Karl Westerhof
What interests me: Books, babies, dogs,books, North Woods cabins, Liz my wife and Joe my son, organizational change, books, conflict management, community development, communication, discipleship, leadership, books... and did I mention that I love to read?
I've always loved Jesus, but in recent years that love has become so much more central in my life. Willard, Foster, Peterson, Chan and Wright, and the like have taken their places on my shelves along with Drucker, Collins, Heifetz, and Buckingham... I'm on the journey of learning how spiritual transformation happens in my life, and how I can become more like Jesus, my Savior, Teacher, Lord, and Friend.
I worked for the CRC in one way and another since the late 60s, and much of that experience was strongly shaped by being a child of the 60s. Race relations, justice, development, and social change were abiding interests. And the North Woods of Michigan.
Most recently I've been with World Renew (formerly CRWRC), the denomination's relief and community development agency. Our family lived in the Philippines while I worked as Asia Regional Director, and later I was Program team leader, coach to team leaders, and leader of the Advancement team. In semi retirement I'm working as coach for classis renewal in the CRC, and as outreach pastor for Grace CRC.
Posted in: Regional Prayer Summits Happening?
I think Peter Kelder, the Regional Home Missionary in Chicagoland, is the one how knows about the regional prayer summit plan.
Posted in: Regional Prayer Summits Happening?
I believe it's going to be built into the tri-classical meeting day.
Posted in: Regional Prayer Summits Happening?
They sure are! Everyone's welcome!
Posted in: Regional Prayer Summits Happening?
I better qualify that.... I'm not the host so I'm being presumptuous when I answer your question. I don't really know if they have space to welcome everyone who would want to come. So you better check with one of the clerks.
Posted in: How Should We Define “Minor” and “Major” Assemblies?
"...higher authority because it's cumulative..." That is a really intiguing concept. Secondary and derivative, but still higher. It's very hard not to think of that in some sort of democratic way.... so that the more people are voting, the higher the authority. and then I want to take the next step and say that the greater the majority in the vote, the more authoritative it is. I know this is not a valid progression of logic, but my instincts are to give so much credibility to democratic decision making. somehow that is what happens at assemblies, and yet I don't want to say that the church discerns God's will via the number of votes..... and neither do I want to place all the authority in a person. It's a dilemma for me as to how to think about cumulative authority specifically, and authority of decision making in the church more broadly. Thanks for thinking about this with us!
Posted in: What kind of ministry activities are churches doing in their local communities?
1. volunteers from the church operate a food pantry one morning every week. (8 volunteers typically)
2. girls club and boys club are run by volunteers from church (20 volunteers or so?)
3. one evening a week we run a program for neighborhood families that includes meal, worship, kids tutoring, parents discussion group. This program involves some 30 volunteers from church.
4. summer programs for kids weekly (ten to 20 volunteers)
Posted in: Does anyone have a list of questions for an exit interview for departing members?
I can see why a more or less standard list of questions could be helpful for comparing and consolidating results. Building on Bill Vis' statement about the value of open ended questions, I'm wondering if you could borrow some "appreciative inquiry" type of open ended questions.
For example, Tell me a story (the more detail the better) about a time when you were especially excited to be part of this church, when you felt energized and vital. What was going on? What contributed to your excitement? Who was contributing to that time and what were they doing?
LIkewise, a question like this: Tell me a story about a time (the most specific the better) when you felt discouraged, and your energy was drained away. What was going on in the life of the church, and in your own life? What specifically happened and how did that affect you?
Questions like these can set the table for "story telling" and lots of opportunity to listen, and ask more questions, seeking to understand, and drawing out the messages in the stories that may lie hidden until a really caring listener comes along.
Posted in: How should a church distribute support to the denominational family and as well as to other causes?
Melissa, this is a really thought-provoking question you raise. I think in many cases agencies are planning and assuming that congregations will participate in ministry shares AND will schedule offerings for some of the same causes. Deacons know this, and so they often schedule offerings that give the congregation the opportunity to give "over and above" the ministry share.
As you point out, this can cloud the question of how much a church is actually giving to a given agency or cause.
I think in other cases, deacons are aware that budget short-falls in the church are being addressed by shorting ministry shares. Then offerings might be intended to help meet the congregation's classical and denominational "fair share".
I'm struck by your statement that deacons make the schedule for a year in advance. In my church the offering schedule is made for much shorter intervals, and the deacons view it with a lot of flexibility, depending on a variety of factors.
Along with you, I'm eager to hear of how deacons in other churches think about these questions.
Posted in: Who has information on how to handle the training and support for the Council/Elder chairman?
Marlin, I just ran across this posting and want to respond even though I'm so late. I'm very excited about the idea of leaders from a cluster of churches getting together to talk leadership! I encourage you. I wonder if there is one of the congregations that might be elegible to be the lead congregation in applying for some money from the SCE program. Next deadline is June 1 so you have some time to develop a proposal. That would help you establish some good materials and a really good meeting place.
Posted in: What guidelines should a church have for helping those in need?
Thanks to the two of you for these thoughts on a really important question about when and how to help the needy. You might want also to take a look at this blog, just for the thought about mercy limiting mercy. I was intrigued by Keller's concept and I think it is a handy way to summarize a lot of the excellent thinking in the book Terry is recommending, When Helping Hurts. This book is one of the best of its kind that I know of.... developmental Christ-like thinking about how to be compassionate.
Posted in: Could You Recommend a Book for Those Returning From a Mission Trip?
Jeff, I wonder what you decided to use, and how it went. Did you find a resource that really worked well? I have found WHEN HELPING HURTS by Corbett and Fikkert to be very good.
Posted in: What Should Be Included in a List of Best Practices for Deacons?
I love lists! So thanks for the opportunity to make one! I'm going to make a short list, based on what I've seen in my own church, and based also a bit on what I'd LIKE to see!
1. Deaconal praying, maybe with a deaconal prayer partner. Specific prayers about stewardship opportunitites, needs, persons, the deacons themselves, community needs, the church...
2. Deaconal contacts. Either with another deacon, or with an elder partner, stay in touch with your section of the congregation, say by phone monthly, and by a visit once or twice a year. And as needed with people in need. Building relationships of trust and understanding.
3. Read articles or books on a regular basis that can help you deepen and broaden your vision and your understanding, and can help you bring new skills, ideas, or approaches to the deacons' meetings.
4. Check in on the Diakonia Remixed site to see what this task force is up to.
5. Make sure there is something once a month or so planned for inclusion in the worship service that will help the congregation learn about a deaconal need, project, or service in the community or globally.
6. Set aside a time regularly to check over the minutes from the last deacons' meeting, and to get prepared for the next one. Work with your chair of deacons to make sure that there is good followup and good homework so that meetings have continuity, and a sense of both community and accomplishment are strong.
What do you find helpful here? What doesn't ring any bells for you? What do others find useful in thinking about a disciplined routine of deaconal activity?
Thanks for your question, Rebecca!