District Report

Mission Statement and Explanation

The Turn Around Task Team exists to evaluate and address the decline in membership of Atlantic Northeast Church of the Brethren congregations by…

·        Holistically evaluating

·        Spiritually discerning

·        Honestly informing congregations and district life.

2006 Report  (Click here to get a copy of this report.)

( This is a PDF File, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader )  

Through the Process the team will be…Holistically Evaluating the current state of churches in our district through

·        Prayer

·        Times of discussion

·        Worship

·        Discernment with representatives from congregations

·        Input from congregations through surveys filled out by Laity and Leadership

·        Researching Atlantic Northeast District congregational growth and decline patterns

·        Researching other movements that have successfully turned declining membership to the positive

Spiritually Discerning what the Spirit is saying by

·        Interviewing congregational, asking leadership about their church’s vision and purpose

·        Praying for the churches within the district to create a covering of prayer over the process and work of congregations in the district this year

·        Including intentional times of worship, intercession, and discernment in their meetings

Honestly Informing the district of its findings by

·        A 2006 District Conference report

·        Documented summary of congregational visits

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Timeline

June 20, 2005: Initial Gathering

July-August 2005: Defining purpose and strategy

September 15, 2005: Delegate package information deadline

March 1, 2006: Completion of congregational discernment and surveys

April 15, 2006: Completion of holistic evaluation and spiritual discernment

July 1, 2006: Completion and submission of documented summary and written report

October 13-14 2006: District Conference report, which includes:

i.                     A copy of documented summary and written report in the conference booklet

ii.                   DVD documentary premier

iii.                  Verbal report including projection enhancement

November 2006-June 2007: Congregational visitation and regional talkbacks

July 2007: Insight session at Annual Conference ( Cleveland , OH )

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History

In late June 2005, the Turn Around Task Team gathered for the first time at Ephrata Church of the Brethren.  We shared about our experiences as part of the Church of the Brethren, our hopes, dreams, and desires for the denomination today and for the future.  In two subsequent meetings, we sharpened our mission as a task team into a statement of purpose which is explained further in this brochure.  Meeting for the day at Camp Swatara in August, the task team covenanted to a process of discernment and prayer for churches in our district.  The team set out a specific timeline and action steps for which to accomplish the goals of our stated purpose.  The team has begun work on these action steps and looks forward to the process of listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches of the ANE District.

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Team Members

Tim Doering, Associate Pastor at the Ephrata CoB

Josh Hostetter, Director of Youth and Community Outreach at the Coventry CoB

Josiah Ludwick, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at the Harrisburg First CoB

Jay McCumber, Senior Pastor at the Cornerstone Christian CoB

Kenneth Stewart, Associate Pastor at the West Green Tree CoB

Sheri Weaver, Associate Pastor at the Lampeter CoB

Sarah Yingling, Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at the Spring Creek CoB

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