BVBCNews for May 2009

About 70 leaders of various BVBC ministries met Saturday morning, April 25, for a briefing on the church's ministry blueprint -- its mission, vision, and values statements -- and a quick tour of the steel-and-concrete project that will help the congregation pursue those goals.

Members of the pastoral staff spent about two hours explaining refinements to the mission statement (included at the bottom of each issue of BVBCNews) and discussing the five values identified as crucial for BVBC:

Being devoted to Christ
Pursuing holiness without self-righteousness
Practicing generous Christian orthodoxy
Building relationships
Working together

The refinement of such statements and values is part of a multi-year effort to change the "silo" mentality that can become an obstacle, said Senior Pastor Bo Matthews. The discussions are often intense, he said.

The "silo" concept is a reference to the phenomenon that often occurs when people work together in groups. Each subgroup is tempted to pursue its own priorities,

even at the expense of the larger group's mission. Only by deliberate effort will subgroups reach across to support and cheer on the work of others -- and that cooperative effort provides enormous traction toward any group's mission.

Beyond the congregation's need to work together is Brandywine's goal of connecting with the community and culture in meaningful ways, staff members said.

Those intersections can bring tension, too, said Brenda Wilson, director of assimilation and communication.

"But true holiness makes us bearers of grace, not condemnation," she said. "... Our heart is for people who come here to see God's compassion and grace, not condemnation. We value holiness for ourselves and grace for other people."

"Generous orthodoxy" refers to Brandywine's commitment to its statement of faith (click here to read it online) and to the time-honored truths of the Apostles' Creed, approaching all issues -- essential and non-essential -- with respect for others.

"Unity does not mean total uniformity," said Executive Pastor Bill Parsons.

The sharpened mission and values statements got good reviews from leaders in attendance.

Dick Lawyer, a longtime broadcast editor and BVBC teacher, said he believed the document would work well not only at Brandywine but in multi-cultural settings.

Others said they could imagine using the list of five values as conversation starters with neighbors and friends.

After the 2 1/2-hour meeting, participants took a walk through the construction site -- ducking around dangling cables, stepping past racks of pipes and stacks of ductwork, and through still-empty steel door frames to get a feel for the new, expanded layout.

Though much work remains, many were struck by the natural light already illuminating the area, the way architect George Yu masterfully expanded the sanctuary's capacity while making it feel more intimate, and the new possibilities the project brings.

It has been almost a year since the walls of the old sanctuary were torn down, Bill Parsons noted, a day that produced mixed feelings of nostalgia and anticipation.

"But what has just been flat lines on paper for a couple of years now really is starting to take shape," he said. "It's going to serve us well in carrying out this mission and this vision."