Park View Mennonite Church

This annual document is the "working agenda" for commissions, councils, and staff of the congregation. It is first developed by the commissions themselves, as they perceive their most important tasks for the coming year. These agenda items are further discussed and refined by commission and council members and pastoral staff at their fall planning retreat. This document is then presented to the total congregation for feedback and affirmation.

This is a fluid working document, not a congregational policy or position statement. We continually evaluate how well it is helping us move in the direction God is calling us, and at year-end we report to the congregation on the status of these agenda items.

1. Our "mission" states in just a few words our calling and identity as a congregation. It orients us.
2. The ten "goals" are ways we believe we are to live out our congregational mission. They point us in the right direction.
3. The "working agenda" under each goal are those specific tasks we belive Park View needs to focus on in the current organizational year. They lead us to our destination.

1. To provide opportunity for worship of God which engages the whole being—mind, body, emotions, and spirit—is biblically grounded, and flows out of our life together and our life in the world.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Conduct a survey of the congregation to gather thoughts, feelings, and suggestions about the worship life at Park View, and report findings to Council (Worship)
   • Explore whether there is need for an alternative weekly worship service, perhaps in the Taizé style, for students and others in the broader community (Worship)
2. To minister in our community in visible and authentic ways that call people to a life of wholeness and salvation in Jesus Christ.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Plan a congregational summer service project (Missions)
   • Engage in community outreach through Vacation Bible School, a Fall Fling in 2004, and invitations to Early Learning Center families to events (Education and Nurture)
   • Build awareness of Park View's activities and presence in the local community through various media (Missions)
3. To participate with the global church in meeting human needs—spiritual, social, emotional and physical.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Send a work team to visit and assist with church roof construction at Faith Mennonite Church in Jamaica (Missions)
   • Explore developing a sister church relationship with a Mennonite World Conference-related congregation in another part of the world (Council)
4. To promote faith development of children and youth, leading them toward owning faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to the church.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Continue to develop and encourage ways to make children and youth valued and included in congregational life (Education and Nurture)
   • Encourage young people toward concrete commitment to Christ and the church, and encourage them to use their gifts in the work of the church. (Education and Nurture)
5. To provide learning opportunities for all ages, that move us toward greater Christlikeness and prepare us for worship, mission, and life in Christian community
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Review adult Sunday School class options and provide for additional classes as needed (Education and Nurture)
6. To foster relationships among all ages that promote mutual care and spiritual nurture, and cultivate a welcoming environment in the congregation.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Create a welcoming environment for college students by building personal relationships and encouraging their participation in congregational life (Community Life)
   • Plan for more congregational fun events, such as talent shows and other events that enhance intergenerational relationships (Community Life)
   • Provide for congregation-wide conversation and discernment on how the congregation can best meet the financial needs of members in an equitable fashion (Council)
   • Consistently provide trained assistance at the elevator prior to worship services, and between worship and Sunday School (Worship)
   • Work with retirees in developing opportunities for service and other purposeful retirement activities (Community Life)
7. To encourage each other in faithful and generous Christian stewardship of all God's gifts.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Develop a list of congregational needs and opportunities to serve, and conduct an inventory of members'/attenders' gifts, talents, and availability (Council)
   • Establish a regular practice of having pastoral interns serve in the congregation, with the pastoral staff as mentors/supervisors, and begin participating with Virginia Mennonite Conference as a "Congregational Culture of Call" pilot congregation (Council)
   • Develop a master plan for visual arts in and around the church building (Council)
   • Encourage greater commitment to tithing and first-fruits giving so that the mission of PVMC is enhanced (Administration and Stewardship)
   • Assess the potential cost and benefit of establishing electronic connectivity with Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, for telephone, cable, internet, closed-circuit TV options (Administration and Stewardship)
8. To provide for effective pastoral and administrative leadership of the congregational program.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Undertake a comprehensive review of the ten congregational goal statements developed in 1997 (Council)
9. To transmit our Anabaptist-Mennonite faith heritage and to consider how this perspective impacts and shapes our response to current ethical and theological issues.
   Working Agenda for 2003-2004
   • Continue to plan "congregational conversations" as needed to discuss current congregational, ethical, and theological issues (Council)
   • Emphasize Anabaptist heritage, peace and nonresistance education for persons of all age levels (Education and Nurture)
10. To encourage all members to join in group or private intercessory prayer for the life and mission of the congregation.
    Working Agenda for 2003-2004
    • Explore ways to more fully develop an intercessory prayer program that would maximize participation across the congregation (Elders)

The mission statement and goals were originally adopted by the congregation on May 25, 1997. The 2003-2004 working agenda was adopted by the Council on October 9, 2003, and will be presented to the congregation for affirmation on October 26, 2003.