The Journey Holland -- Governing

Governing on The Journey

Greetings,

Someone was once quoted (or misquoted) as saying, “What’s good for General Motors is good for our country.” Perhaps many churchgoers over the years misheard that quote as saying, “What’s good for General Motors is good for our church.” They’re the ones who want to, or do, run churches like a business.

Even though it uses some of the same terms as a business, a church is not a business. Not that there’s anything wrong with a business.

Once it incorporates, The Journey will be run like a church, which is to say, like a democracy, where the congregation votes on issues and policies.

Rather than having committees, The Journey has Teams that work on short-term tasks and long-term projects. Except for the Governing Team, which is elected, all Teams are self-selected.

I hope, pray, and believe that The Journey will always be run like a church.

Blessings,

Rev. Bill Freeman

The Congregation

The Congregation votes on any issue at the Annual Meeting or any Special Meeting (with 4 Sundays notice) brought by the Governing Team or the Minister. All Members on The Journey are eligible to vote. The Annual Meeting occurs after church the last Sunday in August.

The Governing Team

The Governing Team conducts all meetings with the Congregation. The Governing Team consists of four people elected by the Congregation at the Annual Meeting, and serving from September-August: President, who runs all meetings; Vice President, who assists in running all meetings; Treasurer, who counts, records, and deposits the offering after church; pays expenses; and gives the yearend financial report at the Annual Meeting; and Secretary, who takes notes at all meetings and assists the Treasurer with counting, recording, and depositing the offering after church. All Members are eligible to serve on the Governing Team, except those related to each other, and those who have held any of the positions in the previous year; terms are for one year.

The Minister

The Minister, elected by the Congregation, works for the Congregation, and is the Pastor/Preacher/Prophet to parishioners and the public; plans worship, with the help of others; oversees children, youth, and adult education, with the help of others; runs the day-to-day operations of The Journey, with the help of others; gives a report on the year gone by and the year ahead at the Annual Meeting; and can vote at all meetings.

Teams on The Journey

The way things get done on the Journey: Teams form, consisting of one or more people, to work on a short-term task or a long-term project.

That’s how we get music during worship. Glenn Eberhardt decided to play the guitar for us, leading us in hymns.

That’s how our Sunday Celebration gets on local cable access. Lynn Elliott took it upon herself to take a class at Holland’s cable access station, to learn about TV production. She now videotapes the service, edits it, and makes sure it gets broadcast in Holland and Grand Rapids.

That’s how we get coffee and muffins on Sunday mornings. Linda Blouwkamp, who works next door at the coffee shop during the week, brings us refreshments; she also sets up our worship space.

That’s how we serve breakfast at Holland’s Community Kitchen. A Team volunteers periodically on Sunday mornings before our service.

Do you have an idea for a short-term task or a long-term project you’d like to undertake? Talk to Bill Freeman about it, and then go for it!

11:03 a.m. — Sunday Celebration, Sunday School, Child Care

451 Columbia, Holland, MI 49423; 616.894.0020; thejourneyholland.org

Open & Affirming / Just Peace / United Church of Christ

	Governing on The Journey Greetings, Someone was once quoted (or misquoted) as saying, “What’s good for General Motors is good for our country.” Perhaps many churchgoers over the years misheard that quote as saying, “What’s good for General Motors is good for our church.” They’re the ones who want to, or do, run churches like a business. Even though it uses some of the same terms as a business, a church is not a business. Not that there’s anything wrong with a business. Once it incorporates, The Journey will be run like a church, which is to say, like a democracy, where the congregation votes on issues and policies. Rather than having committees, The Journey has Teams that work on short-term tasks and long-term projects. Except for the Governing Team, which is elected, all Teams are self-selected. I hope, pray, and believe that The Journey will always be run like a church. Blessings, Rev. Bill Freeman *The Congregation* The Congregation votes on any issue at the Annual Meeting or any Special Meeting (with 4 Sundays notice) brought by the Governing Team or the Minister. All Members on The Journey are eligible to vote. The Annual Meeting occurs after church the last Sunday in August. *The Governing Team* The Governing Team conducts all meetings with the Congregation. The Governing Team consists of four people elected by the Congregation at the Annual Meeting, and serving from September-August: President, who runs all meetings; Vice President, who assists in running all meetings; Treasurer, who counts, records, and deposits the offering after church; pays expenses; and gives the yearend financial report at the Annual Meeting; and Secretary, who takes notes at all meetings and assists the Treasurer with counting, recording, and depositing the offering after church. All Members are eligible to serve on the Governing Team, except those related to each other, and those who have held any of the positions in the previous year; terms are for one year. *The Minister* The Minister, elected by the Congregation, works for the Congregation, and is the Pastor/Preacher/Prophet to parishioners and the public; plans worship, with the help of others; oversees children, youth, and adult education, with the help of others; runs the day-to-day operations of The Journey, with the help of others; gives a report on the year gone by and the year ahead at the Annual Meeting; and can vote at all meetings. Teams on The Journey The way things get done on the Journey: Teams form, consisting of one or more people, to work on a short-term task or a long-term project. That’s how we get music during worship. Glenn Eberhardt decided to play the guitar for us, leading us in hymns. That’s how our Sunday Celebration gets on local cable access. Lynn Elliott took it upon herself to take a class at Holland’s cable access station, to learn about TV production. She now videotapes the service, edits it, and makes sure it gets broadcast in Holland and Grand Rapids. That’s how we get coffee and muffins on Sunday mornings. Linda Blouwkamp, who works next door at the coffee shop during the week, brings us refreshments; she also sets up our worship space. That’s how we serve breakfast at Holland’s Community Kitchen. A Team volunteers periodically on Sunday mornings before our service. Do you have an idea for a short-term task or a long-term project you’d like to undertake? Talk to Bill Freeman about it, and then go for it! 11:03 a.m. — Sunday Celebration, Sunday School, Child Care 451 Columbia, Holland, MI 49423; 616.894.0020; thejourneyholland.org Open & Affirming / Just Peace / United Church of Christ