Dear Church Family, I’ve just completed three months as senior pastor of BUMC. Although I have a LOT more to learn, I’d like to share my initial assessment after twelve weeks among you. 1. We have much strengths. BUMC is a vibrant and strong church in many areas. Let me list just a few highlights. Group-life Children’s program Youth program Music program Congregational Care Community (and beyond) ministries • Staff • Facilities • Community presence • • • • • •
2. We face some challenges. Like every church, we face challenges. However, all of these challenges also provide us with unique opportunities. Here are a few of the challenges/opportunities that I’ve identified so far.
• We need to clarify our mission (what are we primarily trying to accomplish?) • We need to clarify our identity (what differentiates us from other churches, what is our unique “brand?”) • We need to reverse our decline in worship (the past few years have been difficult for BUMC and as a result we have experienced a decrease in worship attendance) • We need to strengthen our finances (we are behind on budget and are several months behind on apportionments) • We need to solve—or at least improve—our space problems (parking, children’s area, and Sunday school) • We need to strengthen our volunteer base (engage more of our congregation in “hands on” service to our church and community) • We need to prayerfully implement intentional strategic planning (both annual goals and long-range goals, along with strategies for accomplishing those goals) 3. We have a promising future. The most important thing I have to share after three months is that I believe our best days are ahead of us. I have no doubt that our future will be full of vibrancy and life and vitality. Why am I so sure about this? Here are a few reasons that I’m so upbeat about the future of BUMC. • We belong to a life-giving, renewing, resurrection God • We have a congregation of gifted, loving and committed people • We have a strong history and heritage to build upon • We have significant resources (facilities, finances, gifted laity and competent staff) • We are located in a vibrant community/region As we face the future, the leaders of our church will soon begin working on some short-range plans for BUMC. These plans will
include a few strategic goals for 2012 based on the “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” we recently studied. At the same time, we will be working on clarifying our primary mission and vision and setting long-range plans and goals for BUMC. You will be kept in the loop throughout both of these processes. It’s a great joy to be your pastor. I believe with all my heart that God has called me to this work. I have no other plan for my vocational life except to love, learn and lead this wonderful congregation called Brentwood United Methodist Church. I am excited to be on this journey with you! I hope to see you this weekend as we continue our series, “God Lessons from the Great Recession.” Finally, it was good to receive Alan and Joan Emery, Griffin Burns, and Shakima and Eunice Karima as new members. Welcome to our church family. In Christ's Love and Service, Martin