S2-Q3-Responses

QUESTION #3 - What things should be ACHIEVED? (Key: LL=Lay Leader // P=Pastor)

A. OPTIONS RELATED TO DISTRICT VISION
	LL	Growth, new ideas, new challenges, a new passion for ministry. With out a passion man just survives and does not strive for better.
	P	become more strategic, rather than preserving the way things used to be; create an alliance that is responsive to real issues that churches are facing
	P	Strength, vitality, networking, caring, a strong financial base, and a total vision beyond that of just church planting.
	P	I think any alliance ought to be sought that will enhance our abilities to minister effectively. It ought to broaden our sphere of influence and sharpen our focus on Iowa.
	LL	New ministry/growth opportunities
	LL	I would suppose a solid way of measuring success and have a clear vision and purpose statement. To tell you the truth I am not a visionary but I know vision is needed. Once the vision is cast I can take the ball and go like a warrior. For what ever that is worth.
	LL	Viability. No one wants to be on a sinking ship. Nor would anyone board a ship if they thought it was going down.
	LL	We need to establish the purpose (and/or advantages) of a new alliance. (The pros and cons need to really be communicated to the people who are a part of IBC.)
	P	new vision - a new sense of being part of something bigger than "just" Iowa
	P	A clearer sense of identity to present to the entity with whom we wish to establish an alliance. e.g. - Is the present conference entity (Executive roles, BOO Board, Camp Board, etc.) weighted toward being a 'resource servant' for Churches in the IBC or weighted toward being a 'directional servant.' ?
	P	ministry first mentality; kingdom/movement mentality; create a synergy where kingdom dreams actually seem possible;
	P	Continued growth of the BGC in Iowa.
	LL	positive outlook; proactive stance; mission oriented (in area/ out of area); new approaches to ministry
	P	A vision for outreach/impact ministry
	LL	Clear purpose and focus...if this plan would take us to continue as the IBC we need "can do" or problem solving leadership from both staff and Board.
	P	New vision! New focus on things we can achieve together. New opportunities for ministries that benefit the local churches or give them opportunities for new areas of ministry.
	LL	Stability
	LL	positive outlook
	LL	If this plan takes us to join another group we need some type of voice.

B. OPTIONS RELATED TO DISTRICT UNITY
	P	harmony, but not at all cost. There may be some difficult decisions that will need to be made that will not lend itself to harmony. That is OK.
	LL	Connection, but that is a tall order in our fast pace world. We are trying so hard just to keep our base church attendance strong.
	P	making sure that everyone sees a positive benefit to the change in the IBC, that it will be even better than before; different, but better
	P	--Deeper unity in doctrine and mission, not just on paper but in living relationships.
	LL	A unified mission/ Unity
	LL	Without communication, there is no ownership in IBC. Right now, I think there is a "they" attitude for IBC rather than a "we" attitude. I think that most people in our church do not have a real understanding of IBC and how we are each a part of it.
	P	That we as churches who are a part of the IBC become unified. If a church wants to be a lone wolf then rather then trying to keep them we let them go. If we are a smaller unified body, we are stronger then a larger body that is really parts and pieces thrown together because of tradition rather then heart and purpose.
	P	We need to be team players with the big picture in view.
	LL	I think we need unity in any decision that we make. Our people need to agree and support any changes made. I see a danger of people becoming distant and feeling left out of decisions made.

C. OPTIONS RELATED TO FUTURE DISTRICT OPERATION
	LL	We need to earn a reputation as an organization that really shows/teaches their churches what to do to start thriving.
	LL	We need to take a more proactive role in helping the IBC churches succeed in their perspective communities. Not only the new church plants but also the established churches. In the 15 years that I have been attending an IBC church a lot of emphasis has been placed on what can the churches do for the success of the IBC and very little emphasis has been placed on helping the IBC churches succeed. Don't get me wrong. I want the IBC to succeed. I feel more can be done to help the churches.
	LL	1. More salvation stories. Solid conversions, where people really are delivered from some thing. 2. More personal growth. 3. More young people attending Christian colleges. Perhaps more things
	LL	I believe that there is a need for training leadership in working together with all of the people of the church. Helping and encouraging all to grow in Christ.
	P	An increase of member churches to 60 in the next 2 years. Phone Contact with the pastor and ruling board chairman every 90 days. [Average 2 completed calls daily]. Purpose: "How goes it? How can we serve you?
	P	Pine Lake Camp needs to become a self sustaining entity.
	P	First save the camp. Secondly at annual meeting tell board we need to maintain our district as it it. This is vital.
	P	We need to continue to help create healthy churches. New and old churches alike. There is still a lot of Iowa to reach.
	LL	Encourage and help small community churches to serve those presently in the fellowship. Many of these are elderly congregations and they cannot or will not drive to a larger church. The point is they still need to be ministered to. Encourage more pastor sharing rather than church merging.
	P	We need to nurture disciple-producing assemblies of disciples (churches), whether just planted or established.
	LL	WE need to be sure Additional staff experiences, staff support, pastoral support and basic financial viability are the wins that IBC will obtain. I think addressing the opportunity for present staff within the new alliance is valid and should be evaluated.
	LL	Excellent leadership. Listen to all lay leaders as well as Pastors.
	P	--Financial viability for regional and international ministry.
	LL	that someone gets left out because of geographical considerations
	LL	Closer walk first with GOD, then with all other Christians, deepen our trust and faith, stop being of the world. deepen our heavenly values and our spiritual growth
	P	financial accountability for the unit. There needs to be someone or something in charge of raising the capital needed to operate the programs.
	LL	Matt 28:19-20.
	P	Greater Spiritual Vitality
	LL	Closer cooperation and building upon our strong focus upon the Word.
	LL	A stronger resource base: leaders, resource people, financial base.
	LL	THE ONLY REASON TO FORM A NEW ALLIANCE IS TO ENABLE (AND HOPEFULLY ENERGIZE) US TO REMAIN VIABLE AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE IN REACHING OUR WORLD FOR CHRIST, SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS MENTIONED IN #1.
	LL	Sticking closely to the Word of God and making sure that all we do follows Biblical commands and patterns. Creating close fellowship with nearby believers.
	LL	I believe if we work together we can achieve almost anything with God's help.
	P	praying together, good assimilation, ownership in new association through input in direction and goal setting,

D. OPTIONS RELATED TO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
	P	we need to stay a part of the BGC family
	P	have an alliance where membership means something; if you aren't willing to participate, then you are welcome to find another alliance
	P	As a conference I think that it is essential that we a achieve a group of churches where everyone contributes. Funding, ideas, pastoral staff, truly working together.
	P	Achieve wider donor base and wider participation by member churches. Achieve budgeting for 2009 and beyond that is based on "the churches" being more proactive in clearly committing their expected contribution to IBC/BGC/PLCC or similar. The Board needs more SOLID projections from churches in a more proactive manner. The IBC (or similar) can only form budgets based on accurate projections from constituents.
	LL	For churches and their attendees to believe a conference affiliation is necessary and understand how/why it benefits them.
	LL	I do wonder why we would have churches in the IBC that do not support the IBC in any way. It sounded like this is the case. I think we should shed those churches and not bring them dragging and kicking into any new alliance.
	P	Greater financial stability, including a more clearly communicated, expected, and even enforced level of contribution from member churches.
	P	That we as churches who are a part of the IBC become unified. If a church wants to be a lone wolf then rather then trying to keep them we let them go. If we are a smaller unified body, we are stronger then a larger body that is really parts and pieces thrown together because of tradition rather then heart and purpose.
	LL	Unity. Churches who want to be part of a conference must be willing to support it financially. There should be some type of minimum contribution level. This is not a welfare state unless the church is a plant. Churches who don't like what is happening need to get more involved to try to change things rather than cutting off funding.

E. OPTIONS RELATED TO COMMUNICATION
	LL	Without communication, there is no ownership in IBC. Right now, I think there is a "they" attitude for IBC rather than a "we" attitude. I think that most people in our church do not have a real understanding of IBC and how we are each a part of it.
	LL	Communication is vital on all levels. From the smallest piece of God's puzzle to the biggest. Seems like much is missed. Not saying its not being communicated but it needs to be communicated so that its remembered. Continued Prayer cannot be more emphasized need more and more practice of prayer.
	LL	I think EVERY church needs to hear from the pulpit every aspect of what our conference is doing, want to do, has accomplished. From our church, for years we haven't heard anything that is going on at the conference level except from email and bulletin inserts. Our church has so many new and newer people , they have no clue as to what a conference is. I would say 70% of our people have NEVER set foot on our camp property. That's very sad !
	LL	There needs to be more and better communication among the church leadership and their congregations as well as among the IBC leadership and the rest of the people.
	LL	We need to establish the purpose (and/or advantages) of a new alliance. (The pros and cons need to really be communicated to the people who are a part of IBC.)
	P	great communication that states benefits of change and the positives traits of the current association