Evangelism & Membership
2023 Evangelism & Membership Team Annual Report
Evangelism & Membership Our team began meeting in May 2023 after a couple years of hiatus. We are a small team, consisting of Steve Berend and Jen Vollrath-Grosam.
1. We resumed Name Tag Sunday/Monday in an effort for members to know one another better.
2. We started a Faith Statement Campaign utilizing the doors in the Narthex. Members have been slow to offer their stories thus far. Both Steve and Jen gave talks to the congregation. We would like for this to expand and possible have members video their statements to share on our website in the future.
3. Jen made 5 Faith-in-a-Jar bags with brownie mix for visitors. Further need to have ushers be mindful of visitors and gift them a bag before they leave after worship.
4. We are planning opportunities in 2024 for members to create new and lasting friendships outside of worship. One of the purposes of this is to meet the needs of community in our online worshippers. We have four events on the calendar for 2024 with a list of future events as well. Our goal would be for 10-20 people attend these events. We are using Sign-up Genius and Robert is placing the information in the Trumpet and on the church calendar. We will also use email blasts.
5. Jen plans to check out the East-Central Central Synod of Wisconsin office resource room in January to look for other resources for our committee to utilize in the future.
6. We will look at the Time and Talent sheets that have been turned in and seek out members who have expressed an interest in our committee and personally ask them to join us.
In His Service, Jen Vollrath-Grosam
E&M Team Responsibilities
The Evangelism and Membership Team shall be comprised of one at-large member of the Congregation Council and as many members of the congregation as the team chooses. Each year after a Congregation Council representative has been assigned, the team shall elect a chairperson and a recorder from its membership. The Congregation Council representative will report from the Congregation Council any action that this team needs to take, and report to the Congregation Council on behalf of this team. The team shall meet regularly – monthly meetings are suggested.
The responsibilities and duties of the Evangelism and Membership Team include, but are not limited to:
1. Study and learn about evangelism and make use of conference workshop and training materials provided by the conference, synod, or ELCA.
2. Promote and support evangelism in the congregation and organizations within the congregation.
3. Evaluate existing evangelism programs of the congregation and make revisions as necessary. Plan and execute new programs as needed.
4. Assist with publicity concerning our ministry by helping with seasonal invitations, signs, posters, or brochures for Lenten, Easter, Thanksgiving Eve, Advent, and Christmas worship services.
5. Plan and implement follow-up contact with visitors and provide information to prospective new members.
6. Plan and implement orientation and reception of new members in collaboration with the pastor.
7. Plan and implement activities to integrate new members into the congregation.
8. Work with other groups of the congregation to advocate for making the church building a hospitable place for anyone.
9. Prepare and submit a budget request to the Executive Committee for anticipated evangelism and membership expenses annually.
10. Oversee disbursement of the annual Evangelism and Membership Team budget.