A strategy for developing ministry teams at the Covenant Baptist Church, West Bloomfield, Michigan

The purpose of this Ministry Focus Paper is to present a theology and implementation strategy for the development and maintenance of ministry teams at The Covenant Baptist Church, West Bloomfield, Michigan.;The Covenant Baptist Church, an American Baptist Church, celebrated its 100th year of existence in 1994. Patterns of growth and decline have followed the path of typical mainline denominational churches. However, in 1996 the church began experiencing significant decline in morale and numbers due to internal conflict between the Senior Pastor and others serving in leadership. In subsequent months average attendance dropped nearly 50%. The Senior Pastor resigned in 1997 at which time Covenant began its search for a new Senior Pastor. I began my ministry here two years later in August of 1999.;Prior to this last pastorate, which lasted only 3 years, the church had enjoyed strong, consistent pastoral leadership with only 12 pastors serving in 100 years of history.;The church currently is served by a full time Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Associate in Ministry, two secretaries, and a custodian. Part-time staff includes an interim Director of Worship, Minister to Seniors, bookkeeper and custodian. Two separate search committees are searching for a full-time Director of Student Ministries and a part time Director of Music Ministries. The church also has a pre-school that has its own staff.;Current membership stands at 660. Average Sunday morning worship attendance is 300 while the average Sunday school attendance is 200. The pre-school has 52 students enrolled. Future growth will require filling the vacant and interim staff positions and mobilizing the staff and the laity into effective ministry teams. An appropriate theology and strategy for developing and maintaining these teams will be necessary for expanding our outreach and ministry as a church.;This paper will be divided into three sections. The first section will offer an in-depth analysis of The Covenant Baptist Church and the surrounding community, both past and present, and how these factors will affect its future ministry. Future projections for the church and community will be noted. Particular emphasis will be given to the potential impact of the church's plan to build a multi-purpose Family Life Center.;The second section will set forth the biblical and theological foundations for ministering as teams. Particular attention will be given to Jesus' development of his own ministry team, the twelve disciples. In this section consideration will also be given to relational and cultural factors.;The third section will present a specific strategy for developing and maintaining ministry teams. It will begin with the reasons why team ministry is needful at this time in the church's history. This strategy will include specific goals and programs that are measurable and consistent with the biblical and theological principles outlined in section two, and the church and community profile in section one. Special attention will be given to staffing needs and concerns.;The goal of this paper is to provide a theologically and strategically solid plan to implement ministry teams as the primary means by which we plan and do ministry. These plans are offered as the means by which we as a congregation can return to health and the resulting growth by offering new and transformed ministers and ministries.