September 23, 2026 

Four times a year we have a Member’s Meeting. The Elders, Finance Team, and Missions Team always give us reports in those meetings. The members of the congregation vest these groups with authority by voting them into their positions. These groups are therefore accountable back to the members. Related to this is our budget. The members vote on the proposed budget every year. This vote authorizes the Finance Team and Missions Team to spend the funds based on what we all agreed to. What happens if a need arises that goes beyond the budget? Can’t the Finance Team just handle it and tell us about it later? No!

This polity (elder-led/congregational-rule/deacon-served) keeps everyone informed and everyone accountable. It works very well. However, there are times when situations arise that need to be addressed sooner than what can reasonably wait for the next Member’s Meeting. When this happens, we call for a special meeting. We do not like to do this, but if it seems to be best course, then we do it. It can even feel a bit clunky, but we operate according to our word. Such is the case now.

The new part of our building is 22 years old. The AC/Furnace units have been more and more unreliable and this past summer made it obvious that we have to address this. The Finance Team has been communicating with us about this and members will receive an email next week about the entire process, plan, and proposed motion.

Decisions like this take time and the people involved put an enormous amount of time into it because they take it seriously. If you own your home, you do not work with a committee to get agreement on a project. You do it. But a church is different. We work as teams. Therefore, it takes a bit more time which while assuring that careful consideration is made, the extra time can be an issue. So, here is my point. In order for the congregation to make decisions like this, the congregation needs to be informed so they see the wisdom and rightness of the proposal. At the same time, when time is a factor, we need to make this decision in a timely manner.

Having a special meeting at the conclusion of a Sunday morning service is not optimum. Kids (and adults) are hungry and tired, children's ministry workers are ready for parents to come get their kids, it’s been a long morning already. So, how do we have a special meeting so the members can vote, without taking too much time that exasperates one another? And, how do we have special meeting so the members can vote without the members feeling rushed to simply rubber stamp something? We do not want either one. So, we are trying to communicate very clearly AHEAD of time the what, why, and how of this motion to help address our HVAC needs. Please, please inform yourself. If you do have a question about this, please take advantage AHEAD of time to talk with members of the Finance Team or your Elder so you are ready to vote at the meeting on Oct.4.

It takes a church to be a church!

Grace and peace, 

Bob

Sunday’s Text: Luke 22:24-30