September 2015
Grace United Methodist Church Newsletter
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"The breezes taste 
Of apple peel. 
The air is full 
Of smells to feel- 
Ripe fruit, old footballs, 
Burning brush, 
New books, erasers, 
Chalk, and such. 
The bee, his hive, 
Well-honeyed hum, 
And Mother cuts 
Chrysanthemums. 
Like plates washed clean 
With suds, the days 
Are polished with 
A morning haze."
-   John Updike, September


Greetings!

Here is the latest news on the merger between Grace and Quest:  We have had two "all church" open meetings in the chapel for Grace members to give updates and hear ideas. 

Based on what Grace members were saying, I drafted a "Merger Proposal" and shared it at that second congregational meeting for critical review. After a long conversation about new names for the merged congregation, the group reviewed the entire document and responded with agreement and acceptance. Several suggestions were made and incorporated into that document.

The "Grace Proposal" was then taken to the merger committee (composed of Quest and Grace representatives) and found acceptance there.  That group made some additional changes which did not substantially change what had emerged from Grace's congregational meeting.

We have continued to review and tweak that document for several weeks, and you will see below the final (???) draft.

You will also see (in a block below) an information sheet prepared for both congregations that gives further information about the potential merger.

So here is our time line:

On September 27, at 9:45 a.m. (after our worship service,) the Grace Congregation will meet in the chapel to approve a "Plan of Ministry."  This plan calls for the implementation of all the PROGRAM details of The Plan of Merger (see below) effective October 1.  In other words, we will begin operating as "one congregation" on that date:  in worship, in staff cooperation, in pastoral collaboration, in program planning, in administrative planning, and in communication. The Quest congregation will meet after their worship service that same day to approve the same plan.

On November 1, (to give time for lawyers and conference officials to review our plan and make their necessary adjustments) we will vote on the "Plan of Merger" you see below.  The time of that meeting will be announced in the next few weeks.  The merger will then "officially" take place on January 1, 2016. 

Everyone who is a professing member of Grace Church will be qualified to vote at both the September and November meetings.   

In other words, we are proposing to "unofficially" begin on October 1 and to "officially" begin on January 1.  The 2 reasons for the two dates are:  1) to allow Grace and Quest to move quickly out of this limbo that has kept us from doing effective ministry and 2) to allow extra time for the conference and the lawyers to make their official decisions.

During the month of September, we will also have two open forums in the chapel for people of Grace to come and express opinions and ask questions.  The first will be Thursday, September 10, at 7 p.m. and the other will be Wednesday, September 16 at 12:30 p.m.  If you unable to make either of these meetings, please feel free to express your ideas and questions through email or written mail...send them directly to the church or to me.

May God bless us through these very important days and decisions.

Pastor Mike

Monthly Reflections: New Workshop Series! 

September comes from the Latin septum, meaning "seven" as it used to be the seventh month. So how fitting that my new workshop series on the Seven Deadly Sins will begin this month!

I have a lot of issues with how the concept of sin is handled in religion these days, but I've always held some fascination with the Seven Deadly Sins. Perhaps the difference is that this list did not originate with the Bible, but within the context of monastery living.

I took a seminar-style class on the topic while I was at Garrett, and it simultaneously delivered clarity and aroused further curiosity. My goal with this new workshop series is to do the same for those who participate.
Sin is a deeply personal issue for most people. The word itself can conjure feelings of guilt, regret, self-consciousness, judgment, pain, and sadness. But the best thing about the seminar I took-and what I hope to achieve with my own series-is the sense of hope that comes with a deeper understanding of what sin means, and how it can be addressed.

In order to achieve this, I have opted to pair each of the seven sins with an aspect of the Creation stories. I think it is critical to look at both the light and the dark, and explore ways in which we can learn to live in the middle places. This is where we must be for change to occur-navigating the world as it is while doing all we can to help transform it into what it should be.

I am eager to share with you what I have learned, and am still learning, about this challenging subject. As before, each workshop will combine meditation, dialogue, and creativity as we learn from recommended readings and each other.

The first workshop will provide an overview on the ideas of sin and creation, so that we might all start on the path from a similar basic understanding. After that, we'll dive into the list wholeheartedly.

As many of you know, our family has a small event to attend this weekend, so a firm date on this initial workshop will be announced by next week. This series will seek to widen your perspective on sin, creation, faith, and redemption. I do hope you'll consider attending.

 
Thanks for reading!
Mindy

 


Plan of Merger
 
For Grace United Methodist Church (Urbana, Illinois)
and Quest United Methodist Church (Urbana, Illinois)
 
Submitted to the respective church conferences for vote on November 1, 2015
 
Be it Resolved that Grace United Methodist Church and Quest United Methodist Church become one congregation on January 1, 2016, legally known as Grace/Quest United Methodist Church and publicly presented as: Quest United Methodist Church: A Community of Grace.
 
And be it Further Resolved that the new congregation follow these stipulations:
 
  1. The congregation will at all times faithfully abide by and support the current Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.
  2. Through the end of 2018, at least 1/3 of the members of the following committees will be composed of those who were members of Grace Church at the time of the merger: The Church Council, the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee, the Trustees, and the Nominations and Leadership Development Committee (or their equivalents). This stipulation may be waived for those committees and councils if there are not enough former members of Grace Church willing and able to meet the standards of service.
  3. The church will provide worshippers at least one traditional and at least one modern worship service between 8 a.m. and noon each Sunday, in the church's main sanctuary. The new church shall make a good faith effort to provide this worship variety for a period of no less than ten years from the date of the merger.
  4. The chapel in the northeast corner of the education wing will be known as "Grace Chapel." Priority for its use shall be reserved for worship services of all sorts. The room may also be used to host Christian education and fellowship. It may also be shared with adult groups who need temporary meeting space. The new church shall make a good faith effort to follow this stipulation for a period of no less than ten years from the date of merger.
  5. The new congregation will receive all the assets of the two merging congregations.
  6. The new congregation will be responsible for all the debts and liabilities of the two merging congregations.
  7. The pastor of the former Grace Church will continue to live in the former Grace Church parsonage. The pastor of the former Quest Church will continue to receive a housing allowance set by the latest charge conference. This stipulation will remain in effect until the bishop makes a pastoral change in the new church.
  8. The membership rolls and records for Quest and Grace will become the rolls and records of the new church. All those who are professing members of the two previous churches will constitute the professing membership of the new church. 
  9. The following committees and officers will be nominated prior to the effective date of the merger to lead the new church: Leadership Team, Staff-Parish Relations, Trustees, Finance, Nominations, treasure, financial secretary, the Lay Leaders, and lay members of annual conference.


A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CHARGE CONFERENCE AND CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE NEWLY MERGED CHURCH
 
FROM THE MERGER COMMITTEE
  1. We recommend that the new charge conference adopt the following mission statement: Growing a community that helps people become whole-hearted followers of Jesus and reflects God's love to the world.
  2. We recommend that Quest's organizational structures, including "Connect, Grow, Serve, and Go" be the foundation for organizing programs in the new congregation and that committees and groups in the new congregation use common names found in the Book of Discipline whenever possible.
  3. We recommend that the new church make a good faith effort to retain the current staff of both congregations until June 30, 2016, re-organizing them as soon as possible, under the direction of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, to maximize their benefit to the new congregation.
  4. We recommend that the traditional worship service be continued at 8:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.
  5. We recommend to the church council (leadership team) that they establish task forces to present to the new congregation (by June 1, 2016) recommendations on the following items:
    1. A values statement for the new congregation
    2. A membership covenant for new members
    3. A policy for taking people off the membership rolls
    4. A "leadership covenant" for those who will serve in offices, boards and committees
  1. We recommend that a Finance Committee take immediate steps to integrate the financial systems of both congregations and assure that conference apportionments for both congregations are paid in full for 2015.
 
 
 
Merger FAQs
 
Q: What is the purpose of this merger?
 
A: Our church leadership feels that as a merged church in this location we will be more effective in mission and ministry, have an increased witness and broader reach in our community and better reflect the body of Christ as a multi generational congregation. Simply stated, we feel we would be better together.
 
Q: How specifically does Quest's mission benefit from this merger?
 
A: Quest gains a rich heritage of mission and ministry of the 120-year-old Grace congregation, along with the wisdom and stories from those who have gone before. In addition, for the last few years, Quest's leadership identified permanent land and facilities as a desirable ministry tool for increased outreach and mission. This merger is a cost effective way to gain such a tool providing new short and long-term growth possibilities. This permanence also frees up the church to be more strategic about investing missionally in the surrounding area of Southeast Urbana.
 
Q: How specifically does Grace's mission benefit from this merger?
 
A: Grace gains the joy and fervor of a younger generation and children to compliment an already close-knit community. Just as important, in merging with Quest, Grace receives the benefit of a rejuvenated mission with the opportunity to leave a legacy of ministry for Jesus in Southeast Urbana far beyond what would be possible without a merger. Furthermore, a merger shares the short and long-term burden of physically and financially supporting the facilities while also assuring its maximum usage in sharing the gospel with the community.
 
Q: What will be the name of the merged church?
 
A: Legally the new church will be known as "Grace/Quest United Methodist Church". Publicly and promotionally the merged church will be known as "Quest United Methodist Church: A Community of Grace". At some point in the future, the merged church could decide to change its name.
 
Q: Who will be our pastor?
 
A: From January 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 (the rest of this appointment year), it is anticipated that both Rev. Andy Adams and Rev. Mike Smith will be appointed as co-pastors of Grace/Quest. Sometime between February and April, we expect to learn who will be appointed to pastor this church after July 1, 2016. Our staff parish teams are recommending that Rev. Andy Adams be appointed as the lead pastor, and that needs of the new church be considered when making Rev. Mike Smith's appointment (either to remain as an associate full or part time or not).
Q: What will the roles of Co-pastors be?
 
A: Pastor Andy will be the primary Sunday morning preacher/teacher. He will also provide leadership with the administrative committees and staff team to set vision and to create and implement strategies to carry out the church's mission. Pastor Mike's passions fall in the "Grow" and "Go" areas of ministry thus he will lead various outreach ministries to people on the margins including Chinese internationals, the poor, veterans, and the aging. He will also be the primary organizer of pastoral care and lead or organize various Bible studies and other community formation groups.
 
Q: What will be the worship times and styles?
 
A: Quest United Methodist Church: A Community of Grace will offer three Sunday morning worship services in the sanctuary:
  • 8:30am - Traditional
  • 9:45am - Modern
  • 11:00am - Modern
Kids Quest will continue to be offered at 9:45 and 11:00am.
 
Q: Will we stop doing ________________ (fill in the blank with something you love)?
 
A: You are likely a part of Quest or Grace because you love some element of the worship, community and/or mission of the church. For most practical purposes, the merged church will feel very similar to the way Quest and Grace have been in partnership over the last two years. Behind the scenes, our leadership, structure and finances will be integrated. We will also be working to integrate many of our ministries. The merged church leadership has no intention of removing any of the beloved aspects of either congregation (i.e. worship style; community groups).
 
Q: What is each church's financial situation entering the merger?
 
A: This is a complicated question to answer. Grace's financial situation is heavy on assets (6 acres of land, paid off facilities and a parsonage) with $40,000 of debt for building repairs. Quest entered 2015 with assets of approximately $27,000 net spendable cash and no liabilities. From a 2015 yearly income/expenses standpoint, as of July 31, Quest is running a surplus of roughly $25,000* and Grace is running a budget deficit of approximately $4,000.** We have an agreement that Quest would take on an additional $5,000-6,000 of unbudgeted expenses (some building and utility costs) for the rest of 2015, and that the new church would set an appropriate budget considering all income and projected expenses for 2016.
 
*$5,000 over prorated budgeted expenses for 2015 (in other words, Quest's expenses have been lower in the first 6 months than will be in the last 6 months primarily because of two full-time staff hires on June 1).
**$4,000 consists of two months of apportionments not yet paid, but expected to be paid by the end of the year.
Q: What will be done with the current staff of each congregation?
 
A: The new church is making a good faith effort to retain the current staff of both congregations through at least June 30, 2016, re-organizing them under the direction of the Staff-Parish Relations Team, to maximize their benefit to the new congregation. Below is a preliminary structure for the church. Blue positions are full time, green are part time and orange are volunteer.

Q: Who will make up the membership of the new church?
 
A: Members of each church will become members of the merged church. The new church leadership team will develop and present a membership covenant on or before June 1, 2016.
 
 
 
Q: Who will make up our new leadership?
 
A: If each church votes to merge according to this plan, on September 27th, we will approve the following leadership teams:
 
 
Leadership Team:
Ryan Wills (chair)
Erik Kotewa
Eric Hays
Travis Miller
Joel Sanders
Nia Klein
Lauren Acton
Celina Trujillo
Brenda Husler
Jan Jones
Grace Member
Grace Member
 
Staff Parish:
Eric Kotewa (Chair)
Bob Bentz
Lisa Searing
Josh Gulley
Jennifer Rohn
Jennie Chin
Dave Mast
Quest Member
Grace Member
 
 
 
Trustees:
Eric Hays (chair)
Sean Daugherty
John Martin
JR Walag
Buddy Bartels
Brenda Husler
Bill Gladson
Ron Weidner
Stephen Haas
 
Finance Team:
Travis Miller (chair)
Liza Raquel (financial secretary)
Anne Ahrens (financial secretary)
Grace Member
Grace Member
Joel Sanders
 
Nominations Team:
Ryan Wills
June Schwartz
Brenda Husler
Eric Hays
Lori Gillespie
Jon Kilroy
 
 
 
Co-Lay Leaders: Ryan Wills & June Schwartz

Annual Conference Reps: Eric Hays, Jan Jones, & Lauren Acton
 
 



Adopt an International Student
 
Jie Wu is organizing a program for Americans to adopt an international student for the school year.  The commitment involves spending 2 hours a month with the student, doing activities you decide mutually.  If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, contact Jie at 721-9773 or email her at [email protected]
  
Chapel Dedication
 
We will have a dedication of our new chapel following the 8:30 worship service on September 20.  This short ceremony, to be held in the chapel, will recognize those who planned and worked on the chapel, those whose memorial funds helped pay for it, and those who will use it in future years.  A brunch in the fellowship hall will follow at 10 a.m. 
  
Meals on Wheels
 
Grace Church will be delivering Meals on Wheels the week of October 5-9. Two volunteers are needed each day: a driver and someone to carry meals to the door.  If you would like to help, contact Karen Knight:  344-7494 or [email protected]  
  

Celebrations! Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday to:                             Happy Anniversary to:
Wayne Weidner     Sept. 1              Joy and Ken Frick            Sept. 6
Richard King          Sept. 9             Diane and Wayne Weidner Sept. 15
Floyd Bailey          Sept. 16            Marilyn and Bob deJong    Sept. 20
Sharon King           Sept. 17
Ron Stinebring      Sept. 25     
                   
Joys and Concerns 
Prayers:
For Val Austin's mother, Lois, who has been having trouble with her hip
For Val Austin, as she heals from knee surgery
For Mark Husler, who is recovering from surgery for an aneurysm
For a grandson of Ron and Kay Weidner, as he embarks on his college career at the U of I
For a grandson of Bobbie Ford, as he makes life-changing decisions

Joys:
Best wishes to Matt Peters, who has a new job and has relocated to Evanston
Congratulations to Jay and Donna Hoeflinger on the marriage of their son, Chris, to Jenny McBroom.
That Art Harper is back home and recovering nicely from a partial hip replacement
From Becky Withers for her grandson's recovery after having his tonsils and adenoids removed
From Val Austin upon the baptism of two grandchildren
From Richard King upon the successful completion of the softball season
From Kay Weidner that Ron was able to partcipate in a Civil War reenactment and a mission trip
From the Searings for Emma's opportunity to spent two weeks with her grandparents at camp
From the Kings for a trip to Gatlinburg, TN to visit old friends from Grace Church
From the Kings for Benjamin's trip to Virginia to visit Jennifer
From Julie Smith who was able to have her 92 year old grandma spend a weekend at their home recently
From Jie and Mike Smith for a great 10-day trip to the east coast with her parents, who recently completed a 6 week stay and returned to China
From Mindy Smith for time spent with her mother in preparing for Alison's up-coming wedding


Church Officers, 2015
Co-Lay Leaders: Karen Knight and Bob Bentz
Chair of Church Council:  June Schwartz
Acting Chair of Trustees:  Ron Weidner
Chair of Finance:  Bob Bentz
Church Treasurer:  Richard King
Financial Secretary:  Marsha Russell
Chair of Pastor Parish Relations:  Stephanie Deloney

 "By all these lovely tokens September days are here,  
With summer's best of weather,
And autumn's best of cheer."
~Helen Hunt Jackson
Thank you for being a part of the Grace United Methodist Church Community!