S1-Q1-Mergers

TRANSITION YEAR - SURVEY #1

Question #1 - "INSIDE the Box Ideas" MERGER & EXPANSION OPTIONS
(Key: LL=Lay Leader // P=Pastor)
	BGC MERGERS		NON-BGC MERGERS		EXPANSION
P	Maybe we should merge the entire district with our western neighbors and simply maintain Sue Shaw (or similar) as an Iowa ministry coordinator, reporting to the DEM who visits the Iowa churches on an "as needed" basis. Sue (or similar) could rent office space at Pine Lake for the near future.	P	Maybe we should seek an alliance with a.) the NAB churches within our state and b.) those unaffiliated Baptist churches who are currently seeking an alliance with someone.	P	Maybe we should solicit other churches and drop those IBC churches who don't want to support IBC.
P	Maybe we should merge the entire Iowa district with another neighboring district that is already financially solvent. Maybe we should split the IBC into thirds, with a third going to Midwest, a third going to Minnesota and a third going to Heartland.	P	Maybe we should look at combining with a state group such and the North American Baptist	LL	recruit more Baptist churches for the IA BGC
LL	Maybe we should merge with MN district.	P	Maybe we should merge with another non-BGC district	LL	Maybe we should plant more churches in Iowa
LL	Maybe we should… merge with the MN BGC	LL	Maybe we should merge with Regular Baptist. Maybe we should merge with Southern Baptist	P	maybe we should focus on growing
LL	Maybe we should merge with the Minnesota District of the BGC. Maybe we should merge with the Florida District. Maybe we should merge with the Great Lakes District, our camp and IBC office is by a lake. Maybe we should merge with the Heartland District. Maybe we should create a new BGC District with Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
LL	Maybe we should give those churches that, apparently, do not want to be an active part of the BGC/IBC the gracious opportunity to go their own way. Then maybe we should give the remaining "committed" churches a couple of merger choices, based on geography or viability or identity, and encouraging regional groups of churches to decide together, where they will join.
P	Maybe we should merge with MN, Great Lakes, or Heartland. Or divide of MO and MI River watersheds and form MO Valley and MI Valley Districts...west going west, east going east.
P	Split and divide. Northern churches to MN, Eastern Churches to Midwest, and Western churches to Heartland. We should have done this years ago!
LL	I also have honestly thought of the possibility of merging with another state or states. Forty churches may not be a sufficient number to support the scale of services we have at present.
p	Maybe...merge with another BGC district. Maybe...split the state geographically and merge with 2-3 neighboring districts. Maybe...the BGC can organize a "national" district which includes other struggling districts.
LL	Maybe we should...merge with Minnesota. Maybe we should...merge with Heartland.
P	1. Maybe we should merge with another BGC District
P	maybe we should merge with another district
P	I think we better merge with another district, Midwest. I think it would be best if we merged with another district:)
LL	Maybe we should look at what is best for each individual church. Some may be better served if they belonged to a different district. Maybe the churches in Northeast Iowa would be better off in Minnesota or the same may be true of other churches in Iowa.
LL	MWS...merge with Minnesota BGC
P	Maybe we should Merge with another district, but keep our camp (for example become the Iowa Region of the Midwest conference) Maybe we should allow Lead teams to join other districts as they choose, i.e. some to MN, some to ILL. , some to Nebraska, etc.
P	Maybe we should... merge with another BGC district
P	Maybe we should have a three way merge: Those churches north of Hwy 20 merge with Minnesota, those South of Hwy 20 AND west of I-35 merge with Heartland, and those South of Hwy 20 AND East of I-35 merge with Midwest Conference.
P	Maybe we should merge with the Mid-America conference.
P	Maybe we should merge with another BGC district.
LL	Maybe we should merge with another district. Maybe we should merge and form a Midwest BGC conference with more than 1 district.
LL	Maybe we should merge with another BGC district This might lead them feeling not as close to us as in the past. Also, what would happen to Pine Lakes? But I think this is our bet option.
LL	Maybe we should... merge with another BGC district
LL	Maybe we should merge to the north, south, west or east. I would like to know what you think.
LL	Maybe we should merge with another BGC district. This might lead them feeling not as close to us as in the past. Also, what would happen to Pine Lakes? But I think is our best option.
LL	Although a merger has some appeal to it I believe that it may be more destructive than constructive in several respects. In particular there has always been somewhat of a disconnect between some of our member churches and the IBC. Some are members only tangentially, or in name only. If the IBC becomes part of another district that is another 300 plus miles away, I wonder if the disconnect might not become even greater, and more prevalent (i.e. include some churches that are currently somewhat connected). Even if those conferences are willing and able to absorb some initial financial losses to support the IBC ministries, many things must change in order for those ministries to remain viable (financially and otherwise) in the future….even in another conference. Otherwise, that new/merged conference will likely find themselves in the same position that the IBC apparently now finds itself….i.e. draining its resources to the point of total depletion.
LL	Divide the state up and have each church join the nearest other district.