Church Council
Council Highlights
At the May church council meeting, the council continued its study of the Good Samaritan series, reviewing Session 3- Seeking Justice and Reconciliation. This is a wonderfully done series about our challenge as Christians to serve as Good Samaritans wherever we are in our life. This will be a valuable tool for the congregation to study this fall.
The council continues to monitor the church's financial affairs and particular attention was paid to Miracle Sunday in May, which was designed to help alleviate the shortfall experienced at the end of 2009 resulting from a couple of unusual Sunday experiences ( a natural gas threat and unusually cold and snowy Christmas holiday). There has been good news to report on the result of Miracle Sunday and when combines with the special offering taken for the Haiti hurricane victims in January, provides ongoing evidence of the generous heart of the congregation which makes so many ministry opportunities possible.
There was discussion about our ongoing goal of reaching 20,000 people by the year 2020 and the organized effort needed at the pastoral level to reach new people in new ways. Consistent with the extensive planning that has taken place in this regard, and in conjunction with an unanimous recommendation of the call committee, the council voted unanimously to call Ben Cieslik as our new Communities Pastor. Details regarding start date, etc. are still being worked out but we look forward to having Ben as part of our collective ministry at Bethlehem.
The council also acknowledged with celebration the upcoming ordination of Kris Tostengard Michel (now officially Pastor Kris with a K!) and the success of the Chris Farrell event. Plans are already under way for author Lynne Twist to speak at Bethlehem in the fall.
Talk to Council in the Gallery on the last Sunday of each month or email council@bethlehem-church.org. Let us know your thoughts.
