first part of the evening was Dave Bates. We heard about some of the areas he has been involved with - visiting life groups with Di, overseeing young adults, the life group portal for resources and tracking group members, planning for the neighbourhood focus next year, particularly the Startup meetings in February - and prayed with him.
Discussion items:
- Looking at reshaping the oversight of Sunday night services, with the CLT having turns at taking responsibility.
- Upcoming Christmas Grotto, with the need for ongoing prayer and support.
- The plan to have a Baptism Sunday on the 12th of December at all three services.
- Feedback from Baptist Assembly, with the themes of incarnation and community resonating with what we have been sensing here.
- The hope to have Rob Harley speaking in February as he had an inspiring and moving story of community transformation to tell at the Assembly.
- The 360° review of the senior pastor is about to start, with interviews with selected staff planned to take place before the end of November.
- Much open and honest discussion about the move to local communities and some of the possible pitfalls. Felt that we really need to have grace in the journey and to have the Holy Spirit moving in power. Agreed that God is clearly moving in the area of local communities and that we need, as a church, to explore this area further through initiatives such as those outlined at the All-in Leaders night.
The meeting closed with prayer.
The devotion for the evening was about the reflection that can occur during hard times. It is helpful to realise that God is timeless and unchanging - it is our attitudes that need to change. Also although we can often feel as though things were better in the old days, we have the certain hope that God is still at work and can use us. The passage was Isaiah 40: 18-31.
The Core Leadership Team visitor for the first part of the evening was Anthony Watt. It was good to hear about the many initiatives that he has been involved in that have really developed their own momentum, and to be able to pray with him.
Discussion items:
- A date has been suggested for us to be involved in an overnight stay at a marae in February next year as part of our bi-cultural journey.
- A meeting has been organised to look at the review of the missions structures, with two people from each of the Elders, Missions Council and Core Leadership Team involved.
- Initial work on the 360° review of the senior pastor has taken place, and hopefully will get under way next week.
- Systems to be put in place to give updates to the church from the Elders via the website.
- All-in Leaders' Night on the 29th of October, which will be an important night with some key initiatives to be announced.
- The different sorts of relationships Community Ministries have with the church, and how they can be linked into our church clusters.
- Aiming to have Elders involved with leading communion on a more regular basis
The meeting closed with prayer
21st September 2010
The devotion for the evening was about God's love and our part in that, based around 1 John 4: 7-21. There was a reminder that love without action is just a word.
Discussion items:
- Setting up a review of what structures and systems will best facilitate the diverse areas of "missions" we are now committed to ("traditional" global mission, business as mission and projects).
- Working on a "360° review" of the senior pastor.
- We had a report back on the Core Leadership Team trip to Kolkata, which was a very stimulating and worthwhile time.
- The aftermath of the earthquake and lessons that could be learned.
- An initiative from a number of young adults who have been meeting together looking at God's heart for mission. They have an exciting initiative in mind which they want to promote as part of Global Missions week. There was a lot of enthusiasm for the idea, especially as it is to be seen as part of a longer term programme rather than just a one off "event".
The meeting closed with prayer.
