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CHANGES HAVE BEEN AFOOT at Middle Church in the past few months. And as a result, Middle's energetic team of Ministry Associates have been clocking miles up and down the aisles of the sanctuary and on the stairs of the Church House, trying to keep up to speed with a lively, active congregation.
The Church has been growing, not only in size, but in diversity of membership. Singles, both gay and straight, in their late 20's to early 40's had long formed the core membership of the Church, and certainly many new members fall into this group. But Middle has also been experiencing its own "baby boom," as families with very young children are to joining the Church in ever-greater numbers. Asian-American membership is on the rise. And Middle's older children are beginning to ask for programming that spoke to their needs. Effective ministry at the "new" Middle is keeping pace with these multifaceted changes. The team ministry concept grew out of this challenge.
While each associate has a particular area of responsibility (Worship & the Arts, Congregational Development, Social Action & Outreach, Children's AfterSchool Arts Center, Church Administration, Children and Youth, Adult Education), associates are expected to partner, whenever needed, to help each other accomplish ministry goals.
So it's not surprising to see ministry associates everywhere around Middle, welcoming, talking, and listening to discern what ministry "gaps" need filling. When they go back to their offices, it's to think about what they've heard and come up with ways to close those gaps. Ideas are then brought to staff meetings, which are held twice monthly, or to the monthly Program Council meeting. These meetings serve as forums to test out new ideas, take in suggestions, and gather support. They also provide a chance to review completed projects, assess where they succeeded or failed, and to discuss what was learned along the way. Always, though, the meetings are a time for the staff to check in, see how they're all doing as people, and to give each other encouragement.
Being the point person for his or her area of ministry does place a heavy load on each of the ministry associates, but that load is balanced by the support system team ministry offers. While associates are expected to bring their respective projects to fruition and to manage that process, none is expected "to go it alone."
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