Vision for the Mt Vernon Church of Christ
Jess Willis and Ralph McClurg, Elders– May 2005
Doctrine and Faith
We will continue to follow the Bible as the only guide to help us find our faith and obedience to Jesus Christ. We honor Him as the true Savior of the world and the head of his church. We will insist on preaching and teaching that follows only the Bible. We will instruct interested persons in the Bible way of salvation and then follow up with the Bible way of living a Christian life.
Worship
We will worship God in a manner as closely as possible to the pattern He gave for us. We will sing praises to Him, study about Him, preach about Him, pray to Him, commune with Him, and give of our resources to Him. We will do this with dignity, respect, honor, glory, praise, adoration, love, and humility.
We will always worship Him on the Lord’s Day to participate in the Lord’s Supper and giving. We will participate in worship at other times as well. Each member is encouraged to participate in all worship. We will monitor attendance both informally and formally so that we can identify those who are not regular in attendance and may need attention.
We will train and encourage worship leaders to properly prepare to lead each service so that we may focus on God rather than on the act. We will teach the congregation how to properly prepare for worship so that we avoid distractions. We will accommodate those with small children so that there will be fewer distractions to them and those around them.
Preacher/Minister
We will support a full-time preacher to minister to the congregation. He must be firmly grounded in the faith and truth, be a bold proclaimer of the gospel of Christ, be hospitable and charitable to everyone, preach the Word from the pulpit in a way that molds lives to be more Christ-like, and help the hurting in any way possible. He will develop relationships with members and their families that will enhance his ability to work with them. We will support him financially, spiritually, emotionally, administratively, and otherwise. We will not burden him with management matters so that he can focus on ministry. We will provide him transportation for church visits and other church work at no cost to him. We will encourage him to be an active part of the community.
Leadership
The leadership team consisting of the elders, deacons, preacher, and selected ministry leaders will meet regularly to openly discuss plans and opportunities for the church. There will be discussion of highlights, disappointments, and future work. This group must be highly communicative with each other and with the congregation. Deacons, elders, and ministry leaders must openly communicate with each other and the members of the congregation for input and information. We will maximize the use of the bulletin for congregational information.
We will encourage qualified men to become elders and deacons. We will actively recruit for these positions and train as needed to help meet the qualifications of the scriptures. We desire to have deacons lead ministries, but we recognize that some ministries can be effectively led by others. We will select capable and sincere men (and women where appropriate) to be ministry leaders.
Deacons
Deacons are workers, servants to the congregation. They are chosen by the congregation, they serve the congregation, and they are responsible to the congregation. Being a deacon is a job not a position. We will select men who meet all of the Bible guidelines for the position of deacon, and appoint them to the office with a commission to perform the duties assigned. Deacons will be given broad responsibility to perform their jobs without direct supervision, although they will have job descriptions. They will be expected to communicate frequently and routinely with the congregation about their duties to seek out needs and ways to meet those needs best. They will report often on those things that are scheduled or have been accomplished. They will be passionate about their assignments, and when unable to perform them, they will delegate or step aside so the task can be performed by another. Deacons will be assigned to report to an elder—not to create a hierarchy but to allow guidance from a single, specific, informed source rather than from multiple sources who may not be totally ‘connected’ on the needs or assignment. Deacons will be expected when confidentiality allows it to inform both the eldership and the congregation of their highlights, disappointments, and future plans. Deacons will be expected to bring well prepared business proposals and budgets to the eldership and the congregation after thoroughly and prayerfully considering their responsibilities. Deacons are chosen and given assignments, but they are servants in general and will be willing to do anything as a member of the team. They will be mutually supportive of each other and will cover for each other in absences. Each deacon will designate an assistant who is kept informed and who is kept involved in the ministry.
Ministry Leaders
There are many ministries which can be effectively organized and managed by someone other than deacons. We will assign capable leaders to these ministries and assist them as needed to be successful in accomplishing their goals and fulfilling their roles. With no intent to create a hierarchy, these leaders will report to either a deacon or a designated elder for guidance and support. Ministry leaders will be passionate about their assignments and willing to properly dedicate themselves to the task. When either a ministry or a ministry leader is no longer needed or is no longer effective, a discussion involving appropriate deacons and elders will take place to determine whether or not either or both will continue. Nothing will preclude the preacher or an elder from being a ministry leader if he has time and energy available for it.
Elders
Elders are charged with the spiritual oversight of the congregation. As such, they need to know and communicate with the congregation often, both collectively and individually. They will be leaders, staying in front of the congregation in vision and foresight. They will be guides in spiritual matters. They will be counselors in personal and other matters. They will have an open and honest relationship with each other and with the minister and the deacons. They will have the complete trust of the congregation to know and do the right thing. They will be teachers and preachers and ministers and missionaries as the need arises. They will not need to be involved in many details of the congregational business, as the deacons and ministry leaders will be taking care of that. They will make decisions without emotions being involved, for the benefit of the church and the Lord.
Preacher Training
We will encourage our preacher to continue his education by attending seminars and lectureships. This can be refreshing and renewing and enlightening. We will use our preacher to mentor young men aspiring to be preachers. We will encourage him to spend time with them each week to share and learn from each other.
We will encourage talented young men to become preachers and talented young women to become preacher’s wives. We will support preachers-in-training with financial, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. We will provide them mentoring and coaching and work to maximize their preaching and teaching experiences. We will allow them to “be all that they can be” while in training.
Worship Leadership Support
We are blessed with several capable preachers, song leaders, and Bible class teachers. We will support other congregations who need these worship leaders for their regular worship. This is a benefit to the individuals who provide the support as well as to the supported congregation. We will become known in the region as the place to call for this support. We recognize that this may detract from our own attendance but recognize the value to the Lord is greater.
Bible Classes and Teachers
We will conduct scheduled Bible classes for all ages. Teachers will be chosen for their enthusiasm and willingness to teach the Bible, and for their steadfastness in the Word. They will prepare thoroughly for the planned lessons they are to teach. They must recognize that teaching is not something that “just happens”—it is caused to happen by proper preparation. They will efficiently use the precious time that they are given to teach the Word of God – starting on time and using the final minutes to properly conclude the lesson with emphasis on the main teaching points. They will be monitored periodically to verify good teaching practices and Biblical content. All lessons are to have a goal which will make them life-changing or spiritually uplifting and challenging. We will not teach just for the sake of teaching, but teach to gain insights into the Word of God and to build Godly lives.
Prayer
We believe in the need for prayer and the power of prayer. We will include prayer in our worship and in our fellowship activities. We will establish other special prayer sessions as appropriate. We will teach the congregation about prayer through lessons, classes and seminars. We will be known as a praying people.
Visitors to Our Worship
We will love each other and want to visit with each other before and after worship. However, we must remember the lesson that James taught about not favoring persons at worship. We must make it a priority to see that each visitor is met with a handshake (and a hug if appropriate) as they enter our building and again as they leave it. Let’s have no one ignored – nobody!! Although we may assign greeters and ushers to welcome those who enter the building, we need to teach and encourage everyone to greet everyone else, as if they were visitors. Additionally, we will attempt to have a member sit with visitors who come alone, so that no one has to be alone during worship and/or Bible study.
Outreach Programs
We will establish programs of outreach to the community. We will plan these programs to be efficient and effective. We will involve the congregation in both the planning and the implementation of them. These may be benevolent, evangelistic, informative, civic, or even political in nature. It is noted that most such programs “run their course” and are not permanent. When the need for them or the enthusiasm to continue them fades, they will be terminated.
Civic
Organizations
We will support civic organizations in some of their efforts and programs if
they will be of benefit to the community for spiritual, ethical and moral
improvement. We may support financially as well as otherwise, but we will
strive to gain the glory for God and the church in our help to them.
Benevolence
We will be known as benevolent, loving people. We will be known in the community as a church who helps those who are down. We will follow good stewardship in our benevolence, and we will pray for and with those we help. We will offer food for their souls as well as for their bodies. We will not give to everyone who asks; only those who we believe are truly in need and will benefit from such charity. We cannot condone immoral or ungodly behavior with no remorse when we give. We cannot demand repayment in our giving, although we can encourage it.
We will routinely offer benevolent activities to the community such as the fall clothing giveaway that has become a custom with us. Nothing is to preclude that from growing to more than an annual event or more than winter clothing.
One goal is to acquire the use of a suitable storage area for furniture, clothing, and non-perishable goods. This would be to allow us to accept donations of appliances and furniture and food and clothing in satisfactory condition, store it until needed, and then deliver it on notice of need to anyone in the region free of charge. This might be simply a refrigerator for a family who cannot afford to replace their faulty one, or it may be furnishings for an entire house for someone who just lost theirs in a tornado or fire, or food or clothing for individuals or families. We would like to be the first group to offer a burnout family a place to move to and furnishings for it. This effort can be regional if other congregations choose to join with us in it.
We will seek to immediately help victims of disasters, whether locally or regionally or worldwide. This help may be in various forms – it may involve our own labor or just sending money. A disaster may result in the need for us to assemble and pray before we seek to help the victims. We will budget some money annually for disaster relief. For local disasters, we will mobilize the maximum number of members and supplies that we can to help.
Our Earthly Family
We recognize that our earthly families are tremendously
important. The family system with the husband as head of the family is ordained
by God and must be maintained. We firmly believe in
22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
We will encourage family development and continuance using this Bible example. We will teach and preach this relationship to our young people throughout their growing years. We will assist families who struggle in their relationships with encouragement and prayer, and with counseling when possible. We will help them find resources which will benefit them.
Church Family
We will enhance our relationships in our church family. We will grow in love for each other and will assist each other. We will welcome new members to our family without hesitation. We will encourage them, mentor them, teach them, love them, and help them in every way possible. We will bond with them and share their struggles. We will realize that new members may have widely different backgrounds and cultural values than we have, and we will not use those differences as a reason to ignore or disregard or discard them. We will make them feel welcome into the family of God at Mt Vernon, just as we have been welcomed. We will share with them the great news and the great love that we found in God. We will realize that they may encounter severe struggles as they leave their past lifestyles, and we will be there to help them through those struggles. We will realize that the first few hours after a new child is born, he or she needs almost constant nurturing for survival, and we will provide that nurturing.
Relationships With Each Other
We will love each other. We will train and learn to work with each other. We recognize that there will be times when brothers and sisters may not agree with each other, but we will strive to maintain working relationships with each other. We will not allow relationships to deteriorate or fester so that the work of the church is slowed in any way. We will not avoid conflict, but we will resolve it. We will develop conflict resolution skills that help build or rebuild relationships that are not as they should be. We will love each other.
Evangelism
We recognize our commission to preach and teach the gospel of Christ. We will strive to evangelize the community and the world. Locally we will offer evangelistic outreach in the form of seminars, revivals, gospel meetings, campaigns, and other events. We will encourage each member to be an evangelist and to tell friends and neighbors about Jesus. We will run ads and articles in papers telling about us and our Jesus. We will support TV and other media methods of proclaiming the gospel as we see value in them.
Missions
We will proclaim the gospel world-wide as Jesus said in his parting words---- “Go teach all nations - - “. We will support foreign missions and encourage members to participate in foreign missions. We will also support mission efforts in our own country and region. We will encourage each and every member to participate in a mission of some sort at least once in their life, and we believe it can and will be life-changing. We will use whatever means is efficient and effective for mission works. We will support World Bible School and correspondence courses.
A medium range goal is to fully support a missionary/family who can spend time with our congregation building collaborative relationships that will last during the months and years he/they are in the field. This will include routine mission trips by our members to visit and support the effort. Ideally, this would be in a country or region that is rather easy to travel to. It can be in a mission area of our own country.
We will attempt to make mission trips available to our youth. These will be planned to help them grow and to aid the congregation or area being supported. These will typically include about a week of travel, presentation of the gospel in various ways, a VBS for children, some benevolent work, and some fun time. Sponsors will plan these events for maximum safety and effectiveness, and will screen out youth who would be a distraction or a source of embarrassment to the church.
Youth
We firmly believe that investment in the faith of our young people is critical. We will support them in every way possible as they grow up. We will train them and teach them in the ways of God. We will financially support their activities which help them grow in the Lord. We will encourage them to participate in regional youth activities and we will provide transportation for them to do so. We will teach them to be responsible for their behavior and their property and their soul. We will teach them and train them to be leaders in the church, and we will provide opportunities for them to learn leadership. We will invest in Christian educational opportunities for them. We are disheartened by the statistics that about half of young people leave the church, and we will work to have our young people fundamentally grounded so that they will not leave it. Our young people are our legacy and we must keep them faithful.
Member Involvement
We will encourage maximum involvement in the work of the Lord by our members. We will create a new members ministry and an involvement ministry and ask the ministry leaders to become involved in the lives of new members immediately and involve them in activities to help them grow. We will monitor the new members for a reasonable period of time before giving them responsibilities. The goal is to ensure proper doctrine and biblical principles are being adhered to, especially before making them teachers.
Men and Boys
We strongly encourage men and boys to share time together for bonding and fellowship. We will have a weekly breakfast for men where prayer and food are shared. We will have quarterly events or outings which will foster spiritual growth and challenges. We will have a retreat at least annually to further our fellowship and growth together. We will encourage the older men to mentor the younger ones in the lessons of life.
We will establish a training program to assist young men to learn to be worship leaders and to practice what they learn. We will establish a program to help young men learn to be deacons and elders. The program will allow them to grow in the Lord individually and as a team.
Ladies Activities
We recognize the talents and skills of women and their God-given role in the church. We encourage them to use their talents to teach and encourage each other and to mentor the younger women. We encourage them to visit anyone who needs encouragement or other help. We recognize their abilities to create fellowship and encourage them to use it. We thank them for their endless hours of work in projects that are designed to help others. We encourage them to provide input and express their desires on matters relating to worship order and activities. We solicit their help in planning activities which will promote God and His church in our community. We will financially support their fellowship and growth and benevolent activities. We will honor them in every way possible.
Shut Ins
We will honor and respect and care for the shut in members of our congregation. This will be a ministry and the leader for it will be carefully chosen to ensure dedicated effort is made to communicate with the shut ins and care for their needs.
Hospitalized and Ill
When a member or family member is ill or hospitalized, there may be requirements placed on the family that the church should help with. These include visits to the sick, but they also may include the need for food to the home, transportation of family members, baby sitting, shopping help, etc. We will make ministry to the sick and their families a priority.
Prodigal Recovery
We will reach out to the former members who have fallen away from church attendance and activity. We will recognize that it takes more effort to recruit a new member than it takes to keep an existing one, and will work to prevent anyone from becoming a prodigal. However, we will have those who fall away. Recovery of these will be a priority of the elders and the preacher, but it will also be a ministry. The ministry leader will be carefully and prayerfully chosen and may be the preacher or one of the elders.
Congregational Activities
We will promote fellowship through scheduled and special events including fellowship meals. For special events we will utilize the middle school cafeteria in order to have enough space and a casual atmosphere. We recognize that this arrangement has some inconvenience, but for the short term it works and will accommodate our needs. For smaller fellowships, we will use our own family room. (We seek suggestions on improving our family room facilities for more efficiency.)
These activities will be promoted and published as far in advance as possible to get maximum involvement. An annual schedule will be published for 5th Sunday events, bring-a-friend day, and gospel meetings so that the congregation can plan and know that there will be a fellowship dinner.
Congregational Information
We will keep the congregation informed about what is going on. Decisions and schedules will be published as much as possible. We will use the weekly bulletin to the maximum extent possible because written information is better understood and remembered. We will use a website for timely information to members and others. We will train our announcers to do a better job of presenting information for clarity and brevity. We will strive to get fast and accurate information to the congregation about illnesses and deaths.
Support Group
We recognize that there will always be those in need of special support from others. These needs may arise from various situations, but they will be met by the perpetuation of a support group. This may be comprised of various age and other groups, but will meet regularly for the purpose of fellowship, sharing of mutual needs, and fun. This group must pledge to full and complete confidence of the information shared at group meetings. This must not be a “whine” session or a “poor me” session. This will be a ministry led by a mature individual or couple who will dedicate time to the planning and leading of the group. The preacher or an elder could be the leader, and we will always try to have an elder attend meetings.
Care for the Disabled
We will be extremely concerned for the care of the disabled and we will accommodate them in every way possible. Whether it is electronic assistance for the hearing impaired, assisting those needing help with mobility, or caring for children with special mental of behavioral needs, we will make everyone aware of their needs and encourage everyone to help them as much as they can in any way they can with all of the dignity they can. We will be especially alert to help them at worship and Bible study as we see the need. Note that although this may be an assigned ministry for someone, it should be the concern of everyone. It will require continuous effort to make this happen.
Bereavement Support
When a loved one is lost, there are needs that are both immediate and long-term. We will have at least one individual designated by the Bereavement Ministry Leader to work with the bereaved family on a continuing basis for at least 6 months after the loss or until the family indicates no more is needed. This individual will contact the family immediately after the loss and offer to provide appropriate support including help in planning a funeral, food for the family and friends, around-the-clock personal support, help with chores, counseling, prayer, transportation, and follow-up phone calls and visits. When the survivor needs other help, the ministry leader may choose to consult the leadership team on whether or how to provide it.
Church Planting
We are aware of the decline of churches of Christ in rural areas and small towns. We will seek ways to help stop this decline and to remediate the loss of such churches in some way. We will be open to opportunities to plant or reestablish churches in areas of high potential. This could be an effort of our congregation only, or it could be in conjunction with others. It might mean only financial support or it could be a major effort including supporting with regular attendance of our members, preaching, door knocking, worship leading, and/or Bible class teaching.
Forgiving
We will be forgiving of each other for faults. We will
overlook weaknesses and stand by each other in times of trial and trouble. We
will humble ourselves in asking for forgiveness from our brothers/sisters. We
will follow Jesus in being a forgiving people.
Transportation
We will maintain appropriate and safe vehicles to provide transportation for our members to events, to worship, and to fellowship. All drivers of our vehicles must be educated that driving a load of people is more demanding than driving the family car. We will follow the Transportation Policy of the church and monitor it for improvements as needed. We will insist that drivers of vehicles be careful, experienced in the type and size of vehicle, properly licensed, and good stewards in taking care of the fleet. We will prioritize the use of the vehicles to maximize their benefit to the congregation. We will insist that seat belts are worn and that drivers are not distracted by passengers. Only drivers authorized by the transportation ministry leader are allowed to operate vehicles. Training will be provided for those desiring to learn to operate vehicles that they are not familiar with. Proper registration and insurance will be maintained on each vehicle. The vehicles will not be used for personal use. Before trips out of town, safety checks of the vehicles will be made by the driver/operator or someone designated by the transportation ministry leader to do so. Vehicle shortcomings, malfunctions, and damage will be recorded in the appropriate logbook. Fuel consumption and other service work will be recorded. Operators should refuel the vehicle after trips or notify the transportation ministry leader that fuel is needed.
Discipline
We will follow the New Testament in the imposition of discipline. We recognize that every member of the body is important and needed and useful. We will encourage every member to remain connected to the body and will help heal body members who become ill or hurt or dysfunctional. If a body member becomes harmful to the body and will not respond to treatment and threatens to cause deterioration of other body members, it must be removed from the body. This removal will be done with love and only for the hope and purpose of restoring the member.
Facilities
There is no command or pattern for worship facilities, but we must act with good stewardship in this area. We will neatly and efficiently maintain our facilities. We will encourage volunteer labor to conduct maintenance activities as much as possible and as directed by the facilities ministry leader. It is everyone’s job to keep the buildings neat and clean and efficiently operated.
--Our primary facility is adequate in size at present with the exception of needing more classroom space and a larger congregational activities area. We can efficiently use the middle school cafeteria for special congregational activities for the near future. If someone wants to champion the construction of a larger facility for congregational activities, a proposal or proposals will be considered. The upstairs classrooms are not accessible to handicapped persons; that is not presently a problem and can be resolved with an outside ramp if it becomes one. If we determine that actual needs for classroom space exceed what we have, we can look at alternatives such as mobile classrooms or simple add-ons or renovating existing spaces to gain classroom space. As we outgrow the auditorium, a second service will be explored and considered.
--We have limited parking space but there is street and school parking space available.
As the congregation grows in spirit and love and knowledge, it will grow in number. We will be open to options for facility expansion and growth and will develop a long-range plan for facility care and use and expansion.