Ron Knol

It can be a great medium....but....

Many insurance companies are requesting that churches (who wish to have "Safe Church" coverage) create a protocol c/w guidelines for "Using Social Networking with Young People".  As "lifted" from a sample policy I've viewed...

"All social networking sites have the potential to allow leaders to communicate with young people on a one-to-one basis.  However, we would strongly advise that any one-to-one communication made via a social networking site is kept in the public eye so as to safeguard both young people and youth leaders. On Facebook, this communication can be  made using the “wall function” and it is recommended that this method is used for communicating with young people individually on Facebook and for replying to private messages which young people may have sent to youth leaders."

Later, the policy recommends:

"The use of instant chat on Facebook, Myspace and Bebo is to be avoided since such communication method provides no log of conversations and could potentially leave a worker open to unsubstantiated allegations."

Users of services such as Facebook should be made aware of how to avoid the thin ice BEFORE they're out walking on it.  I recommend that our CRCNA Safe Church ministry communicate sample guidelines...

The decision as to whether or not to admit one to partake in the Lord's Supper used to be a lot simpler...

As per the minutes of the meeting of Classis Holland in April 25, 1849:

Admission to Communion - Whether any shall be admitted to the Lord's Supper who are unknown to the minister and consistory.

Answer - Yes, and even if they are known to be wicked and yet approach the communion table.  Such a person is to be asked what induces him to come.  If he confesses his sin and his faith in Jesus, and expresses a purpose to serve the Lord, he is to be admitted.

Anko, First CRC  just bought/installed one at the request of their Safe Church team.  A Zoll AED Plus via Heart Zap Inc c/w an alarmed case.  Supposedly, it's fool proof and it will assist with CPR analysis as well.  The trick is to also canvas your congregation to see who has training (AED + CPR), who would like the training(and set up a training session), who has pacemakers (and keep the list in the cabinet since it may require some adjustment when using the AED), and let your congregation know that you'll assume you have their consent to use the gizmo when the need arises UNLESS they tell your admin office, in advance, in writing.  Feel free to come by and check it out.  But no testing... (don't trust you entirely!!)

I find it hard to understand that the implementation of a proper screening policy is being viewed by some as an unnecessary expense.  It is an INVESTMENT in the safety of your children.

And, if such a policy is required (either by state or insurance), non-compliance may result in the "directors" of your church (council members) being deemed negligent and being held personally liable for any resulting damages.  It is cumbersome that checks have to be repeated every 3 -5 years (depending on your insurer or local law) but I know of at least one church where a volunteer who had previously cleared screening was forced to resign when a subsequent screening failed to clear the volunteer.  So, while weighing risks and costs, take a good look at your children and youth... and then make the INVESTMENT!!  

As for the use of "common sense", I can't help but think of the days when "common sense" meant we didn't have to use seat belts for our children, smoking while pregnant was acceptable and hockey helmets weren't required.  Of course the use of common sense is a good idea but who defines it?  And should financial expense be a major determining factor?

In the world of business, departing employees or clients are often too timid or shy or appreciative or apathetic to give a critical analysis of their employer.  It may even be that they would love to have stayed on but other factors have forced them to leave.  The same can occur with departing congregation members.  If the reason for leaving is "within" the congregation itself, they may not wish to voice their concerns (and risk offending friends and family).  If they are departing for reasons other than something "within" the congregation, they may feel it unnecessary to criticize an institution they've felt comfortable with. 

I've found that the most effective question (as regards eliciting a response) is "I value your opinion so, if you HAD to change anything here, what would it be?"  The answer can definitely be more comfortably delivered and can definitely be more easily shared and accepted.  You may find out about flaws or misperceptions that the departee was aware of that had nothing to do with the departure... or that had everything to do with the departure.   It makes for a good "last question" on the questionnaire.

I'm guessing that at least one of three things went wrong:

1. Your budget was excessive, given the financial resources of your community.  If this is the case (and it rarely is), you may wish to re-evaluate your overhead and your investments (money dedicated to ministries is not a cost; it's an investment).  Perhaps a pledge system (with proper stewardship education ahead of time) can give you a better idea of the revenue that you can budget with.  The question of whether a pledge system works is an entirely different discussion but from what I've heard (as a Christian Stewardship Services representative, I have the privilege of learning from the experience of many congregations in Western Canada) is that the anonymous pledge system works best (names aren't required but participation is.... even if the anonymous pledge comes back with "none of your business").   At the very least, the diaconate can inform the congregation that "based on the promises you've made, here is the budget we're presenting, here are the ministries/projects we can (or cannot) support and now we rely on you to make good on your promises, as best you can". 

2.Your congregants may be great stewards and givers but weren't entirely "sold" on your budget and therefore aren't committed to it.  If this is the case, I suspect you could focus on teaching how proper stewardship definitely involves the work of the local church.   You may have to educate the congregation as to the benefit of the work done at the congregational level.  I'd consider usinga  narrative budget format (as opposed to simple line-item budgets).  Proper narrative budgets tell the stories of the Kingdom Work done via the congregants' contributions to the church budget.  Again, if the congregation is more involved in the creation of the budget, they'll be more committed to the promises they've made when the budget is accepted and more responsive to calls for making up shortfalls. 

3.Your congregants require "continuing education" regarding what the Lord requires of us as to giving to Kingdom work.  If this is the case, I suspect you could focus on stewardship education (i.e. "Stewardship is everything you do after you accept Christ") and how proper stewardship definitely involves supporting and empowering the work of the local church.   Perhaps focus on reinforcing the fact that a tithe is a good place to start and that it's the first ten percent, not the last. Abel gave first fruits; Cain gave left-overs.  If all congregants gave 5% to the local church budget, I suspect we'd be facing the unique problem of how to spend the surplus and wouldn't it be interesting if adherence to the "first fruits"principle meant the budget was met by March? 

I've finally read the "Not Your Parents' Offering Plate" (J. Clif Christopher) and fully agree that the attitude of "givers" has changed (we have to promote Kingdom Work) and that the choices of where the support can flow have multiplied so greatly that church budgets now face far more competition from other Kindgom Work than in the past.  One great quote from the book is "People give to church when we offer them a compelling vision of the good their giving will achieve". 

Wendy Hammond's response to this question refers to Barnabas Foundation and I agree that it's a great site.  For Canadians however, the Christian Stewardship Services site may provide more Canuck-oriented content (www.csservices.ca)

The definition given by Classis Toronto (which requires a "narrative" from each of its ministries) is

"Each committee/ministry submits a "narrative" budget with its request for funds from Classis. A 'narrative budget' is the story of what that ministry hopes to accomplish in the next budget year and thus why it is asking for funds."

Yesterday I submitted, as Chair of the AB North Safe Church Team, the "narrative" for the SCT request for funds in the AB North Classis budget (and they were encouraging submission of a photo as well... something visual... makes for a better PowerPoint...).  Next year will be the first year that AB North will use a "narrative" style budget.  I have lots of material that I can e-mail to you that gives examples (anywhere from a simple "2 pager" to a 16 page document with graphics).  Let me know!

The main job is to transform what would have been a "line-item" budgets $$ request from each ministry into a story of what happened last year in that ministry(successes, challenges, accomplishments, etc.) along with a plan for next year that supports the next $$ request.  Tell the story.  

A friend of mine relayed a story of charity board meeting where, during the discussion of a particular ministry, the directors looked like they were going to cut the funding in half.  A person involved in that minstry was scheduled to speak about what it had accomplished but the budget discussion started before she arrived... and it didn't look good for that ministry. She arrived, told the "story" of how the ministry had affected lives over the past year (she did not know her budget was at risk) and she left.  The director who was spearheading the budget cut mentioned some thing along the lines of "We can't touch that.... God is working there!" and the budget remained intact.   That verbal "narrative" educated the decision-makers!  A narrative budget (some of the United Churches I researched refer to it as a Mission Plan) educates the givers in our community and makes them more aware of what the local CRC (or Classis) has accomplished and can accomplish.

"A line-item budget is an effective tool for the committee on finance to manage financial resources.  It is not an effective means for interpreting those ministries or their impact...  A well-composed narrative budget will educate and inspire everyone." (from the book "Revolutionizing Christian Stewardship for the 21st Century" by Dan R. Dick)

I spent many years as a lawyer dealing with Wills & Estates and have been a "planned giving" consultant for many Canadian charities over the past dozen years.  I often use the quote "Those without Wills have included lawyers amongst their heirs".   I remind people that Wills used to be called "Last Will & TESTAMENT!!!"  Unfortunately, too many folks have not considered what testament they will leave for their children and charities. 

The best draft Will I ever read was written by a senior couple who spent the first 10 pages relaying the blessings God had bestowed upon them during their lives and providing the "instructions" they wished to pass on to their children.  The couple indicated their reason for this testimony was that it would be the last time they'd be able to "talk to their kids" and they knew the kids would be listening since the kids would want to know what was on page 11.

Excellent response by Joyce!  As a church musician for over 40 years, I've enjoyed the changes and have been rewarded by the education given to me by the younger musicians involved in our worship. Still, I do rely on 2 major guidelines (contained within Joyce's response).

1 - Does the text of the song fit within and amplify the message of the service?

2 - Does the music inspire congregational participation in the singing?

And, I'll always remember a lesson given to me over 40 years ago by my teacher.  During congregational singing, church musicians are there to accompany in worship, not to perform.  Yes, occasionally we must assist in teaching a new song and that may require more volume but I often find the community of singing can be destroyed by overwhelming musical accompaniment.  Of course, I'll still pull all the stops for at least one verse of "A Mighty Fortress" but I'm also prone to stop playing altogether for a verse and hear beautiful a capella singing and, as a musician at the front of the church, I often have the best seat in the house.

The matter would also be of some interest to the church's insurers if a "known abuser"  is reinstated as a church leader and subsequently re-offends.  It would be along the lines of "fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me".  If a known offender is put in a position of authority and trust and that offender re-offends, those who placed the known offender into that position may be held personally liable in a court of law.  The civil action would seek likely seek damages from the Church and the members of Council by alleging that they knowingly placed an offender in a position of trust.... and they should have known better ("vicarious liability").   In fact, if Classis approved the reinstatement, the civil action would likely include the Classis as a defendant.  And any insurance coverage may be tenuous given that insured parties who negligently create the situation in which damage occurs might be denied full coverage

Such a council decision puts the church itself and the Council members at risk.   I'd be resigning from council.  In some instances of poor decision making by a Council when dealing with "Safe Church" matters, criminal conviction of council members has resulted..

I will try to forgive the child molester... but I won't ask him/her to volunteer as a youth leader.  

I will try to support the healing of an alcoholic... but I won't put him/her in charge of the communion wine.

I will try to forgive the fraudster....  but I won't ask him/her to be Church Treasurer. 

Larry Norman's 1972 album "Only Visiting this Planet" was an album that was highly rated by secular and Christian music stations & magazines. He was eventually inducted to Gospel Music Hall of Fame and honoured posthumously at the Grammy Awards in 2009. As a young teenager, I listened to the album frequently (still have a copy somewhere) and the lyrics of the one track definitely provoked thought... at that time. Now, I just think it's a great song.

Excerpts from Larry Norman's "I Wish We'd All Been Ready":
A man and wife asleep in bed, she hears a noise and turns her head he's gone
I wish we'd all been ready
Two men walking up a hill, one disappears and one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready

There's no time to change your mind, how could you have been so blind
the father spoke, the demons dined, the Son has come and you've been left behind