Leadership Development at Brighton First

Growing vital churches make it a practice to be continually developing and equipping leaders. The Vital Church Initiative Consultation Report observed that while Brighton First is blessed with wonderful people resources in its congregation, there is little effort to develop, train, deploy and encourage leadership. The congregation agreed, by voting to implement the consultation report, to strengthen leadership development.

The first action was carried out in December 2015 and January 2016, when there was a church-wide call to take part in a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. The Inventory, authored by Rev. Loretta Job, provided many congregation members with insights into their spiritual gifts and how those gifts could be used in ministry within the church and beyond. Brighton First now has a database of church members' spiritual gifts, and leaders are able to use the information to seek out those who have gifts for particular areas of service. In addition, the database continues to grow as new church members are encouraged to complete the inventory. It is also the plan that there will be an annual call for those who have not completed the Spiritual Gifts Inventory to do so.

As another part of leadership development, the senior pastor is tasked with providing clear, measurable goals for church staff and all church leaders. This process has begun with the Staff-Parish working to clarify staff job descriptions. Once this process is done, goals based on the mission and vision of the church can be developed. Goals for boards and committees within the church are nearing completion with the development of a Strategic Plan that should be in place by the fall.

When Bob Fuchs was approved to become a candidate
for pastoral ministry, the congregation commissioned him
in prayer.

A third portion of leadership development includes training for leaders. Bob Fuchs, Director of Discipleship, is assisting me in developing an on-going training program for church leaders. The short-term class will include education about the mission and vision of Brighton First, development of individual spiritual practices, and training in leadership skills and intentional goal setting. Those who attend the class will receive a booklet that will answer basic administrative questions. The majority of class time will be used to develop skills for faith-filled leadership.

I have determined that while it is a joy for me to lead Bible studies and other topical classes, my teaching time must be spent in leadership development. I look forward to the first leadership course this semester and to implementing on-going training for our church leaders. Please keep leadership development at Brighton First in prayer.

Finally, the leaders of Brighton First are determined to continue as a church with a "culture of call". This means that we are not only committed to developing leadership for the local church, but for the greater church. Brighton First nurtures, encourages and equips those who are called into professional ministry. While this is not a stated goal of the Vital Church Initiative, we recognize the importance of this work and have included it in our Strategic Plan.

Leadership Development at Brighton First

Growing vital churches make it a practice to be continually developing and equipping leaders. The Vital Church Initiative Consultation Report observed that while Brighton First is blessed with wonderful people resources in its congregation, there is little effort to develop, train, deploy and encourage leadership. The congregation agreed, by voting to implement the consultation report, to strengthen leadership development.

The first action was carried out in December 2015 and January 2016, when there was a church-wide call to take part in a Spiritual Gifts Inventory. The Inventory, authored by Rev. Loretta Job, provided many congregation members with insights into their spiritual gifts and how those gifts could be used in ministry within the church and beyond. Brighton First now has a database of church members' spiritual gifts, and leaders are able to use the information to seek out those who have gifts for particular areas of service. In addition, the database continues to grow as new church members are encouraged to complete the inventory. It is also the plan that there will be an annual call for those who have not completed the Spiritual Gifts Inventory to do so.

As another part of leadership development, the senior pastor is tasked with providing clear, measurable goals for church staff and all church leaders. This process has begun with the Staff-Parish working to clarify staff job descriptions. Once this process is done, goals based on the mission and vision of the church can be developed. Goals for boards and committees within the church are nearing completion with the development of a Strategic Plan that should be in place by the fall.

When Bob Fuchs was approved to become a candidate
for pastoral ministry, the congregation commissioned him
in prayer.

A third portion of leadership development includes training for leaders. Bob Fuchs, Director of Discipleship, is assisting me in developing an on-going training program for church leaders. The short-term class will include education about the mission and vision of Brighton First, development of individual spiritual practices, and training in leadership skills and intentional goal setting. Those who attend the class will receive a booklet that will answer basic administrative questions. The majority of class time will be used to develop skills for faith-filled leadership.

I have determined that while it is a joy for me to lead Bible studies and other topical classes, my teaching time must be spent in leadership development. I look forward to the first leadership course this semester and to implementing on-going training for our church leaders. Please keep leadership development at Brighton First in prayer.

Finally, the leaders of Brighton First are determined to continue as a church with a "culture of call". This means that we are not only committed to developing leadership for the local church, but for the greater church. Brighton First nurtures, encourages and equips those who are called into professional ministry. While this is not a stated goal of the Vital Church Initiative, we recognize the importance of this work and have included it in our Strategic Plan.

Vital Church Initiative Implementation Team Reviews Past Year

T-shirts with Brighton First's mission
statement logo have just arrived!

The Vital Church Initiative (VCI) Implementation Team met on Wednesday, April 20. The team began their meeting with a point-by-point review of the consultation recommendations (see consultation report in PDF form at link on right side of this page). Brighton First's Church Conference voted to adopt the recommendations on April 19, 2015. The team began by celebrating what the congregation has been accomplished over the past year.

This is a partial list:

• Hosted a goal setting workshop and a worship workshop.
• Sent church leaders to various workshops.
• Wrote and adopted vision and mission statements based on our core values.
• Improved communication of VCI progress with Pastor Sherry's blog
• Began work on a mission alignment audit that will be completed this summer
• Reconfigured staff positions to accomplish vision
• Staff completed study and workshop covering "The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team" and have more training planned.
• Hired worship consultant Rev. Cathy Townley
• Made adjustments in worship preparation and leadership to create spiritually moving and transforming worship in all worship services.
• Hired worship leader Mike Tooman to develop a new band-led worship service for 11:00 Sunday mornings, with preparation through the summer and the launch of the service in October 2016.
• Created a Worship Design Team to guide all aspects of worship.
• Created a Hospitality Taskforce led by Larry Job that wrote a plan for hospitality.
• Created a Hospitality Team, led by Olivia Karaska, and implemented intentional improvements in Sunday morning hospitality.
• Created a Discipleship Team, led by Karen Wagg, to create and implement a discipleship program. 
• Hired Director of Discipleship Bob Fuchs to support and guide development of intentional discipleship program
• Completed an all church study and worship series "Just Walk Across the Room"
• Preparing to launch worship series "The Art of Neighboring" worship series in May.
• Introduced a Spiritual Gifts Inventory created by Rev. Loretta Job to the congregation. Over 100 people have completed the inventory and shared the results. The inventory will be used with new members and attendees. Results of the inventory have been entered into a database.

Even with these many significant actions toward vitality, the VCI Implementation Team knows there is still much to do. Critical tasks left to be done include planning and implementing

ongoing leadership training, creating a strategic plan for the church, launching a new worship service and offering significant community outreach events. The VCI Implementation team is committed to seeing these tasks completed within the next year.

If you have questions, please talk to a member of the team: Bob Fuchs, Karen Wagg, Dan Welton, John Phillips, Kris Phillips, Sue Urban, Chris Attarian, or Sherry Parker-Lewis.

Please keep the VCI process in prayer. Through the work accomplished and the ministry to come we are committed to knowing, loving and serving God in the name of Jesus Christ.

Vital Church Initiative Implementation Team Reviews Past Year

T-shirts with Brighton First's mission
statement logo have just arrived!

The Vital Church Initiative (VCI) Implementation Team met on Wednesday, April 20. The team began their meeting with a point-by-point review of the consultation recommendations (see consultation report in PDF form at link on right side of this page). Brighton First's Church Conference voted to adopt the recommendations on April 19, 2015. The team began by celebrating what the congregation has been accomplished over the past year.

This is a partial list:

• Hosted a goal setting workshop and a worship workshop.
• Sent church leaders to various workshops.
• Wrote and adopted vision and mission statements based on our core values.
• Improved communication of VCI progress with Pastor Sherry's blog
• Began work on a mission alignment audit that will be completed this summer
• Reconfigured staff positions to accomplish vision
• Staff completed study and workshop covering "The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team" and have more training planned.
• Hired worship consultant Rev. Cathy Townley
• Made adjustments in worship preparation and leadership to create spiritually moving and transforming worship in all worship services.
• Hired worship leader Mike Tooman to develop a new band-led worship service for 11:00 Sunday mornings, with preparation through the summer and the launch of the service in October 2016.
• Created a Worship Design Team to guide all aspects of worship.
• Created a Hospitality Taskforce led by Larry Job that wrote a plan for hospitality.
• Created a Hospitality Team, led by Olivia Karaska, and implemented intentional improvements in Sunday morning hospitality.
• Created a Discipleship Team, led by Karen Wagg, to create and implement a discipleship program. 
• Hired Director of Discipleship Bob Fuchs to support and guide development of intentional discipleship program
• Completed an all church study and worship series "Just Walk Across the Room"
• Preparing to launch worship series "The Art of Neighboring" worship series in May.
• Introduced a Spiritual Gifts Inventory created by Rev. Loretta Job to the congregation. Over 100 people have completed the inventory and shared the results. The inventory will be used with new members and attendees. Results of the inventory have been entered into a database.

Even with these many significant actions toward vitality, the VCI Implementation Team knows there is still much to do. Critical tasks left to be done include planning and implementing

ongoing leadership training, creating a strategic plan for the church, launching a new worship service and offering significant community outreach events. The VCI Implementation team is committed to seeing these tasks completed within the next year.

If you have questions, please talk to a member of the team: Bob Fuchs, Karen Wagg, Dan Welton, John Phillips, Kris Phillips, Sue Urban, Chris Attarian, or Sherry Parker-Lewis.

Please keep the VCI process in prayer. Through the work accomplished and the ministry to come we are committed to knowing, loving and serving God in the name of Jesus Christ.

Loretta Job in Redefined Ministry at Brighton First

Rev. Loretta Job has served as both the Director of Congregational Care and the Director of Adult Faith Formation since 2009. Beginning March 15, 2016, Deacon Loretta's role at Brighton First will be Director of Congregational Care. She will reduce her weekly work hours from 35 to 15. Her primary congregational responsibility will be the spiritual care of persons over 50.

Deacon Loretta's training and interests lie in congregational care. When Deacon Loretta first came to Brighton First, caring for congregation members was her primary responsibility. Over the years, she took on leadership in other areas including discipleship, hospitality, worship design assistance and membership record keeping. Loretta is pleased to return to the work of visiting and caring for members of our congregation.

Loretta's emphasis will be in elder care and she will share other congregational care responsibilities with Bob Fuchs and me.

Currently, the plan is for Loretta to spend most of her working hours visiting congregation members in homes, care facilities and the hospital. She will stay connected to the Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry, to the Monday Lunch Club and to the Prayer Team. Loretta will be in worship on Sunday morning to connect with congregation members. She will stop by the church on Monday mornings and attend full church staff meetings on Wednesday mornings. Loretta will still be available by phone and by email.

Please keep Deacon Loretta in your prayers as she makes this transition.

Loretta Job in Redefined Ministry at Brighton First

Rev. Loretta Job has served as both the Director of Congregational Care and the Director of Adult Faith Formation since 2009. Beginning March 15, 2016, Deacon Loretta's role at Brighton First will be Director of Congregational Care. She will reduce her weekly work hours from 35 to 15. Her primary congregational responsibility will be the spiritual care of persons over 50.

Deacon Loretta's training and interests lie in congregational care. When Deacon Loretta first came to Brighton First, caring for congregation members was her primary responsibility. Over the years, she took on leadership in other areas including discipleship, hospitality, worship design assistance and membership record keeping. Loretta is pleased to return to the work of visiting and caring for members of our congregation.

Loretta's emphasis will be in elder care and she will share other congregational care responsibilities with Bob Fuchs and me.

Currently, the plan is for Loretta to spend most of her working hours visiting congregation members in homes, care facilities and the hospital. She will stay connected to the Prayers and Squares Quilt Ministry, to the Monday Lunch Club and to the Prayer Team. Loretta will be in worship on Sunday morning to connect with congregation members. She will stop by the church on Monday mornings and attend full church staff meetings on Wednesday mornings. Loretta will still be available by phone and by email.

Please keep Deacon Loretta in your prayers as she makes this transition.