Tuesday, April 22

5:45 p.m.

Room 107

Tuesday, April 22

6:30 p.m.

Fellowship Hall

500 South Avenue, Springfield, Mo.

Payment must be sent with registration - no exceptions

As we gathered for our most recent Interim Steering Committee meeting, we looked around at each other, now more a familiar group than a formal committee, and felt the need to catch up on each other’s lives. We hadn’t met since before Easter and many of us had a spring break during that time too. As we went around the table, we heard tales of travels, health concerns, jobs coming to an end, and jobs we wished were coming to an end. We also heard about new beginnings, new homes, new jobs, new opportunities. Life is lived as a straight line, from birth to death, but it doesn’t usually feel like it. It has ups and downs and sometimes throws in a switchback and circles us around in loops. Our work on this committee is much like this. It has a clear beginning and end, but in between is anything but a straight line.

We have been working toward our next step as a church for some time and we spent most of this meeting finalizing plans for enlarging these conversations within the congregation. During the month of May there will be three or four large group meetings, led by Herb and members of the ISC. It will be a frank presentation of facts and also a time for questions to be answered. The agenda of the meeting, which will last no more than an hour, will include:

The Interim Ministry: its developmental tasks, our transitional issues, and the projected time line

The Journey to Ministry: its policies and criteria, fitness for ministry concept, the meaning of standing and loss of standing, and some reflection on the whole issue of clergy ethical misconduct and abusive behavior

A Historical Review: of the allegation process, what happened at NACC, and the current status of issues

Grief and Healing: a review of the stages of grief and betrayal of trust healing

Although it may seem like we are not always traveling in a straight line, there is an established and systematic manner of moving forward. Information and truth, much like the word of God, can shine wonderful light in a dark place. Darkness is still lurking in the corners of our church; many questions and concerns remain among the faithful members of NACC. These meetings will provide truth, information, and resources to those who attend. And we, the members of the ISC, are eager to share this journey with you, as full of loop-de-loops as it may be. Jennifer Klein

Interim Steering Committee Members: Nancy Allen, Jeff Barber, Charrie Dixon, Tracy Greiner, Neil Guion, Craig Hacker, Jennifer Klein, Herb Knudsen, Karen McCully, Missy Riley, Gene Smith, Mark Stillwell, Brad Wadle, Jacque White, Jean White, Elaina Whitson

NACC member Dr. White will be teaching "Feeding and Dining with the Poor: In the Gospels & Today." This class will be held in the parlor on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. beginning April 23 and continuing May 7-28. The class will explore how food symbolism in the Bible relates to the poor and hungry and our call to discipleship.