AGM

Annual General Meeting

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The Annual General Meeting will be Monday November 30, 7pm at 782 Main St and online. Please note the date change.

Our purpose here is to bring you up to speed on some important developments in WCV. A few of these changes have been in the works for a few years, other reports are simply what we do on a yearly basis. Our main purpose isn’t so much to inform you with reports, but rather to inspire you about our future together. There are a few shifts in leadership that more accurately reflect the season we are in.

For those who wish to attend remotely, an online meeting invitation will be sent to all current members on our mailing list. Please note that you must register by acquiring a ticket via the emailed invitation as we must have a proper record of attendance. You can watch for this email as we get closer to Nov 30.

You’ll notice that we postponed the date of the AGM from Oct 19 to Nov 30. This was for a few reasons:

  • Because of the need to have a robust forum for remote participation we needed a little more time to fine-tune our new audio and video set-up.
  • We want to ensure maximum participation. Even though we originally published the date on Sept 24 it has become clear to us that we need to do a better job at promoting it.
  • We want to synchronize our Prayer and Fasting with our AGM. We are praying this will be a time of God imparting his guidance and vision to us. We’ll explore this and more at our AGM. Here is more info on our time of Fasting and Prayer.

Follow-up to our AGM / Community Meeting

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Dear WCV,

Thank you to everyone who came and participated in our AGM / community meeting on Monday evening. It was our most well attended and passionate AGM in years. This is wonderful, primarily because it indicates that you care – deeply. Thank you as well, for everyone who shared their thoughtful questions, insights, emotion, confessions and suggestions. It was very helpful for the leadership team as we continue to navigate this season… and we believe God was honoured by the whole evening.

We ran out of time, but thankfully, there will be more opportunities to be together, ask questions, ratify the budget, and share together. We want to outline those opportunities here as well as let you know of a few actions that are a direct result of hearing from you on Monday.

Drop-in:

We so appreciated hearing the heart and dismay behind the loss of Suhail’s position and the suspension of Drop-in. This sentiment was very clear. We’ve resolved to not just pause Drop-in until we can re-envision it, but rather to work at getting it going again as soon as possible, and then engage a re-visioning process with all the stake-holders. Like was stated on Monday, none of these decisions were easy to make. The BOD and Lay Elders agonized over the salary decisions (Andy, Jodi & Suhail weren’t involved in these specific discussions). We knew that these reductions would have a direct impact on various ministries as the staff worked out the implications on reduced time. At this point we can see that we should have kept Drop-in going. We will work to make it right. If you’re interested in volunteering in any capacity, please contact the office.

Input and Care:

Like we mentioned at the meeting, we have a number of initiatives planned. None of these will be perfect nor will any one initiative work for everybody. For example, not everyone will have the time or the personality to speak up at a community meeting. We hope, however, that cumulatively we will reach as many of you as possible. While these initiatives are not necessarily decision making times we do want to listen deeply, and lead carefully, all towards healing and moving forward together. To that end:

1) Survey

Watch for a simple survey that will be an opportunity to input into the life of the church. We need to know where you’re at, what you’re feeling, what you view as the greatest challenges, as well as our unique opportunities right now.

2) Talking Circles

We’ve had one, we’re going to have more. This Sunday (March 17), 12pm. Bring a bag lunch – childcare will be provided onwards from April 7th till May 12th (excluding Easter). These are opportunities to share where you’re at, unto healing. There will be a number of them planned around curated topics.

3) Next Community Meeting

At this point our next window for a meeting is the end of April. Spring break, the Imaginarium, the Men’s Retreat, and Easter are all factors in this timing. Watch for the date.

4) Reach out

We are open to hearing perspectives, concerns, prophetic nudges, etc. Please reach out to the Elders, who represent you in leadership. Both the pastoral and lay elders are available.

We encourage you to read the AGM booklet – physical copies are available at the info table, or you can email the office to ask for a digital copy. Unfortunately, there is no audio recording available of the meeting. There were some technical difficulties.

Lastly, a huge thank you for hanging in there during a difficult season. Thank you, too, for your prayers, support and encouragement. We are in this together, and God is with us. This, of course, is our great hope! Good things are in store for us as a community as we press in. Let’s keep it real, keep it focused on Jesus, and keep leaning into God as we do the work of loving God and each other. Let the Kingdom come!

One Step at a Time – AGM & other meetings

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The past season has been quite a season – an understatement perhaps, but good to acknowledge nonetheless. It has been complicated and difficult in many ways.

Throughout this time I’ve often been reminded of the passage in Hebrews that says of Jesus, “for the joy set before him, he endured the cross.” There was a grit to Jesus’ path to the cross – a dogged “just keep putting one foot in front of the other” kind of determination that I see in him. But there was also something beyond the cross that seemed to impel him forward – something that held his vision. He both worked with what was right in front of him – “one step at a time” as Alcoholics Anonymous wisdom recommends, and he kept his “eye on the prize”, so to speak. I believe the same is to be true of us in this complex time. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, and be obedient to the small steps along the way – one step at a time – a “long obedience in the same direction” as Eugene Peterson famously put it.

We do have a few steps laid out for us in the coming months. These plans will simply help us be together as a community in a way that we haven’t been able to be for the past little while. This means, getting together, talking about where we’re at and where we’re going as well as hearing what is stirring amongst each other. It means praying together and asking questions of each other. We know there are many conversations happening amongst the community – working through the continued implications of Nathan’s arrest, trial, conviction and recent sentencing, questions about leadership in WCV, the 2019 budget, opinions about where we are heading, where we should be heading and what God is calling us to – these and others are all relevant topics for discussion and prayer. We need to hear each other, and in the midst of it, we need to hear God. This kind of conversation and dialogue together will be healing in many ways, and will also help us discern where we’re at, and where we need to be heading. But it begins, like Jesus, with one step at a time.

Here are a few of the next steps:

Our Annual General Meeting will be Monday, March 11, 7pm. At this meeting we will review our finances (as is required by the Charities Act) as well as provide lots of space for questions and dialogue. Additionally, we’ll have some clarity about leadership roles and responsibilities in WCV.

Secondly, we’re going to be having Community Meetings at which we can further our discussions as well as get some helpful input from you. These will be times to hear each other, hear God, and provide the leadership with a venue for community discernment. We are working on getting some input and inspiration from David and Anita Ruis who will help us unpack what leadership looks like in a Kingdom of God context. Watch for the exact dates of these Community Meetings but the first one will be during the last week in April, and we will likely have another in May.

…we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

 

Hebrews 12:2 (TPT)

 

 

 

A Few Shifts In Leadership

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We’re excited about a few changes in leadership in the Vineyard.  Some of these shifts are just a normal part of the ebb and flow in the community.  Others have been worked on by the Pastoral and Lay elders for quite some time now.  In either case our heart is to respond to what the Holy Spirit is inviting us to right now.  At our Community Meeting (Annual General Meeting) on March 18, we affirmed these shifts.  We can really say, like they did in the book of Acts, “it seems good to us and the Holy Spirit.”

These changes will serve to describe and clarify what is already happening, as well as posture the church for future growth as we engage in Jesus’ mission as he builds his church.

Pastoral Executive:

In the early days of WCV, it was very clear that we had a Lead Pastor.  This language and reality was reflected in many practical ways.  It is still written in our Bylaws.  Since those days, we’ve had a variety of teams which have had their strengths and weaknesses.  Our current pastoral team (including Pastoral Elders and Ministry Staff) works very well together.  However, we’ve encountered a few areas in which we need more focus and delineation of roles.  While we recognize that titles don’t mean much if they don’t match function, clear roles are important for any organization or organism to thrive.  Giving someone a title won’t really do much if they’re not already functioning in some way in that position – that’s just not how the Spirit usually works.  However, clarifying roles and expectations is a very healthy endeavour.

>>On March 18 we changed the language in our Bylaws to reflect what is currently happening.  Specifically, we changed from Lead Pastor to Pastoral Executive, and affirmed Nathan and Andy in that role.

 

The title “Pastoral Executive” brings with it some expectations of what it means, but also remains flexible enough that we can fill it with our own meaning.  Ideally, it will preserve our current strengths as a pastoral team and create room for future growth.  It does not eliminate the possible future role of having one lead person, but creates room for other scenarios, like the one we have now with Andy and Nathan.

Partially, this is clarifying what is already happening – just not everyone knows it because it’s primarily behind-the-scenes.  However, it does address the gaps left in the absence of one commissioned Lead Pastor.

>>Why this shift?:

1) To Update the Bylaws

Our Bylaws have never been updated from the days of “Lead Pastor”. How we have been operating, is not what’s reflected in the Bylaws.

2) To Provide Clarification

It is a time of leadership clarification in general for WCV.  This work is mostly behind the scenes, but it will result in more adhesion to the vision, particularly amongst the various teams and leaders.

Specifically, this means clarifying where authority rests, how decisions are made, and the scope of the various groups of leaders.

3) To Posture WCV for Growth

When more / future people are added to the staff team and/or invited into other areas of leadership, there needs to be clarity regarding roles and decision making responsibilities.  It will help delineate limits of authority, responsibility and clarity of focus for all leaders.

It will free the Pastoral Executive to care for the health and growth of staff team members and the leadership team as a whole.  This is one part of the “Lead Pastor” role that has been functioning on an ad-hoc basis.  This will lead to healthier teams and a healthier church.

4) To Increase Efficiency & Effectiveness

In order to be effective as a staff team, we need better division of labour.  If the whole team is charged with caring for the “big picture”, it disempowers individual members of the team to lead in their respective areas.  This does not mean that we cease to function as a team and stop casting vision for the church together.  Nor does it mean that the Pastoral Executive comes up with all the vision and direction.  Rather, the Pastoral Executive is responsible for attending to, and articulating vision via a collaborative process.  The Spirit will speak and vision will come from a wide variety of sources.  Vision is discerned in a communal process with the whole leadership team.  It is one of the responsibilities of the Pastoral Executive to attend to this process.

>>What will the Pastoral Executive do?

Well, a lot of what Nathan and Andy are already doing – it’s organic.  However, there are a few areas that are not being done as well as they should be in the absence of someone commissioned to do them.  The Pastoral Executive will attend to each of these roles:

1) Vision Keepers

Overseeing and coordinating the collaborative development and implementation of vision.  This includes taking time to be inspired and tending to key relationships within and outside of WCV (Vineyard Canada, International Vineyard, etc.).

2) Team Leaders

Leading, caring for, and providing accountability to the leadership team (Pastoral & Lay Elders, Ministry Staff & Coordinators).  Tending relationships with all core leaders in WCV (eg. BOD, coordinators).  They will not function as “bosses”.  In the context of the staff team they will maintain our posture of mutual respect and challenge of one to the other, including mutual accountability.

3) Focused on Growth & Equipping

Training and mentoring others to reproduce themselves. Development of discipleship and leadership strategies and tracks.

 

Pastoral Staff Changes:

Some of the other ebbs and flows of leadership are:

Jodi: from Children’s Pastor to Generations Pastor

Mike was brought on the team over 12 years ago as the “Children’s Pastor”.  Jodi assumed this role over 7 years ago.  At that time it was a half-time position.  As our children have grown in numbers (yes, we’re quite the prolific crew!) her position has also increased incrementally to the point where last year (in 2016) Jodi was working ¾ time for WCV.

During the same time period, our needs have increased in other areas as well.  Jodi has been key in helping us think through what it means to disciple the next generations in a good way.  In particular, she’s paid attention to those key transition times in a young person’s life: from being child to a pre-teen, a pre-teen into the teen-aged years, etc.  Club 56, the various incarnations of Jr. and Sr. Youth groups, as well as activities like Project Timothy have all contributed positively to the overall growth of this important and growing area in WCV.  We are also thinking about other key transitions – like how do our youth find a place in the church when they become young adults?

Jodi is no longer overseeing only our Children’s ministries, but has become what we’re calling a “Generations Pastor”.  We think this will more clearly reflect what we need in this season and will mean she oversees and will think through how to create a community that welcomes and empowers our next generations through their various transitions.

Suhail

Suhail has grown into a key Ministry Staff person.  He is present at all staff meetings and contributes in a variety of wise and helpful ways.  His two primary areas of direct leadership are as the Drop-in Pastor and the Director of the School of Justice (see below for reports on both these areas).  Additionally, he coordinates the worship bands (see below) contributes to preaching and teaching, is on the Prayer Oversight team, and administers the School of Spiritual Direction (see below).  There are some exciting new developments for Suhail which are outlined in his reports below.

John & Violet

John has been phasing out of micro management for the last few years.  Today we he has been able to hand off some key areas to younger leaders, while remaining present for support, mentoring and advice.  John’s continuing responsibilities are macro financial oversight and resource for BOD and staff as well as HRV Financial and asset management including KTM Rebuild Project.

Violet remains involved as she is able.  Currently this means actively mentoring the Prayer Oversight Leadership team.

 

New Board of Director Members:

The Board of Directors is responsible for all financial and asset related matters in WCV.  The current Board of Directors members are: Ben Kelly (chairperson), Stephen Fligg, Andrew Chan, Paul Ansloos and John Rademaker (ex-officio).

We are excited to announce that Marlese Hazeu and Cornelius Martens were ratified as members of the Board of Directors on March 18.  Both Marlese and Cornelius bring passion, expertise, unique perspectives and, above all, a love for the church that is contagious.  Board Members have a 3-year term, which is renewable.

 

WCV Leadership in a Picture:

Here’s what WCV looks like from an organizational perspective.  This diagram is a tipped over pyramid.  Unlike normal org charts this one is not top-down.  We choose to be moving forward, following Jesus who is our centre, our goal and our guide.

(Click on the graphic to expand it)

Community Meeting (AGM)

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At the Outer Circle gathering on March 18, we’ll be doing some significant business as a church community.  On Sunday March 12, we will have the specific proposals and other information available in a printed booklet.  If you are on our newsletter email list, you will receive a digital copy on Thursday, March 9.  Please review these booklets before the church meeting on March 18.  We certainly welcome any comments or questions about anything in the booklet.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

  • Supper – just like a normal Outer Circle Gathering.  Starts at 5:30pm.  Everyone’s welcome!
  • Financial updates including a 2016 report and the budget for 2017.
  • A few key Shifts in Leadership.
  • Updating our Bylaws (which requires ratification by the members) including proposals for a new definition of Membership, Pastoral Executive, inclusion of gender neutral language and a few other tweaks.
  • Two New BOD Members (Marlese Hazeu & Cornelius Martens).
  • “Views from Here” which are updates from a number areas in WCV – including a few significant changes.
  • We will try to wrap up by 8pm.

All these proposals, changes and updates are outlined in the booklet.  Please pick one up and review it before the March 18 meeting.  Some of these proposals require ratification by a vote of the membership.

Everyone is welcome to come – please do!

>>A Note about Membership:

  • If you are unsure if your name is on the current membership list, please check with Vanessa Lewis (WCV Administrator) who will be set up at a table at the meeting.  If you are in the Outer Circle, your name is automatically included.  If you have indicated to the office that you’re doing something similar to meeting in a Triad, like what’s described here, then your name will be on the list.  If your name isn’t on the list, just let Vanessa know and you’ll be added.
  • Only current members will be able to participate in voting.
  • We realize there is some confusion about formal membership in WCV.  We’ve heard you and apologize for any hurt this confusion has caused.  For this reason we’re proposing a new definition, which is described in the booklet.

>>If you require childcare, please sign-up up with the office.  This is especially important if you do not normally come to the Outer Circle gatherings.

 

Saturday, March 18, 5:30pm – 8pm

A Surplus of Gratitude

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We’ve said it verbally for the past few Sundays but we’ll write it here too, just in case you missed it – 2017 turned out to be another year of amazing provision which we’re humbled by and thankful for.  We even ended the year with a small surplus.  Thank you to those who joined with us in prayer and fasting, and thank you for your generosity in supporting WCV financially.  God always seems to provide for us in unexpected ways through unexpected gifts as well as through regular giving from people like you.  It has been noted before, but WCV is a generous church, both in what we accomplish and the people who are the church – we know that, which is why we never posture our communication to be about “digging deeper”.  Rather, we acknowledge that God is the source of every good gift.  He partners with his people in accomplishing his will.  What each of us does with the money we have is a good indication of our discipleship.  These are all reasons to say “thank you!” to you, and to God, our generous Father.

You can expect a full financial report for 2016 and a presentation of the budget for 2017 leading up to our Annual General Meeting on March 18.  This meeting will be during our regular Outer Circle gathering, but anyone can come.  All members (those involved in the Outer Circle, a House Group or a similar group – more info here) are especially encouraged to come to this meeting.  You can also look for your 2016 tax receipts during the next few Sundays.