Dear Bonhomme Member:
2005 has been an active year for Bonhomme while among many critical activities, we have been “Getting Out of the Boat” and working on the “Kingdom Assignments.” We are clearly headed along the path of the vision and mission outlined last year and we are very excited about how God will use the members and guests of Bonhomme to accomplish great things in “Advancing God’s Kingdom.”
The results of the $4,000 “Kingdom Assignment” ($100 given to 40 people) have been beyond outstanding and illustrate what we can truly accomplish through prayer and action. Those efforts truly reflect the meaning behind the above quote from St. Teresa Avila. >> learn more about the kingdom assignements
In addition to those great success stories, the Ministries at Bonhomme are using the churches time and financial resources to accomplish great works in Christ. The list below outlines the twelve Deacon-led ministries at Bonhomme. Clink one each of the ministries to learn how each one strives to “Advance God’s Kingdom.”
Budget and Finance Evangelism and Membership
Buildings and Grounds Governing Bodies
Christian Education Nominations and Lay Leadership
Communications Parish Life
Community and World Service Stewardship
Congregational Care Worship
Your pledges for 2006 are critical for planning all of our activities for the year. Only through your help can we continue to “Advance God’s Kingdom.” Please take the time to fill out your pledge card and mail it to the Bonhomme church office. >>pledge card info
In Christ,
The Bonhomme Stewardship Ministry
Community and World Service Ministry
The ministry of Community and World Service (CWS) is outreach in its most direct form. CWS serves to advance God's kingdom through support of programs that reach out to those outside of the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church (BPC) family. In so doing, we strive to steward God's gifts to BPC as they are allocated in support of organizations and individuals ministering to His children locally, nationally, and internationally. CWS also sponsors the active involvement of BPC members in Christian-based missions and volunteer programs. In carrying out its ministry, CWS faithfully seeks its guidance from Scripture, following the familiar lesson from Jesus found in Matthew 25:37-40:
Then the righteous will say to him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you something to eat, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" The king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, in that you did it for one of the least important of these my brothers, you did it for me."
The budget stewarded by CWS is directed to four main areas: (1) local mission, (2) world mission, (3) contingency/disaster relief, and (4) denominational support. Locally, we fund missions that provide food, clothing, housing, education, and counseling for St. Louis area neighbors in need, and BPC members are actively involved as volunteers in several of these missions, including Isaiah 58, Restore St. Louis (the Freedom School), Habitat for Humanity, Alpha, and Be a Positive Light. In adherence to the Great Commission, CWS also supports the spread of the Gospel globally through funding of five international missionaries. In addition, we retain a portion of budgeted funds for emergency and/or disaster relief, which this past year has supported Christian-based responses to the Hurricane Katrina disaster (national), the tsunami disaster (global), and the financial crisis at West Presbyterian Senior Center (local). Finally, funds distributed to denominational efforts are directed to the Presbytery and include outreach ministries such as Presbyterian Children's Services, Presbyterian Manors, and the Theological Education Fund.
An increase of the CWS budget would further enhance BPC's effectiveness as an ambassador for God's kingdom on earth, which is the foremost goal of our church's Vision. Additional funds would enable us to reach out to individuals in troubled situations who are currently under-served by our mission ministry. For example, God has placed on the hearts of CWS the need to extend our outreach in support of prison ministries (e.g., Mission Gate) and pregnancy assistance (e.g., Pregnancy Resource Center). Increased funding would also be used to promote the direct participation of the BPC family in implementation of the Vision through increased participation in volunteer/mission programs.
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Congregational Care Ministry
The Congregational Care Ministry is a ministry dedicated to and concerned with the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of, not only our congregational members, but also members of our surrounding communities. Programs such as Stephen Ministry, Parish Visitors, Grief Share, People Between Jobs, Marriage Course, Divorce Support Group and Good $ense Course are reaching out with God's love to many people who are hurting, both members of Bonhomme and non-members alike.
Many of the Parish Nurse Programs are Community oriented such as Health Screenings, Flu shots, CPR and Defibrillator Training; and soon an outreach program for Family Caregivers' Support will begin. It is essential that we be aware of those in our church family and the community who might need help, encouragement, a visit, prayer, a caring listener, or a hearty casserole, and be able to fulfill those needs. All of these programs continue to grow the Kingdom. We need to support these ministries and add new ones as needs arise. Additional funding will help with increasing our Senior Adult Ministry Programs, establishing new ministries, expanding existing ministries and advertising to get the word out.
We wish to extend the love of Christ to all who worship at BPC, and to those who enter into our community by offering resources in spiritual growth and development. To accomplish this, Congregational Care Ministry would like to offer an annual spiritual enrichment conference. We feel it is of utmost importance to have spiritual growth in our community. On October 8 th , The Still Waters Conference, with an evening Concert, engaged members of the community in this type of spiritual growth. It will be necessary to obtain additional funding if we are to continue to offer similar conferences on a yearly basis.
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The Worship Ministry
The Vision of Bonhomme Presbyterian Church has four Foundation Blocks one of which is Worship. Our Vision states that "Bonhomme Presbyterian Church is first and foremost a people and place of worship". The purpose of the Worship Ministry is to foster and facilitate worship for persons on their spiritual journey.
The annual budget coordinated by the Worship Ministry is used to provide the resources needed for our Traditional and Contemporary Worship Services so that they are responsive to a diverse population and encourage people to use their unique abilities, talents and gifts to be active participants. Additionally, the Ministry provides resources for the strengthening of spiritual growth through the encouragement, support and promotion of private and personal worship.
The proposed 2006 budget for Contemporary Worship will fund team training, audiovisual capabilities, lighting, music, musical equipment, communication resources and hospitality enhancements needed for the continued success of these services.
The proposed 2006 budget for Traditional Worship will fund music and other resources for our choirs, printing of bulletins, worship aids, instrumentalists and soloists and personnel development to ensure that the services will help meet the worship needs of our congregation.
Communications Ministry
The Communications Ministry develops and implements programs to increase the overall communications both internal and external to Bonhomme Presbyterian Church. The Communications Ministry provides services to FACILITATE communications across all channels of Bonhomme Presbyterian Church's Ministries and operations and to advance Bonhomme Presbyterian Church's Vision Plan through coordinated and broad communication efforts.
Main areas of facilitation and coordination include:
• General Media Communications - Major print, sound, video, and signage
• Data Collection/Reporting - Collection and processing of pertinent data to improve communication and enhance ministry efforts
• Web Communications - Enhance and maintain interactive website that uses collected data to facilitate ministries and activities
With additional financial resources, the Communications Ministry would be able to focus more time on community outreach communications and bring more people to Christ through broader communication efforts.
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Parish Life Ministry
This ministry is responsible for overseeing the fellowship activities of the church. This includes the monitoring of the various Bon Groups which basically have an activity and meal scheduled each month. Our duties also include the monitoring of the three retreats - all church, women's, and men's.
Also under our guidance is the sale of grocery certifications which generates special dollars that are used for projects benefiting the entire congregation. In addition, the Wednesday Night Dinners are arranged by Parish Life, as is the Thanksgiving dinner held on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving Day.
Special Christmas activities include the Hanging of the Greens in the sanctuary and the supply of food to the staff and musicians who are on duty for all of our Christmas Eve services.
We are also responsible for a "Souper Bowl of Caring" held on the football Super Bowl Sunday. This special $1.00 per person donation benefits a local food bank.
Our goal is to provide fellowship activities and services to the entire congregation in an atmosphere of Christian love.
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Governing Bodies Ministry
• The governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church USA consist of the one General Assembly, the many Synods below the General Assembly, the many Presbyteries within the Synods and the many Sessions in the Churches within the Presbyteries. Each one of these governing bodies has representatives that communicate with governing bodies above and below it concerning mission priorities, program, budgeting, the establishment of administrative staff positions, equitable compensation, personnel policies and fair employment practices. The Governing Body Ministry of the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church constitutes the representatives that communicate between the Bonhomme Session of Elders and the Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy. Typically, this communication occurs during regularly scheduled Presbytery meetings.
• The Presbyteries are responsible for raising their own per capita funds to their respective Synods and to the General Assembly. The Presbyteries generally direct per capita apportionments to the Sessions of the churches within their bounds. The per capita apportionment directed to the Bonhomme Presbyterian Church accounts for 94% of the Governing Bodies Ministry budget (25% for General Assembly, 13% for Synod and 56% for Presbytery).
• Traditionally, the Governing Bodies Ministry has paid the subscription cost for the Presbyterians Today magazine so that all pastoral staff, elders and deacons can keep informed. This amounts to 1.5% of the Governing Bodies Ministry budget.
• The Governing Body Ministry is involved with church members who indicate an interest in becoming a minister of the Word and Sacrament, as this ministry participates in recommending the person to the Presbytery for establishing a covenant relationship and later possibly entering the candidacy phase. The Governing Body Ministry believes that it is appropriate to provide some funds to our church members needing financial support for educational expenses, so 4.5% of the budget is for this purpose. Should it not be needed, it will be gifted to a selected seminary, college or to the denomination's Theological Education Fund.
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Stewardship Ministry
• The Stewardship Ministry develops and implements programs to increase the overall commitments from the congregation in order to drive accomplishments of the church. Even though we use very little of the church budget, increasing the total revenues of the church is extremely important to us. We know that a united, active, and outreach minded congregation can accomplish great things in Christ and we are focused on communicating how church commitments "Advance God's Kingdom." The reality of God working in our world is that our financial and time commitments are critical to allow the church to accomplish our vision.
• With additional financial resources, the Stewardship Ministry would be able to focus more time on connecting increasing outreach activities with the skills and spiritual gifts of the congregation. In addition, we would have exciting things to communicate how Bonhomme is "Advancing God's Kingdom!"
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Nominations and Lay Leadership Ministry
A. Key lay leadership roles at BPC are filled with qualified leaders |
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1. Provide organizational support and elder leadership for the Nominating Committee Process |
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2. Plan and conduct lay leader training, facilitate session examination and ordination/installation of Deacons/Elders/Directors/Trustees |
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3. Identify and facilitate election by the Session of Church Treasurer, Clerk of the Session and Associate Clerks. |
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4. Match new leader's gifts to ministry and commission needs |
B. Provide program to increase congregational involvement in the work of the ministries, support identification and encouragement of new ministry |
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members leading to new leader development |
C. Provide ongoing leadership training for officers |
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1. Identify leadership training needs or large leadership body projects |
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2. Plan and organize leadership onsite and offsite retreats to support those needs or projects |
D. Educate Congregation about Presbyterian and BPC leadership structure
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