new spirit mcc
Transition.
UPDATE ON THE PASTORAL TRANSITION TEAM - 03/09/08
Over the past two months, the Board of Directors and Rev. Melody have been identifying and recruiting individuals to serve on the Pastoral Transition Team. The primary role of the Pastoral Transition Team is as follows:
-Developing, implementing and evaluating the specifics of the Transitional Strategic Planning Process. (a 9 -12 month process)
-Developing a tentative timeframe for action.
-Updating the BOD and the congregation on the Pastoral Transition Process.
Once the Transitional Strategic Planning Process is completed, the Pastoral Transition Team dissolves and the Pastoral Search Committee begins the search for the Senior Pastor.
The BOD determined that the Transition Team will be comprised of two BOD members, one member of the Board of Trustees who does not also serve on the BOD, and three congregants. As Interim Pastor, Rev. Melody is also a member of the Transition Team and is responsible for guiding the team through the Transitional Strategic Planning Process. In selecting individuals to serve on the team, the following criteria were considered:
-Knowledge of and commitment to the church.
-Experience in effectively working with individuals.
-Teamwork experience.
-Professional knowledge and expertise in strategic planning and organizational change.
-Experience in developing and presenting workshops, seminars and congregational forums.
-Professional expertise in teaching, education, and training.
-Professional experience in mediation, conflict resolution, or arbitration.
-The willingness and ability to receive and provide constructive feedback from other members of the Transition Team and the congregation
without responding defensively.
-No partners/spouses will serve together on the team
We are very grateful to the following individuals who have agreed to serve on the Pastoral Transition Team:
Scotty C. (BOD), Maurice H. (BOD), Steve O. (BOT), Rebecca S. (Congregant), Linda P. (Congregant), Rick C. (Congregant)
On April 8-10, Rev. Melody will be attending the "The Fundamentals of Interim Ministry" training sponsored by the Interim Ministry Network in Techny, IL. The Interim Ministry Network is a national organization that trains Interim Pastors. Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of MCC and Rev. Elder Diane Fisher have made arrangements for the denomination to cover the cost of the training. The Transition Team will formally begin its work after Rev. Melody returns from the training. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rev. Melody at 513-661-6464 or revmelody@newspiritmcc.com.
UPDATE ON THE PASTORAL TRANSITION TEAM - 09/25/08
Many thanks to those of you who attended the Anniversary Potluck Celebration last week! The food was outstanding and the time spent socializing was fun!
At the Congregational Gathering held after the potluck, the Core Values listed below were developed and approved for the church.
INCLUSIVE & AFFIRMING: Because we are called to be a safe harbor, all who enter feel a sense of unity, community, and are at home with family and friends.
DISCIPLESHIP: Because we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we will carry the message of God's all-inclusive love into the world.
SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION: Because we are called to new life in God through Jesus Christ, we are seeking truth through faith, prayer, worship, and service.
ACTIVISM: Because we are called to action through the works of Jesus Christ, we are committed to justice and equality.
The future Vision and Mission statements, and the Goals and Objectives of our church will evolve from the Core Values. Thanks to those of you who attended the gathering and to the Transition Team for facilitating the event!
As you can see from the events last Sunday, the Holy Spirit is alive and thriving at NSMCC!
UPDATE ON THE PASTORAL TRANSITION TEAM - 10/12/08
Many thanks to those of you who participated in the Congregational Gathering last Sunday where we developed and embraced the new "Mission and Vision" Statements for the church. We were so united in our thinking that it only took 40 minutes to get the job done! The Holy Spirit was clearly present and guided us through the process. Please refer to information below for the new Mission and Vision Statements.
Mission and Vision Statements
Loving All,
Liberating Spirits,
Journeying Together,
Creating Peace,
Through Christ.
God's Spirit is on us;
the Lord has chosen us to preach the message of
Good News to the poor,
Sent us to announce pardon to prisoners and
recovery of sight to the blind,
to set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, "This is God's year to act!"
(Luke 4:18-19 adapted from The Message Bible)
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 12/26/2008
Peace to you and your friends and family as we end 2008 celebrating the birth of Jesus and look forward in joyous anticipation of what the new year will bring us!
In 2008, we spent time as a church family discovering who we were in the past, examining what we are now, and determining where we want to go in the future. From this, we developed a set of core values and mission statement to lead us in our mission in our Cincinnati community.
As we move into 2009, there is much excitement and work still to do at New Spirit MCC. The members of the Pastoral Search will move into high gear with the preliminary plans that we started putting together in November.
We met with our regional elder, the Rev. Diane Fisher, earlier this month and began to work on tasks to begin the search for our new Senior Pastor. From this meeting, she committed to help us in our search to find the right senior pastor for our church and our community.
Your pastoral search committee consists of Dennis Brooks, Maurice Harris, Aaron Locke, Bobbi Morris, Joe Poynter, Mark Roy, and Mary Warders. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we work together doing God's will for our church.
In the upcoming weeks, we will engage the congregation to build on the work in developing our mission and values to develop the profile of the person that will be a shepherd to lead us as a church body to model Christ, and show his love, "Loving All, Liberating Spirits, Journeying Together, Creating Peace, Through Christ!"
Yours in Christ,
New Spirit MCC
Pastoral Search Committee
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 03/08/2009
The Pastoral Search Committee is pleased to report that last week, the denomination officially announced our Senior Pastor opening in an MCC publication that distrubutes to all qualified clergy. This has been the first and best opportunity to publicize our search since the completion of the recent congregational survey and the compilation of the results. Our Regional Elder will continue to support our recruitment efforts by making known our search and by recommending key individuals who meet the criteria that you consider most important in a pastor.
The committee has established an official job description and an informational packet on the Greater Cincinnati area - and is in the process of developing a recruitment video on New Spirit MCC and the peole who worship here.
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 06/21/2009
Attention ordained, licensed clergy looking to fulfill their calling as the pastor of a progressive MCC with significant growth potential: New Spirit MCC is extending the period to submit a completed questionnaire and sermon video as part of its pastoral search process. Questionnaire and video sermon (DVD, WMV, or QuickTime) are due by Friday, July 31, 2009. Please visit the Pastoral Search web page for more.
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 12/17/09
Committee met on Thursday evening to review applications of tentative candidates. Dates and times of interviews were discussed and the committee will contact applicants to schedule interviews. This process will be completed by Friday, January 15th and soon after the committee will meet to confer about the interviews and the next step of the search process. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to work together doing God's will for our church.
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 03/04/10
It is with tremendous joy and immense thankfulness to God that the Pastoral Search Committee announces that the Reverend Mark Pridmore has accepted the call to candidate at New Spirit Metropolitan Community Church. We have concluded a thoughtful and prayerful discernment process that culminated in our church finding a candidate who stands ready to capably lead us as we continue our spiritual journey. Reverend Mark Pridmore will join us for worship services on March 7th and 14th and on Easter Sunday, April 4th. Come and meet Rev. Mark and experience the exultation as we honor and praise our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Brief Bio of Rev. Mark
Rev. Mark Pridmore was born in Startex, South Carolina--a small, textile-mill town of about 500 people. Thanks to his father's enlistment in the U.S. Air Force, Mark was educated all over the world, including the U.S., the Philippine Islands, and England. His involvement in MCC began in 1982, when he became part of a small group of people that went on to charter MCC Gainesville (now Trinity MCC) in Gainesville, Florida. After living in Florida several years, Mark came to the Midwest to finish college. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. Soon after graduation he met his spouse, Larry, and moved to Kansas City. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Larry and the rest of Mark's family are now nudging him on to begin studies toward a Doctor of Ministry degree.
After his graduation from Saint Paul, Mark and Larry moved to St. Louis, where Mark completed his candidacy and ordination requirements under the outstanding guidance of Rev. Dr. Bob Goss and Rev. Teena Carpenter. He was ordained on Pentecost Sunday in 2000 at MCC of Greater St. Louis, with his family present and participating in his ordination.
Mark was reared in the Methodist Church until he was seven years old, when his father joined the U.S. Air Force. They immediately began moving every two to three years, thus giving Mark a solid, inter-denominational perspective of God and the church--an exceptional foundation for ministry in MCC! His family's years with the Air Force taught him to have an open mind and to appreciate people from different lands, languages, cultures, belief systems, and hemispheres.
Wherever Mark has lived, he has always been active in the life of local MCC churches, serving in various capacities including Boards of Directors, managing a church bookstore, the diaconate, chaplain, and coordinator of small group ministries.
Mark is an avid dog lover, singer, and tennis player. He and his spouse Larry met in 1988 and celebrated a Holy Union in April 1991. They are now in their 22nd year together. Mark's family, all of whom are wholly supportive of his ministry, live in Lee's Summit, Missouri.
UPDATE - Pastoral Search Committee - 04/22/10
On April 11, 2010 New Spirit MCC held a congregational meeting to call Rev. Mark Pridmore as its new pastor. The vote came back in favor of not calling this person at this time. The Pastoral Search Committee met immediately following the meeting and agreed to assemble on April 22nd to evaluate the present situation. At the assembly the PSC decided to revamp the Congregational Survey and present it to the congregation for current feedback in what they are looking for in a pastor. Survey will be initiated in May with the hope of a completion date by May 20th.