February 12, 2007

Why Fill Out The Survey?

Transformation happens most effectively when congregations are clear about where they are going. In other words what their vision is and how they are going to live into that vision. The church’s present vision is getting the present results. We are perfectly designed to get the results we are getting. Many times our visions are about maintaining existing traditions and programs. As we live out this vision, the results we are getting are not our preferred future. In this time of rapid change we need to find ways to live out God’s preferred vision for us.

Transformation is about changing our behavior. In the 1991 book Leading Change by John Kotter the eight stages of change are identified. Many consultants have written about change and have made modifications but the list has stood the test of time. The stages are:

“Create a sense of urgency among relevant people”
“Change agents pull together a guiding team with the credibility, skills, connections, reputations, and formal authority required to provide change leadership”
“The guiding team creates sensible, clear, simple, uplifting visions and sets of strategies
“Communication of the vision and strategies – simple, heartfelt messages sent through many unclogged channels. Deeds more important than words; symbols speak loudly; repetition is key”
“Heavy dose of empowerment. Key obstacles that stop people from acting on the vision are removed”
“Empowered people working on the vision are helped to produce short-term wins. Without a well-managed process, careful selection of initial projects, and fast enough successes, the cynics and skeptics can sink any effort”
“Change leaders don’t let up. Early changes consolidated. In less successful cases, people try to do too much at once. They unwittingly quit too soon”
“Change leaders throughout organization make change stick by nurturing a new culture. A great deal of work can be blown away by the winds of tradition in a remarkably short period of time.” Create a sense of urgency among relevant people”

The most effective way for the Church Transformation Committee of the Presbytery of Baltimore to work with congregations is to cluster churches. We have created and tested an inventory tool that will be helpful in grouping congregations. To aid us with future clusters, we ask you to have 10 to 20 people fill out the inventory and send us your average score in each area. To access the Church Transformation Survey click here.

Thank you ,

Bill Millen

Inside this issue

Events of the Week:

Christian PEACE Witness for Iraq Press Conference

Wednesday, Feb. 21st

10:30 a.m.

City Temple Baptist Church

Take Note/Act Now

§ “Theologian in Residence”

§ SDOP Sunday

§ Warren Cooper

§ An Inconvenient Truth

§ Computer Training: MS Word

§ Julian of Norwich

§ One-time Hunger Mission Grants

§ Gulf Coast Mission Trip: DMPC

§ Hou Kola Learning Camps 2007

§ Letter from GA to Churches

§ Free Pastor’s post-Easter Respite

§ Christian PEACE Witness for Iraq

§ Development Disabilities Day

Prayer Concerns
Presbytery of Baltimore

Synod

People

Former Synod Executive, Roger Harp, was killed in an auto accident this past weekend.

Elder John Winings in New Hope Presbytery, was selected as Interim Synod Executive.

John Potter started as Interim Pastor of Bethel PC on February 15^th.

Prayer Concerns

Presbytery of Baltimore,

Synod & GA

asks for prayers:

· For the family of Roger Harp, Former Synod Executive, as they go through this difficult time

· Synod as they welcome John Winings as Interim Executive

· Richard Short, Eastern VA EP as he recovers from surgery

· GA in its continuing transformation

· Joan Grey, Linda Valentine, Cliff Kirkpatrick as they lead this transformation

· Bobbie White, new EP of Western North Carolina

Contact Information

For the Presbytery Offices
Phone:
410-433-2012 or

800-511-0087

Office E-mail: office@baltimorepresbytery.org

Website: www.baltimorepresbytery.org

To Unsubscribe:

email Alice McGee or call the office

Take Note/Act Now

Baltimore Presbytery Items (non-dated items first; dated items in date order)

Central PC announces that The Rev. Dr. Andrew Purves, Professor of Pastoral Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will be their “Theologian in Residence” on February 23-25, 2007. (Click here for more information on this educational opportunity).

Self Development of People (SDOP) Sunday is February 25, 2007. Each pastor should have received information concerning worship resources. (more)

Many of you were blessed by the ministry of Warren Cooper at the Big Event. Warren’s ministry, Music Media Ministry, specializes in Worship Enhancement – providing Leadership, Consultation, Seminars and Design for Blended, Jazz and Emerging Worship models. M3 also offers Sacred Concerts and Worship Praise Performances. If interested contact Warren Cooper at Wcooper@musicmediaministry.com.

An Inconvenient Truth will be screened at Maryland PC on Saturday, February 24th at 7:00pm. Following the 90-minute film there will be a discussion of climate change issues led by Karen Zeller of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (more).

The Presbytery will be hosting computer training sessions on MS Word, March 7th and 14^th from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Presbytery Office. The cost is $125.00/person which includes training by Answer Quest Technologies and a manual for each participant. A minimum of 15 participants are required to hold this session (more).

First and Franklin Street PC announces that The Reverend Linda Loving, pastor of The House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN will perform a one-woman show based on the life of Julian of Norwich on March 18, 2007. (more)

For the sixth consecutive year, the Committee on Mission is pleased to announce that a generous gift of $50,000 has been received from an anonymous donor. The Committee will share this gift in the form of one-time grants for local hunger mission projects. Proposals should are due to Deb Milcarek by Monday, April 16 at 3:00pm (more).

Dickey Memorial PC is leading a mission trip to the Gulf Coast June 16^th-23^rd and has space for 6-8 more adults and/or youth. Reservations are due March 1^st (more).

The Hou Kola Learning Camps Schedule for 2007 is posted on the Presbytery homepage calendar. The flyer of summer camp dates and information is also linked here. For more information e-mail dougadams@comcast.net or houkola@houkolalearningcamps.org.

There will be a partnership trip to Cuba from November 23rd to 30th, 2007 to join in the celebration of the Centennial of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Cabaiguán. We may arrange authorization to travel by affiliating with a church in the partnership; this type of affiliation is called honoraria, and is legal. Interested? Contact John Walter.

Synod and General Assembly

The General Assembly has distributed a letter to pastors and a letter to congregations in response to the possible intention of some churches to leave the denomination.

Massanetta Springs invites pastors, associate pastors and families to enjoy a free après-Easter respite, April 8^th-13^th. There will also be a free buffet breakfast on the 10^th (more).

Other items and events

Christian PEACE Witness for Iraq will hold a press conference to show support for the March 16^th anti-war demonstration in Washington on Wed. Feb. 21^st at 10:30 a.m. at City Temple Baptist Church at 317 Dolphin Street in Baltimore. (more)