Ten weeks is a very short time, and yet, a lot has happened in those weeks we have officially been in transition. I want to make every effort to keep you informed of all that is going on that you may not always see in the bulletin or hear in announcements.
I'll begin with the obvious contribution of our intentional interim, Ron Higdon. In addition to the 3 times per month preaching schedule, he also is conducting a series of seminars, on most Sundays, that extend through November 19. He is conducting a Deacon Retreat, on October 28, on his book, In Changing Times, and also meeting with Sunday School classes at their request.
Our ministers have planned a full fall schedule and a new look for Wednesday nights. Small groups, choir, children's programs, and Bible studies offer a choice for everyone in the congregation.
Each of the committees at BBC has planned multiple activities in which each of us can be a part. Everything from the grounds committee church-wide clean up, a BBC kickball team, and fall festival activities can be found on the agenda alongside many other weekly events.
I want, specifically, to talk about what your deacon body is doing. One of the concerns listed from the survey released Aug. 27 was that of the job responsibilities for the ministers. The deacon body recently approved updated (2014) ministerial job responsibilities. Each of the job responsibilities is also accompanied by a "task list" that is reflective of the ministerial plan for that year. Although the task list will change from year to year as the ministerial plan changes, the overall job responsibility will remain consistent unless otherwise changed by the deacons. I urge you to read all the ministry plans that can found on line at our church website.
Your deacon body has also adopted a resolution to add an Audio Visual Team to the list of teams operating at BBC. This team was a result of a request from Rudd Parsons, current AV coordinator, who asked that a team be considered for future needs in our church. The team will be formally added to the 2019 Nominating Committee slate (following approval by the congregation at the November business meeting) and will recruit people within our church who have specific skills in the area of technology and recording. Your deacon body also has formed, within its organizational structure, a fifth deacon committee. That committee will be the Building Oversight Committee, formed to review and revise current policies and procedures for use of the facilities at BBC, to determine a fair and equitable fee schedule, and to review logistical concerns or issues as presented by the facilities manager for various requests for building use. This team will serve the rest of 2017 and all of 2018 and will consist of Mark Riddle, Trustee Chair, Connie Rogers, and Stephen Lin. This committee will work with our facilities manager, Don Irvan, to ensure that our building is used efficiently and responsibly. And finally, as the Stewardship committee began its work back in June, we began to look carefully at the mailing list of members. The number of 800+ seemed very unrealistic over the last 10 years and as I reviewed the list it became clear that there were hundreds on the list that were now grown and moved away, had passed away, and had moved from Louisville years ago. I asked Connie Rogers, deacon, and Robin Riddle, Sunday School Director, to review the list and calculate a more realistic number for 2017. That number was approximately 537 with many on that list wishing to remain on the list, but inactive in church life. They recommended that weformally review our membership list after we call a new minister to our church. That recommendation was approved by the deacon body.
I have learned, in the nine months of serving as your deacon chair, that there are many tasks/jobs/stuff that needs to be addressed "if only there was time." To that end, I asked each of the ministers to make a list of things that needed to be done, but was always pushed to the back burner. This became my "honey do list" for the deacons. At our September meeting, the deacons gladly accepted any number of "honey do's" from the list. Of course, it was the luck of the draw attached to a candy bar, but, nevertheless, they were "joyful" about it! These tasks include everything from cleaning and organizing closets, cleaning windows, and organizing the archive room. Please feel free to jump in and help if you have the time. There are still "do's" on my list that have no assigned individual to meet the need.
Your pastor search committee has been approved and is now in the process of organizing themselves, getting to know one another, and actively listening to you.
We are, most certainly, a church on the move with many events occurring and a multitude of opportunities that invite each of us to be a part of the life of Broadway Baptist Church.
Blessings to you all,
Debby Griffin, Deacon Chair
