Recap of the 9/25/16 Congregational Meeting

Dear Friends,

On September 25, 2016 we gathered in the Sanctuary immediately following the morning Worship Service to hold our congregational Quarterly Business Meeting. I am thrilled to announce several important items that the congregation considered and voted to approve during our meeting. All of these developments represent significant progress for FBC, and each one shows that FBC is taking considerable steps of faith. I am excited about where God is leading us.

First, in response to a motion brought jointly by our Associate Pastor Search Committee and our Personnel Committee, the congregation voted by an overwhelming majority to create the new position of Executive Pastor at FBC. As I explained in my letter to the congregation about a month ago, although the position of Executive Pastor is a new concept for FBC, this role has been around now in Baptist churches for about 40 years. The prevailing mission of an executive pastor is to help the church execute its vision. Vision-casting is not difficult. Execution of the vision is extremely difficult and often never comes to fruition because of the constant, day-to-day administrative and internal needs of the congregation. An executive pastor acts as a “second” to the senior pastor, freeing her or him up for the critical tasks of pastoring, shepherding, preaching and teaching. This new position will be a great addition to our FBC staff.

Second, based on the recommendation and motion of our Search Committee, the congregation voted (again, by an overwhelming majority) to call two new ministerial candidates: Rev. Charles L. Fuller as Executive Pastor, and Rev. Alyssa Aldape as Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries. You can read more information about Charlie and Alyssa here. Alyssa will join us at FBC in early November, and Charlie will start in January 2017. Please join me in welcoming them to our church family!

CHARLES FULLER

ALYSSA ALDAPE

Also, please join me in thanking our fantastic Search Committee (Erik Smith, Chair, Mel Doxie, Ken Ellison, Allen Norfleet, Ellen Parkhurst, and Wilma Prince) for their hard work over the last two and a half years. At last, the work of the Search Committee has come to an end. Praise God! Also join me in thanking Denny Austin, Chair of the Personnel Committee, for all of his assistance with the call process.

Third, the congregation voted to approve the 2016-17 FBC Budget, which was prepared by our Stewardship Committee and our Treasurer, Mike Henson. The 2016-17 FBC budget includes salaries for all of our existing staff and the two new positions described above, includes a 14% increase in giving to missions, and makes some of our previously under-utilized special purpose and memorial funds come alive in a meaningful way. In conjunction with the budget approval, the congregation also voted separately in favor of a resolution brought by the FBC Trustees regarding the use of special purpose and memorial funds. I would like to extend my thanks to Dennis Lambert, Chair of the Stewardship Committee, Mike Henson, and the FBC Trustees (Ken Ellison, Becky Ellison, and Marvin Marceron) for all of their contributions to the budget preparation effort this year.

Fourth, the congregation selected Rev. Paul Clark and Rev. Dr. James Langley as our delegates representing FBC at the DCBC Annual Gathering, scheduled October 27-29, 2016.

Fifth, we heard an exciting presentation from Wil McBeath, Chair of the Property Management Committee, regarding early stage ideas for potential renovations and improvements to our church buildings. Wil’s presentation was a great opportunity to get all of us started thinking about some possible projects that could help us attract new members, make FBC more accessible to the neighborhood, and increase our own productivity and use of our facilities. Please send any thoughts, follow-up questions or feedback on the Property Management presentation via email to D’O Dillard at ddillard@firstbaptistdc.org (and please include “FBC Renovations” in the subject line).

I am very excited about all of these developments and what they mean for us as a congregation. God is with us and continues to lead us forward. I hope you will join me in praying for our church as we continue on this path together.

In Christ,

Lucy Plovnick
FBC Moderator

Budget Proposal for 2016-17: A Bold Challenge for a Bold Vision

The First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D. C.
Budget Proposal for 2016-17:  
A Bold Challenge for a Bold Vision

This balanced budget proposal reflects the prayerful collaboration among church officers, committee chairs, the Church Council and our senior pastor.  It proposes appropriate resources to meet our present operating needs, but more importantly it is intentional in moving us forward to be the church that Christ is calling us to become.  It proposes bold approaches to addressing the staffing we need to help us grow and support our congregation. It proposes initiatives to provide lay and ministerial staffing leadership development.  It is a proposal that challenges us.  It is a response to Jesus' call that each of us move courageously into the future.

Some Highlights:

Staffing Needs
Meeting our current and future pastoral needs is the boldest step taken in this budget. The increase in the ministerial staff budget provides:

• Full funding for our senior pastor
  (this position was not funded in last year's budget because it had not yet been filled.)  
• Funding for an Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults
  (to begin in the fall of 2016).
• Funding for an Executive Pastor
  (at two-thirds time and salary; to begin January 1, 2017).  
• Funding for our Associate Pastor for Children and Families,
  Deborah Cochran, who will return October 10th on a part-time basis
  (funding for that position has been adjusted accordingly).  

These critical pastoral resources will strengthen our outreach efforts; address the spiritual and life-stage needs of people in our congregation and community; provide strong support for our growing and active group of young adults; and provide essential daily support and continuity for lay and pastoral leadership.

Increased Funding for Missional Ventures
Our missions budget (now listed at the beginning of the budget and titled "Missional Ministries Beyond our Walls") increases by 14% ($8,000).  It provides $3000 in new support to be divided among eight new Baptist organizations and an additional $5000 for the proposed Cuba mission trip in 2017.  These proposals allow FBC to join with a number of Baptist groups addressing the cause of Christ here and abroad. They will open additional avenues of communication and participation for our congregation.

Leadership Development
The budget provides $14,500 in new funding for essential lay and staff leadership development. In addition, $27,790 is provided for ministerial staff professional development, training, participation in denominational events, and other learning opportunities that will strengthen their service to our congregation and the community we serve.

Additionally…
Funds for the Pastor Search Committee have been reduced from $15,000 to $600 because that committee has nearly completed its work. The Space for Ministry line has been eliminated to allow funding for more critical needs. Because Mosaic worship services end on September 24th (see the letter from Sam Hill - http://bit.ly/Mosaic-Transition), related funds have been reduced.

This balanced budget proposal is an act of faith by past members who gave sacrificially to our Special Purpose Accounts and the FBC Foundation.  It is a leap of faith for the current congregation because it challenges us with about a 12% increase in congregational giving. Indeed, it responds to the call that we each put our hand to the plow and look to the future into which Jesus is leading us. 

With anticipation and hope,

Stewardship Committee      
     Dennis Lambert (chair)                            
     Rochelle Howard
     Rob Marus

Treasurer
     Mike Henson

Moderator
     Lucy Plovnick        

Associate Pastor Search Committee Chair
     Erik Smith

Personnel Chair
     Denny Austin

Board of Trustees Chair
     Ken Ellison

Senior Pastor
     Julie Pennington-Russell

Meet Our Two New Ministers

UPDATE: On Sunday September 25th, Alyssa and Charlie were officially called to FBC by congregational vote. They have accepted the call and Alyssa will join us in November as Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries and Charlie will will be on the job in January as our Executive Pastor.  

---

Friday, September 16, 2016

With great excitement and anticipation, we announce to you our Search Committee’s candidates for Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries and Executive Pastor — Alyssa Aldape and Charlie Fuller. Below is biographical information about each, as well as the description of the newly created Executive Pastor position (you can also click here to download it).

This announcement represents seven months of prayer, strategic planning and belief that God is leading us to take bold steps of faith at this moment in FBC’s life. Our Moderator, Lucy Plovnick, prepared the way for this announcement three weeks ago in a letter to the congregation. Please read it here if you haven’t yet seen it. 

On Sunday, September 25, the congregation will vote on these two ministers. Please see the "Call Weekend" itinerary below.

Rev. Alyssa Aldape

Candidate for Associate Pastor for Young Adult and Youth Ministries

Biography

Alyssa is a child of Baptist missionaries and grew up in San Antonio, Texas and Pune, India.  While she lived in India, Alyssa had great opportunities to experience the country's rich cultural diversity through her parents' work with the Banjara people, a nomadic tribe.

Faith

“Hospitality has been a major theme in my faith story. As a child I would see my parents open our home to strangers, I would see them share our table with someone who needed a meal, and countless other subtle actions that made a huge impact on my life. When we moved to India, we were the strangers! And it was our turn to rely on the hospitality of others to welcome us into their community and lives. My years in India showed me the importance of mutual hospitality when it comes to sharing our Christian witness. When we find ourselves in the position of losing some of our power or control, it often makes us open ourselves to something bigger in God's world.”

Education

Alyssa earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama (2011) and a Master of Divinity degree from Mercer’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta (2015).

Experience

Every year since college, Alyssa has helped to lead a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship summer retreat for teenage children of missionaries. She has a passion for working with youth and their families as they navigate this time in their lives. During her seminary years, as the youth minister at Northside Drive Baptist Church, Alyssa taught and offered pastoral care for youth and their families, preached and participated in worship leadership and led various church meetings. It was at Northside Drive that she fell more deeply in love with the local church as she learned about liturgical tradition, the beautiful rhythm of the lectionary and the need for a community to worship together, “even when we don't agree on everything.”

Currently Alyssa is a Baptist Joint Committee Fellow and is Secretary of the Religious Liberty Council for the BJC. She also is a leader in the New Baptist Covenant, a movement first convened in 2007 by former President Jimmy Carter to bring Baptists together in our pursuit of unity and justice on the local and national scale.

Alyssa on the Church

“What I love about serving the local church is the tapestry of people around me who come together to worship a loving God. In the midst of a highly polarized world that tells us that if don't agree we are enemies, church is where we practice finding God together and in that quest, peace. What I love about the church is that there isn’t one, single model for doing this, and so together we get to think creatively about what God is up to in our community and dream about the unique ways we can join God in the work.” 

Rev. Dr. Charles L. Fuller

Candidate for Executive Pastor

Charlie and Cindy Fuller

Biography

Charlie hails from Little Rock, Arkansas. A life-long Baptist, he grew up as a part of the Park Hill Baptist Church in North Little Rock. 

Charlie spent all his growing up years in North Little Rock where his 95-year-old mom still lives.  He and Cindy met during their college days at Baylor and have been partners in ministry ever since.  They have two adult daughters who live in Seattle, WA and Plano, TX.  They also have three grandchildren who are all 3 years of age and under who give them incredible joy.

Faith Story

Charlie’s faith story starts with the nurture of a deeply loving church that raised him in faith.  As an adolescent he claimed that faith and began a journey with Jesus that has both informed and empowered a life of ministry.  He is deeply curious and constantly open to new ways of experiencing and expressing his faith.  He has tried to live out a call to ministry since he was young, but is now living out his calling as a “2nd career” minister, a calling that is expressed in his deep love for people and a desire to walk beside them on their own journeys.

Education

Charlie earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Baylor (1979), a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from West Texas State University (1981), a Doctor of Music Arts from Arizona State University (1989), a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor (2010) and a Doctor of Ministry from the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond (2015). He has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education and served as an Oncology Chaplain at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. He also earned a certificate from The Fund Raising School of Indiana University and holds the Associate Certified Coach credential with the International Coach Federation.

Experience

Charlie spent much of his “first” working life as a teacher and professor of music at high schools and universities in Arkansas, Texas and Arizona, and served for three years as Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR. In 2010, after completing his M.Div. at Truett Seminary, Charlie joined the staff of Second Baptist Church in Little Rock as Minister for Congregational Life. He also served Second Baptist as Interim Administrative Pastor from 2012-13.

Charlie on the Church

“I love God’s church. I’ve served the church in various capacities since I was 19 years old. The church isn’t a building or an institution.  It’s a movement, the very presence of God moving among God’s creation.”

CALL WEEKEND ITINERARY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24  

• 11am – 3pm
  Charlie and Alyssa join us for the annual Church Picnic at Rock Creek Park.  
  (Youth: this is a great chance to hang out with Alyssa!)
• 5pm
  Alyssa and Charlie attend Mosaic.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

• 9:30-10:30am
  Congregational Q & A with Charlie and Alyssa in Fellowship Hall.    
• 11am
  Alyssa and Charlie serve as leaders in worship
• After worship
  Church votes on new candidates (as well as the Executive Pastor position and 2016-17 budget) in our quarterly congregational meeting. Lunch will be served. 

Mosaic in Transition

By Sam Hill, Mosaic Coordinator

Week in and week out: doors opened, people welcomed, songs sung, joys celebrated, struggles grieved, prayers offered, sermons preached, questions discussed, meals shared.

For over three years Mosaic has gathered on Saturday evenings to offer spiritual reprieve from busyness of life. We’ve sought to be both welcoming of newcomers while inwardly aware of God’s work within us. We’ve sought a worship experience that engages folks both emotionally and intellectually. We’ve sought to embrace the goodness found in our traditions while discovering new goodness in life today.

In all of this, Mosaic has offered us a grace-filled glimpse into what it means for Jesus-followers to share life together in a challenging place and time.      

Sam Hill, Mosaic Coordinator

But even the most authentic band of disciples is tempted by the structures and strictures that come with “organizational health” and “strategic models”—it’s only natural. It’s easy to forget that worship, beneath the surface, is a simple act of inward listening—the tuning of our senses to the rhythms of God’s grace. It is good, of course, to gather each week to sing, read, pray, discuss, and eat together. But occasionally it is good to step back from the meaningful custom—and just listen.

That’s our plan at Mosaic.

On Saturday, September 24, we will hold our final Mosaic worship service and enter into a new season of reflection and community—asking ourselves, How can First Baptist Church best serve young people in the community? We will continue to pray, share meals, and talk about the challenges and opportunities that come with urban ministry. Soon our congregation will welcome an Associate Pastor of Youth & Outreach to offer fresh insight and creativity.    

As we embark on this next leg of the journey, I offer my deepest gratitude to the First Baptist family for its never-ending encouragement of young people and its support for Mosaic. My challenge to us all, especially now, is summed up by Frederick Buechner: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”