From: IN-MI Transition Team
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:29 PM
To: IN-MI Conference Delegates
Subject: Planning for the interim time

To Delegates of IN-MI Mennonite Conference

Planning for the interim time

Last week we summarized the feedback received from delegates at the February 14 and 21 regional gatherings and announced our intent to create an interim plan for the months of April, May and June. With Nancy and Tim completing their employment with Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference at the end of March, and the introduction of a different staffing configuration for moving forward, that date is coming too quickly. The purpose of the April through June three-month interim is to create space for thinking carefully about cluster pastors, and for the continuity of services to pastors and congregations.

Our plan for the interim has several parts. The first is finding a person to contract half-time for the three months to oversee the search and credentialing processes across conference. We believe having someone who does this for the whole conference may empower decentralization to succeed by serving as a resource to cluster pastors and groups.

A second part of this plan is making arrangements for interim staff to relate to area councils and congregations. Jim Carpenter, Randy Detweiler and Virgil Hershberger are already serving Tim’s area in this capacity as part of sabbatical coverage, and Dan has initiated conversations with them about continuing. These people will serve marginal time as a conference resource and lighten the load on the Lead Conference Minister so he can work with the Transition Team on developing the emerging staffing model.

During the interim time, the Transition Team will develop a way to attend carefully to the credentialing and search processes in a new staffing configuration. We will lead the way in planning the implementation of cluster pastors. The plan will be to develop a ministry description in a timely manner so candidates can be identified and ready to begin July 1, 2009.

We hope this staffing model can be in place by our June 18-20 annual sessions at Clinton Frame Mennonite Church (Goshen, Ind.) and ready to launch at the end of the three-month interim period. The schedule seems doable.

Again we invite your prayers for the leadership retreat being held this coming weekend at Amigo Centre. Dan Miller and Alan Roxburgh (consultant to the Transition Team) will lead the time. This retreat marks the hand-off of responsibility from the Executive Committee to the new Missional Leadership Team. Also joining the Transition Team for this weekend will be the Advisory Council, Gift Discernment Team and staff.


IN-MI Transition Team

Gene Hartman, chair

Bill Scott

Phil Mininger

Klaudia Smucker

Sarah Schlegel

John Troyer

Dan Miller, staff