From The Interim Pastor:

The Next Five Years
 
It is not uncommon in an employment interview for an applicant to be asked where the applicant sees himself or herself being in the next five years. Good question. Is someone looking and building toward a future or is that person just living day by day without a long range plan? In a few months the church's Search and Call committee will be interviewing candidates for the position of Lead Pastor. That question will be asked, not just by our committee, but also by those who are applying for this position. Where does First Congregational Church plan to be five years from now? What's your vision? What's your game plan? What are the specifics?
 

After much conversation within the congregation and after a great deal of distillation the following goals have been articulated in our church profile.

  1) Call a Lead Pastor and a second pastor
2) Review staffing and organization structure to maximize and support the gifts of current staff
3) Refresh existing lay leadership and encourage new leadership to emerge
4) Extend our ministry beyond the initial "welcome' to include and connect new people
5) Focus on our Visioning Retreat priorities:
  a) Worship
b) Community
c) Spiritual growth
d) Social justice

6) Retire the outstanding building debt
7) Celebrate God's gift to us and the world

The whole congregation needs to get behind these goals. We have begun to talk about them at church council. You will begin to see them posted around the building. All board members will be receiving copies to place in the board workbooks. Lad Anderson, in his wisdom, has suggested that they be printed on a large poster board, framed, and hung on the wall of the new pastor's study. Where is the church going in the next five years? Let there be no mistake these constitute the church's agenda for the next five years.
 

Calling two new pastors and retiring the outstanding building debt are fairly specific goals. The other goals leave lots of room for creativity, imagination, and passion. There are multiple ways in which they can be fulfilled. As you see these goals appearing and re-appearing in the next number of months I encourage you to ponder how they can be met.

There are many ways of being church, and hence, many alternatives, many possibilities to consider. These goals set the direction. You as a congregation will give them life, uniqueness, and vitality. I know you to be an incredibly gifted congregation. Only your imaginations will limit you! May the Spirit of God move you forward!
 

Blessings,
Scott Opsahl
Interim Lead Pastor