As you've gathered from some of my other threads, my wife and I are visiting around looking for a home congregation. We may have nailed a place down (will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent!) and I have a very informal meeting with one of the pastors over lunch tomorrow. This is gonna be me asking the questions, for the most part. I've been putting a list together of things I should ask.
So far:
1) Role of the deacon body (benevolence giving, etc)
2) Recent disciplinary actions (obviously not much could be disclosed)?
3) Biggest struggles the leadership faces right now?
4) Is there unity among the leadership?
5) Most common concerns brought forward to the leadership?
Like I mentioned, this is a very informal & casual meeting. Any suggestions? Something I may have missed??
If you had to interview leadership....
- steve-in-kville
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If you had to interview leadership....
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I self-identify as a conspiracy theorist. My pronouns are told/you/so.
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
glad to find this topic, we had a few interactions like this, when moving to a new area.
it can be so helpful to have a personal talk with the pastor, or elder, even before visiting.
it need not be lengthy. who better to help begin a new place in a new group?
another question comes to mind:
are there needs of the group, or individuals, that (we) might help with? (the servant heart)
it can be so helpful to have a personal talk with the pastor, or elder, even before visiting.
it need not be lengthy. who better to help begin a new place in a new group?
another question comes to mind:
are there needs of the group, or individuals, that (we) might help with? (the servant heart)
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Most or all of this drama, humiliation, wasted taxpayer money could be spared -
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.
”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
with even modest attempt at presenting balanced facts from the start.
”We’re all just walking each other home.”
UNKNOWN
Re: If you had to interview leadership....
?) What kind of outreach ministry does the church have to reach the unchurched ?steve-in-kville wrote:As you've gathered from some of my other threads, my wife and I are visiting around looking for a home congregation. We may have nailed a place down (will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent!) and I have a very informal meeting with one of the pastors over lunch tomorrow. This is gonna be me asking the questions, for the most part. I've been putting a list together of things I should ask.
So far:
1) Role of the deacon body (benevolence giving, etc)
2) Recent disciplinary actions (obviously not much could be disclosed)?
3) Biggest struggles the leadership faces right now?
4) Is there unity among the leadership?
5) Most common concerns brought forward to the leadership?
Like I mentioned, this is a very informal & casual meeting. Any suggestions? Something I may have missed??
?) How many unchurched became believers over the past year and joined this fellowship ?
?) What kind of discipleship training do you have for new believers ?
These are a few I would have.
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Pursuing a Kingdom life in the Spirit
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
My first thought was somewhat similar to Temp's, If I/we join what will I be able to do for the edification and spiritual well-being of the local body?steve-in-kville wrote:As you've gathered from some of my other threads, my wife and I are visiting around looking for a home congregation. We may have nailed a place down (will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent!) and I have a very informal meeting with one of the pastors over lunch tomorrow. This is gonna be me asking the questions, for the most part. I've been putting a list together of things I should ask.
So far:
1) Role of the deacon body (benevolence giving, etc)
2) Recent disciplinary actions (obviously not much could be disclosed)?
3) Biggest struggles the leadership faces right now?
4) Is there unity among the leadership?
5) Most common concerns brought forward to the leadership?
Like I mentioned, this is a very informal & casual meeting. Any suggestions? Something I may have missed??
0 x
Noah was a conspiracy theorist...and then it began to rain.~Unknown
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
Being a firm proponent of 'brotherhood', I would ask how decisions are made. (Unless I didn't have the nerve to ask, which would probably be the case.)
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Congregation: Gospel Haven Mennonite Fellowship, Benton, Ohio (Holmes Co.) a split from Beachy-Amish Mennonite.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
Personal heritage & general theological viewpoint: conservative Mennonite Brethren.
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
Who has title to the property, denomination, district or local church. If not the latter I would run.steve-in-kville wrote:As you've gathered from some of my other threads, my wife and I are visiting around looking for a home congregation. We may have nailed a place down (will remain undisclosed to protect the innocent!) and I have a very informal meeting with one of the pastors over lunch tomorrow. This is gonna be me asking the questions, for the most part. I've been putting a list together of things I should ask.
So far:
1) Role of the deacon body (benevolence giving, etc)
2) Recent disciplinary actions (obviously not much could be disclosed)?
3) Biggest struggles the leadership faces right now?
4) Is there unity among the leadership?
5) Most common concerns brought forward to the leadership?
Like I mentioned, this is a very informal & casual meeting. Any suggestions? Something I may have missed??
J.M.
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- steve-in-kville
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
Why? Not sure I understand the question.Judas Maccabeus wrote: Who has title to the property, denomination, district or local church. If not the latter I would run.
J.M.
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I self-identify as a conspiracy theorist. My pronouns are told/you/so.
Owner/admin at https://milepost81.com/
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
These are good questions. I would add—steve-in-kville wrote:1) Role of the deacon body (benevolence giving, etc)
2) Recent disciplinary actions (obviously not much could be disclosed)?
3) Biggest struggles the leadership faces right now?
4) Is there unity among the leadership?
5) Most common concerns brought forward to the leadership?
What are the unwritten rules?
What written rules are bent or ignored?
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"It is a weird" —Ken
Re: If you had to interview leadership....
Are there questions you can ask that would help you understand how much strong, genuine love there is? I'm not sure if there are, this is often the kind of thing you have to observe over time.
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Is it biblical? Is it Christlike? Is it loving? Is it true? How can I find out?
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Re: If you had to interview leadership....
Easy. If you don't own the building, anytime the denomination wants you to do something you don't want to do, they have the leverage of their ownership of the building to use. I have seen congregations involuntary dissolved or merged. I have seen at least one congregation literally put out of their building. If you want to leave the denomination you may be forced to "buy" your building from the "owners" or wind up with no place to meet. This all too commonly happens in the C&MA (their it is called a "reversionary event" after the clause in most church bylaws) and Presbyterian geoupn, mostly PC-USA.steve-in-kville wrote:Why? Not sure I understand the question.Judas Maccabeus wrote: Who has title to the property, denomination, district or local church. If not the latter I would run.
J.M.
It always seems to be used against conservatives.
JM
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