RIM Meeting Notes--Nov. 8, 2007

Notes from the RIM group meeting

At Kathleen United Methodist Church

Thursday, November 8, 2007 9-12 noon. Host, Jeffrey Smith.

Please read these notes! Correct me or clarify. We had perfect attendance
(well, Armando WAS late.......) so I'm doing this on our blog so that you
can be in CONVERSATION about some of the things that are listed below.
So, yeh, gang, heed and read.

If I mention a resource, conference, or concept that you suggested, your are
encouraged to elaborate!

If you see a resource you want to know more about, ask a question!

Ok, Sharon Davis led a most thought provoking devotion that led to gut
checks around the table... reminding us to remember that we have
priorities other than our churches. Don't forget God. Don't forget our
families and especially spouses.

Deborah Nelson recommended The Jezebel Spirit regarding toxic spirits in
churches, from broken people who appear confident, bubbly persons, , but
can be subversive.

We discussed ways to prevent staff problems. Performance reviews (the
conference web site has one). Thorough and regular documentation of
incidents.

Clear position descriptions for staff and volunteer positions.

Social Covenants: Carol will email the content of the Social Covenant of
the staff of FUMC Lakeland in a separate email. I'll also ask Tim Carson if
he has a Social Covenant to pass along. Urged by David Dodge, David
McEntire is offering a workshop for the South Central District pastors
regarding the Social Covenants. Carol will pass that date along to you in
a separate email.

Regarding ministry to addicted persons, Mark recommended reading the
introduction to the AA Blue Book.

We took a photo of the group... all saying ARMONDO together. JEFFREY,
would you email me that picture, full resolution? Thanks!

We saw a video clip from a presentation from Adam Hamilton's United
Methodist Church of the Resurrection. Can't we all relate to making BIG
mistakes at really obvious times...

Joseph recommended Unleashing the Word by Adam Hamilton. "Planning ahead"
was a concept that is relayed in the book.

There was discussion about 2-point charges/shared parishes. Encouragement,
support and suggestions were offered. How about visiting ONLY early with
the earlier service and visiting ONLY late with the later service?

Establishing boundaries with church congregation members was discussed.

We offer prayers for those who are waiting to hear about decisions made by
the Board of Ordained Ministry. (You are welcome to "comment" to update us
about this. We want to celebrate or grieve with you. Side editorial note:
I can honestly say that each one of you is perfectly made for ministry. You
are incredible people, have your priorities straight, have big hearts.. and
have worked very hard).

Mark recommended Church Administration and Finance Handbook, from a DMin
Project from Claremont. Model job descriptions, forms, etc. (Mark, correct
this if I've mis-stated).

The Spiritual Friends Seminar was mentioned. There are still 2 of them
coming up. I don't know anything about this, so someone share some info!

On the book table, we never got a chance to talk about the following.
Comment if you wish:

When the Game is Over: It all goes back in the Box - by John Ortberg

Leadership and Self Deception: Getting out of the Box By the Arbinger
Institute

Emotional Healthy Spirituality by Schazzero

Talking in the Dark by Steve Harper

Searching for Shalom Resources for Creative Worship by Ann Weems...
(Val, I think you left this one. I'll bring it to the Jan meeting, or call
me & we can have a rendezvous).

I brought:

UN-CHRISTIAN What a new generation really thinks about Christianity and why
it matters Groundbreaking research from the Barna Group by David Kinnaman

Very important book, in my opinion.

Simple Church Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger Also a critical book to focus
on how our churches... even a big one like Church of the Resurrection can
APPEAR to be "Simple".

Our complex society inspires people to seek simplicity.

The Flip Side by Flip Flippen. This book was the first step that we took
in looking at our behavior as staff persons. Frankly, I wasn't thrilled
with a lot of it. But yeh, that's part of it, so I brought it. Other
people might have liked it more than I did.

The highest concern and love lifts up Kim, Jeffrey and Matt Wallis. Please
keep us in the loop if you will. We care very much about you.

Well, it was a pleasure hearing the counsel and sharing around the table
today.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 17th at 9:00 at the District
Office in Plant City.

Faithfully,

Carol

Notes from our Last Gathering (9/20/07)

Sorry this has taken so long!

We met for our September meeting at Forest Hills UMC in Tampa.

If I heard correctly, the following people are going before the board this year:

Kim Uchimura, John Legg, Dennis Roebuck, Mark Reynolds, Barry Bahr. I’m ready to take corrections or additions to that list!

We decided to try having longer meetings….fewer times per year. We’ll evaluate as time goes on..

Our next meeting will be November 8^th at Kathleen UMC in Lakeland. 9-12:00

Then, at the DISTRICT OFFICE January 17^th and April 17^th, 9-12.

I’m still waiting on confirmation from FUMC in Plant City, who controls the rooms, but I’m assuming that we’ll get in.

***We will be unable to meet in Plant City, at the District Office in April. We obviously have plenty of time, (I hope!) so we can line up an alternative.

Several of us were going (and now, went!) to the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood Kansas: Dawn Anderson, Jeffrey Smith, Joseph Kim, Carol Marsh. I made a lot of new friends. J

At our September meeting, there was a comment that there is an event for RIM participants in February coming for which the details/date had not been received.

I THINK I heard one of you say now that you have received that information. Can anyone confirm that for us all?

NOW!

It’s time for you to visit our South Central RIM Group BLOG.

Matt Wallis set this up for us. He will post THIS MESSAGE on the Blog and then you can go to the blog and make comments, corrections, and say whatever you wish!

I encourage you to add this address to your “favorites” and check it regularly. I have sites that I check every day (ahem, like the Copeland myspace site and my own myspace site

(www.myspace.com/carolmarsh)

If you have resources, conferences, books, etc. that you’re willing to share with people, put it there!

This won’t take the place of our emails, but will give you a chance to share more informally with each other without filling up their email boxes.

Awright! I may have more to say, but no time to say it! Love you guys! Carol

Carol V. Marsh

Minister of Discipleship

First United Methodist Church, Lakeland

863-686-3163 ext . 233

CMARSH@FIRSTUMC.ORG

Our Upcoming Schedule

At our meeting on Sept. 20th, we decided on our schedule for the next few months. We will meet at the Kathleen UMC on November 8th from 9:00am until noon. This time will comprise the equivalent of two sessions to make it easier on us during the busiest times of the year. There will be no meeting in December. We will meet again on January 17, 2008, from 9:00am until Noon at the District Office in Plant City. We discussed having our meetings at the same location (District Office) to make it easier to get to for the most people. The next meeting will be April 17, 2008, from 9am until Noon at the District Office. If you were not able to attend the meeting on Sept. 20th, where this was discussed, please post your comments here regarding these upcoming meeting locations and times.

Welcome!

This is the new blog page of the South Central District's RIM Group. I hope that this can be a helpful tool for our group to communicate, support and dialog with each other. So, take some time to look around and post comments to get discussions started, pass along news or prayer requests, or make fun of John Legg (just because that's so much fun)!