Tag: Transition

We are currently working on final reviews of our drafts for both the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) as well as the Seven Reflections on Ministry and Context (an optional component to the MSP) and preparing both documents to be presented to the Council. This final review process will take place over the next few weeks. Our goal is to present the MSP and the Seven Reflections on Ministry and Context to the Council at their May meeting. After the Transition Team presents the MSP package, the Council will have the opportunity to review the MSP package and provide feedback. Once finalized and accepted by the Council, the MSP will be sent to the Southwestern Texas Synod. A copy of the MSP will then be shared with the congregation for informational purposes only. Once the Synod has our MSP, the Transition Team will shift focus as a Call Committee and begin preparing for discernment and interviews with pastoral leader candidates provided to us by the Synod. 

–Allen, Erin, Lillian, Nikki, Barbara, Randy, and Tim 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

Hello from the FELC Transition Team!

We are making final edits to a few of the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) questions and are also turning our focus to drafting answers to the “Seven Reflections on Ministry and Context” which is an optional component to the MSP that includes seven open-ended questions, allowing us to further describe our ministry site context. 

We will be coordinating with the Council soon to present the MSP draft for discussion and review. Once accepted by the Council and finalized, the MSP will be submitted to the Synod. A copy of the MSP will also be shared with the congregation at that time. Please note that when the MSP is shared with the congregational community, it will be in its final form and accepting no further edits.

We will then await pastoral candidate matches from the Synod for discernment and interviews.

The Transition Team continues to be grateful for your support, patience, and prayers.

–Allen, Erin, Lillian, Nikki, Barbara, Randy, and Tim 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

Greetings and a Blessed Holy Week from the FELC Transition Team! We have largely completed our first draft of the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). What we are now doing is working through the document as a whole to ensure each answer authentically captures our ministry site and is reflective of our whole community. We’re editing and revising! This part of the process will take place over multiple meetings. When we’re ready, the next step will be to present the MSP to the Council for review and discussion. Once accepted by the Council, the MSP will be shared with the congregation and submitted to the Southwestern Texas Synod (you will have an opportunity to read the MSP in its final form). Once in the Synod’s hands, we will wait for the Office of the Bishop to provide us with potential pastor candidates for discernment and interviews. We are so grateful for your prayers, support, and patience throughout this important process.

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

Greetings from the Transition Team! We met this week and talked through our draft answers to the final few questions in our Ministry Site Profile (MSP). Once each section is drafted, the Transition Team will begin reviewing the entire MSP document as a whole. This process will take place over multiple Transition Team meetings as we carefully ensure our entire Ministry Site Profile is reflective of our community and of the congregational feedback we have received. Once we are ready, the next step in this process will be to present the Ministry Site Profile to the Council for review and discussion. This will ideally happen within the next month or so. Once accepted by the Council, the MSP will be shared with the congregation and then sent on to the Synod where it will be used to match our ministry site with pastor candidates who may be a good fit for FELC. We are grateful for your continued prayers, patience, and support. 

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

Thanks to all who were able to participate in the Small Group Meetings last week! We truly enjoyed getting together and hearing directly from you. The Transition Team met earlier this week to talk through our notes taken during those small group discussions. Part of our process is to make sure we, as a team, have a shared understanding of what was said and heard. This is an important step as the valuable feedback received from you serves to directly inform our responses to questions in our Ministry Site Profile (MSP). As we process all congregational input, we continue to draft answers to the final few questions in the MSP. Looking ahead, once the Transition Team completes the MSP, it will be shared with the Council for review. After the Council accepts the MSP, it will be presented to the congregation and then sent to the Synod. While our goal is to complete the MSP by the end of March, we know it’s possible that it could take a bit longer. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and prayers.

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

We are grateful for this week’s small group discussion gatherings! Your input is valuable as we work to complete the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). Thank you to those who have been able to participate. The Transition Team is meeting next week to review important topics and trends that came out of the small group discussions. Additionally, we are working on drafting answers to the final questions in the MSP. Looking ahead, once the Transition Team completes the MSP, it will be shared with the Council for review. After the Council accepts the MSP, it will be presented to the congregation and then sent to the Synod. While our goal is to complete the MSP by the end of March, we know it’s possible that it could take a bit longer. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and prayers.

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

As we continue our work on FELC’s Ministry Site Profile (MSP), we want to hear from you! Are you signed up to attend an upcoming Small Group Gathering? The purpose of these gatherings will be to further discuss issues of importance related to our ministry together and to better reflect YOUR voice in our MSP. Our finalized MSP will be reviewed by pastor candidates who are looking for a church that will be a good fit for their unique leadership qualities and gifts for ministry.

 Please click here to view available small group gathering sites and to sign-up to attend one that works best for you. 

 Each gathering will be limited to 10 participants. In addition, two Transition Team members will be present at each meeting to guide the discussion and record meeting notes. 

Home hosts for each gathering will provide beverages. 

We invite small group attendees to bring a light snack to share. 

 One area of discussion will relate to what we’d ideally like our next pastor to focus on during their first year of ministry and how we as a congregation will support them in those focus areas.

 We’d also like to share with you some trends from The Leader We Seek survey. Please click here to view summary charts and graphs.

We look forward to seeing you at one of the small group gatherings!

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

The Transition Team invites you to participate in an upcoming small group meeting. The purpose of these gatherings will be to further discuss issues of importance related to our ministry together and to better reflect your voice in our Ministry Site Profile (MSP). Our finalized MSP will be reviewed by pastor candidates who are looking for a church that will be a good fit for their unique leadership qualities and gifts for ministry. 

Please click here to view the meeting locations, dates, and times and to sign-up to attend a small group meeting that works best for you. 

We encourage you to sign up as soon as you’re able to ensure a meeting location and time that works best for you. Each gathering will be limited to 10 participants. In addition, two Transition Team members will be present at each meeting to guide the discussion and record meeting notes. 

Home hosts for each gathering will provide beverages. We invite small group attendees to bring a light snack to share. 

One area of discussion will relate to what we’d ideally like our next pastor to focus on during their first year of ministry and how we as a congregation will support them in those focus areas. 

We’d also like to share with you some trends from The ‘Leader We Seek’ survey. Please click here to view summary charts and graphs.

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org

Friends in Christ, 

Pastor J Mills resigned as transition pastor of First English, effective January 31.  He is currently on vacation.  

While his resignation comes as a surprise to some, at the monthly council meeting held on Tuesday, January 16, a motion was offered, discussed, and put to a vote, to not extend the covenant with Pastor J.   That covenant ends on March 19, 2024.  The motion carried, and Pastor J was aware the covenant would not be renewed.  

It is clear to me from Pastor J’s message to our congregation on Thursday, January 18, that he has been deeply impacted.  We should take the time to read his message carefully for observations and objectives that may be valuable.  

As a council, it is our prayerful responsibility to work and listen with the best interests of our congregation in mind. 

It is my firm belief that our congregation is strong, and that we will move forward with enthusiasm and vulnerability.  We encourage everyone to share your views and join in this work. The council is working on next steps in this transition ministry.

With prayer, 

Nancy Neuse

FELC Congregation President 

felcpresident@felcaustin.org

The Transition Team is continuing our work! One trend that emerged through some survey data is a desire to gather together for a bit more in-person discussion. The Transition Team is in the process of coordinating a handful of in-home small group discussions to take place during the last two weeks of February. Once all gathering locations, dates, and times are confirmed we will provide you with a way to sign up for a small group location that is convenient for you. These discussion groups will help to further reflect your voice in our Ministry Site Profile (MSP), so we hope you will plan to join one of the discussion groups near you! In the meantime, the Transition Team continues to move forward with drafting our responses to the MSP questions. We will have our next team meeting this Sunday, February 11th. As always, feel free to reach out to us individually or at: FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org. 

With gratitude, 

FELC Transition Team 

FELCTransitionMinistry@felcaustin.org