River Hills Community Church Transition Team Report
Revised 03/11/2013
Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................3 Overview.................................................................................................................................................................3 Transition Team Accomplishments ........................................................................................................................3 Upcoming Work ......................................................................................................................................................4 Thank You ...............................................................................................................................................................4 Focus Group Reports ..................................................................................................................................................4 Heritage Group Report ...........................................................................................................................................5 Group Members .................................................................................................................................................5 Congregational Event .........................................................................................................................................5 Member Input ....................................................................................................................................................7 Identity Group Report ............................................................................................................................................8 Group Members .................................................................................................................................................8 Accomplishments and Responses ......................................................................................................................8 Leadership Group Report .................................................................................................................................... 12 Group Members .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Accomplishments and Responses ................................................................................................................... 12 Outstanding Tasks ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Items Not in Scope........................................................................................................................................... 16 Connections Group Report .................................................................................................................................. 17 Group Members .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Focus Areas ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Recommendation for Missions Standing Committee ..................................................................................... 19 Exhibits ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Future Group Report ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Group Members .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Future Vision.................................................................................................................................................... 25 The Role of our Senior Pastor .......................................................................................................................... 26 RHCC Congregational Profile ............................................................................................................................... 28 Background ...................................................................................................................................................... 28 Our Identity ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Our Missions .................................................................................................................................................... 30 Our Future ....................................................................................................................................................... 31 RHCC Pastoral Profile .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Closing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 34
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Introduction Overview The River Hills Community Church (RHCC) Transition Team was formed to develop, evaluate and implement a transitional strategic planning process, as well as to develop a tentative timeline for action on said plan. Upon completion of the Transition Team work, a Pastoral Search Committee is formed and the search for our Senior Pastor begins.
Transition Team Accomplishments On February 26, 2012, all members of the RHCC congregation were asked to submit names of three members who would be good candidates to serve on the RHCC Transition Team. Candidate names were compiled, candidates were asked to serve, and a diverse team of 25 was formed. From March to October, the team accomplished the following tasks.
Training during five weekly sessions focused on the following topics, around which subgroups were formed: o Heritage o Identity o Leadership o Connections o Future A weekend retreat for further training and development A comprehensive church wide survey to enlist the congregation in the self study process; participation was strong and results were shared with the congregation; the results also provided the Transition Team with important information, including: o An accurate profile of the congregation o A profile of the next senior pastor o A number of tasks (some completed and others ongoing or planned) for the congregation to accomplish as the Pastor Search Committee completes its search Continued team meetings and planning for church wide events Four church wide events – one each to celebrate our Heritage, discuss our Identity, learn about Leadership and discover our existing Connections (average attendance for Sunday events was 200; Wednesday evening event brought 160 participants) Formed work groups to concentrate on various leadership activities (creating Policies and Procedures Manual, updating bylaws, creating Employee Handbook, etc.) A second church wide survey focused specifically on the future leadership structure for RHCC Planning for an RHCC pictorial directory This report which includes reports from each subgroup (Heritage, Identity, Leadership, Connections, and Future)
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Upcoming Work In addition to the completed tasks, the Transition Team has several upcoming work items, including:
“Future” event for the congregation (planned for November 4) Congregation asked to submit names to be considered for the pastor search committee; per RHCC bylaws, this is the responsibility of the Pastor and Staff Relations Committee – the Transition Team has recommended this process to request names but the decision will be made by the Pastor and Staff Relations Committee (submit names on November 18) Search committee chosen and beginning work (late November to early December)
Thank You Thank you to the RHCC congregation for your support and participation in allowing this important work to be accomplished, ensuring a bright future for River Hills Community Church. A special thank you goes to all of the Transition Team members for their hard work and dedication. Transition Team Members John Baber
Jay Nelson
Mark Cook
Steve Park
Amy Davis
Marge Reese
Betty Ellis
Joe Renner
Kevin Gray
Tally Roberts
Tommy Hasty
Mary Ann Robinson
Bob Hill
Paul Russell
Lois Jamieson
Scott Segars
Roger Klaesius
Lydia Smith
Chris Leff
Jo Steagald
Dick Lewis
Julie Van Slambrook
Jean Marshall
Lesley Wilson
Leigh McConnell
Sheri Wood
Dick Meier
Jeanne Woolery
Focus Group Reports The following are reports from each sub-group of the Transition Team.
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Heritage Group Report Group Members The Heritage Focus Group was comprised of the following Transition Team members:
Bob Hill Jean Marshall Joe Renner Jo Steagald (staff resource) Sheri Wood
Congregational Event Our goal was to focus on/celebrate who we are at RHCC. We wanted to learn about our legacy and to renew our path to serve God. It was decided to dedicate a Sunday morning in June 2012 to this endeavor with a breakfast/discussion affair to involve the congregation and request their participation/input in such a way to accomplish our goal. We would then move to the sanctuary for a combined worship service. The meal was graciously prepared by the Contemporary Sunday School Class and assisted by the Youth group. While eating, the discussions began and were steered by members of the Transition Team/Elders. Three specific questions were used to guide the input. Upon entry into the dining hall the participating members could see a large "Time Line Chart" on the wall above and behind the speaker platform. The chart started in 1972 on the left-hand side and ended on the right at 2012. Colored "Post-it" notes of varying colors were used to make input in response to the three central questions. Also, member joining dates were posted on the board. A special color was used to indicate Charter members. In the end, the "Time Line Chart” came alive with over 400 "Post-it" notes on the chart spaced through time. At the end of the session, the members were asked to pick up a small piece of colored glass to represent the sad input and to carry that piece of glass to the Joint Sanctuary Service. During the Communion portion of the Service, they deposited these pieces of glass representing sad and unpleasant memories symbolically at the feet of Christ so as to provide closure to these thoughts. Later these pieces of g lass were woven into a beautiful cross which is now clearly visible in the gathering space for all to see. A report was written and featured in the Koinonia which provided a summary of the "Core" input provided through the over 400 "Post-its" on the "Time Line Chart" for all to digest. A copy of that Report/Analysis is attached in the Member Input section of this document. With this as a baseline, the other Focus Point Committees would proceed.
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The committee also did a review of our church History and found it to be fascinating and unique. Essentially the basic facts were:
River Hills was a very new development and somewhat isolated in York County in the community of Lake Wylie. Those wishing to find a place to worship had to travel further than they would like. A small group organized an Easter Service in 1973 down by Lake Wylie. Expecting between 50 and 100 people, they were surprised by over 200 attendees. From this beginning a dream was pursued to form a church in Lake Wylie. There were many different denominations represented by those interested, so the subsequent planning chose to have a central premise that the dream would be an inter -denominational body. From there they planned and grew into a lasting entity for the Lake Wylie community. Their first Pastor was called and started in May 1975. Since then a total of three Senior Pastors have served the church. The first pastor wrote a treatise concerning the church dream which laid out and established the theology for the new entity through several affirmations. From this beginning the church has thrived. A Covenant was evolved which described our beliefs in beautiful prose. This Covenant is still in use today. Lay leadership guided the body through three building programs to form today's campus complex. All members should read the history documents in our church library, especially the basic founding document written by the first Pastor. The essentials are: The church would be founded on the Bible, we are to be an "inclusive" church with one central affirmation: "Jesus Christ is Lord of all life."
At the combined worship service that Sunday we showed a film which reviewed this history and we were delighted to have our first Senior Pastor provide the sermon which served to motivate us to continue with our wonderful Legacy/Heritage.
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Member Input Over 200 members of the congregation participated in the congregational event to remind ourselves of our unique Heritage and how we see our Hopes for the Future. They also contributed to listing things about our past which made us sad. The Transition Team has analyzed the comments and summarized what is considered the core input. The chart below provides this summary. Not all comments made are listed – just those where consensus indicated what is core input to our Heritage. Please take the time to read them. The team thanks those members for their efforts and input to the exercise. GOD BLESS! The three questions members were asked to answer as input were the following: 1. What are your happiest/loving memories over time which you have experienced in your church involvement at RHCC? 2. What are things which made you sad? 3. What would you like to see in our future? Sweet Memories
Sad Things We Would Like to Forget
Future – Our Hopes
Married Here
Leadership Communication
Develop Respect for Each Other
Child/Grandchild Baptized Here
Blindsided
Ecumenical- Christ as Head
Gifts & Influence Of Our Senior Pastors
Leaders do not Listen
Consider Differences a Blessing
Music
Rumors
Be Ready and Willing to Serve
Youth Group
Changed Leadership Method
Focus on Being Body of Christ
Ecumenical
Pastor Conflicts Unresolved
Sense of Community
Hanging the Greens
Anger, Frustration, Grief
Trust Each Other
Good Sermons
Decisions Made by a Few
Celebrate Young Families & Children
Sunday School
Tried to be All Things to All
Be the Neighborhood Church
Easter Sunrise Service
Youth Suffered
Celebrate our Youth as Core
Warm Welcome
Distrust
Let go of Sad Things
Caring
By-laws ignored
Celebrate our Music
Disciple Bible Class
Forgot we were Interdenominational
Be Welcoming
Compassion
Lost our Pastor
Return to 30% Missions
Mission Emphasis
Split
We Should Study our Bible
Prayer Shawls
Need for Forgiveness
Seek God’s Will
Libby Claire
Missions % Cut
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Identity Group Report Group Members The Identity Focus Group was comprised of the following Transition Team members:
Kevin Gray (staff resource) Lois Jamieson Roger Klaesius Jay Nelson Marge Reese Mary Ann Robinson
Accomplishments and Responses All members of the team met weekly for approximately ten weeks. During that period, we determined our focus would be on the covenant, mission statement, vision statement, generational differences, and the survey results.
Mission and Vision Statements Our group collected Mission and Vision Statements from our church and other churches. (Our church had several.) On October 3, 2012, the committee met to determine what our Mission and Vision Statements should be. We received diverse opinions after our breakfast meeting. The following options were sent out via Internet survey during the last week in October. Current Mission Statement: The church exists to glorify God, win people to Christ and to disciple people in Christ. Proposed Mission Statement: The mission of the River Hills Community Church is to be faithful to the call of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in developing a caring, loving community within our congregation that reaches out to all those around us. Current Vision Statement: In response to God’s love, call and direction, we will commit ourselves through spiritual growth to reach persons in our community for Jesus Christ. We accept God’s ministry as the core of our purpose in life by giving our time, talents and resources to God’s work. Proposed Vision Statement: We accept Gods ministry as the core of or purpose in life and in response to his love, call and direction, we will: Prayerfully pursue God’s will by worshipping regularly, studying the Bible, serving the church and the community and supporting both domestic and global Christian missions. Be inclusive, inviting and welcoming to all, wherever they are on their faith journey as we seek unity in His church. Engage both new and established members in equipping them to become fully active in the life of the church as we develop a strong leadership in giving our time, talents and resources to God’s work. The result from the survey for both the Mission Statement and the Vision Statement were the proposed options. Revised 03/11/2013
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Congregational Event Focus We planned our Sunday morning congregational breakfast for July 15, 2012, to accomplish the following: I.
II.
III. IV.
V. VI.
Gather answers to the following questions asked at the table: 1. In your opinion, what is our church’s identity? 2. If you could change one thing about our church, what would it be? 3. Are our values covered in our current Mission Statement? Receive comments from the congregation regarding the Mission and Vision Statements. Current statements were listed with suggested new statements, as well as space for participants to write their own statements or comment on the current and suggested statements. Review the history and meaning of our Covenant. Emphasize the differences among the major generations (Builders, Boomers, Busters, and Bridgers). This was accomplished with music videos from each generation, and actors dressed in clothes of their era in a setting depicting their ages. Provide brief highlights from the book A Change of Pastors…and how it affects change in the congregation by Loren Mead. Summarize survey on PowerPoint with illustrations, where available.
Congregational Event Responses I.
Below are the responses to questions asked during breakfast and summarized by other Transition Team members. In your opinion, what is our church’s identity? Gathering place for all denominations, diversity, welcoming. Loving, interdenominational Community church in a broad sense Older Church “Hub” of Lake Wylie Community , represents all aspects and backgrounds of the community More traditional Inclusive, open, giving Ecumenical, casual Upper middle class, white, mature, old No identity right now If you could change one thing about our church, what would it be? Communication Would prefer single traditional service More church involvement from the congregation More missions money More appeal to younger people Get rid of negative thoughts and actions Channel visitors and possible members from youth group and preschool Better website The impression of two separate churches Continued on next page… Revised 03/11/2013 Page 9 of 35
Have folks “meeting - greeting” at church events Be less of a River Hills Church and more of a Lake Wylie Community Church Time for Sunday School between the two services Change leadership structure Eliminate secret groups Sunday school / Bible study for jr. and sr. high kids Get rid of Elder board Need two services – one blended geared more toward younger adults and one totally traditional Are our values covered in our current Mission Statement? (Time did not allow for answers to this question.) II. See the Mission and Vision Statements section of this document for details on the Mission and Vision Statements. III. Covenant – no one feels that the Covenant needs to be changed. IV. The Generations – Each generation group filters information they hear through their own life experiences. Understanding these differences helps us deal with tensions between the various groups and helps us know how to minister to the needs of each group. The older generation (the Builders) want sermons that explain the meaning of a particular text or passage; the Boomers want a “how to” sermon; the Busters are looking for practicality and the Bridgers want what is pertinent TODAY. One group wants organ music, another drums, another Jazz and the youngest – a variety show. V. A Change in Pastors by Loren Mead. We shared with the group at breakfast that according to the author, “one of the most important times in a congregation’s life is the time between a pastor’s leaving and another’s arrival.” There can be incredible congregational change. Congregations can find a new commitment to ministry. VI. Survey summary: Children: Although the survey depicts us as an older congregation, look at the children’s worship time at the traditional service, SHOUT – has 150 children regularly, we had 250 children in Vacation Bible School, and we have 90 youth attending regularly. Over half the Bible school students do not attend our church on Sundays. Over half of the Youth’s parents do not attend church. What an opportunity for ministry! Our Area: Lake Wylie area is expected to grow from 22,800 residents in 2000 to 34,000+ in 2015 (based on the US Census projected populations), making it one of the fastest growing regions in the Piedmont. Area is highly educated and affluent. What we are doing well (in order): Children’s Educational Programming Youth Educational Programming Music Program Helping each other in times of trouble (Care & Kindness) Providing a meaningful worship experience What needs work: Communication Organizational Structure Adult Christian Education and Programming Number of Visitors Invited to Church (41% of us have not invited anyone to church) Continued on next page… Revised 03/11/2013 Page 10 of 35
Development and Training of Church Leadership View of the Bible: 1 person believes the Bible is an Ancient Book of History 7 people believe the Bible is not really God’s Word, but can teach moral precepts 36 people believe the Bible is a record of many different people’s responses to God 136 people believe the Bible is the inspired work of God with possible human error 25 people believe the Bible is the actual Word of God
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Leadership Group Report Group Members The Leadership Focus Group was comprised of the following Transition Team members:
Mark Cook Tommy Hasty (staff resource) Chris Leff Dick Lewis Scott Segars Lydia Smith
Accomplishments and Responses This section outlines what the Leadership subgroup has accomplished and any responses received from the congregation.
Analysis of Congregational Survey The Leadership subgroup completed an analysis of the congregational survey results that related to the category of leadership. The following are the applicable areas for improvement and any actions (completed and planned). Area for improvement
Actions (complete or planned)
44% of respondents disagreed that lay leaders are provided the training they need for their committee and task assignments
78% of respondents disagreed that disagreements/conflicts are dealt with openly rather than hushed up or hidden behind closed doors
Numerous written comments focused on the need for a change in the church’s organizational structure
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Determine existing training in place for lay leaders (complete) Define and/or enhance training opportunities for lay leaders (planned) At church-wide event, discuss conflict management styles and the need to discontinue “triangular talk” (complete) Short congregational survey focused solely on options for the organizational structure of the church (complete) Implementation of new organizational structure (planned)
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Congregational Event The leadership subgroup held a congregational event on Sunday, August 12. The event included the following activities and presentations:
Pot-luck breakfast A status update on the Transition Team process A series of humorous skits that brought to light some mistakes that we (the church) have made in the past A presentation on conflict types and conflict management styles A second round of skits that focused on how the mistakes we made before can be avoided in the future (based on developing a Policies and Procedures Manual, updating our bylaws, etc.) A video of a diverse group of church members reciting the RHCC Covenant An appreciation video and presentation to church staff
Skills Survey During the congregational event, our team also had attendees fill out “skills surveys” related to various ways they might be willing to help out at church. The skills included in the survey focused on the following areas:
Ministry opportunities Music skills Facilities Visual arts Personal talents and interests Technology Leadership/management/professional Office support
As of 9/18/2012, our team has compiled the results from over 120 surveys. We have provided the compiled list of church member skills to the office and several other committees who have requested the information. This has allowed more members to get involved in numerous activities to support the church. It has also provided some relief to committees who needed extra help.
Organizational Structure The Leadership subgroup surveyed the congregation in August to determine their choice of church governance/leadership structures. The choices were governance of a spiritual nature, governance of an administrative nature, or a blend of both. The "blended" structure was voted as first choice with 63.2% of those voting selecting this option. We will continue to evaluate implementation processes.
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Policies and Procedures Manual Another need that the Leadership subgroup has been working on is a manual of policies and procedures. A committee of 20 has been formed, and meetings have begun. The committee has been broken down into subgroups, and the members of each subgroup are responsible for writing the policies and procedures for a distinct set of topics. The projected deadline for having the manual completed and ready for formatting/printing is November 15th, 2012. Once approved, the final version will be made available to the congregation and posted on the RHCC website.
Employee Handbook The first draft of the new RHCC Employee handbook is complete. The text was derived from the Myers Park Presbyterian Church Employee Handbook and the Myers Park United Methodist Church Employee Handbook. The new handbook includes general policies, sick leave and vacation policies, employee conduct policies, separation and severance pay policies. It also includes a new and separate Substance Abuse Policy. Still to come are an employee performance evaluation, employee performance plan and the system that will make these items work effectively. The final version will be housed in the church office.
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Outstanding Tasks The following are outstanding tasks and proposed completion dates for each area of work. Area
Task(s)
Completion date
Church governance/leadership structure
Working group of nine (include one from elder board, one staff member, one from pastor/staff relations committee, one trustee plus five congregation members) to develop a first draft governance structure that contains elements of both spiritual and administrative leadership
1/15/2013
Transition Team review and approval
1/29/2013
Edits made
2/5/2013
Attorney review, if required
2/19/2013
Edits made
2/26/2013
Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review, if needed
3/5/2013
Edits made
3/11/2013
Elder review and approval
3/18/2013
Edits made
3/25/2013
Submitted to congregation for approval
4/1/2013
Nominations committee to put new structure in place
TBD*
Finalize content
11/15/2012
Formatting of content
11/30/2012
Elder review and approval
12/1/2012 – 1/5/2013
Edits made
1/12/2013
Final version presented to congregation
1/20/2013
Finalize content
11/15/2012
Formatting of content
11/30/2012
Attorney review
12/31/2012
Edits made
1/14/2013
Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review
1/21/2013
Edits made
1/28/2013
Elder review and approval
2/4/2013
Edits made
2/11/2013
Final version presented to congregation
2/18/2013
Recruiting and hiring guidelines and procedures
Finalize content to include background checks, reference checks, non-compete policy (to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual)
11/15/2012
Define process for updating and approving changes to P&P manual,
Form new standing Updates and Approvals committee
January 2013
Policies and Procedures Manual
Employee Handbook
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Area
Task(s)
Completion date
Employee Handbook, Bylaws, etc.
Updates and Approvals committee to define process
6/1/2013
Training for lay leaders, committee members, volunteers
Form new standing Training committee
2/1/2013
Training committee to define/enhance training opportunities
4/20/2013
Elder review and approval
5/1/2013
Edits made
5/15/2013
Final version presented to congregation
6/1/2013
Put team in place to update Bylaws
1/15/2013
Utilize new Updates and Approvals process to start updating Bylaws
February 2013
Bylaws
Finalize Bylaws according to new church organizational structure Attorney review, if required Edits made Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review, if needed Edits made
* Exact dates TBD based on date that new church structure is in place
Elder review and approval Edits made Submitted to congregation for approval Preschool Bylaws
New Bylaws in place
6/1/2013
New item (TBD)
6/1/2013
Items Not in Scope The following items were decided to either be in good shape or not in our team’s scope. Item
Notes
Church logo
No change needed
Church name
No change needed
Preschool program review
Potential future consideration, not in our team’s scope
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Connections Group Report Group Members The Connections Focus Group was comprised of the following Transition Team members:
John Baber Amy Davis Leigh McConnell Dick Meier (staff resource) Steve Park Jeanne Woolery
Focus Areas The Connections Focus Team was responsible for identifying and reporting on the ways in which River Hills Community Church is connected to groups and organizations beyond our congregation. The team identified three focus areas to prepare for presentation to the Congregation. The focus areas were:
The mission funding process used by both the Global and Local Mission Teams The funding history for the many projects River Hills supports Outside organizations which receive non-financial support from River Hills Community Church
The Mission Funding Process The Board of Elders has designated 10% of the Church income from pledges and loose plate offering to be used for funding mission projects. The Elders further designated the funds to be divided 80/20 between local missions and global missions. Additional funding is obtained through "Second Mile" giving. Second Mile funds are monies received from the semi-annual craft fair, Christmas From the Heart, Special Easter and Christmas offerings and contributions received from individuals over and above their annual pledge. Some of these funds are designated for specific projects and are allocated as requested. Undesignated "Second Mile" funds are divided 80/20 between Local and Global Missions. Allocation of funds to specific projects is done by separate Local and Global Mission Teams. Teams are made up of volunteers who have an interest in mission outreach. The teams are not standing committees so their membership is open to any active church member who has a passion for either local or global missions. Exhibit 1, attached, shows the current membership of the Local and Global Mission Teams. The Connections Focus Group is recommending that a Missions Standing Committee be formed to enable mission funding to be represented on the church financial committee. This committee would be responsible for recruiting team members for both the Local and Global Missions Team.
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Mission Funding History Below is a summary of Mission giving over the last five full years. Local Missions: Budgeted Funds Second Mile Funds Subtotal Local Missions
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
$139,305
$147,110
$72, 832
$76, 921
$97,138
$55,000
$20,419
$46,186
$55,612
$28,426
$17,417
N/A*
$159,724
$193,296
$128,444
$105,347
$114,555
Global Missions:
2007
2008
Budgeted Funds
$17,930
$31,298
$1,120
Subtotal Global Missions Total Mission Funding:
Second Mile Funds
2010
2011
2012
$19,825**
$20,410
$22,660
$12,630
$21,871
**
$13,283
$13,121
N/A*
$19,050
$53,169
$17,920
$33,693
$35,781
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
$178,774
$246,465
2009
$146,364
$139,040
2012
$150,336
* Not available until end of year ** Available Global Mission funds for 2009 were not fully expended Exhibit 2, attached, shows the details of Local Mission funding from budgeted funds over the last five full years. Exhibit 3, attached, shows Local Mission funding from "Second Mile" giving over the last five full years. Exhibit 4, attached, shows funding for Global Missions from combined budgeted and Second Mile funds. Two observations need to be noted. The first is that the mission funding from budgeted funds has declined in line with reduced pledges and plate offerings over the last several years. The second observation is that Second Mile giving has provided substantial additional funds for mission projects.
Non-Financial Support of Groups Outside River Hills Community Church River Hills Community Church supports many groups and organizations by allowing them to use our facilities. Some groups and organizations are sponsored by our church; others are not. Some are regularly scheduled activities: others are occasional activities scheduled as needed. Exhibit 5, attached, shows the many groups and organizations outside our church that make use of our facilities.
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Recommendation for Missions Standing Committee The Connections Focus Group is recommending that a Missions Standing Committee be formed to enable mission funding to be represented on the Church Finance Committee. This committee would be responsible for recruiting team members for both the Local and Global Mission Teams. The committee would be composed of three members: the chair of the Local Mission Team, the chair of the Global Mission Team, plus one member from the congregation at large. The members would serve three year staggered terms and would be eligible to serve two terms. The third year member would chair the committee. At the Connections presentation to the Congregation on September 8, attendees were asked to respond to three questions regarding the church’s mission funding. The questions and a summary of the responses are shown below. Question 1: How do you feel about the level of mission funding? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Current 10% is OK, but would encourage upward growth as church heals and giving evolves. Second Mile giving is a good thing. Might consider changing local/global split from 8/2 to 7/3 or 9/1. Must remember use of our facilities adds to our mission outreach.
Question 2: What kind of outreach activities would you honestly be willing to devote time and effort to? How can we get more people involved in these activities? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Communicate specific (short term) areas where help is needed. Help with children. Habitat for humanity Keeping youth involved might “lead by example” and get more adults involved. Mission activities where the entire family can be involved.
Question 3: What would you like to see changed/added to our mission activities? 1. Programs that help youth/children in the community (mentoring, lunch buddies, scholarships, bringing youth in to RHCC to join our youth activities, etc.) 2. Habitat for Humanity 3. Programs for local elderly (pick up medicine, parish nurse, transportation, Community Cafe) 4. Aid homeless 5. Communication
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Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Current Local and Global Mission Teams Local Missions
Global Missions
Bev Durham
Larry Arnold
Barbara Jowett
Charles Ford
Linda Mullen
Carol Lassiter
Sherry Nelson
Jean McMath
Karen Otteni
David Parsons
Martha Park
Pam Smith
Pam Smith
Dave Thomas
Tor Smith Jeanne Woolery Mark Woolery Elder Liaisons Carr Bennett
Revised 03/11/2013
Ron Otteni
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Exhibit 2: Local Mission Funding from Budgeted Funds
Clover Area Assistance Center PATH Children's Attendion Home Pilgrim's Inn York Adult Enrichment Center Episcopal Home York Place Palmetto Pregnancy Center God's Kitchen Lighthouse Ministries True Word of God Church Safe Summer Camp Catawba Care Coalition Biblical Studies Release time Bible Character Education Minister's Discretionary Fund* Clover Church of The Nazarine Tender Hearts Crossbeam Ministries Kairos Prison Ministry Safe Passage Teen Health Center Interfaith Hospitality Habitat for Humanity Hospice & Community Care Good Folks of York County Urban Ministry of Charlotte Charlotte Rescue Mission TOTAL
Revised 03/11/2013
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
$19,000 13,000 7,000 10,000 9,000 6,000 7,000 11,000
$20,000 12,000 10,000 9,000 8,000 6,000 7,000 10,000 7,000 5,000 8,000 4,000 5,000
$12,000 12,000 7,000 6,000 4,000 4,000 3,500 932 4,500 4,000 4,000 2,000 1,500 400 7,000
$18,000 12,000 7,000 6,000 4,000 4,500 4,000 4,500 4,500 4,000 4,000 2,000 1,500 500 421
$23,000 15,000 9,000 7,000 6,638 6,000 6,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 500
$72,832
$76,921
$97,138
5,305 8,000 3,000 3,000 15,000
2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 5,000 4,000 2,500 2,000 1,000
16,000 5,000 5,000 2,610 2,500 2,000 2,000 1,000
$139,305 $147,110
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Exhibit 3: Local Mission Funding from Second Mile Giving 2007
York Adult Enrichment Center Lighthouse Ministries Habitat for humanity Clover Arrea Assistance Center* PATH God's Kitchen Urban Ministry of Charlotte Pilgrim's Inn Children's Attendtion Home Espicopal Home Palmetto Pregnancy Center True Word of God Church Biblical Studies Release Time Safe Summer Camp Bible Character Education Catawba Care Coalition Teen Health Center Safe Passage Stuff Unlimited Minister's Discretionary Fund* River Hills Preschool Charlotte Rescue Mission TOTAL
11,910 1,000 1,900 1,400 750 250
1,695
2008
2009
2010
2011
$1,070
$1,605 1,704 1,500 15,812 17,102
$1,187 1,472 1,500 2,979 2,455 2,692 500 1,712 2,342 2,692 1,357 2,012 1,777 1,445 1,242 1,062
$4,050 3,668 2,500 2,450 1,500 1,000 1,000 999 150 50 50
$28,426
$17,417
1,500 8,302 7,602 1,735 500 2,735 2,990 3,665 2,425 1,075 2,345 1,255 2,338
1,314 200 $20,419
1,805 4,014 735 95
$46,186
500 2,434 2,260 1,706 821 1,416 2,616 4,145 876 1,015 100
$55,612
*Beginning in 2009 most (or all) of the Minister's discretionary Fund allocation
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Exhibit 4: Global Mission Funding (Combined Budget Funds and Second Mile Giving)
Philippine Hope Ministry Kenya Orphanage Project Church World Services World Vision Mississippi Disaster Response Mexico Mission God Factor Time for Christ Mexicao Ministries Poland Orphanage Danita's Children Urban ministry Center August Rain Lifting Burdens Haiti Earthquake Wycliffe Bible Translators Campus Crusade for Christ SIM Teen Missions International Cross Beam Ministries Amigos DeHonduras B S F International fund TOTAL
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2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
9,000
$20,781 8,735
$7,245 3,050
$5,170 4,420 3,497 9,176
1,000 1,000
$7,232 6,382 5,260 3,832 2,775 2,000 2,000 1,800 1,500 1,500 1,000 500
300 2,750 3,000 1,000
2,000
4,434 1,000 1,000
2,225 900 1,000
1,000 5,459 2,610 2,444
1,000
1,200 1,500 1,420 500 770 2,000 1,700 1,420 500 420
$53,669
$17,920
$33,693
500 5,206 500
500
1,000 $19,050
$35,781
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Exhibit 5: Non-Financial Support of Outside Groups and Organizations Regularly Scheduled Activities AA 10 Brownie Troops 4 Daisy Troops All Saints Catholic (Joint Services) Boy Scouts Cub Scouts Pop Warner Cheerleading Adult Wed. Night Basketball Al-Anon & Ala-Teen Anglican Worship (Sat.) Basketball Community Bible Study Palisades Episcopal School Volleyball Activities Scheduled as Needed Babysitting Class Blood Drives CPR Training CVS Flu Shot Clinic Emmaus Community Forest Oak HOA Meetings Weddings and Funerals Heron Cove HOA Meetings Kairos Liberty Hill Zion Church Lifeline Screening Group LW Garden Club LW's Moms Group Oakton HOA Meetings Piano Guild Piano Recital Scholarship Gold Meeting Voting Precinct River Hills HOA
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Future Group Report Group Members The Future Focus Group was comprised of the following Transition Team members:
Betty Ellis Tally Roberts Paul Russell Jo Steagald (staff resource) Julie Van Slambrook Lesley Wilson
Future Vision “Today we begin a new era of our journey. God has led us all from one milepost to another, challenging us to never be rigid or closed minded. By reflecting on our past and by beginning a process of re- dreaming this church’s initial dream, we will find what God expects from us as his church. This is our opportunity to re-believe what this church preaches, teaches, and inasmuch believes but to also reaffirm our own commitment to God’s purpose for all of us. And in all of this, we, as a congregation pray that God will renew our faith and sense of belonging in this church. River Hills Community Church is the gift of a loving God and a patient and working people who shared their ideas, who cared enough to devote their energies, who sacrificed their own denominational biases for Christian unity, and who dared to try an idea whose time was long overdue. And the best way to keep our church alive, vital and growing is to focus from time to time on that original dream, the desire to be a church in which all people, regardless of background, could worship God and Jesus Christ. Every church should have a characteristic that makes it unique, and in that uniqueness should be its strength. Our dream for unity is what makes this church unique and that dream provides God’s strength for us. If we ever give up on that dream, if we ever become exclusive rather than inclusive, if we ever become so self-righteous and holy that we are uncomfortable with sinners, such as we are, then we will have abandoned our dream and our strength.” The words above are from Growing from a Dream, the February 11, 1979 sermon written by Gene Jester, the first Minister at River Hills Community Church. The time is now for River Hills Community Church to refocus on our original dream and our strength. We will need a strong Senior Pastor to guide us through this process and help us to avoid reliving the mistakes of our past. Several strengths were identified by our members in a recent survey for member of River Hills Community Church. Our congregation feels that one of the best things we do as a church is take care of each other in times of need. The reason many of our members originally started coming to River Hills was because of the Senior Pastor. What has kept many coming back is that our friends are here. Our Church has:
A meaningful worship experience of God and the Christian tradition A strong Children’s Ministry Program A strong Youth Ministry An excellent music program A big heart for missions and are known for our giving – both locally and globally
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Our membership was also surveyed on areas in our Church that need improvement. Our Church needs to:
Help Members deepen their personal, spiritual relationship with God Improve our caring ministry for the sick, shut-ins, and the bereaved Focus on and improve our evangelism efforts Help members discover their own gifts for ministry and service Complete the process of clarifying and modifying our governance and policies
The Role of our Senior Pastor Through Godly guidance and direction, a committed core membership, and many dedicated, willing, and gifted leaders and workers, our Senior Pastor will lead this congregation to re-believe what this church preaches and teaches. S/he will lead us to renew our faith and sense of belonging to River Hills Community Church. S/he will help us to reaffirm our own commitment to God’s purpose for all of us individually and as the Body of Christ. S/he will guide us in rebuilding our congregation and revising our form of government. We are looking for a Senior Pastor that is an effective speaker and leader in a worship service that is inspiring, thought provoking, and encourages application of faith to daily living. In addition, the pastor must inspire and motivate members' action towards our shared vision. Most members at RHCC expect to have some personal relationship with the Senior Pastor. Therefore, the pastor must be emotionally secure, compassionate, able to relate well to individuals, and to work effectively with people in crisis and in conflict. In addition, the pastor needs proven ability and experience in attracting, engaging and retaining new members. The incoming senior pastor must be able to provide effective, unselfish leadership and vision for team ministry. At RHCC we affirm our heritage of being inclusive and accepting of one another’s differences in theological beliefs as long as these beliefs are true to those expressed in our covenant. The next pastor must lead with vision and by example in resolving issues of diversity. Several members prefer the traditional form of worship service. Others feel that we must incorporate new ways in worship, communication, and organization if we are to appeal and attract younger people. The pastor must have a vision for our church in the 21st century and experience in implementing this vision without alienating either party. We have members with at least 16 different denominations. It is important that our Senior Pastor honor our interdenominational heritage. The future of RHCC and of our incoming Senior Pastor is a message of Unity. We are not members of one denomination. We are one in Christ. The people of River Hills Community Church have a shared vision of a future where will grow together, spiritually and numerically, by working together more closely to enrich our church and community with the knowledge and spirit of the Lord. There were several areas dealing with the future that were outside of the scope of this committee. Members wanted us to address several issues including worship time, worship style, a retirement center, and additional programming.
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Romans 12: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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RHCC Congregational Profile Background River Hills Community Church is located in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, an unincorporated residential community in north central South Carolina on the NC/SC border on Highway 49. The church began in 1973 with an Easter service organized by a small group of residents and attended by 200 residents and visitors. This inspired a dream for an interdenominational church. In May 1975, the first pastor, Gene Jester, was called. During this early period, the base tenets and theology were formed. The core affirmations were that the church would be founded on the Bible, would be inclusive and interdenominational and our central affirmation would be that Jesus Christ is Lord of All Life. An all-purpose building was completed in 1978. Under Gene’s leadership, a sanctuary was added to the first building and attendance increased to 260. During the ministry of the second pastor, Russ Brown, the Sanctuary building was remodeled, a second service was added, and attendance grew to 360. Under the guidance of our third Senior Pastor, Bruce Jones, two associate pastors and two contemporary services were added, the Church Life Center was built, and attendance increased to 640. In mid-2011, both associate pastors resigned and formed new churches. Approximately ½ of our membership joined those churches. In the fourth quarter of 2011, our Senior Pastor resigned. With our current Intentional Interim Pastor, Roger Underwood, attendance averages about 300. Although a large percentage of our membership is seniors, there are between 65 – 70 families with children who range in age from infants to 5th graders who consider RHCC to be their church home. Some of these young families attend worship services consistently and have assumed leadership positions; others attend sporadically and assist in short-term projects. For more information on RHCC’s history of church attendance, please see the next page.
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At its founding, the church functioned as a pastor-led congregation. During the second pastor’s term, a councilled form of government was developed. During the pastorate of the third senior pastor, the congregation accepted a change of government to a Board of Elders, emphasizing spiritual growth within the congregation. Our current Board of Elders consists of nine members, three of whom are elected each year to replace three retiring members. Our current church staff consists of an Intentional Interim Minister, a Minister to Children and Families, a Minister to Youth, a Minister of Music and Worship, an Organist, a Custodian, a Business Manager, an Office Manager, and a Director of our Preschool. Volunteers serve as office and financial assistants. Other work of the church is carried out by committees which include Nominations, Pastoral and Staff Relations, Financial Management, Christian Education, Ad Hoc committees that complete short-term projects, Board of Trustees, and Foundation Trustees. Ministry Teams that perform important services within our church include Worship, Missions, Music, Bereavement, Care and Kindness, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Discipleship, Hospitality, Sports and Recreation, Stewardship, Adult Education, Library, Prayer Shawl, Born Again Beads, the Fall Arts, Crafts, and Silent Auction, and other unsung heroes. In the last 35 years, the Lake Wylie community has grown significantly and is one of the fastest growing suburbs of the Charlotte area, as well as the fastest growing county in South Carolina. The area offers a number of attractive amenities and this, coupled with its ideal location, creates a new mix of races, cultures, denominations, and backgrounds. RHCC is centrally located off of Highway 49 and has great visibility and space in which to grow. We currently have two large buildings that include a number of classrooms, a gym, and a preschool. In addition, we have a number of acres located next to these buildings with frontage to the very busy Highway 49. There are at least 10 other congregations within a three-mile radius of RHCC today. Lake Wylie is not an incorporated township, so the churches here take on the responsibility to meet the needs of the community. There is an active Chamber of Commerce with around 400 members. These members are small business owners who help the community thrive. There is no industry here, but there are restaurants, lake activities and tourists, and Camp Thunderbird, a year-round YMCA camp with a high profile in the community. RHCC is a center for much of the community’s activities, especially with the sanctuary space and Life Center. All this, and located only 20 minutes from the Charlotte Airport and the downtown Charlotte, Rock Hill, and Gastonia areas.
Our Identity The identity of RHCC is to follow God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in reaching out to all people. We are a multi-generational congregation with a large number of youth. We have a range from very young children to elderly people who attend our services and participate in our church activities. Just over half of our congregation is over the age of 65 and 80% of our members live within 10 minutes of the church. Our membership is very stable as approximately 60% have been members for more than 10 years. We are also an educated congregation with 90% having at least some college education and 85% having a household income of $50,000+. Almost 60% of our members attend worship four or more times a month and members are active – 70% participate in at least one extra activity besides worship.
Our Missions Our congregation supports organizations and individuals beyond our congregation in three ways – through mission giving, by allowing use of our facilities, and through personal participation.
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The Board of Elders has designated 10% of the income from pledges and loose plate offering to be used for funding mission projects. Additional funding is obtained through "Second Mile" giving. Second Mile funds are monies received from special projects as well as contributions received from individuals over and above their annual pledge. Over the last five years, RHCC has provided more than $860,000 of financial support to various mission projects. RHCC supports many groups and organizations by allowing them to use our facilities. Some are regularly scheduled activities; others are occasional activities scheduled as needed. Some twenty-six groups regularly use our facilities. Occasional activities range from babysitting classes to flu shots and health screenings to musical recitals to voting. Our congregation supports groups outside of our congregation through our personal participation. We recently identified several hundred places and ways in which individuals within our congregation are involved in helping the community.
Our Future We desire to be an inclusive, interdenominational church. We draw our strength from earnest and sincere worship, seeking Divine guidance, living in Koinonia with one another, and welcoming and celebrating our differences. We feel that there are things we do well and shall continue doing well in the future, including: Providing meaningful worship experiences Maintaining strong programs of Music, Children’s Ministry, and Youth Ministry Giving generously - both locally and globally- through our pledges, special offerings, and special fund raising events Actively caring for one another and our community. We recognize the future need to address other areas of church life including: A capital fund campaign to finance repairing, updating, refurbishing and improving our buildings and grounds Better adult education to help members deepen their personal relationship with God Improvement in our caring ministry for the sick, shut-ins, bereaved, and elderly and for taking under consideration the possibility of placing an assisted living facility on church property Focus on and improve our evangelism efforts Develop programs and classes to provide help for members in discovering their personal gifts for ministry and service Complete the clarification and modification of our governance and policies Reassess and reassign responsibilities among the staff In the future we will continually strive to obey God’s will in our decisions and activities.
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RHCC Pastoral Profile
Purpose and Qualifications The Senior Pastor of the River Hills Community Church is a member of the ordained clergy set apart by the Church for the ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Order. S/he must be ordained by and in good standing with a recognized Protestant denomination. S/he shall possess Christian character and pastoral qualifications which are compatible with the Purpose and Covenant of RHCC, and which are in keeping with the organizational and operational needs of the Church and the spiritual welfare and wellbeing of the Church and the community that the Church serves. Approval by at least two-thirds of the membership present and voting shall be required for issuing a call to the Senior Pastor. The Senior Pastor shall be called for an indefinite tenure.
Duties and Responsibilities The Senior Pastor is responsible for the spiritual welfare and wellbeing of the Church; shall be an ex-officio voting member of the Board of Elders; shall conduct worship services and preach on a regular schedule and on special occasions when appropriate; shall administer the sacraments; shall minister to the congregation and to the community which the Church serves; shall be responsible for providing a pulpit supply when absent; and shall perform such other duties as regularly pertain to this pastorate. The Senior Pastor shall be the administrative head of the Church and shall be responsible for the day-to-day direction of the Church staff in accordance with the procedures and guidelines approved by the Board of Elders and/or the congregation. The Senior Pastor shall be responsible to the Chair of the Committee on Pastoral and Staff Relations for all matters of staff administration, and to the congregation through the Board of Elders on matters pertaining to his/her pastorate. The Senior Pastor shall oversee the total ministry of the Church in its nurturing and pastoral care ministries and in fulfilling its mission of witness and service in the world, by: (1) giving pastoral support, guidance, and training to the lay leadership in the Church, equipping them to the ministry to which they are chosen or to which they have volunteered; (2) providing ministry within the congregation and to the world; and (3) administering the temporal affairs of the congregation. Specific Duties To preach the Word, oversee the worship life of the congregation, read and teach the Scriptures, and engage the people in study and witness. To administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and all other means of grace. It shall be the duty of the Senior Pastor before baptizing infants or children to prepare the parents by instructing them concerning the significance of Holy Baptism, and the responsibilities for the Christian training of the baptized child. To give oversight to the total educational program of the Church and encourage the distribution and use of appropriate literature.
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To be involved and to lead the congregation in evangelistic outreach in order to win persons on confession of faith. To lead the Starting Point classes, instruct candidates for membership and receive them into the Church. To perform the marriage ceremony after due counsel with the parties involved. The decision to perform the ceremony shall be the right and privilege of the Senior Pastor or who s/he designates or approves. Qualifications for performing marriage shall be in accordance with the laws of the state and the denomination in which the Senior Pastor is ordained. To counsel those who are under the threat of marriage breakdown and explore every possible avenue of reconciliation. To counsel bereaved families and conduct appropriate funeral and memorial services. To counsel persons struggling with personal, ethical, or spiritual issues. To visit in the homes of the church and community, especially among the sick, aged, and others in need. To offer counsel and theological reflection in the long range planning initiatives of the Church and in the development of goals for fulfilling the mission of the congregation, in the development of plans for implementing the goals, and a process for evaluating their effectiveness. To lead the congregation in the fulfillment of its mission through appropriate stewardship education. To lead the Confirmation Classes and to help young people interpret the call of God in their lives, and to advise and assist when they commit themselves thereto. To participate as an ex-officio voting member of the Board of Trustees, the Committee on Pastoral and Staff Relations, Financial Management Committee, and the Foundation Trustees (or to appoint a designee in his/her place). Special Provisions Consent of the Senior Pastor shall be obtained before the Church shall engage another pastor or ordained minister to preach, lead worship, or officiate weddings at the River Hills Community Church. No organization, board, or committee within the Church shall end or suspend a regularly-scheduled worship service without the consent of the Senior Pastor. No outside congregation or religious organization shall be permitted to conduct worship services in the facilities or on the property of the River Hills Community Church without the consent of the Senior Pastor.
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Closing As you can see from the previous pages, a lot of work has been accomplished in the last ten months of transition for RHCC. We have completed two surveys, held five congregational events, nearly completed a pictorial directory, clarified the pastor and congregational profiles, and still have several key bodies of work in progress. The work that will continue beyond this point is listed below with completion dates. (You can also find this detail listed under the respective sections in the full transition report.) Area
Task(s)
Completion date
Church governance/leadership structure
Working group of nine (include one from elder board, one staff member, one from pastor/staff relations committee, one trustee plus five congregation members) to develop a first draft governance structure that contains elements of both spiritual and administrative leadership
1/15/2013
Transition Team review and approval
1/29/2013
Edits made
2/5/2013
Attorney review, if required
2/19/2013
Edits made
2/26/2013
Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review, if needed
3/5/2013
Edits made
3/11/2013
Elder review and approval
3/18/2013
Edits made
3/25/2013
Submitted to congregation for approval
4/1/2013
Nominations committee to put new structure in place
TBD*
Finalize content
11/15/2012
Formatting of content
11/30/2012
Elder review and approval
12/1/2012 – 1/5/2013
Edits made
1/12/2013
Final version presented to congregation
1/20/2013
Finalize content
11/15/2012
Formatting of content
11/30/2012
Attorney review
12/31/2012
Edits made
1/14/2013
Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review
1/21/2013
Edits made
1/28/2013
Elder review and approval
2/4/2013
Edits made
2/11/2013
Final version presented to congregation
2/18/2013
Policies and Procedures Manual
Employee Handbook
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Area
Task(s)
Completion date
Recruiting and hiring guidelines and procedures
Finalize content to include background checks, reference checks, non-compete policy (to be included in the Policies and Procedures Manual)
11/15/2012
Define process for updating and approving changes to P&P manual, Employee Handbook, Bylaws, etc.
Form new standing Updates and Approvals committee
January 2013
Updates and Approvals committee to define process
6/1/2013
Training for lay leaders, committee members, volunteers
Form new standing Training committee
2/1/2013
Training committee to define/enhance training opportunities
4/20/2013
Elder review and approval
5/1/2013
Edits made
5/15/2013
Final version presented to congregation
6/1/2013
Put team in place to update Bylaws
1/15/2013
Utilize new Updates and Approvals process to start updating Bylaws
February 2013
Bylaws
Finalize Bylaws according to new church organizational structure Attorney review, if required Edits made Pastoral and Staff Relations Committee review, if needed Edits made
* Exact dates TBD based on date that new church structure is in place
Elder review and approval Edits made Submitted to congregation for approval Preschool Bylaws
New Bylaws in place
6/1/2013
New item (TBD)
6/1/2013
Thank you again to the members of the congregation of RHCC. Your patience and understanding during this most important process has been critical and has not gone unnoticed. In addition, a special note of appreciation to each member of the Transition Team. They have given so much of their time, skills, energy, and passion to ensure this transition process was successful. It is now time for RHCC to look forward. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
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