A MESSAGE FROM REV. LINDSEY ALTVATER CLIFTON:
MOVING OUR FLOCK FORWARD
Greetings friends,
This past Sunday (Sept. 15), Session and Trustees met jointly for an update from the Strategic Mission Steering Committee on a few key items.
We began with discussing needed action related to our Articles of Incorporation suggested by our legal partners. The first piece of business addressed an important schism-related loose thread regarding which set of Articles of Incorporation is active, and the second was about a needed revision to clarify our relationship with the PC(USA) and our adherence to
its Constitution.
Then the Steering Committee gave an update about our prospective South Building adaptive reuse partnership and facilitated discussion about the financial impact of that update on the transitional leadership that FPCB will need. We also shared a recent development on some additional support from Presbytery to help Session discern next steps in our transitional process.
Session and Trustees voted in favor of both items related to our Articles of Incorporation, and the only other action taken was the vote to call a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, Sept. 29 following the 11:15 a.m. service for two purposes: first, for the congregation to vote on the proposed revisions to the Articles of Incorporation; second, for the Steering Committee to share their updates with the whole congregation.
We’ll hold the meeting in Fellowship Hall, and snacks will be provided. We hope all FPCB members will make plans to attend, but it will be recorded and made available by request for those who are unable to make it. We’ll share more on that following the meeting.
Between now and then, I’ll be away this Sunday through Wednesday (Sept. 22-25) leading a workshop on our Strategic Missional work at the Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in Portland, OR.
Suzanne will be on call for any pastoral care needs, and Steve Simmons and Cindy Simmons will be preaching and leading worship. I’m so grateful for all the shepherds (including each one of you, remember?) who help keep the flock together!
Peace and blessings,
Lindsey