Three Big Events this Fall---Transition Times Sept 06

TRANSITION TIMES

As the church looks forward, we have to look backwards and at our feet
first!

What???

First Baptist’s transition team (Greg Lewis, Cindy Watson, Carolyn
Peckham, Lisa Flynn, and Jean Hoag) challenge First Baptist to get behind
some special events prepared to help First Baptist move upwards and
onwards in the journey of faith. The transition team offers three
occasions this fall to celebrate the faithfulness and increase the
ministries of First Baptist.

Mark on your calendars right now the following dates: Sunday, September
24, Sunday, October 15, and Sunday, November 12, 2006. (What? You’re
already at church on these days! Great! Then you won’t miss these
exciting events!)

On these three Sundays, we will host a two hour event each time that will
help First Baptist look at the transitional and transformational work of
improving its ministries. Each event will begin at 9:30 AM with a special
worship time that will lead us into the events that we have planned.

On Sunday, September 24, 2006, we will hold a “History” event. We want
the congregation to think about its history together, constructing a
timeline that will help the congregants all have a common narrative about
what has happened in the life of the church. We will be covering the time
of 1950 to 2006, asking people to contribute “key events” in the life of
the church. We want to hear about “the good, the bad, and the Baptists”
and help one another know the story of First Baptist. We invite anyone
with memorabilia (pictures, old programs, VBS crafts from
yesteryear—anything!) to bring these things along for display in Colgate
Hall. We want to hear about what made First Baptist hum, sigh, laugh, and
cry over the years! Anyone from the oldest members to the newest members
alike need to be at this event! This event helps us move forward,
remembering our faithful heritage. (Greg Lewis, Carolyn Peckham, and
Jerrod Hugenot will be facilitating this event.)

On Sunday, October 15, 2006, we will hold an “Asset” event. Using a
method called “asset mapping,” we will challenge First Baptist to think
about what are the various assets that the church has. And by asset,
we’re not talking necessarily about the financials! This will be a
creative event that will help the church look at what it can do and what
it might do next with its talents, time, and mission. After this event,
we might all be saying, “Look out, world! Here comes First Baptist!” This
event gets our feet moving! (Jean Hoag, Lisa Flynn, and Jerrod Hugenot
will be facilitating this event.)

On Sunday, November 12, 2006, we will hold a “Purpose” event. The exact
programming is still to be determined, but think of this event as a time
to help us get ready for 2007. Pledge time and nominating committee work
usually is underway at this time. The transition team asks First Baptist
to be prepared to be different in 2007! This event will help us look
ahead by embracing the coming year not as another year to fund “business
as usual” but as a time to figure out how 2007 will be a “life-changing”
year for First Baptist. Can we dare imagine 2007 as “THE” year that the
church moves more into the community, deepens its journey of faith, and
seeks new ways of being “church” here in Bennington.

Are you excited? We’ll see EVERYONE on September 24 for the first big
event! Questions? Contact the transition team or minister at any time.

Holy Conversations SWOT analysis

As part of the transitional process, Rev. Hugenot is conducting a "SWOT analysis." Developed by the good folks at the Alban Institute, the SWOT analysis encourages congregants to look at the various "Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats" that they perceive aid and ail the congregation.

If you are a FBC member or regular attendee, please fill out a form (see file upload link below) and return it to the church office as soon as possible. This analyis exercise helps us "see" the congregation and each member's perceptions about the life of the congregation.

We are grateful to the Alban Institute for permission to use the graph, reproduced from the book Holy Conversations, written by Gil Rendle and Alice Mann. The graph is copyright of the Alban Institute and is used by permission. No further reproduction is allowed. Visit the good folks at the Alban Institute to learn more about their publications, consulting, and programming at www.alban.org.

A downloadable PDF file can be found by clicking the link called "Church Download Depot" at the right.

Moving Forward

The Transition Team was commissioned on Sunday, June 18, 2006, by the Rev. Dr. Allen Abbott, Regional Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Vermont & New Hampshire (pictured on left). This commissioning was symbolic of the unique relationship between the congregation and the region. Dr. Abbott helped the congregation adopt a different type of interim ministry, called the "transformational track." This allowed the congregation also to signify its desire to be in transition, addressing short-term and long-term planning in a manner that a traditional interim period (a matter of months) cannot. For the next three years, the congregation covenants with the region and the intentional interim minister to be in a period intentionally set aside to carry out something other than "business as usual." Your prayers are welcome during this time of transition.

Update on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at 07:12PM by Rev. Hugenot

The sermon "Seeding Faith" was given that day by the Rev. Hugenot. Please refer to the "sermons" link and read his thoughts on the transformational journey.

A Commitment to a New Chapter in Life

“The path only emerged as I walked it.” --Dr. Jurgen Moltmann, contemporary German theologian

In Fall 2005, the congregants of the First Baptist Church of Bennington, Vermont, affirmed that their next chapter in ministry needed to be a time for change and transition. Entering into the “transformational” track of interim ministry, First Baptist agreed to work closely with the regional staff of the American Baptist Churches of Vermont/New Hampshire and to seek out a “transitional interim minister” to provide pastoral leadership during a three-year period. As part of this commitment to set aside the next three years (2006-2008), the congregation covenants with God to a tithe of time to listen for God and explore what its next chapter in ministry will look like and move confidently into that future.

The intentional interim minister will be completing certification with the Interim Ministry Network and helping the ABC VT/NH region office staff in identifying helpful resources for promoting church transformation, healthy congregational habits, and a deepening faithfulness to God.The Transition Team will be made up of congregants who feel called to help the church discern its pathway ahead. Discernment, creativity, and organizational skills are key gifts needed of the participants on this team. The transition team members agree to give time to meetings, planning sessions, and helping coordinate events and opportunities for the congregation. The team will work closely with the intentional interim minister and resource with other congregations and the regional and national programming of the American Baptist Churches/USA.