January 27, 2008 Update

• Leadership Team: We are pleased to announce that outgoing board president Janet Tharp will be joining the Leadership Team as co-chair with Mike Birrer. She will be replacing Ellen Magnis who has served for two years since we began implementation in 2006. We all give Ellen our heartfelt thanks for the vital contributions she has made to this entire process, and the wonderful ongoing gift of her vision, love and leadership.

• Facilities Master Plan Project Team: ArchiTexas has been charged with completing its assessment of the current state of our facilities, preparing a revised budget of the project as drawn in more detail, completing the schematic design drawings, and beginning detailed design. Additional meetings between ArchiTexas and church staff have been conducted to finalize program requirements; consolidated comments and edited feedback from dozens of congregants and staff members have been given to Archi- Texas for incorporation into the next round of plans.

• Center for Public Dialog: Do you have experience in business planning? The 2008 Center for Public Dialog’s Business Planning Team, led by Michael McElhenie, is looking for new volunteers! Monthly meetings will take place through April 30, 2008. This is a very exciting Chart & Compass initiative. Need more information about becoming a volunteer, or just want to know more about this project? Please call Katherine Lines, consultant, at 972-768-6204. Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter will be the new staff sponsor for the Center for Public Dialog project while Charles McMullen will continue on the 2008 Business Planning Team. The completed business plan is to be delivered in May.

• Social Justice Team: Planning is continuing for a peace demonstration, in partnership with other peace organizations, for Earth Day activities and for Dallas Area Interfaith church house meetings. A new sub-committee has been formed to re-start the Democracy Project and it will focus on voter registration, education and turnout for the 2008 elections.
  
  ~ Mike Birrer, Leadership Team Co-Chair
  ~ Fritz Kuehn, Leadership Team Communications