The 21st Century Carlisle Team made its initial report concerning a major revision to our organizational structure at our Quarterly Business Meeting on Jan. 16. The changes that are being recommended are not just to make changes. The team that worked on the update did so because we are working from a document designed for churches in the 1950 and 1960’s. That design worked well in that period, but it is not working so well for us today. Change just to change is not a good thing. Change to improve the way we make decisions and to respond to needs in our world today can be a good thing.

Our current structure followed the business model that was prevalent in the mid 20th Century. Granted it is one many of us grew up with and therefore we are very comfortable with, but we are finding that that structure does not work well in the 21st Century. As I said at our Business Meeting, the BGAV (Virginia Baptists) have recently gone through a restructuring. They saw the need to become more nimble and be better equipped to make decisions faster, with less hoops. It has taken a couple of years to learn and navigate the new structure, but it is working. I expect we will have some of the same pains as we adapt, if we approve the new structure. In the end though, I believe we will have a less cumbersome structure and that people will be serving where their gifts and passions are.

There will be opportunities in February and March for you to come and ask questions and share your concerns about what is being proposed. The 21st Century team will work hard to provide times that meet the needs of those who want to learn more. These sessions will also be opportuni- ties for the team to explain their rationale for the new structure and how they believe it will help the church to function more effectively. Be looking for announcements about those sessions and come take part in the dialogue.

Howard