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This blog entry is the first in a sequence of communications that you, as part of the TCCC and TBC families, will receive to keep you updated regarding actions being taken to help make Frances Thrift’s transition to retirement as smooth as possible.  Your support and trust during this time of change are greatly appreciated. . We want to share current information routinely to help answer any questions that you might have.  Below are some questions that we believe you may have and the most current answers to those questions. 

1. What progress is being made in creating a Search Committee for the Director position?
   We have identified essential roles that we are filling for the Search Committee in order to provide the expertise and balance that we believe will be most helpful in finding the person who is the right fit for the TCCC Director position. Because of the important church-TCCC partnership, our goal is for the Search Committee to include an appropriate balance of church members, teachers, and TCCC parents, with access to key experts/consultants to draw upon as needed.  All seven individuals have confirmed their willingness to fill the specific roles, and we expect the Tabernacle Baptist Church Board of Deacons to quickly approve the candidates so that Committee members can officially launch their work.  When the Search Committee members have been confirmed and their orientation has been completed, we will send another communication to you that provides an update on their work as it begins.
2. What qualifications do you expect the new TCCC Director to have?
   The specifics of qualifications will be outlined in the finalized job description for this position. A job description draft—developed with the input of the TCCC Ministry and Administrative Committees, comprised of church members and TCCC parents—will be given to the Search Committee as they begin their efforts, understanding that additional input from parents, staff, and church will be considered prior to publishing a completed job description and job opening statement.  The intent is to have the Search Committee use a survey or other method of choice to gather the perspectives of key stakeholders regarding qualifications, the future of TCCC , and other key topics as Pastor Sterling Severns referenced in the June parent Question & Answer session.  [ http://tbcrichmond.org/tbc/news/2017/06/20/tccc-qa-session/ ]
3. When will you fill the Assistant Director position?
   We expect to fill the TCCC Director position first and then fill the TCCC Assistant Director position, hoping to give the new Center Director an opportunity to have input in the selection of the Assistant Director. Therefore, efforts are focused on initiating the search for the TCCC Director at this point in time.  We will keep you posted on all efforts towards filling both positions.  Frances feels comfortable at this time that she has the support of individuals on her staff who are managing tasks that an assistant would usually complete.    

Donna Soyars, lead of the TCCC Ministry Committee, and Kathy Allen, lead for the TCCC Administrative Committee, are managing the preparatory steps in creating the Search Committee and completing other initial tasks in this process.  They will not be voting members of the Search Committee, yet will serve as ex officio members to be available to assist as needed in this transition.  Please email them at any time with your questions or input.  We are fully committed to continuous communication and coordination between TCCC and the church throughout this process.

Again, we value your trust and support as we look to the future of TCCC.  We sincerely hope that you and your families are enjoying a blessed summer! 

Greetings,

I’m writing to you from Camp Alkulana (in Bath County, VA) where my family is spending the summer. Many of you know that my wife Beth directs the camp, and it has been a wonderful summer of ministry so far. Thank you all for your prayers and support from afar! 

Since Kristen Koger has left for First Baptist Church, Decatur, GA, I’ve taken the lead on recruiting leadership for worship each week this summer. Many of you have received emails and phone calls from me asking if you would read the call to worship, pray, or read scripture on Sunday mornings. Thank you for those who have helped to lead us in worship in this way so far! If you haven’t heard from me and would like to help lead sometime soon, please send me an email—I’d love to find a way for you to help lead us in worship.

Earlier this summer I developed and sent out a survey to the congregation to assess our current status regarding spiritual formation and discipleship, and to ponder our next steps and needs. We had more than 30 folks respond, and your feedback has been very helpful! Thank you! I’ll try to find a way to share some of the results with you all in the very near future.

As the summer is typically a slower season in the life of the church, I have spent a lot of time preparing for the coming year. As we approach the fall season of ministry, I have a number of needs on my radar for this area of the life of the church. Can you help serve our church family in any of these ways?:

1. Leaders for a “What does it mean to be Baptist?” class: We’d love to offer a short series (4–6 weeks?) on what makes Baptists distinct. I have some good resources and can help plan. We need one or two folks who could help plan with me and then lead the class sessions and discussion.

2. Leadership for the Fall Church-Wide Retreat (September 22–24th, 2017): We need help planning and leading the retreat. Each year, we need help with worship planning, transportation coordination, meal planning and cooking, and various other small items. We’d especially love to hear from you if you’d like to help cook for the weekend. If you are interested in helping with one or more of these aspects, let me know!

3. A Tabernacle 101 Organizer: We try to offer one or two “TBC 101” series each year to help people who are new to our congregation better understand who we are as a church. This doesn’t require a lot of work, and we have a pretty decent template that we use, but I would love it if someone could help me coordinate these.

4. A couple of leaders for a Sunday Lunch Group: I would love if we could have a regular plan for a few folks to go out for lunch on Sundays after worship to get to know one another better and possibly to discuss the sermon.  I imagine that each week we’d have different participants—it wouldn’t exactly be a small group with a regular membership. It would be great to invite visitors to come along, too! We just need a couple of folks that can help plan and coordinate this!

If you can help us fill any of these needs, please give me a call or email me at wright@tbcrichmond.org.

I’m grateful the ways in which we are growing together as a community of faith!

Grace and Peace,

Art Wright

Minister of Spiritual Formation