Iowa Baptist Conference Email Ne

The following email update is a special edition from District Executive Minister, Skip Hansen, providing important information regarding: 1) The results of the "5 Loaves + 2 Fish" church presentation and survey, and 2) The announcement of a proposed "New Thing"... a year of transition.

2008 IBC ANNUAL MEETING THEME
"A New Thing"... Isaiah 43:18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

"FIVE LOAVES + TWO FISH"

...Results are Coming In! 5 Loaves & 2 Fish

With over half of our partner churches reporting, we are encouraged by the positive response to our "Five Loaves + Two Fish" campaign!

We asked our IBC churches to:

Designate 3% of their budget to the IBC
Designate 10% (two days/month) of their pastor's time to district churches
Provide open relationships between the IBC and church members
Provide proactive positive promotion of IBC events
Elect annual meeting delegates... to serve as informed active liaisons between the IBC and their local congregation
Participate in TimeShare
Participate in Adopt-A-Cabin

You may view a summary of the responses online at: 5+2 Presentation Summary

However, as positive as the response is, the Board of Overseers has determined it is not adequate to sustain the level of ministry IBC has been enjoying over the past seven years. To support our current ministries, we needed to raise an additional $170K annually!

We hoped 5+2 would increase church support by $100K. But it appears to be providing between $20K-40K new money.

We hoped to increase major donor support. But it appears dependence upon individual major donor support is too uncertain. A good God calls their hearts in many different directions!

Most significantly, our combined efforts to raise ministry funds through major donors and churches, has not generated financial support adequate for IBC's continued viability as an autonomous district of the Baptist General Conference.

NO LONGER CLOSING IBC CHURCHES!

Historically, a major source of income, (which kept IBC afloat,) was the sale of closed churches. For example, in the 1990's six IBC churches closed... and IBC benefited.

Yet, it was a vicious "catch-22" cycle. IBC had no funds to significantly help declining churches... so when churches closed... IBC got smaller. Additionally, there was little money for planting new churches... so IBC couldn't grow!

When the last 1990's church closed (Carlisle), IBC received the funds to launch a new decade based on Mobilization and Multiplication. Over the past seven years, most of that money has produced no closed churches and four church plants!

This is what a district is supposed to do... and more!

Yet while our focused energy on Mobilization with established churches and pastors has succeeded... we've also shot ourselves in the foot! We increased the cost of doing business, while we lost a significant income stream!

We need to do something new. What?

IBC STAFF AND BOARD UNITED

We could go back to the 1990's model. But today... every member of the IBC staff is united with the Board of Overseers. Each one believes that a viable district must include significant funding for Mobilization and Multiplication. These cannot be sacrificed... and still maintain integrity and viability as a BGC district.

Each staff member respects and appreciates the significant and historic Spiritual Memories ministry at Pine Lake. To sacrifice Pine Lake property at this time, (for the purpose of district continuity,) would irreparably divide and damage the relationship between Iowa churches. We are too small a group to absorb that kind of devastating blow.

We believe all our current ministries are vital to this district... and must continue... somehow. How?

PROPOSAL FOR 2008 ANNUAL MEETING

...A Year of Transition

The Board of Overseers believes we can serve our churches best by considering something new. And it believes now is the best time to begin transitioning into something new.

At the upcoming May, 2008, annual meeting The IBC Board of Overseers will propose:

We spend the 2008-09 year investigating, pursuing and determining what God would have us do as His "New Thing!"
We investigate a broad spectrum of possible new strategic alliances, pursue one, and thereby design a new strategic alignment for our existing IBC ministries.
We adopt a "Pass the Baton" budget... reflecting temporary reductions in our Mobilization, Multiplication and Spiritual Memories. (The purpose of this reduced budget will be to conserve our remaining assets... allowing us something to "bring to the table" of our new strategic alliance. NOTE: A "Pass the Baton" budget still requires us to raise $70K from individual donors next year to preserve our limited resources!)

MY PERSONAL FUTURE

On March 31, I will conclude my role as District Executive Minister.

However, the BOO has asked me to extend my relationship with the IBC in the role of "Transition Consultant". I have accepted.

Starting April 1, 2008, my primary ministry focus will shift to leading the conference through a year of transition into something new! Portions of my current work will shift to staff, LEAD teams, and individual pastors.

THE YEAR OF TRANSITION

To prepare our churches for this proposal over the next two months, we will establish a "media blitz" of communication to our churches, pastors, and lay leaders. We will schedule regional town-hall meetings. We will regularly post information on our website... and constantly point people to that site!
We will seek input (brainstorming) for the best ideas for possible new strategic alliances. We will seek input from both within and outside the IBC. We will entertain "inside the box" ideas as simple as a merger with a neighboring district, as well as "outside the box" ideas such as... ???
We will examine feasibilities, prioritize them, and select and pursue the best.
We will negotiate with a new potential strategic partner, until together, we produce a new potential strategic alignment (structure).
The goal: A new proposed strategic alliance and alignment will be presented for delegate vote at the 2009 annual meeting.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

...Looking Ahead

February 8-10 - Jr High Winter Retreat @ Pine Lake

On-line Registration available for Winter Retreats!

March 7-8 Dynamic Worship Seminar @ Pine Lake
March 28-30 IBC Scrapbooking Retreat @ Pine Lake
May 1-2 - IBC State-wide LEAD Team @ Cedar Rapids
May 2-3 - IBC Annual Meeting @ Cedar Rapids
May 23-26 - Memorial Day Family Retreat Weekend
June 15-29 - Juniors Camp
June 22-27 - Sixers Camp
June 29-July 2 - Base Camp
July 3-6 - Mid-Summer Family Retreat Weekend
July 6-10 - Jr High Camp
July 13-18 - Sr High Camp
August 1-3 - PLCC Homecoming Retreat Weekend

IOWA BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Magnifying God by Mobilizing & Multiplying a Growing Family of Healthy Churches!