Congregational Growth Ministry Team minutes

Last meeting: March 10, 2009

Attendees:

Chris Allen

Rich Flamang

Lance Schmidt

Jen Wageman

Staff:

Pastor Dismer

Jan Sommerfeld

Excused:

Shannon Howard

Items that may require Council action: Funding approval for Connection Center.

Items that may require budget/finance coordination: FELC Connection Center construction/computer hardware costs.

Important items of information:

Improving communication among ministry teams: Discussion centered on ways to coordinate group interaction and develop good conversations among the seven ministry teams and work on inevitable overlapping that occurs and work on ways to “cross-pollinate.” Perhaps the chairwomen/chairmen meet monthly or quarterly to discuss top-line topics/issues … or possibly define the Growth Ministry Team’s expectations that ministry team leaders read the previous month’s minutes of other teams before their next monthly meeting. The general consensus was that as leaders of First English, we should take responsibility to find out what’s going on.

Recruiting members to GMT: We are seeking members to join the Growth Ministry Team, particularly members who worship primarily at the Downtown Site, since our current team roster consists of three folks who generally worship at the North Site. Chris text-messaged a possible candidate and will update the group.

Connection Center: Rich met with Bob Damon regarding the computer hardware/software, connectivity and security issues regarding the Connection Center and reported that a wireless system is feasible, along with a used computer and a 20-inch flat screen monitor. The construction of the booth by two FELC members also appears to be a possibility.

Funding: The team discussed ways to pay for the project in light of the current budget deficit. Suggestions included fundraisers both inside and outside of First English and leveraging local businesses. Jan will contact Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and inquire about possible matching funds. Rich and Lance will contact other possible sources of material providers/fundors.

FELC promotions/advertising:

Team members evaluated current display advertisements running in directories and publications in the Fox Valley. The team agreed that it would be more cost-effective to take the advertising dollars traditionally spent on worship directory ads published before Easter and Christmas in the local newspaper and redirect those monies to funding the Connection Center and to publications geared toward our target audience (newcomers, prospective members), such as directories published by the Appleton Area Newcomers Club and “The Christian Business Directory” (While FELC currently is listed among other ELCA churches in the free church directory listing, it was suggested that we consider running a display ad too, in the next edition. Ad selling period = October-Jan. 31.)

Jan will contact Time-Warner Cable to see if a scroll bar with our Web site address and/or worship times can be incorporated into the local cable channel rebroadcast of our 8 a.m. worship service.

Team members confirmed that information on FELC special events is submitted to local media for inclusion in the free community events listings and calendars, such as the Bargain Bulletin, WHBY, WLUK-TV 11, WBAY-TV 2, Christian Family Radio, Time-Warner Around Town along with the local cable channel’s community events listing.

Submitted by:

Jan Sommerfeld