FBM 3 Notes 5/31/14
Present: Yuka, Jams, Lisa, Vivian, Peter Buhler, Madeline, Robb, Alex Hsu, Daniel, Eliza, Andy, Skippy
President:
Eliza and Jams running as Co-Presidents, which isn’t something CCF has really done before, but they will be studying abroad one term each, different terms. They bring to the table both the be-er and the do-er aspects of being president. Make everyone in the fellowship feel wanted (pastoral role). Eliza is a be-er, being there for others and this is something she’s thought and prayed about for a long time. She’s not fully confident she’s ready for the job, but throughout the Bible, God uses people who aren’t ready. Jams was inspired to start thinking about CCF presidency by Francis Chan… serve and lead by example, even when things aren’t going smoothly. Serve rather than complain. Also inspired by Life Together, letting God do the work through Jams… Jams is a do-er. Excite muchhh!
Interrogation time:
Q. Alex (to both): How do you see CCF next year?
A. Jams: I hope that small groups can be a bigger part of CCF and there will be more people excited to lead them.
Eliza: I’ve seen that this year we’ve been more serious about inviting in non-Christians or people who seem to have fallen away from Christianity. I’d like to see that continue. Maybe not bringing them into CCF but directing them to another community. But helping everyone who wants a community to be in one.
Q. Robb: Biggest fears/concerns
A. Eliza: lack of maturity spiritually and worldly. Hasn’t been reading much of the Bible lately. Not great at organizing things (being on time, keeping papers straight, etc.) Jams probably will help with the organization stuff but don’t want to fully put that on Jams. Faith that God will overcome these weaknesses.
Jam: I’m not a very eloquent person or good at explaining things, so something to overcome for Large Groups, talking to new people. But Bible has many examples of weak people... but it’s about God. Also, being president is a very public thing… representing CCF (at club fair, etc.) so one challenge is not being scared or ashamed in any way in front of people who don’t know about faith – profs.
Q. Vivian (to both): Will you have more time next year than this year? Both of you have been very busy this year. It may not be healthy to take on this role on top of everything. Robb: would you be willing to sacrifice other things (take fewer classes, etc.) for CCF? Peter: You can’t be there for other people if you’re wiped out yourself.
A. Jams: Probably same amount of time next year and this year. Don’t see much changing. But I’m able and willing to make time if I need to for CCF activities and planning and talking to people. For instance, this year I’ve been going to LCF but I probably won’t be going as often next year. I don’t have any worries about this.
Eliza: Same amount of time next year in terms of official commitments. Eliza ia considering taking 5 years to graduate, so she can take fewer classes and free up time. It seems like the largest amount of what takes up my time isn’t schoolwork or extracurriculars or socialization but rather aimless worrying. I anticipate this will get better next year. Concerns about “Can I handle roles of mature leadership?”
Q. Vivian: Do you feel you have someone to talk to?
A. Eliza: yes
Jams: yes
Q. Peter: Since you will be working together, do you have any concerns about personality/goals? Have you talked together a lot? Do you have much in common, etc.?
A. Yes, friends, will get to know each other more.
Skippy: spend a weekend together on a road trip or something having fun. Go someplace, do something that’s interesting to both of you. Spend time talking about non-serious matters, to lay a foundation of normality to your relationship.
Vivian: have a council retreat to all get to know each other.
Skippy: I made a series of reservations for time shares, which could include a way to do pre-term retreat.
Eliza: biggest concern about working together is that one will feel the other is not doing as much, and this will breed resentment. But I’m fairly sure we will talk to each other etc. and this won’t be an issue. Also there’s council.
Q. Lisa: How are you a be-er / do-er?
A. Eliza: People open up to me. People feel safe around me. Mercy. Ability to empathize with people who are hurting and marginalized, let them know they are loved.
Jams: I find it fun organizing activities and events. But we shouldn’t seclude ourselves to just one role.
Q. Vivian: how do you want your close friends to support you, and how will you get this support?
A. Jams: I might get caught up in the process of planning and organizing and lose sight of why I’m doing it and neglect to spend time with God alone reading the Bible and praying. So I want my close friends to remind me to do those things and be accountable in those ways. Remind me that God can do it.
Eliza: Keep me humble in the sense of accurately knowing my place, not higher or lower than I am. Identify areas for improvement and affirm areas of strength. Remind me that God can do it.
Voting: APPROVED
Large Group Coordinator:
Large Group coordinator directs all the things that happen in Large Group and organizes plans and the topics and basically what the group is going to focus on, with feedback and suggestions from other people too. Alex is pretty excited to lead it. Even before thinking about large group coordinator, I wanted to do it. I think I would enjoy it, enjoy people having a good time with each other and learning about the Bible. Welcome more people to come. Occasional ice breakers, constant prayers.
Interrogation time
Q. Peter: how can we best serve you?
A. Advice, insightful stuff to share. Backup during large group discussion.
Vivian: maybe appoint people to help lead small group discussion.
Alex: Yeah, probably have people look over the discussion questions before hand.
Q. Vivian: How much of a part do you see ice breakers playing?
A. I’d like to include all of it. Longer large group perhaps to 10:30. This is where the feedback comes in.
Q. Madeline: Outside speakers?
A. Who was invited? Do people want others to come in?
Skippy: problem with relying on outside speakers overly much… God has put together the fellowship in such a way that people need to mature. To rely on outside speakers overly much is to give up on your calling.
Alex: Outside speakers once or twice a term sounds fine.
Vivian: Have council talk to outside speaker and maybe council teaches based on that or invites the outside speaker to speak to the fellowship.
Madeline: We can also request that people speak about a specific topic.
Peter and Alex can work together to coordinate small and large groups.
Q. Vivian: How many people would you like to come?
A. 20-30.
Vivian: Sam Elder would actively call and text people the hour before large group and keep a spreadsheet of their contact info and date they last came.
Alex: I like service and I also want to focus on fellowship, since that will help bring people together, unite the body, let people enjoy being there. Learning is good too, but I want to make it fun.
Madeline: Maybe deeper icebreakers can help people connect more deeply. I can help.
Q. Robb: Deepest fear? What feels overwhelming?
A. It doesn’t seem overwhelming, I just need to make sure all my time commitments line up well.
Q. Peter: What time are you thinking of holding large group?
A. Same.
Madeline and Peter prefer early, Robb prefers late, we can figure this out later.
Alex: Thanks for being so encouraging.
Robb: That’s why we’re here. We don’t want you to go it alone.
Yuka: If you need help calling people to come, I can be the caller.
Alex: I would really like it if you will all come.
Q. Vivian: You’ll be a junior. Will you be busy?
A. Not too busy.
Voting: APPROVED!
Event Coordinator:
Important job. I really appreciate all the events CCF has. And I want them to keep happening. So I think with enough support it would not be too burdensome. And I have a big support right here. I liked coordinating prayer and Bible study, so now that Event Coordinator is these things plus more, it is a natural extension of what I’ve done.
Interrogation Time
Q. Robb: Delegation?
A. Sit down this summer and schedule everything out. Call up people and asks in the summer if they can lead.
Vivian: At the least, I’d like to continue at least retreats, dig-ins, small groups, and turtle prayer, discipleships, council retreat, and praise and prayer. I don’t have much of a passion for blue slip milkshakes but I can delegate that if someone is excited about that.
Peter: It could be good to have a list of all the events/things that could happen.
Vivian : Putting on an event together can help people grow closer.
Q. Yuka: Will you be equally busy?
A. Yes. Not sure if I will graduate on time.
Peter and Vivian will work together They already know each other well.
Q. Peter: What would you like support with?
A. Putting everything together
Q. Robb: Biggest concerns?
A. Not being able to put things together that are important like small groups, discipleships, prayer.
Q. Eliza: Any specific points of advice from people who have done the job before?
A. Any you feel like giving.
Eliza and Vivian will perhaps meet up one-on-one.
Voting: APPROVED!
Secretary: (Daniel)
Time: I’m not sure if I can commit to prayer meetings or retreats, or anything that goes into the weekends. I can commit to attending council meetings.
Secretary takes notes, takes care of bank account, sends e-mails, update the blog, updating the mailing list.
***Need a prayer meeting email list.***
Having an available directory of phone numbers, addresses, birthdays could be good.
Daniel: Sounds manageable. I’m good with procedures and policies, but working with people is much more difficult.
Jams can help fill out forms, etc. She finds that fun.
Yuka can fill in whenever Daniel can’t make a council meeting.
Interrogation time
Q. Vivian: I want to be your friend. (ditto by all) Peter: There are a lot of people who appreciate you.
A. *nod*I’d like to give back to CCF.
Q. Eliza: Fear/Concern?
A. I will be caught in a dilemma if it comes in contact with my academic career. I have to maintain a very high GPA to continue attending Caltech. At the same time, I want to value Christian community as well.
Voting: APPROVED
To everyone on council: having you be okay > having you do your role. We here for you. :D
Peter wants to be involved and help countil but still let council have their space.
If Peter has something to contribute, please come. Everyone always welcome to council meetings.
Peter plans on helping small groups happen in North/South houses. Is that good with everyone? YES
Any other ways Peter can help/serve/support?
-direct people to join Veggie Tales Small Group
Peter needs support as well, getting in contact with undergrads, etc.
Skippy plans on continuing to be involved in things.
Skippy… CCF emblem history.
