Our agenda for this vision meeting was to prioritize the ideas under the three categories of "green, outreach and youth" that we came up with at our last vision meeting, and then determine which is the appropriate committee to implement each idea.

Green priorities:

1. Start in own kitchen: get rid of paper and styrofoam - discuss ways to make it so not always the same people clean up. Make connection between sacrificing convenience versus reducing waste. (council)

2. Look into putting photovoltaic cells on roof. (trustees)

3. Tankless hot water (trustees)

4. Become a certified green business with Santa Cruz county. (missions or trustees)

Outreach priorities:

1. Be conscious of the way we use our facilities. Possible repurpose of attic space for office space, youth space, etc. Make bathrooms nicer. Create ladies' salon for brides. Re-evaluation of location of Sunday school, nursery and Steve's office. Ask council to form a long-term plan for use of facilities. (council)

2. Beautification of facilities. Grounds maintenance. Improve look of Whitaker Hall. Paint Whitaker hall to look more inviting. Art display. Would make it more appealing for both community and commercial purposes. Possible formation of a decorating committee. (trustees)

3. Outreach to other churches. (pastor)

4. Outreach to community. 3 movie nights for community. Possibly involve youth group. Pippa and Gina will head. (council)

5. Continued emphasis in providing food. Food vouchers for perishables. (deacons)

6. Continued support for Heifer - food quarters canister every week in church. (missions)

7. Summer art camp - in process (Pippa and Patricia) 8-6pm 5 days week, last 2 weeks July, minimal charge to break even

Youth priorities:

1. Ongoing development of youth program (RelEd)

2. Sunday school spruce up both content and physical space. Refinish Sunday school chairs. (who owns?)

3. Nursery space spruce up. (who owns?)

4. Be ready to accommodate more kids. Two groups - older and younger. (RelEd)

Spiritual growth and development priorities:

1. Short series of bible studies. 4 - 6 weeks , 2-3 times a year (RelEd)

Other priorities:

Some way to get youth involved in picking music for church, have certain Sundays where music is "younger" (Music and Arts)

Other business discussed:

Joan feels that becoming a certified green business should be under the council versus the missions board. She will discuss this with the missions board at their next meeting.

Jeremy says the "glue" that ties the church together is the women. The women have always done a level of networking that he wants to acknowledge and thank the women for.

Jeremy talked about the concept of two-deep leadership. There should always be two adults present when leading/teaching a group of children - i.e. Sunday school. This provides backup in case of emergencies or potty breaks, and also gives witness to any events that take place.

Jan has volunteered to lead an effort to refinish the Sunday school chairs but will do so only if she has another person to help her lead the effort. Gina will ask Jeremy for the process and then send email out to the congregation asking for help.

Edit | Back