Board of Elders (“BoE”) Meeting Minutes

May 10, 2014

Present: Liqin Chen (Chair), Pastor Caleb Chang, Ke-Chieh Chu, Yuguang He, David Ho, Timothy Lu, Loren Shih (Chair, Board of Deacons [“BoD”]), Ming-Jer Tsai, Haiguo Wu (BoD Representative), Terry Yang (Secretary)

Invited for Church Building Expansion (“CBE”) update: Bryan Che

Pastor Caleb opened with prayer at 9:00 am.

1.     Pastor King-Fai Choi Farewell Celebration

BoE has arranged with Pastor King-Fai for a farewell celebration on Sunday, May 25 (Memorial Day weekend). All are welcome to express best wishes to outgoing Children Pastor and his family.

2.     Brief Sharing

Elders and Deacon representatives shared experiences with attendance at two touching, recent memorial services; recent travels in China, which sparked discussion on how the Chinese and English congregations can learn, encourage and support each other through “exchanging culture”, particularly in light of the current English Ministry (“EM”) vision.

3.     Update on State of CBCGB

Pastor Caleb provided the following updates on:

• Children (“Kids”) Minister (“KM”) candidate to replace Pastor King-Fai will visit Friday, May 16 and Sunday, May 18 to lead scheduled programming;
• Chinese Minister focused on Fellowship (“CM-FM”) candidate has completed first interview, with a second interview scheduled for Mothers’ Day;
• Upcoming “Post-90” seminar June 13-15, 2014 sponsored by Chinese Congress On World Evangelism and CBCGB, to take place at CBCGB.

4.     BoD Update

Deacons Loren and Haiguo provided the following updates on:

• 151 Spring St. renovation to begin once permitting for demolition has been approved;
• Replacement of Sanctuary piano;
• Parking situation with handicapped and visitor spaces.

5.     Church Vision Development

Elder Tsai provided his thoughts on how to define both a personal and CBCGB “vision”, starting from a secular perspective and extending that to the spiritual image of a preferable future which portrays what God wants to do in us and through us based on His plan; on how a vision can inspire, challenge, mobilize and focus our congregation for God’s glory; and on parameters for building both a personal and church-wide vision, especially the necessity of addressing all three aspects of body, soul and spirit at the personal level and the importance of a “group decision” (both top-down and bottom-up) at the church level. Elder Tsai also outlined his thoughts on the two pillars on which clear vision rests: who God is (infinite in time, space and power) and who we are (finite).

Pastor Caleb presented Pastor Chuck’s (due to scheduling conflict) presentation on approaching vision discussion:

• Is visioning a good use of time?
• What does visioning entail? Vision, Mission, Strategic Goals, Values
• What is a vision statement?

6.     CBE Update

Bryan Che provided feedback from the English, Children and Youth Ministries resulting from recent survey on revised CBE Phase II & III plans presented to the congregation last fall; Bryan also presented each Ministry’s current and anticipated future facility usage. General feedback from the survey included requests for more open communication, solicitation of congregational input on design changes, and expression of designs as preliminary when appropriate.

EM:

• No significant new space needs.
• Strong feedback against downgrading current worship experience, being isolated from the rest of the church or becoming “second-class citizens.”

Youth Ministry:

• New space needs include additional classrooms for small group meetings and large, open space for group games, assemblies and evangelism, preferably with soundproofing.

Children Ministry:

• Children Ministry requires specialized, contiguous and secure/safe locations and equipment with controlled access; difficult for locations and equipment to be re-purposed during different time periods.
• Strong need for additional classrooms and large, multipurpose meeting space.

Elder Chu provided update on current state of CBE:

• Contractor selected and contract signed for Phase I Part I (151 Spring St. rebuild); awaiting demolition permit approval from the City of Lexington prior to beginning project.
• Phase I Part II will comprise construction of additional parking lot and circular drive.
• Chinese Ministry (“CM”) facility usage survey in process; Phase II/III designs will be revisited once completed.
• Architectural design for new 151 Spring St. building presented.
• Financial update indicates that about 66% of CBE fundraising goal of $1 million already raised.
• CBE Team (“CBET”) adding Elder Mingche Li to assist with construction management and Tracy Shyu to help with finance and bond program that may be needed in subsequent phases. Team may request additional EM member to join in the future.
• Phase I groundbreaking ceremony under consideration by BoE.

7.     Deacon Nomination Update

Elder He provided update on Deacon Nomination Committee:

• Seven openings for 2015 session, with five current Deacons eligible for re-nomination.
• Loren Shih and Ruike Wang will hit term limit and are not eligible for re-nomination.
• 25 candidates suggested by Committee
• Committee determining how to prioritize list:

• BoE prefers to maintain proportion of CM/EM on BoD, but not rigid “rule”.
• BoE prefers nominating those who have historical context in BoD operations and rules/policies, especially as relates to appointments for BoD Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

8.         Other Issues (tabled to e-mail)

Revival of CM off-site retreat (aka “Gospel Camp”)

Transition plan for KM

Elder Lu closed with prayer at 12:12 pm.

Closed door lay Elder meeting (minus Elder Tsai).

Approved offering package for KM candidate.

長老團會議紀錄

2014年五月十日

與會者: 陳利欽 (主席), 章開第牧師, 朱克潔, 何煜光, 何明治, 盧忠信, 施致寧 (執事會主席), 蔡明哲, 吳海國 (執事代表), 楊德禮 (秘書)

因教會擴建受邀: 車文健

早上9點，開第牧師禱告後開始

1.蔡景輝牧師歡送會

長老團已與景輝牧師聯繫，在五月二十五日(國殤節主日)安排歡送會，全體會眾都可參加，向將離去的兒童牧師，Anna師母及家人，表達最深的感謝及祝福。.

2.簡短分享

長老及執事代表分享，有關最近兩個令人感動的追思禮拜、和近日去中國的見聞，對於中英文堂可以藉著文化交流、現在英文堂異相的亮光，如此彼此學習、鼓勵、和支援，我們有很好的討論。

3.本教會現況報告

開第牧師提供以下報告:

-        接替景輝牧師的兒童傳道候選人，將在五月十六日週五，及五月十八週日來教會，帶領安排好的節目。

-        關於中文堂團契傳道，已完成第一次面談，第二次面談訂於母親節。

-        在本教會舉行的“九0後”講座，訂於六月十三到十五，由世界華人福音會議及本教會主辦。

4.執事會報告

執事致寧及海國提供以下報告:

-        等拆除許可批准下來，即將開始151的修建

-        大堂的鋼琴更新

-        殘障及訪客停車的情況

5.發展教會異相

蔡 長老提出如何定義個人和本教會異相的看法；從屬世的觀點，延伸到對未來屬靈的形象，是描繪神按照祂的計畫，在我們當中、藉著我們所行的遠景。及教會的異相 會如何激勵、挑戰我們、使我們動員、專注於本教會，張顯祂的榮耀。還有建立個人及全教會異相的各個因素，特別需要顧及個人身心靈的發展，和教會團隊共同決 定(是上到下，也是下到上)的重要。蔡長老也提及，清楚的異相要建立在兩個根基之上；誰是神(無始無終，無所不在，無所不能)，和我們(有限的受造)是 誰?

開第牧師替盧牧師(因故未出席)提出他對異相的意見:

-        討論異相是否善用了時間?

-        討論異相還涉及什麼? 異相、使命、策略、目標、價值觀

-        異相的聲明是何?

6.教會擴建報告

車文健報告，最近英文部、青少年及兒童部，對更新的教會擴建二、三期工程作的回應調查， 和各事工目前及未來使用教會設施的情況。調查的一般回應是: 更多的公開溝通，對設計變更徵集會眾的意見.

英文堂:

-        不需要什麼新的空間

-        強烈反對降低目前崇拜的品質、被教會孤立、或成為二等公民

青少年事工:

-        需要更多空間，包括更多小組聚會的教室，較大空間的房間作團體活動、聚會、佈道，最好有隔音設施

兒童事工:

-        兒童事工需要特定的、比鄰的、安全的地點和設施，而且在安排好的情況下使用。若地點和設施在不同時段安排作兩件不同的事，就會有困難.

-        非常需要更多的教室，及大型多功能的聚會空間

朱克潔長老報告教會擴建現況

-        一期工程之一(151重建)，承包商已選定，簽妥合約，等Lexington 市批准拆除許可，即可開工.

-        一期工程之二將包括興建更多的停車位及環行車道.

-        中文堂仍在作設施使用調查，設施使用調查完成後，將對二/三期工程設計重新規劃

-        展示新的151建築設計

-        一百萬募款已達到66%

-        教會擴建團隊，增加李明哲長老協助施工管理，及徐麗玲姊妹協助財務及以後可能需要的債券發行管理。 將來也可能再添一位英文堂同工

-        長老團考慮舉行一期工程的破土典禮

7.執事提名報告

何長老提出執事提名委員會報告:

-        2015年有七位缺，五位現任執事可以重選

-        施致寧和王瑞珂已經連任不能再選

-        委員會提出25名候選人

-        委員會正決定優先順序Committee determining how to prioritize list:

o   長老團希望維持中文堂與英文堂執事的比例，雖然並非定規

o   長老團希望提名的執事對執事的運作及規章有些經驗，尤其是對執事會主席、秘書、及財務

8.其他(留待電郵處理)

恢復中文堂在外處的退休會(即福音營)

兒童傳道的轉移計劃

中午12:12盧長老帶領禱告結束

平信徒長老關門會議(蔡長老不在)

通過雇用兒童傳道候選人的薪資