LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Reflection and Reimagining Circles Group Task Force 

Board Report

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From: Jeffrey Ishmael and Nancy Martin, Co-Chairs of the Reflections and Reimagining Circles Group

 

Task Force Participants: Norman Bardsley, Dana Fraticelli, Anne James, Kelley Lawton, Diane McNally, Gerd Pannke, Kim Pannke, Steve Reilly, and Carol Somerton

 

Date: August 8, 2026

 

Subject: Moving Forward Together: Congregational Discernment, Operational Action Items, and Strategic Guidance for the Search Process

 

Executive Summary: A Whole-Church Discernment

 

Over the past several months, Lafayette Christian Church (LCC) has engaged in a whole-church process of reflection and discernment through the Reflection and Reimagining Circles, congregational survey, development of our Touchstones, and the May 31 Reflecting & Reimagining event, with guidance from Rev. Barbara Nixon.

 

Together, these efforts have given us greater clarity about who we are, what we value, where we need to grow, and what kind of pastoral leadership will best serve LCC.

 

A central message emerged throughout the process: relationships and belonging are at the heart of LCC. Our congregation values progressive Christianity, thoughtful worship and preaching, social justice, shared leadership, learning, service, and genuine community.

 

The May 31 event moved us from reflection toward action. Congregants identified practical next steps and considered how they themselves could participate in LCC’s future.

 

The following nine areas summarize the strongest themes and recommended priorities.

1. Relationships and Belonging Are at the Heart of LCC

 

Relationships are one of LCC’s greatest strengths. People value the caring, welcoming community and the opportunity to know and support one another.

 

Our future should build on this foundation by:

 

• Strengthening fellowship and connection.

• Welcoming newcomers intentionally.

• Creating opportunities for people of different generations to build relationships.

• Preserving the close sense of community that makes LCC special.

 

2. Progressive Christian Identity

 

The congregation clearly identifies LCC as a progressive Disciples of Christ community.

 

Members value:

 

• Questions, doubts, and exploration as part of faith.

• Scripture understood with historical and cultural context.

• Social justice and inclusion.

• Creation care.

• A Christianity that connects faith with contemporary life and service.

 

Our Touchstones should help us communicate this identity clearly both within the congregation and to the wider community.

 

3. Communication, Transparency and Congregational Conversation

 

Communication was one of the strongest themes in both the survey and May 31 discussions.

 

Members want clearer and more regular information from church leadership, along with opportunities for dialogue.

Recommended steps include:

 

• A regular 30-minute congregational briefing after worship, beginning in September 2026.

• Greater use of Grace Notes for Board and committee updates.

• Posting appropriate minutes or summaries near the church office.

• Using sanctuary screens before and after worship for announcements, meetings, volunteer needs, and programs.

• Continuing periodic congregational conversations similar to the May 31 event.

 

Listening should become part of how LCC operates.

 

4. Worship, Preaching and Music

 

Worship remains central to LCC’s spiritual life.

 

The congregation especially values:

 

• Strong, thoughtful preaching.

• Sermons grounded in scripture, history, and contemporary life.

• Progressive theological perspectives.

• Meaningful music and strong musical leadership.

• Worship that is spiritually enriching and intellectually engaging.

 

These priorities should also be central to the pastoral search.

 

5. Christian Education and Programming

 

The May 31 discussions showed considerable enthusiasm for additional learning opportunities.

 

Ideas included:

 

• Adult Christian education.

• An LCC speaker series.

• Presentations by members and outside speakers.

• Programs addressing scripture, faith, current events, social issues, and contemporary life.

• Offering programs at different times, including before or after worship, weekdays, evenings, or Zoom.

 

Rather than doing everything at once, LCC should select a few strong programs that members are willing to help lead.

 

6. Compassion, Justice, Outreach and Community Partnerships

 

Members want LCC’s values to be more visible through action.

 

Ideas included:

 

• More hands-on compassion and justice opportunities.

• Partnerships with neighboring churches.

• Collaboration with nonprofit and community organizations.

• Pulpit or choir exchanges.

• Community workshops and presentations.

• Greater use of LCC facilities as a community resource.

• Continued emphasis on social justice, homelessness, civic engagement, and environmental responsibility. Possibly highlighting a justice or social issue each month with an opportunity to address that issue through a service opportunity.

 

Our goal should be to connect what we believe with what we do.

 

7. Visibility, Property and Environmental Stewardship

 

Our church property and communications should reflect the welcoming and progressive congregation we believe ourselves to be.

 

Priorities include:

 

• Improving LCC’s visibility

• Updating the website, publicity materials, exterior signs, banners etc.

• Utilize our Touchstones on-line, in brochures, on the trail, in the buildings, etc.

• Finding practical ways for our facilities and property to demonstrate our values including creation care.

 

Our physical space, and on-line presence communicates who we are before a visitor ever hears a sermon.

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8. Sustainable Leadership and Shared Responsibility

 

The May 31 conversations recognized an important reality: LCC is a smaller congregation than it once was, yet we continue to maintain many programs and structures developed when the church was larger.

 

We should:

 

• Prioritize what matters most.

• Simplify where possible.

• Avoid depending repeatedly on the same small group of volunteers.

• Consider shared or shorter leadership commitments.

• Invite more people into meaningful but manageable roles.

 

1. The Reflection and Reimagining process provides important direction for the Search Committee.

 

The congregational profile should be grounded in our Touchstones, survey findings, Listening Circles, and May 31 conversations.

 

Our next pastor should demonstrate:

 

• Collaborative leadership with lay leaders and congregation.

• Progressive Christian theology.

• Excellent preaching and teaching.

• Comfort with questions, scholarship, and contextual interpretation of scripture.

• Commitment to social justice and creation care.

• Strong relationship-building skills.

• An ability to empower lay leadership.

• Enthusiasm for connecting LCC with the broader community.

• A desire to help grow and build a vital, more multigenerational congregation.

 

These qualities should be communicated clearly as LCC works with Regional Minister Dr. LaTaunya Bynum during the search process.

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Conclusion:

We have heard that relationships and belonging are at the heart of LCC. We have affirmed our progressive Christian identity and our commitment to thoughtful worship, learning, justice, creation care, communication, transparency, outreach, and collaborative leadership.

 

We have also heard the need to be realistic—to prioritize, simplify, and use our energy wisely.

 

Most importantly, the process revealed hope and a willingness to participate.

 

The Touchstones tell us who we aspire to be.

The survey tells us what our congregation values.

The Reflecting & Reimagining conversations point toward practical next steps.

The pastoral search gives us the opportunity to find a leader who will walk—and dance—alongside us.

 

The next chapter of Lafayette Christian Church will not be written by one pastor, one Board, one committee, or one task force. It will be written together.

 

We are ready to move forward together.

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