Hi all... as Fall is approaching, I wanted to remind us about the organization process that we talked through at the June CityWide. Below is the announcement that was given and also a bare bones look at the process we will be having to go through. If you have not yet heard or read the announcement I would encourage you to do so.
As you may recall, the plan was to take the summer to receive any positive or negative feedback. Then, assuming the response was positive, we would take the fall to actually go through the process itself. Most likely this would involve:
** An information meeting (or two to make sure everyone could have a chance to attend one).
** Forming a membership list.
** Holding an organizational meeting.
Thus far we haven't received any strong negative reaction and so it looks like we will be moving forward with things in the next couple of months. That said, if you have thoughts you would like to contribute or questions you would like answered - please feel free to jump in. You can contact me or ask one of the council members in your church.
That's enough for now. Just wanted to refresh our memories a little.
Thanks all,
Andy
Organization Announcement
and Explanation
June 13, 2010
Today we need to handle a little church business and talk about church membership. As the Council, we recognize that this is one of the “less exciting” parts of church life. It seems, however, that is just one of those awkward places where the local church interfaces with policies of both the national organization that oversees us and also the government in Canada.
Conversations like these are particularly cumbersome for church plants which don’t have years of organizational beaurocracy. But while awkward its good to recall that in most cases, policies like this are developed to help keep us both legal and safe as a church.
Background
Last year, as you recall, we went through the process of organizing a membership, electing elders, and holding our first AGM. Most of that was right on and good for us, however, this Spring our council discovered an unknown error in the process which means we need to do it over again. A little explanation will be helpful.
When a church starts in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, it begins as an “unorganized” church. What this basically means is that it has a limited constitution (statement articulating beliefs, hiring policies etc) and it’s leadership structure is basically the District Superintendent and the pastor with no legally recognized council/elders board or membership etc. Starting in this manner is simply a way to help churches get off the ground, without being too cumbersome (For example, it enables a church to receive proper legal and spiritual covering and apply for tax exemption status, etc.)
While this “unorganized” status is initially very helpful for a church, it is intended that at some point, the church will move beyond this and become officially “organized”. That is, it will develop its own elder board, its own membership and it will adopt a constitution. What this is, is a way for a church to say both legally and spiritually: this is who we are (membership), this is what we believe (constitution) , and this is our leadership (elders/council). However, until a church goes through a recognized organizing process, none of this is formally or legally in place.
And due to the error in the process last year, this is where we presently exist. We have no recognized membership, our only recognized leadership before the law is Andy and Dave Hearn (District Superintendent), and our statement of belief is very limited. And while all this might not matter to most, failing it opens us to a few significant challenges both from within the church and without: 1. Nothing that properly articulates - “this is what we believe.” 2. No legally recognized elders board.
The Process
Now in order to amend this and become recognized as “organized” we need to follow a specific process (this is where the error was made last year - no one told us there was a process!) that is quite “un-simplechurch” like, but required none-the-less (and in the long run, probably helpful.) The process involves the following steps:
Develop a Charter/Founding membership List - This includes helping people understand the conditions for membership in the local church. Things like: the basics about what we believe, the requirements for membership, how Alliance churches are led, and the church disciplinary process. Those interested will then sign a membership covenant... in blood (kidding, you only need to submit a DNA sample).
Determine By-laws - setting up distinctive that we want legally recognized about our church.
Hold an organizational meeting - where, as a society in British Columbia the members are publicly accepted, what we believe is accepted, and directors are accepted.
This is the process, and as the council has looked at it, while it isn’t perfect for us simplechurch people, we have together felt that it is right for us to proceed. It’s a step that enables us to remain “safe” as an “organization” in Canada, and part of the responsibility as a council is to ensure that these kinds of things are in place. (Usually, we try to do these things in the “background”, so that you are not bogged down with details, but this is one of those cases where you are being called upon. We’re hoping that, while it might not be your favorite thing, most of you would avail yourself to the process.)
Before we “force” this though, we have also decided that we will begin by giving a time for feedback and discussion and questions. So if you have thoughts, or worries or just wonderings - we really want to know about those things so we can make the best decision possible on behalf of our churches.
Thanks for being such a great simplechurch community! Thanks for continuing to pioneer this thing together with the Lord. On your behalf, the council will continue to do all we can in the “background” to help your life and ministry in the “foreground” be life giving and productive.
We love you, are doing are best to “watch over you”, and are praying for you regularly.
The Council.
