Meadowbrook United Church Mission Action Teams

Mission Action Teams

In 2004, the elders’ board took a decision to change the organization and management of the church’s programme operations. This came out of a review of the then “committee” structure which posed some inherent problems including fragmented strategic focus, divergent views regarding programme priorities and implementation strategies and multiple meetings with minimal productivity.

Instead, MISSION ACTION TEAMS (MATs) were established as an attempt at providing a creative structure for mission engagement and a method of involving the whole congregation in ministry. This approach addressed the disadvantages of the committee system. It would:

§ Minimize frustration; maximize productivity

§ Encourage wide scale participation

§ Create and foster a community of visionaries

Link like passions and personalities in creative mission activities

The MANAGEMENT TEAM structure allowed for oversight and practical support to all Mission Action Teams under respective programme areas; and accountability through month reports to the board.

The teams are as follows:

Finance, Property, Administration (FPA)

The FPA Management Team supervises all the financial affairs of the church and provides services which hare essential to the upkeep and maintenance of church properties. It monitors all income and expenses and is in charge of all matters related to the staff.

Stewardship, Evangelism and Worship (SEW)

The main objective is to help each member better understand his/ her responsibility as a steward of God’s gifts (time, talent, treasures) and to equip each member with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to share the gospel. The worship arm is responsible for the enrichment of the worship experience and supervises to entire music programme.

Education for Ministry & Mission (EMM), Fellowship & Care (EFC)

The wellbeing of the family is addressed by this management team. It seeks to enhance Christian nurturing and discipleship by assisting members to identify their gifts and encourage them in their spiritual growth. It also seeks to promote fellowship among members.

Youth

The Youth management team seeks to encourage the wider participation of young persons in and outside of the church community in the life and witness of the church as well as to ensure smooth transition for one youth group to the other. Interest groups include the Church School, Boys & Girls’ Brigades, Young Christian Leaders’ Forum, Youth Fellowship, Young Adults, Young Men’s group.

Communication & Technology (C&T)

This team has as its portfolio, providing information to the church community on the activities of the church and to keep the public aware of the church’s ministry and mission as well as to utilize the benefits of technology in all aspects of the churches activities. Specifically, the MEADTECH team is responsible for providing information technology solutions and guiding the purchase and management of all audio/visual equipment.

Interchurch & Social Services (ISS)

Interchurch promotes goodwill and fellowship with the community and partners of the church and engenders co-operation and collaboration in programmes. Out partners include the Meadhaven Ministers’ Fraternal, Woods Presbyterian Church in Maryland USA and Elmwood United Reformed Church in Birmingham, England. The Social Services arm is supervised by a social worker, who works to promote total well being of the community through service to persons who are unable to access education, training and other social services in the wider community. The projects include Reg Keizs Memorial basics School, Stratton Basic School, Catering Project, Citizens’ College and the offering of Counselling services.