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~pastor matt
Proposal #4 Update!
June 25th, 2008
David Emery proposed a substitute resolution (began as an amendment to the resolution — Tim Smith pointed out that it was not germane because of Dr. Armiger’s ruling the previous day) that added that the resolution not go into effect until the beginning of the 2009-2010 year. It was passed by the conference.
Also, please check the comments on the previous post! There is some good stuff there from Tony Casey (about the history of TRRCC), Matt Rampey and a follow-up comment by me.
I am thankful that we have been able to talk openly about our feelings on this issue. Feel free to jump into the conversation, but remember — no anonymity allowed!
July 1st, 2008 at 9:56 am
I thought David’s proposal was a very smart move. We’ve been having some financial issues at Kannapolis First, and while God has seen us through them and brought us into a healthy position, I would not have wanted to be in the board meeting where the Pastor told them that we would have to pay an additional $4000 in District assessment. There are those on our board who are not too happy with having to pay an assessment at all.
I can already tell you where that money probably would have come from - Missions or Evangelism/Discipleship. As sad as this fact is, since I’ve been on staff we have CUT our missions budget $10,000. (Not a good move in my opinion…I view missions as about the last thing to get cut.)
I know many other churches were very worried about where to come up with the money this year as well. David’s proposal did a lot to keep the overall feeling towards South Mountain on the positive side. I know that our church would have gotten a negative view of being forced to pay with very little warning. Now, we know what is coming and can prepare for it.
Also, since it has been 10 years, I don’t feel that a 10 month delay will affect us too much if it means keeping the people’s opinion positive.
I must admit, my feelings toward South Mountain are somewhat mixed. I agree with Matt Rampey on many of his comments, including his closing one. Its going, so lets “get ‘er done.”
I was at conference 10 years ago when South Mountain was first passed. No one in the Brevard delegation was happy at all at the way things went (I was 14 at the time, and helping with sound). I also remember when the promises that had been made started to slip. Again, not very many positive feelings. I wish things would have been a little more realistically viewed from the start.
I appreciate the way that Bob Allred and Bake came at this last proposal. They were apologetic at having to break the promises that were made, but ernest and realistic in their view of the need. It seemed like with previous proposals (even the initial one to start SMRCC), it was presented that if you weren’t for it, then you weren’t a good Christian/Wesleyan/person.
Whatever mistakes have been made in the past, I believe that we now have a leadership team in place that has learned from previous mistakes and can lead South Mountain forward into completion and make it into a place where lives can be transformed. Hope I didn’t ramble on too much! I enjoyed reading all of the other comments.