Dear Church Family, This pastoral e-note will be the first of many that I send to the congregation with updates about our church. I hope these notes will be helpful to you. However, if you want to opt out of these emails, please see the instructions at the end of this email for getting off this mailing list. Today’s e-note will cover the following questions several of you have asked me: 1. What are our pastor’s plans for his first year at BUMC? 2. Why doesn’t our pastor use the pulpit? 3. Why does our pastor drink so much water when he’s preaching?
1. What are our pastor’s plans for his first year at BUMC? Beyond my routine pastoral duties such as leading staff, officiating at weddings and funerals and making hospital visits, I have four major priorities for year one at BUMC. First, I will prioritize worship. This will not only be true for my first year at BUMC, but every year. Second, I will get acquainted with the staff, congregation and community, primarily by holding extensive listening sessions with all staff members and all demographic groups in the congregation. Third, I will, with the help of many others, make an overall assessment of the church. Finally, after getting acquainted and making a comprehensive assessment of the church, I will—in concert with lay leaders, staff and our consulting firm— develop a plan of action for the next several years at BUMC.