Wednesday, February 20, 2008

River Valley Covenant Cluster Meeting,Wednesday, February 6, 2008,Christ Church UCC, Fort Thomas

Co-Dean Pam Defusco called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. Also present: Rudy Gruenke, Keith Haithcock, Steve Heckey, Jim Hill, Linda Kemp-Baird, Kay Young, and Stuart Blersch.

Pam mentioned that the cluster needs a secretary and another Co-Dean. Her prayers were answered when Stuart volunteered to be secretary, and Steve, Kay, and Linda offered to chair meetings when Pam is unavailable.

All present united to encourage Rudy to start using email. Rudy, if you’re reading this on line, congratulations!

Discussion centered on focusing the cluster’s role. Some of the points brought up:

* Our meetings provide an opportunity for cluster ministers to keep in touch with each other and discuss issues they share as congregational leaders.

* Meetings are also a place for ministers and lay representatives from cluster congregations to discuss issues and ideas relevant to the churches in our group.

* The cluster has the opportunity to plan cooperative projects that will help fulfill the mission of our combined congregations and at the same time encourage our congregations to see themselves as part of a greater UCC whole.

This discussion will be continued.

Hats off to Chris Comte for setting up our meetings for the coming year and keeping the RVCC website up to date! http://rivervalleycovenantcluster.org

Recommended reading:

* Paul Nixon’s I Refuse to Leave a Dying Church presents a number of turnaround stategies to save and revivify dwindling congregations.

* Diana Butler Bass’s Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church Is Transforming the Faith summarizes the findings of a three-year project funded by the Lilly Endowment to study thriving mainline protestant congregations and identify practices, from hospitality to worship to vigorous theological discussion, that make these churches vital.

Next cluster meeting: Wednesday, March 5, 11-12:00 noon, Faith UCC, 6886 Salem Rd., Anderson Township.

Respectfully submitted,

Stuart Blersch

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