1. Ministry Teams Meeting Minutes: 11 September 2013
Ministry Team: Adult Formation
Members Present: Did not meet in August
The Adult Formation Team did not meet in August as the programs were planned through September- November
already. I have attached the plans for this time period. Stephanie also said that we could use the the Calendar from
Google Docs. It has the plans through November and early December.
Adult formation programs for August. Jane Vella and George Douglas will lead the Bible Study on Sunday mornings.
Adult Formation for September
“But why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Luke 12:56
Pete Crow and Carl Sigel
On September 8, as part of the Faith & Ecology Forum, Marvin Maddox, a retired meteorologist, will offer a Conversation
on Weather & Climate. Marvin will briefly relate how he became a meteorologist, explain climate change in a way that he
thinks is easy to understand, but he mainly wants to address any questions that you may have on this complex subject.
On September 15, in response to requests that Carl received to learn more about How the legislative process works in
NC, Chris Heagarty, a parishioner, a lawyer, and former member of the NC Legislature, will outline the legislative process
and discuss how if we choice to do so, we can all be more involved. Again there will be plenty of time for conversation.
On September 22, Pete will facilitate a conversation on Homelessness in Raleigh, particularly how Nativity as a church
family might address the problem. After some preliminary insights into homelessness in our area, a representative from
Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network (WIHN) will suggest some ways the Nativity congregation might engage the problem
both through parish teamwork and personal involvement. WIHN partners with faith groups throughout the county to move
families from homelessness to employment and a home. This session will end by trying to gauge the interest level at
Nativity in this kind of ministry. So if you are interested, don’t miss it.
The September 29 class will follow up the homelessness session with considerations of Relationship building across
power disparity—relationships between affluent people involved in outreach and financially stressed people to whom they
are reaching out. The class will begin with Pete Crow’s grant-supported video-essay, “Confessions of a 21
st
Century
Conquistador,” about relationship building in Honduras. What kind of relationships can or should be formed when well-
provided people are trying to help needy people? Members of the Lainez family featured in the video will join this
provocative discussion.
On October 6, Carl Terry will welcome Angelo Maker, one of “The Lost Boys of Sudan”, who will speak about his ministry
to develop an educational and vocational training center for the Village of Rumbeck in Southern Sudan. Angelo is one of
the 3,000 orphans called “The Lost Boys of Sudan” who were brought to this country by the United States government in
1999-2001. Now Angelo has developed a non-profit organization, named “Abukloi” (ah-Boo-kloy) – which is Sudanese for
"We Can!" – Together we CAN make a difference in South Sudan. The mission of “Abukloi” is to build an educational and
vocational training facility in Rumbek, South Sudan that will provide essential skills and training for regional Southern
Sudanese. You can read more about “Abukloi”, at http://abukloi.org

2. Ministry Team: Youth
Members Present: Jane Weinberger, Fran Kenney, Jon Showalter, Sally Bloom
Agenda/Items Discussed:
Old Business
Update on Youth Program Start--Fran, Jane, Sally
Updates re first Sunday; Discussed communication issues, plans to handle Diocesan events. Discussed Youth Group.
Plan to do an icebreaker, then pizza dinner. After that we’ll separate for games and discussion. High School and Middle
School groups will switch space as needed.
New Business
Stewardship--Jon, Sally
Sally will work with some youth on a presentation for October. Jon will touch base with Lucy Maloney about YMT helping
with Stewardship.
Assessment Discussion:-where are we? and what’s next? After general review of where we are on the Assessment
timeline of actions, there was discussion about where we were concerning the Youth Ministry Mission Statement. We
recognized that there had been lack of consensus with the one developed during a 1-day retreat earlier. We discussed
aspects of a good mission statement, and agreed that a strong mission statement is very concise--even a few words or a
single sentence.. For example, NPR’s race card project requires essays of six words.
http://www.npr.org/series/173814508/the-race-card-project.
Similarly, one version of the class covenant suggested in the Rite 13 materials consists of a series of 3-5 single words,
such as “Respect. Honor. God.” While this may not be where our mission statement ends up, it seems that we need a
fresh start on this issue, especially when seen in the light of using this statement as guidance in hiring a Youth Minister.
The Assessment goals are more understandable when seen as preparing us for a parish that has a Youth Minister and
strong youth program.
There was discussion about the hiring of a youth minister. It seems likely that Nativity would hire in the spring for a mid-
summer start for this position. There was discussion about the benefits of hiring through a head-hunting firm.
The benefit of using a head hunting firm is that (1) they do the first round of gathering from extensive, yet qualified
applicants. (2) They do first round of qualifying and verifying. (3) It saves lots of time and energy in responding to many
useless resumes. (4) They will do phone interviews and discern background information re salary and potential
commitment and quality of candidate. (5) They help manage interviews and hosting duties. While it comes at a cost, the
benefit they offer may be worth it.
The YMT should research if Diocesan House offers this service, and the fee involved. Research should be done for other
firms which specialize in Christian placement. Ideally, we would talk to a couple of firms and analyze what works best for
us. With this information we can talk with Stephanie and Vestry and get more input.
Action Items:
Each Team Member: Write a Youth Ministry Mission Statement for discussion for next meeting: Deadline: October 9,
2013. Current statement as created by one-day retreat:
The Church of the Nativity will provide for our teenagers an accepting, welcoming community in which to experience the
love of God and the Good News of Jesus so they can express their faith through worship, prayer, and service.
Beth: Research and report on Diocesan House recruitment of youth ministers, and if possible, locate other firms who
recruit for churches for this position. Deadline: October 9, 2013.
Jon: Contact Lucy about YMT helping with stewardship beyond what Sally is doing with youth. Deadline: ASAP.
Mike’s Thoughts: Outsource the hiring of the youth pastor? Really!? I couldn’t disagree more, and for so many
foundational reasons. Unless there was some part of the conversation that is not recorded in these minutes I have no
reason to see why doing the work for our kids, for our church and for our ministry ourselves is even worth the cost of
hiring a firm to do. I think desperate churches do things like that. I am going to save, my rather lengthy, response for
another time and place.

3. Ministry Team: Pastoral Care
Members Present: Jane Wehland, Tammy Jenkins, Carolyn Kerr, Charley Kerr, Janet Alford, Sheila Knapp, Barbara
Kamya, Janet Alford
Agenda Items Discussed:
• Current pastoral needs – there was only one call for request for help this month
• Card ministry has kept current with needs
• Communication process for additional needs for pastoral care and for new committee members and volunteers
• Needs and potential training for providing visitation and care giver respite
• Opportunities for shut-in visitation at Rex Rehab Center
• Welcome to two new members, Sheila Knapp and Barbara Kamya who bring new energy and ideas to the team
Action Items Assigned
Action Item Assigned To Due Date
Determine if there is still a Super Sunday Sign Up program Janet Alford Oct 9
Determine if Rex would like volunteer visitors for those in
rehab
David Lynch Oct 9
Plan to make follow up calls to parish members who are
shut ins
Tammy Jenkins Dec 1
Pending determination of need, solicit training for
volunteers from Center for Volunteer Caregivig
Caroline Kerr Nov 1

4. Ministry Team: Children’s Formation
Members Present: Becky Showalter, Kellam Gaddy, Judy Garces, Megan Douglas
Agenda/Items Discussed:
1. Sunday School - First Sunday was well attended – 32 kids in classes, 7 in Nursery. It was busy and a little
hectic, but I think teachers and kids will get into the swing of things.
Action Item: Working on getting class lists with allergies into every classroom. (Becky)
Also will email known families missing from the registration list (Becky).
2. Need to get Attendance Charts for the classrooms. Trying to get file from Lori now so I can have them printed at
Office Depot. If I get the file, would someone be willing to get them printed?
Action Item: Ask Stephanie/Jennie if Jennie could work to update Lori’s files. Will have the printed
outside & Judy Garces or Kellam Gaddy will pick them up. (Becky)
3. Spark Online Sunday School curriculum.
- We have purchased learner leaflets through the beginning of November – will have to touch base with how
they are working out before purchasing the next set for winter.
- We are currently purchasing Grade 1-2 leaflets for the K-1
st
class. If that is too advanced for them, for the
winter we can move down to PreK/K leaflets (less reading). We need to work with the teachers on that. Will
touch base with teachers in October. (Becky)
- There were A LOT of kids on Sunday. If there continue to be that many, I need to buy more Learner Leaflets
for all classes now. Wait to see where we even out or purchase more now? Order enough so each class
has 12 sets of leaflets. (Becky)
- Do we need to purchase more NRSV Bibles for the 2
nd
-4
th
Graders? Order 4-5 more NRSV Bibles. (Becky)
4. March for the Planet, Saturday, Sept 28, 3:30pm, Halifax Mall. Organize older class to go?
Action Item: Talk to the Teachers to see if anyone wants to organize. Could one or two parents work as
“Outreach Coordinators”? Becky will ask Stephanie Sumner and Lisa Avery. (Becky)
5. Nursery
- 6 or 7 little ones in the nursery for the last three Sundays! Was getting ready to schedule a youth for there,
but I’m starting to think it may need to be an adult.
- Do we need pagers for parents when the kids are inconsolable? Stephanie’s Idea. Not yet.
- Is it time to start up Manger Minders again? A group that works with the nursery exclusively. Do we think that
we could get enough volunteers?
Action Items: Trying to get adult volunteers for the Nursery so there could be a 2
nd
adult during the
10:30 service. Becky will prepare info for Glad Tidings and the bulletin.
6. Develop packet of information to go out to new members visitors with young children? Touched base with
Newcomers members, but no decision was made. Megan to ask again?
Action Item: Still thinking.

5. Ministry Team: Newcomer
Members Present: Sue Young, Heather Rook, Athena Hahn, Nancy Stoller, Barbara Kamya
Agenda Items Discussed:
1. Shared ideas for further updates to the Narthex. Will set up sub-committee to work on phase II of narthex
facelift.
2. Heather shared drafts of new Membership form and pew cards. Proposed doing away with “visitor
registration form” in the narthex – and making pew cards available there as well. Too confusing to have
multiple forms for same purpose.
3. Discussed additional ways to make newcomers feel more a part of the community once they have visited
a few times and even after they have “joined”. Women’s group was offered as one idea, as well as
info/check in table set up at church events like church picnic or Fat Tuesday.
4. Welcome Sundays - the day of a welcome litany, ask newcomers to stay after the service to get their
picture taken (for the bulletin board), have Stephanie ask them or announce at announcements. Consider
article for GT to introduce newcomers.
Action Items Assigned/Tracked:
Action Item Assigned To Due Date
Invite to parishioners to join narthex furnishings/facelift subcommittee Sue ongoing
Share draft of new Membership form with Comm. team and SA Sue ongoing
3rd visitor contact letter sent out working with Jennie Sue done
Follow up with new visitors from August and September Kari September
Streamline nametag ordering process – check with Carl Terry Kari September
Mentoring of newest members – ministry teams offered, etc team ongoing
Survey newcomer breakfast attendees for feedback tbd after 9/22
Host newcomer check in/info tables at church events team ongoing
Visitor pkts created team ongoing