Every year, congregations hold annual meetings to elect officers, consider spending plans for the coming year and discuss matters of the church. Two congregations took fresh approaches to their annual meetings this year.

Morning Star Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska
Pastor Tom Miller

Our 2009 Annual Meeting was moved to a 3–5 p.m. time slot with a catered meal served afterward.

After the first 15 minutes of regular business, we broke into table groups of six people. During this time, we asked questions, giving people time to write an answer or brief reply, share with their table groups, then share with the entire group.

The questions included:

  • When you think about Morning Star’s future, what makes you anxious?
  • When you think about Morning Star’s future, what makes you optimistic?
  • What do you want to keep as we move forward?

We doubled our attendance at the meeting portion (84) and received eight pages of compiled responses to the “inquiry” portion of the meeting.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Sidney, Nebraska
Pastor Eric Meissner

Holy Trinity’s Annual Meeting and Worship Service has been a three-year process of combining the celebration of God’s work through God’s people within the context of worship.

Through prayer-filled planning and Open Forums, which are held two Sundays before the Annual Meeting and Worship Service, people have time to feel a part of the process. Voices can be heard, and prayers can be lifted up.

Member responses have included the following:

  • “I used to hate annual meetings, now they are a joy!”
  • “We certainly don’t have trouble getting a quorum now.”
  • “It’s about time we looked at the business of the church as worship.”

You will be in our prayers as you process a passionate way of celebrating God’s ministry in your midst.

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