After an exciting Town Hall meeting / Ice cream social, many questions and comments were asked.
All of them can be looked at HERE

Our Pastors have decided to use this page to answer some of those questions

6-27-2012

Should Food Church Be at Another Time?
Angie - This question has been wrestled with many times over the years.
There are some of complications with moving the time.

• It means that we will have to staff people for those times…coming considerably earlier on a Sunday
• to set it up and distribute it or staff it after the service ending up with the same problem.
• It communicates a separateness that is counter intuitive to what we are trying to communicate. We don’t want an us and them feeling any more than we already have.

I have a concern that too much $ goes into rent.
Can we get a better rent deal with lotus? Sometimes feels like a rip off.
Will we be homeless?
Geoff - The Lotus Seed is providing us with a home that is the lowest rent we have had out of five buildings. This is why we shouldn’t see the Lotus Seed as a landlord who is ripping us off. We can try to negotiate a better deal, however, doing that may cause an issue that will spoil the deal that we have as is. Also, this is a unique relationship that we value as this is also the first building in which our landlord is supportive of our mission. We should always be looking for the next move God has for us, something to keep in mind as we look should be the series of blessings our current location has: Location, Supportive landlord, Space that works for us and kids, The Neighbors like us, Lowest rent. If you are feeling disenfranchised by the Lotus Seed, please speak to Angie or I about it. We know their heart and can perhaps work with you and them to find a common goal. They have been tremendously supportive, and are providing a great service to the community. They are a non-profit as well, and we all are in it together.We don’t plan to be homeless unless the giving begins to mean that we can no longer pay rent. Then we can cross that bridge when we come to it

6-21-2012

Will There Be A Third Pastor? Are We Going To Get/Appoint Another Pastor?

Angie - The way pastoring works at the Bridge is we hire from within those that are doing the work of a pastor already and it is plain to everyone that this is happening. We can have as many pastors as we want there is no limit. Those doing the work and wanting the responsibility can have the opportunity. P.S. has to be people around and doing the work for two or more years.

Sometimes I feel like I only matter if I am a now person.

Geoff - I’m not sure the full definitiion of what a “now” person is, I assume it is a concept that someone is spontaneous. Perhaps what this question is referring to is the need for the community to plan or warn someone in advance that something is coming , and when that warning doesn’t happen, they see the faster “go-with-the-flow” people stand up and be included. I can see how this would make me feel like I don’t matter. Large ministry plans are less common at the Bridge, but we do have pretty strong cycles of involvement like music singing and instrumental, Sunday morning speaking, and various groups that meet during the week.  If you are not a “now” person, perhaps you have other skills like planning that will help you feel more like you matter. I would ask you to think about what you may want to plan and talk to Angie or I about it. And then once you do that commit to doing that for about six months. This will provide the stability to have people rely on it.

Another way to interpret this concern is that the person doesn’t feel they matter. The Bridge can be a lonely place if you are simply coming to the services on sunday. It is small, and you may not find someone that really “gets” you. I for a couple years now have been viewing Sunday morning like a cocktail party. If you are new it’s stressful to mingle, if your friends aren’t there you hang by the bar and hate how nobody is talking to you. One thing that I encourage if you are going to a cocktail party is get involved. If you play an instrument, be a part of the band, If you mix drinks, be a bartender. If you have a house, host a party. All of these “jobs” will allow you to feel like you matter in a difficult social situation, and as you are faithful to your commitment, you will meet many people around you than may not normally be people that “get” you… but now the “get” you. I think the bottom line is you do matter, please dive in and see.