FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LEXNGTON, KENTUCKY

CHARGE CONFERENCE MINUTES

March 8, 2004

 


Sr. Pastor, Dr. Al Gwinn introduced the Lexington District Superintendent, Dr. Paige Williams.  The Charge Conference of the First United Methodist Church was called to order at 6:20 p.m. by Dr. Paige Williams. 

 

CONVENING THE BODY

 

 

 

As a prelude to Centering Time Dr. Al Gwinn led the assembled in singing Blessed Assurance and My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less, Dr. Gwinn explained that normally as part of Centering Time the Administrative Council breaks up into table groups for a short time of sharing and prayer.  This evening, however, Dr. Gwinn asked the assembled to reflect on an individual they had spoken to before the meeting or someone sitting close and during this Centering Time to pray for that individual. 

 

CENTERING TIME

 

 

 

Dr. Al Gwinn talked a little bit about how we arrived at this point, he explained, when he arrived at First United Methodist Church as Sr. Pastor a group met together as a Vision Team.  The Vision Team entered into a posture of prayer and remained in prayer for or a number of months.  While in a posture of prayer Team consulted with young people, youth, many groups within the church and listened to various views.  The Vision Team asked questions such as:

  • When were you most proud of your congregation? 

°         Why?

  • When were you most disappointed in your congregation?

°         Why?

  • Can you think of a person most Christ like?

°         Can you describe them?

 

After a time the Vision Team began to document and identify the DNA of this congregation.

·         First United Methodist Church DNA

°       A heart for those in need

°       A desire to birth new congregations

°       A spirit of friendliness and hospitality

°       A giftedness to re-franchise tradition

°       Connectional leadership

Dr. Gwinn went on to ask the question: Why do most congregations

peak after 70 years and we are at 200 + years and not peaking yet?  Dr. Gwinn asked: What are our core values and what is our vision?

And, how do we live into it?

·         Core Values

1.  We are the body of Christ………Romans 12

2.  The Scriptures are God’s guide

                  for us………………………………11Tim. 3:16-17

3.   Prayer is our lifeline to God….…Luke 18:1

4.      Lost people matter to God –

      and to us……………………Matthew 28:19-20

·         Vision

°        Declaration of God’s future for us

 

At the February 4, 2002 Charge Conference the Vision Team reported to the congregation as though it was 2012 and asking the question: How did you arrive at this time?  Out of that report came recommendations presented by the vision Team to the Charge Conference.  The Building Task Team was given a set of specific instructions and authorized to begin its work.  After completing the assignment the Building Task Team was to come back to a Charge Conference and report what they are doing and what are they going to need.

 

Dr. Gwinn further explained some attendance/memberships numbers: 

·          1989-98 attendances seemed to flat line.  590 – 529 - 556       average. 

He explained this is a normal process before growth is experienced. 

·          In 2000 we began to go to a new level – high point of last       decade.

Attendance 2001-03:

  • 2002 went to 629 Sunday average.  At 80% maximum attendance you cease to grow.
  • 2003 grew to an average attendance of 700 on Sunday mornings.
  • Our Choir Director and Choir have stepped up to the plate to enhance our Sunday morning worship experiences. 
  • 2003 we took in 111 new members:

°         37 – 16 youth and 27 adults by profession of faith

°         52 letters of transfer – not just from this city

°         22 from other denominations

°           4 transferred out

°         14 deaths

Most importantly these numbers represent lives being transformed.

 

Rev. Ken Klemme provided some future projections:

  • 1990 Lexington/Fayette County grew by 50 thousand people. 
  • 2000 Census reported a growth of 15% over the past 10 years.
  • 2003 presented a positive growth slope of 43.6% larger than the 2000 Census.
  • 3-5% of the population in Lexington/Fayette County are United Methodist
  • Approximately 75 people per year are without any evangelism or outreach.

 

Dr. Al Gwinn said we are Wesleyan and believe in Prevenient Grace – God’s drawing people unto himself.  Our focus is on people and this is

 

how we got to this point of needing new space.  The “tool box” needs to be bigger to contain more tools for “Him” to work with.

 

ADDRESSING THE BODY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDRESSING THE BODY continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADDRESSING THE BODY continued…

 

 

 

 

Dr. Al Gwinn then directed our attention to the overhead screen for a presentation to describe “The Four Seasons” of our expansion planning.  Dr. Gwinn explained the First Season is where we’ve been and the First Season would be ending tonight.

  • First Season

°         Listening

°         Learning

°         Interpreting

°         Preparing

  • Second Season

°         Congregational Discernment

°         Discussion

°         Learning

°         Development of Preliminary Plans

­        Facility

­        Costs

­        Financing

Dr. Gwinn further explained the last two seasons are yet to be determined.

  • Third Season

°         Refinement

°         Commitment

  • Fourth Season

°         Building

°         Expanding

°         Continuing to Grow

 

THE FOUR SEASONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this point in the Charge Conference Richard Dorton, Chair of the Building Task Team was given the floor.  Richard explained, we are here tonight due to the Charge Conference of February 2002 and we are at 8c of the Vision Team’s Recommendation to that February 4, 2002 Charge Conference.

Recommendation 8c:     Interview and hire professional consultants to determine where one or more new buildings should go on our existing property and make a proposal for designing the new building(s).

The Building Task Team interviewed several firms and the firm Partners’ & Associates was selected. 

 

PARATNERS’ & ASSOCIATES PRESENTATION

 

 

 

Richard Dorton, Chair of the Building Task Force began by discussing areas the Task Force worked on:

·         Mission

°         Remain focused

°         Expand programming

°         Integrate new structures into the neighborhood

·         Programming Plan

°         Many meetings

°         Analysis of site

°         Existing facility

°         Conceptual layout

°         Master Plan

°         Review and comment

°         Final Master Plan

·         Program Objectives

°         Enlarge Sanctuary and choir area

°         Additional parking

°         Develop a Christian Living Center

°         Renovation of existing sanctuary and parsonage

Mr. Glenn Richters of Partners’ & Associates presented some of the areas his organization has been involved with:

·         Site analysis and how it would effect

°         Programming

­        Sanctuary

­        Narthex

­        Chancel

­        Support space

°       The new Christian Living Center would provide