FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

LEXNGTON, KENTUCKY

ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MINUTES

May 22, 2006

 


At 7:05 p.m. Paul Ferrell, chair called to order the First United Methodist Church Administrative Council.

 

WELCOME

 

 

 

Paul Ferrell shared scripture from the Book of Luke regarding the church is a covenant community. 

 

 

PRAYER AND CENTERING TIME

 

 

 

Minutes of January 23, 2006 were reviewed by the assembled.  Motion was received and seconded to approved minutes as presented.  Motion approved. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

 

 

Dave Withers shared the current Mission Statement: Our Mission To equip and deploy faithful followers of Jesus Christ.  The proposed revision will include the word “invite” and will read:  Our Mission to invite, equip, and deploy faithful followers of Jesus Christ.  A motion was received and seconded to add the word “invite” to the Mission Statement.  Motion approved. 

 

MISSION STATEMENT REVISION

 

 

 

Finance Team

·        Bill Bosta, chair reviewed the Budget Summary and noted all positive signs for 2006 and actual income is up this year from last year.  Scooter Leonard reported that the Administrative Council approved that we borrow 2.6 million and we actually drew down 2.3 million for the purchased property and will borrow the rest as needed.

 

FINANCE TEAM

 

 

 

Andover Vision Team

Dulaney Wood, chair submitted on behalf of the Andover Vision Team the final report of the Committee to the Administrative Council:

Vision for the Andover Campus: To be a satellite campus of First United Methodist Church, furthering the mission of equipping and deploying faithful followers of Christ, through:

1.      Provide outreach opportunities that invite current FUMC congregation to get involved in reaching out to the neighborhoods of Andover;

2.      Becoming a community resource, integrating the FUMC-Andover Campus into the lives of First Church members and the Andover community;

3.      Development of property, buildings and programs to enable a worshiping congregation of First United Methodist Church—Andover Campus;

4.      Development of recreational facilities and programs to serve the needs of current and projected First Church membership, as well as the Andover community.

 

Why Develop an Andover Campus?  By using the expertise and resources of our congregation to develop Andover’s facilities and programs, we can use that campus to reach residents of the Andover community for Christ. 

·        This is the fastest growing section of Lexington. 

·        There is not another Methodist church in this community. 

·        Starting worshipping communities is a proven way of reaching new people for Christ. 

·        First Church has opportunity to share its abundant blessings of people, expertise, and financial resources in outreach to the Andover community.

 

What the Andover Campus is Not: The property at Andover is not a financial investment waiting to be “cashed in.”  The Kentucky Annual Conference (KAC), the Lexington District (LD) and First United Methodist Church invested in Andover with the goal of using it for church purposes.  If Andover were sold prior to August 12, 2010, our agreement with the KAC and the LD call for funds already invested to be returned to the respective parties.  Any proceeds after paying off the existing Andover note would then be allocated to the three entities in equal parts.

 

Governance:  The Andover Campus, to include all property and buildings are part of First United Methodist Church.  Planning and development of all programs and activities to take place on the Andover Campus should be integrated into a single First United Methodist Church organizational structure.  It is anticipated that over time, participation in First Church leadership will include members who consider the FUMC-Andover Campus their church home. 

 

Strategy:  20 year phased development of the Andover Campus, utilizing this plan as a guide against which all decisions can be measured, to facilitate realization of the Andover Campus vision.  Leading up to the launch of weekend services, First Church will be pursuing a two-prong strategy:

1.      Building up core base of attendees from First Church and the surrounding neighborhoods through small group formation and discipleship activities. 

2.      Building community presence through utilizing the existing Andover facility.

Timeline—Phase I (2006/2007)

·        Integrate the Andover Campus in all planning activities for First Church, as appropriate, to include building and long-term development plans, budget participation, and programming opportunities. 

·        Development of a matrix leadership structure, to facilitate the one-church/two-campus model.

·        Identify and charge a lead pastor and core “Launch Team” to pursue Andover development.

·        Lead pastor begins congregational development educational process.

º       Identify and attend church plant conference

º       Locate and involvement in an incubator group (external resource) for the purpose of developing a Ministry Action Plan.

·        Lead Pastor identifies and begins meeting weekly with small groups (families/individuals) who are interested in making Andover their First Church worship home, to:

º       Prayerfully consider God’s will

º       Intentionally develop discipleship and accountability

º       Equip members to be small group leaders

º       Identify families/individuals to become leaders and replicate this process.

·        Educate and equip the Launch Team to begin exploring new congregation development philosophies.

·        Launch Team develops an initial utilization plan, to include a budget, for inclusion in the First Church 2007 budget. 

·        Continue to build community presence and awareness.

º       Activities recommended by the Andover Task Force, to be considered during this phase, include:

§            Recreation

·        Basketball, volleyball, soccer, walking/running path, ping pong, etc.

§                                  Community Presence

·        Arts (including expansion of existing dance academy), small group meetings, support groups, community activities (such as existing voting location)

§            Worship

·        Special occasion worship services (Christmas Eve, Easter, etc.), coffeehouse/music opportunities, special speakers.

§            Small Group Meetings

·        Bible study

·        Support groups

·        Financial Peace presentations

·        Youth activities (Andover 1st Methodist Youth Group)

·        Scouts

·        Mission outreach

Timeline—Phase II (2007)

·        Lead pastor and Launch Team continue to meet for prayer, visioning, and developing a Ministry Action plan.

º       Entire team attends new congregation development seminar.

º       Church plant “coach” is secured for Lead pastor to help lead and guide the team through the process.

º       Initial small groups (families/individuals) begin to develop their own small groups.

·        Ministry Action Plan is completed and presented to the entire congregation at the 2007 Fall Charge Conference.  Elements of this plan may include:

º      Site plan for the Andover campus, to include eventual gymnasium, sanctuary and Sunday school rooms.

º      Work with city officials to secure turn lanes into the Andover property from Polo Blvd.

º      Secure zoning changes to allow proposed facilities.

º      Develop soccer and softball fields, volleyball, walking track, etc., to include grading of property.

º      Execute provision of cell tower contract to expand/relocate parking lot.

º      Initiate programs planned in phase I that do not require new buildings.

 

Timeline—Phase III (2008): 

·        Second wave of small group members develop and lead own small groups, meeting weekly.

·        All Small groups meet monthly one Sunday evening per month at the Andover campus for worship and fellowship.

·        Pursue implementation of the Ministry Action Plan, as approved by the Charge Conference, to include:

º       Recruit volunteers to staff an Andover service, to include ushers, child care workers, choir, sound and video technicians, etc.

º       Hire music leadership.

º       Hire staff for Andover facility utilization and pastoral support

º       Begin worship services in existing facility during Advent 2008.

 

Timeline—Phase IV (2008-2012)

·        Build gymnasium for recreation opportunities and as an expanded worship facility.

 

Timeline—Phase V (2013-2026)

Build sanctuary and education space.

Paul Ferrell called for a hearty round of thanks be given to Dulaney and the Andover Vision Team for a job well done and well thought through.  A motion was received and seconded to receive the Committee’s report.  Motion approved.

 

ANDOVER VISION TEAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDOVER VISION TEAM

continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDOVER VISION TEAM continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDOVER VISION TEAM continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANDOVER VISION TEAM continued…

 

 

 

 

316 High Street

·        Paul Ferrell reported the following as a point of information only:  The Trustees, Discipleship Team, and Finance Team are partnering to explore the option of moving staff and

      administrative offices off site to 316 High Street to free up   much needed classroom space.

 

POINT OF INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Endowment Board of Stewards

·        Foster Ockerman, Jr., chair reported:

º       The endowment funds experienced about 4% growth in total. 

º       The Nancy Rozell Fund has been expended due to the building of the Gathering Hall and the West Chapel. 

º       This year the $500 scholarship was awarded to Hannah Bryant.

º       At least $18,000 is slated for use by Stephen Ministry this year with $6,000 to be used very soon for training.

Motion was made and seconded for the Endowment Board Of Stewards report to be accepted.  Motion approved.

 

ENDOWMENT BOARD OF STEWARDS