Board of Elders (“BoE”) Meeting Minutes

        April 13, 2013

Present: Ming-Jer Tsai (Chair), Pastor Caleb Chang, Pastor King-Fai Choi, Liqin Chen, Ke-Chieh Chu, David Ho, Terry Yang (Secretary), Loren Shih (Board of Deacons Chair)

Invited: 3rd Service Core Group Representatives: Wei-Hsin Perloff, Hui-Feng Lin, Xinwen Wang; Project Joshua Representatives: Joshua Chang, Yang Luo, Ligong Xu; Stephen Ministry Representatives: Pastor Steve Chang, Anna Choi, Sandy Teng

Elder Tsai opened with prayer at 9:02 am.

1. Brief Sharing (Devotional, Testimony, Life Experiences, etc.)

Elders shared ministry and personal struggles, prayer requests and praises.

2. Update to the State of the Church
   
   Pastor Caleb shared pastoral evaluation of Easter-weekend Chinese evangelistic meeting, an update on the Chinese greeting video, a preview of the Chinese Mission Revival Meeting during the last weekend in April.

3. Board of Deacons (“BoD”) Updates
   
   Deacon Loren provided an update on BoD meeting procedures, progress on the gas main line project and the Chapel audiovisual improvements.

4. Church Building Expansion Project
   
   Elder Chu provided an update on the 151 architectural design, land survey engineer and civil engineer soil test proposals, project newsletter and fundraising status. Team has already met with Lexington Building Commissioner with a target of filing building permit by end of May and start of construction in September.

5. Ministry Review – Children’s Ministry
   
   Elder Chen provided his perception of the strengths and challenges of the Children’s Ministry, in particular citing improved organization resulting in high parental satisfaction and confidence. Pastor Choi gave an overview of the scope and historical attendance of the Children’s Ministry, logistical arrangements surrounding ministry and desired and proposed improvements. Discussed management of resource demands between Children’s Ministry and other ministries such as fellowships.

6. Ministry Review – Chinese Ministry PM Service
   
   Sister Wei-Hsin provided evaluation of Chinese PM service experiment, highlighting successes (some attendees prefer style and feeling of intimacy, 8-10 committed families, 4 upcoming baptisms) and struggles (no achievement in goal of alleviating overcrowding of morning Chinese service with about 40 average attendance [goal of 70], no children’s program, minimal general church leadership attendance and support, no live preaching on occasion). Sister Wei-Hsin outlined lessons learned (e.g., contemporary hymns not attractant) and Core Group view of benefits and drawbacks of continuing Chinese PM service. BoE discussed merits and value of continuing Chinese PM service. BoE decided to end the Chinese PM service at the end of the experiment as of the end of April. The BoE thanks the 3rd Service Core Group for their dedication and sacrifice over the past six months, and celebrate the successes achieved by the Chinese PM service.

7. Project Joshua – New Website

Deacon Joshua provided history and update regarding redevelopment of CBCGB website in terms of design and inclusion of user-specific and social media elements as well as ongoing support once redesign is completed. Brother Ligong walked BoE through demo of current website under development, including overview of security. Discussion of need for policy governing CBCGB online presence for all individual ministries and fellowships; BoE and Project Joshua Team to explore scope and parameters of policy. Deacon Joshua outlined next steps for data collection with a public launch targeted for May; BoE encourages all church ministries to assist the Project Joshua Team by providing up-to-date page content, input and suggestions. Deacon Joshua to coordinate with Membership Committee to determine possibility and feasibility of integrating data content and function of Patrick Lin’s recently completed online membership database into Project Joshua.

8. Stephen Ministries Chinese Translation Project

Sister Anna provided background on request by Dr. Anita Liu from China Evangelical Seminary North America for CBCGB to partner with 8 other American Chinese churches in translation of Stephen Ministries materials from English into Mandarin. CBCGB Steven Ministry has reviewed Translation and Distribution Agreement drafted with the 8 other churches and proposes a number of changes to ensure legal protection for the participating churches, and recommends that CBCGB sign amended Agreement should Steven Ministries legal entity incorporate proposed changes. Given the amended Agreement contains no financial obligation, BoE agrees to CBCGB Steven Ministry recommendation.

9. Spring Evangelistic Meeting (Thanksgiving, Reflection, Follow-up, etc.)

Elder Ho provided evaluation of spring evangelistic meeting over the Easter weekend, and Pastor Caleb provided pastoral evaluation; discussion of lessons learned. BoE directs BoD to develop special event checklist to ensure that effective coordination for special events occurs between the pastoral staff, the BoE, the BoD and ministry leaders (e.g., ensure audiovisual logistics is arranged and Fire Team and Medical Team coverage is available).

10. Follow-Up to Chinese Ministry (“CM”) Fellowship Review

BoE directs Elder Ho and Deacon Xinwen to organize special meeting for CM fellowship leaders to discuss results of CM Fellowship review at the March BoE meeting and next steps for evaluation and implementation of recommendations.

11. CM Family Retreat/Revival Camp

Pursuant to Church Council (“CC”) directive to pastoral staff, pastoral staff evaluated ad hoc committee report recommending resuming the CM Revival Camp; pastoral staff does not concur with ad hoc committee’s recommendation. BoE accepts pastoral staff evaluation results, and will not move forward with organizing a CM Revival Camp for 2014. In evaluating ad hoc committee report, pastoral staff also evaluated feasibility of holding CBCGB-wide retreat in lieu of CM Revival Camp, concluding such an endeavor would likely be financially and human capital draining without achieving goal of cross-congregational unification, and would therefore require careful consideration of cost versus benefit. Pastoral staff also proposed potential organizational structure should decision be made to move forward with CBCGB-wide retreat.

12. CC Offsite Retreat

Elder Tsai directed Minister Jennifer Lin, Deacon Wensong Pan and Deacon Loren to plan full-day offsite CC retreat on June 15 with the purpose of providing a relaxing environment for the CC to interact and conduct official church business (i.e., approve next fiscal year’s budget) and for strategic planning. More details to come.

13. Church Documentation (Storage, Retrieval, Format Standard, etc.)

Elder Tsai proposed to establish a web-based information depository and retrieval system for official and important church documents to better support various ministries and serve the congregation. Such documents may include meeting minutes, reports and briefings; positional papers (e.g., CBCGB’s white paper on the Charismatic Movement); CBCGB policies and procedures; and employment records. BoE agrees in principle and directs CC Secretary and Project Joshua Team to implement proposal, which includes 1) finding volunteers to collect desired depository documents; 2) migrating those documents to a standard, uniform format; 3) making those documents available online; and 4) developing and implementing both public and private access and change security for those online documents.

14. LCD Monitors for Information Display

Elder Tsai proposed the installation of two LCD monitors in the lobby for timely, dynamic display of critical CBCGB information in order to provide maximum congregational exposure. LCD monitors provide a cost-effective and functional alternative to posters, which are generally not effective and can clutter the aesthetics of the parking lot entryway and main lobby. BoE agrees in principle and directs Stewardship Committee to install the LCD monitors and church office staff to manage operation of and content displayed on LCD monitors in collaboration with team of artistic volunteers.

15. Information Session

Discussed merits and drawbacks of historical church-wide Information Sessions. BoE sees value in this avenue of communication with CBCGB’s congregations and proposes “town hall”-style Information Session in Chinese on June 16; date and format to be confirmed at a later date. BoE directs Elder Yang to investigate best method for CBCGB leadership to communicate with English Ministry (“EM”).

16. Pastor Chuck’s Sabbatical Leave Request

Pastor Chuck proposed a two-part Sabbatical Leave during the second half of 2013 and early 2014 to better meet the needs of the EM at the beginning of the academic year. BoE requested revisions to the timing of the proposal to better adhere to CBCGB’s Personnel and Benefit Policy.

17. Elder Nomination

Discussed nominations for Elders beginning in 2014; BoE to continue conversations with potential nominees.

Elder Chu closed with prayer at 4:18 pm.

長老團會議記錄

2013年4月13日

出席：蔡明哲(主席)、章開第牧師、蔡景輝牧師、陳利欽、朱克潔、何明治、楊德禮(秘書), 施志寧 (執事會主席) 。

受邀者：下午堂同工代表：趙維新, 林慧鳳, 汪新文; 約書亞事工(新網站)代表：張子剛, 羅燕, 徐立功; 司提反事工代表：張子義牧師，黎巧莊師母, 程中珊

蔡長老於上午 9:02禱告開始。

1. 簡短分享（靈修， 見證，生活經歷等）

長老們分享事工、個人困難、代禱請求、和讚美。

2. 教會近况

開第牧師分享復活節週末華語部的福音佈道會，更新的迎賓短片，預覽四月底的華語部培靈會。

3. 執事會近況

主席施志寧提供執事會議程序的更新，煤氣主要管道計劃的進展，和副堂視聽系统的改善。

4. 教會擴建

朱長老提供151號建築設計的近況，土地測量工程師和土木工程土壤測試的提議，擴建計劃的簡報，和募款情况。團隊已經和勒星頓鎮建築委員會面，預計五月底申請建築許可，九月開工。

5. 事工檢討 – 兒童事工

關於兒童事工的強項和挑戰，陳長老提供了他的看法。特別提及管理的改進，使得家長更滿意，而且有信心。蔡牧師介紹兒童事工的範疇和過去參加的情況，兒童事工所需的各項後勤安排，有需要並已提議的改善。大家也討論到兒童事工和其他事工（如團契）之間資源協調的安排。

6. 事工檢討 – 華語下午堂

維新姐妹提出對華語下午堂的評估，簡介成功的方面 （有些參加的人喜歡這種方式和親密的感覺，8-10家固定參加， 有4人將受洗），及困擾的方面（沒有真正減少華語上午堂敬拜的人數［平均減少40人，目標是70人）， 沒有兒童的項目， 教會領袖的參加和支持比較少， 有時沒有現場講道）。維新姐妹略述學到的功課（如現代聖詩較不吸引人），以及核心小組對繼續華語下午堂之優缺點的看法。長老團討論了繼續華語下午堂的優點 和價值。長老團決定在四月底實驗期結束時停止華語下午堂。長老團感謝下午堂核心小組過去六個月忠心的擺上和犧牲， 並為華語下午堂所成就的慶祝。

7. 約書亞項目 – 新網站

子 剛執事介紹了教會網站的歷史和重建的現況，設計包含使用者特定的元素、社交媒體元素、以及重新設計完成後一直需要的支持。立功弟兄帶長老們看了重建中的網 站，並介紹其安全設施。大家討論到需要制定政策，來管理各個事工和團契在教會網站的展現；長老團和約書亞項目團隊將探討該政策的尺度和參數。預計在五月推 出網站，子剛執事又簡介收集數據的步驟。長老團鼓勵每個事工都協助約書亞項目團隊，提供最新的網頁內容，輸入及建議。子剛將和會友委員會協調，討論把林有洧弟兄最近完成的線上會友資料庫的資料及功能，與約書亞項目整合的可能性及可行性。

8. 司提反事工華語翻譯項目

黎 巧莊師母提供此項目的背景，北美中華福音神學院（China Evangelical Seminary North America）的劉玉蘭博士要求本教會與其他八個美國華人教會合作，將司提反事工英文材料翻譯成中文。本教會的司提反事工已審閱與其他八個教會起草的翻 譯及分配協議，提出一些修改以確定對參與教會的法律保護，並建議本教會簽署修訂的協議，若司提反事工本部提議更改。鑑於修訂後的協議不包含任何財政義務，長老團同意本教會司提反事工的建議。

9. 春季佈道會（感恩、回應、跟進等）

對復活節週末的春季佈道會，何長老提出評價，開第牧師也提出牧師評價。討論學到的課題。長老團指示執事會擬定一個特別聚會的檢查清單，有效地在牧師、長老團、執事會、和各事工領袖之間協調有關特會的事宜（例如：確定視聽系统安排妥、有消防小組、及醫療小組）。

10. 華語部團契檢討的跟進

長老團指示何長老和新文執事，組織華語堂團契領袖們討論，長老團三月份會議對華語堂團契的檢討結果，評估後的步驟，以及對建議的落實。

11. 華語部家庭退修會/靈命進深營

特設委員會曾提出報告，建議恢復華語堂靈命進深營。根據牧長執聯會對教牧同工的指示，教牧同工評估特設委員會提出的建議，但並不同意特設委員會的建議。長老團接受了教牧同工評估的結果，不會籌組2014年的靈命進深營。同時，教牧同工也評估了舉辦全教會退修會，取代華語堂靈命進深營的可行性。結論是這樣做可能花錢耗力，卻無法達到整合華語英語兩堂的目標，所以需要仔細考慮花費和果效。教牧同工也提出，若決定有全教會的退修會，可能需要的組織結構。

12. 牧長執聯會退修會

蔡長老指示林珍妮傳道、潘文嵩執事、和施志寧執事，計劃6月15日全天，不在教會的牧長執聯會退修會。讓牧長執們在輕鬆的環境裡交流，並處理正式的教會事項（如：通過下個會計年度的預算），以及策略規劃。詳情且待。

13. 教會文件 （儲存、調閱、及格式標準等）

蔡長老提議建立一個網絡上的 信息存取系統，儲存教會正式的和重要的文件，為了更佳支持各種事工及服務會眾。這些文件可以包括會議記錄，報告和簡報; 立場性文件（如：教會對靈恩運動的白皮書），教會的政策和程序，和聘雇記錄。長老團原則同意，並指示牧長執聯會秘書和約書亞項目團隊來進行提案，其中包 括：1）延攬志願者收集所需的儲存檔案；2）將這些文件轉移到標準，統一的格式；3）使這些文件可在網上取得；4）發展及制定這些在線文檔在公共取用或私人取用，及其更改所需的安全設定。

14. 展示信息的液晶顯示器

蔡長老提議在大廳安裝兩個液晶顯示器(LCD)，及時動態地展示教會重要的信息，與會眾有最快的溝通。液晶顯示器可提供有效合理價格的辦法來取代海報海報一般效果不大，還可能影響停車場入口和大廳的美觀。長老團原則上已同意，指示產物理事會來安裝液晶顯示器，教會辦公室人員與藝術同工小組合作，管理液晶顯示器的運作和展示的內容。

15. 信息溝通會

討論以往全教會信息溝通會的優缺點。長老團看到以這種方式與會眾溝通的價值，建議於6月16日召開華語“市政廳”式的信息溝通會；稍後再確定真正的日期和形式。長老團指示楊德禮長老去調查教會領袖與英語部溝通最好的方式。

16. 盧植德牧師提出休安息年假

盧牧師提出分兩次休安息年假，分別在2013下半年和2014年初，為了配合英語部事工學年開始的需要。但長老團請他對時間作修改，使得更符合教會人事和福利政策。

17. 長老提名

討論2014年初的長老提名，長老團繼續與可能被提名的人談話。

朱長老於下午4時18分帶領結束禱告。