Forum Sunday, March 24th

GLC CONGREGATIONAL

RETREAT – 2013

Documents Utilized to Make Decisions

Demographics Survey (2009)

Future Directions Task Force (January 2012)

Staffing Assessment Recommendations (Dec. 2012)

Demographics Results – 2009

GLC MembershipMedian age is 30-34 years old712 baptized members in 2013; 639 in 2000Ages 0-19 28%Ages 20-39 28%Ages 40-59 29%Ages 60-79 12%Ages 80+ 3%

Demographics Results – cont.

Membership and attendance trends

Sunday School attendance in 2009 was 68; 2010 was 93; 2012 is 118.VBS attendance in 2009 was 38; 2010 was 96; 2012 was 113 students.

Future Directions (Jan. 2012)

Strive to “inspire” people during worship. Maintain a traditional worship service with inspiring

experiences on Sunday mornings. Incorporate children & youth in worship. Use technology when appropriate. Provide a better introduction of new hymns and music. Offer sermons that people can directly relate and apply

to their lives. Share more service and outreach opportunities as well

as their outcomes and experiences with the congregation through sermons and other venues.

 *** Hired Marta Mooney as our Music and Worship Director in Summer of 2012

Future Directions

Strive for our own strong youth program with a structure and purpose. Hire additional staff or refocus more adult

participation to strengthen and increase program offerings for youth, especially Sunday school, VBS, 5th through 8th grade activities and high school youth group.

Future Directions

Strive for our own strong youth program with a structure and purpose. Restructure confirmation back to a 2-year

program. Incorporate and encourage multigenerational

participation into youth program. Focus the youth program with hands on

activities that build faith and serve others as well as offer fun social interactions.

Pastor Tom’s Retirement

August 2012 Pastor Eric Carlson came to July

Council Meeting Honor and Celebrate Pastor Tom’s 27

years of service here at Gilbert Lutheran

Staffing Assessment Task Force (Dec. 2012)

Order of Implementation: Phase 1- Immediate Needs Youth Ministry Director- Full or Part Time.

Focus would be on:▪ Education-Social-Service-Youth Worship-

Counseling = Grow Faith Could be filled by one of the following:▪ Pastor- focus on youth▪ Associate In Ministry (AIM)- focus on youth▪ Lay person- BS or MS preferred, focus on youth

Staffing Assessment Task Force (Dec. 2012)

Church Structure Previously a Pastor lead congregation

Pastor was involved in all segments and activities of the church. He or she lead and attended most if not all church activities.

Moving towards a Lay lead congregation Pastor is aware of all the segments and

activities of the church but does not need to be involved or directly leading that specific activity.

Pastor is available for guidance if needed for any groups of the church.

GLC’s Faith Formation -

A TIME TO MOVE FORWARD

GLC Congregation Council 2013 Retreat

GOAL:

Move Forward on Making a Plan of Action

Small Groups What Are the Pastoral Needs? (Made a list)

Is there a need for more than one pastor?

How essential is it that this additional staff person does what a pastor is called to do?

Responsibilities of the Pastor

Every ordained minister shall:1) preach the Word;2) administer the sacraments;3) conduct public worship;4) provide pastoral care; and5) speak publicly to the world in

solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.

Responsibilities of the Pastor – cont.

Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:

1) offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;

2) supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;

3) install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and

4) with the council, administer discipline.

Responsibilities of the Pastor(cont.)

Every pastor shall:1) strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the

community, in the nation, and abroad;2) seek out and encourage qualified persons to

prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;3) impart knowledge of this church and its wider

ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and

4) endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the ELCA.

Pastoral Needs for GLC

Theological oversight of all church activities (doesn’t have to attend all activities)

Administer the sacraments Be responsible for what happens in Faith

Formation Invite new members Available for visits to individuals on

request: pastoral visit Primary leader in worship

Is there a need for more than one pastor?

Based the the information gathered, hiring an additional Pastor would be helpful but it is not essential in carrying out God’s mission for GLC.

How essential is it that this additional staff person does what a pastor is called to do?

Based the the information gathered, hiring an additional Pastor would be helpful but it is not essential in carrying out God’s mission for GLC.

GLC CONGREGATIONAL COUNCILRetreat – 2013

Summary of Decisions:1) GLC will hire a trained lay person as a Youth Ministry Director.2) GLC will move to a one Pastor church.

Next Steps for Council

Develop specific job description for Pastor.

Develop specific job description for Youth Ministry position

Council approves job description. Set in place action plan for additional

staff position.

Common Questions

Wasn’t Pastor Cathy called to be our Youth Pastor four years ago? Wouldn’t it make sense to keep her in this position? Pastor Cathy was called to be our Pastor. She was not hired

to be Pastor Tom’s replacement or be our Youth Pastor. We have not had a Youth Pastor or Youth Director for four years.

We had have two Pastors the past four years. Was this a mistake? The council believes four years ago, calling an additional

Pastor was the correct decision. At that time, we were a Pastor lead congregation. Due to the controversial decision with the ELCA, additional leadership was also needed at that time. We will re-evaluate again in 2-3 years.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Will Pastor Cathy move into the sole Pastor role? Once a job description has been finalized, a final decision will be made by the council and by Pastor Cathy. As of right now, we anticipate her to move into this position.

How will the Youth Ministry position be financed? We have included a portion of Pastor Tom salary

into the 2013 budget for future staff needs.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What is the timeframe for the new hire? The council is hoping to have job description set for both the Pastor and Youth Ministry Director by the end of the April council meeting. Our hope is that we will have our Youth Director hired before the start of school this fall.

How will the Youth Ministry Director position be different than four years ago? Although a job description has yet to be finalized, our

hope is that the person is trained in religious theology and has a background and training working with the youth.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Additional Questions