HOMESTEAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHARGE REALIGNMENT WITH ASSURANCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a Charge? How does it The Bishop, on behalf of the United Methodist Church, assigns each Pastor a “charge” relate to this relationship? which represents a local church. In this case, Homestead UMC is being added to the pastoral and leadership responsibilities of Assurance UMC and Rev. Chris Westmoreland. Where is the church location? 6729 Old Mount Holly Road, Charlotte NC 28214 The facility was established in 1932 and sits on five acres. It includes the main church building, a gym/community life building, and a parsonage. Homestead UMC has taken remarkable care of that facility and property. What is the vision for the ONE CHURCH – ONE VISION – MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Homestead location? The United Methodist Church at this location will take on the vision of Assurance United Methodist Church: Assurance is a church whose singular mission is to “Grow and Go.” Assurance is Growing Disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ so that we can Go serve Christ in the world. In “Growing and Going”, we emphasize the three S’s: Spirit, Serve, and Share. We grow our Spirit in worship, prayer, and small group connections. We grow by Serving others inside and outside the walls of our church. And we Share our gifts and the Good News that God loves us all. How will things change for Worship: The worship style will be different and more reflective of the community. Homestead United Methodist There will be a transition period with no worship services for two to three months to Church? renovate and discern what worship needs to look like to be fully reflexive of that community. Current Homestead members will be invited to worship at Northlake during the three months. Assurance leadership is committed to the following for the West Campus:  Music needs to reflect the language of the community.  Rev. Danny Meyer, Assurance’s West Campus Minister, will be the primary preacher but rotating preachers and same sermon theme as Northlake Campus when possible.  Service in the community will be an emphasis of worship.  Worship style will be more modern than traditional. Name: The name of this new worshipping community is unlikely to be Homestead or West Campus, but the ultimate name is yet to be determined. Staff: Alexis Coleman, current pastor of Homestead UMC is being reappointed to another United Methodist Church. Other staff positions are being evaluated and, where appropriate, staff will be encouraged to reapply. Facility: The church will be designed more for children, families, and community life. There are no specific plans yet, but the facility will look different. The plan will come soon when Assurance leadership has access to the space and can evaluate. Calendar: All events on the church calendar will be cleared and Assurance leadership will re-evaluate what goes back on. July 1, 2013 will be the start of a new year for this community. Who will pay for ministry at Ministries at the new Assurance campus will be funded by offerings from both campuses West Campus/Homestead and grants will assist with funding our West Campus. building? The Reynolds Foundation has awarded Assurance two grants to get the West Campus started - 2012: $30,000 and 2013: $20,000.

Page | 1 HOMESTEAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHARGE REALIGNMENT WITH ASSURANCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Timing of Transition? Assurance leadership will be prepared to use the building and integrate finances as soon as possible. Assurance feels strongly that when the checkbook is transitioned, so is responsibility for this building (liability insurance, etc.). Assurance leadership team assumes authority when that transition happens. Some significant dates are:  April 14 – Assurance Leadership meets with current Homestead members to share the vision of the future of this campus.  April 30 – Assurance Transition Team Kick-Off.  July 1 – transition period begins in main church building.  September 2013 - FIRST ASSURANCE WORSHIP SERVICE AT NEW CAMPUS. Many of the existing West Campus ministries will transition immediately to parts of the Homestead facility and continue to touch the community throughout the summer. It is known that Assurance Examples of ministries for adults to Grow and Go in Jesus can be found in our latest cares about kids in West Quarterly Newsletter, the Small Group flyer, the Service flyer, and even more on our Charlotte, but what do they website (links to these documents can be found at www.assuranceumc.org). have to offer adults in that Assurance Northlake has a healthy and vital adult community of servants and so will the community? West Campus. What is the role of existing During the period of September 2011 and May 2012, Pastor Alexis Colman led a Homestead members in the Homestead visioning team through an Exodus study that focused on where they wanted changes that will happen and to go and what they wanted to leave behind. This team dreamed of a growing how can they be leaders at the community church where children were present and active. They dreamed of tutoring new church? and food ministries within the community. Many on the visioning team also dreamed of a multi-ethnic and multi-racial community that was alive in worshipping together in a contemporary manner. Assurance, during this same time period, also went through a visioning process and saw the same thing in this neighborhood. Assurance leadership invites those Homestead members who were part of this process, and those who believe in the dream, to walk alongside us together and create that kind of church community. There will be one Assurance church structure and leadership with the existing Assurance Church Council, Ministry Council, SPRC, Finance Team, and Trustees. There will be no immediate changes to the make-up of these leadership teams as they were intentionally selected for Assurance with multi-campus in mind. Over time existing Homestead members will be able to offer themselves up for leadership through the Assurance lay leadership process. Assurance Pastors, in addition to meeting with Homestead families, would like to offer a version of our new member gathering called “BEGINNINGS” with existing Homestead members. This will encourage conversations around engagement in the vision of “Growing as Disciples and Going to Serve Christ.” What will Assurance offer Our desire is that existing Homestead members will join us in sharing God’s love with existing Homestead members? this community and making it real. Regardless of their decision, a safe place will be provided to help figure out what is best for moving forward. Pastoral care, Stephen Ministry, and help finding a new church, if that is what is needed/wanted. Assurance will offer a vital way to be church and a caring community of people that Grows and Goes.

Page | 2 HOMESTEAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHARGE REALIGNMENT WITH ASSURANCE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What will the role of the West Rev. Danny Meyer, Assurance’s West Campus Pastor, will be the primary pastor campus pastor be? responsible for this worshipping community. In addition to being a husband and father of three, Danny has a full-time job outside the church. Given the large vision for West Campus, we are fortunate that Assurance is a lay-led church. Most of Danny’s time will be spent preaching, teaching, raising up and encouraging leaders, giving pastoral care, and rearticulating the vision of Growing and Going. Will existing Assurance Absolutely not. members be forced to choose Assurance believes that everyone should worship and serve God in the way they feel one of the campuses? most connected. Many of the members of the Assurance community already live out their faith in many different ways. Attending worship in West Charlotte at Connections, fellowshipping on Wednesday nights at Northlake, and living out their “go” downtown at the men’s shelter breakfast, as just an example. It is the hope that each person will be drawn to where God wants them to worship, pray, come together in small groups, and to use spiritual gifts to share the Good News of Jesus’ love. Assurance currently offers a workshop called Discover Assurance in Ministry (AIM) that helps to discover Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience. In this new endeavor, some Assurance Northlake members will decide to primarily connect to Assurance through West Campus and still very much be a part of Assurance. Servants will be needed in Assurance ministries done from the Homestead facility, particularly in the beginning. These members may live out their Spirit, Serve, and Share in the West Campus either “for a time” or “for all time.” Feel free to reach out to an Assurance leader or staff member to help you pray about how God is calling you. What does the Assurance  Prayer for the transition. The existing Homestead congregation can count on the leadership team expect of the support of the Assurance family through this change. congregation?  Participation in the upcoming Town Hall Meetings.  Consideration in serving as a member of the Launch Team to fill vital servant roles as they are identified.  Support for all ministries at Northlake and West Campuses through Growing and Going.  Thanks and praise to God for the ministry He is allowing Assurance to do through Him. What can be expected from  Honesty, even when the truth is hard. Assurance leadership team?  Integrity that honors God and people.  Respect that says that everybody matters, even those that aren’t represented.  Faithfulness to the mission of Growing and Going. If I am interested in supporting Assurance Lead Pastor: Chris Westmoreland ([email protected]) the Assurance West Campus West Campus Pastor: Danny Meyer ([email protected]) or would like more Community Life Pastor: Daniel Corpening ([email protected]) information about the vision Adult Discipleship and Leadership: Dave Zietlow ([email protected]) of Assurance, who should I Director of Children’s Discipleship: Tina Springs ([email protected]) contact? Communications and Connections: June Freeman ([email protected]) You are welcome to call the church office (704-391-9567) with any questions. Much of the Assurance vision and mission can be found on the website (www.assuraneumc.org). There will be many opportunities to serve this new campus and most will be published through the website or Church Community Builder. What if things don’t work out? This is not an option! God has been in this work from the beginning. God is going to accomplish this and we are privileged to be a part of it.

Page | 3