Iowa Baptist Conference
Email News Update |
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Dear
Friends,
The following email update is a special edition from
District Executive Minister, Skip Hansen, providing
important information regarding: 1) The results
of the "5 Loaves + 2 Fish" church presentation and
survey, and
2) The announcement of "a NEW thing!"... a
proposal for a year of transition.
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a NEW thing! |
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2008 IBC Annual Meeting Theme... Isaiah
43:18-19
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up: do you not
perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland. |
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"FIVE LOAVES + TWO FISH" |
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...Results
are Coming In!
With over half of our partner churches reporting, we are
encouraged by the positive response to our "Five
Loaves + Two
Fish" campaign!
We asked our IBC churches to:
- Designate 3% of their budget to the IBC
- Designate 10% (two days/month) of their pastor's
time to district churches
- Provide open relationships between the IBC and
church members
- Provide proactive positive promotion of IBC events
- Elect annual meeting delegates... to serve as
informed active liaisons between the IBC and their
local congregation
- Participate in TimeShare
- Participate in Adopt-A-Cabin
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You may view a summary of the responses online at:
5+2 Presentation Summary
However, as positive as the response is, the Board of
Overseers has determined it is not adequate
to sustain the level of ministry IBC has been enjoying over
the past seven years. To support our current ministries, we
needed to raise an additional $170K annually!
We
hoped 5+2 would increase church support by $100K. But it
appears to be providing between $20K-40K new money.
We
hoped to increase major donor support. But it appears
dependence upon individual major donor support is too
uncertain. A good God calls their hearts in many different
directions!
Most significantly, our combined efforts to raise
ministry funds through major donors and churches, has not
generated financial support adequate for IBC's
continued viability as an autonomous district of the Baptist
General Conference.
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NO LONGER CLOSING IBC CHURCHES! |
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Historically, a major source of income, (which kept IBC
afloat,) was the sale of closed churches. For example, in
the 1990's six IBC churches closed... and IBC benefited.
Yet,
it was a vicious "catch-22" cycle. IBC had no funds to
significantly help declining churches... so when churches
closed... IBC got smaller. Additionally, there was little
money for planting new churches... so IBC couldn't grow!
When
the last 1990's church closed (Carlisle), IBC received the
funds to launch a new decade based on Mobilization and
Multiplication. Over the past seven years, most of that
money has produced no closed churches and four church
plants!
This
is what a district is supposed to do... and more!
Yet
while our focused energy on Mobilization with established
churches and pastors has succeeded... we've also shot
ourselves in the foot! We increased the cost of doing
business, while we lost a significant income stream!
We need to do something new. What? |
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IBC STAFF AND BOARD UNITED |
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We could go back to the 1990's model. But
today... every member of the IBC staff is united with
the Board of Overseers. Each one believes that a viable
district must include significant funding for
Mobilization and Multiplication. These cannot be
sacrificed... and still maintain integrity and viability as
a BGC district.
Each staff member respects and appreciates the significant
and historic Spiritual Memories ministry at Pine Lake. To
sacrifice Pine Lake property at this time, (for the purpose
of district continuity,) would irreparably divide and damage
the relationship between Iowa churches. We are too small a
group to absorb that kind of devastating blow.
We believe all our current ministries are vital to
this district... and must continue... somehow. How? |
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PROPOSAL FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING
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...A Year of Transition
The Board of Overseers believes we can serve our churches
best by considering something new. And it
believes now is the best time to begin
transitioning into something new.
At the upcoming May, 2008, annual meeting The IBC
Board of Overseers will propose:
- We spend the 2008-09 year
investigating, pursuing and determining what God would
have us do as His "New Thing!"
- We investigate a broad spectrum
of possible new strategic alliances, pursue one, and
thereby design a new strategic alignment for our existing
IBC ministries.
- We adopt a "Pass the Baton"
budget... reflecting temporary reductions in our
Mobilization, Multiplication and Spiritual Memories.
(The purpose of this reduced budget will be to conserve
our remaining assets... allowing us something to "bring to
the table" of our new strategic alliance. NOTE: A "Pass
the Baton" budget still requires us to raise $70K from
individual donors next year to preserve our limited
resources!)
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MY PERSONAL FUTURE
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On March 31, I will conclude my role as District Executive
Minister.
However, the BOO has asked me to extend my relationship with
the IBC in the role of "Transition Consultant".
I have accepted.
Starting April 1, 2008, my primary ministry focus will shift
to leading the conference through a year of transition into
something new! Portions of my current work will shift to
staff, LEAD teams, and individual pastors. |
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THE YEAR OF TRANSITION |
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- To prepare our churches for this proposal over the
next two months, we will establish a "media blitz" of
communication to our churches, pastors, and lay leaders.
We will schedule regional town-hall meetings. We will
regularly post information on our website... and
constantly point people to that site!
- We will seek input (brainstorming) for the best ideas
for possible new strategic alliances. We will seek input
from both within and outside the IBC. We will entertain
"inside the box" ideas as simple as a merger with a
neighboring district, as well as "outside the box" ideas
such as... ???
- We will examine feasibilities, prioritize them, and
select and pursue the best.
- We will negotiate with a new potential strategic
partner, until together, we produce a new potential
strategic alignment (structure).
- The goal: A new proposed strategic alliance
and alignment will be presented for delegate vote at the
2009 annual meeting.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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 ...Looking
Ahead
On-line Registration available for Winter Retreats!
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May 1-2 - IBC State-wide LEAD Team @ Cedar Rapids
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May 2-3 - IBC Annual Meeting @ Cedar Rapids
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May 23-26 - Memorial Day Family Retreat Weekend
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June 15-29 - Juniors Camp
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June 22-27 - Sixers Camp
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June 29-July 2 - Base Camp
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July 3-6 - Mid-Summer Family Retreat Weekend
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July 6-10 - Jr High Camp
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July 13-18 - Sr High Camp
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August 1-3 - PLCC Homecoming Retreat Weekend
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 IOWA
BAPTIST CONFERENCE
Magnifying God by Mobilizing &
Multiplying a Growing Family of Healthy Churches! |
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Iowa Baptist Conference | PO Box 535 | 32203 - 230th Street |
Eldora | IA | 50627
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