Transition Team Update

Update to the Vine Street Congregation regarding the Ministerial Transition process

April 2, 2025

There is very good news to report to the Vine Street congregation regarding the Ministerial Transition process. Since Thomas Kleinert announced his plan to retire at the end of May, the Ministerial Transition Team, appointed by the Administrative Council, has been preparing recommendations for ministerial staffing to be in place upon Thomas’ departure.

These recommendations were presented to the Administrative Council at its March 26 meeting. Following excellent discussion, the Administrative Council unanimously approved the following actions. Both actions will be formally presented to the congregation at a congregational meeting scheduled for early May.

First, the Administrative Council unanimously recommended that Margie Quinn be elevated to the role of “acting minister in-charge” effective May 26 and continue until a new and long-term ministerial staffing arrangement is in place. The process for establishing this long-term ministerial team for Vine Street will begin during the summer of 2025, with the hope of having it in place early in 2026. In taking this action, the Transition Team and the Administrative Council are very clear that the need to go “outside” and hire an “interim minister” was not necessary given the strength and depth of Margie’s ministry already experienced by Vine Street over the past two years. Margie was actively involved in the discussions and is eager to assume this new role if approved by the congregation.

Second, the Administrative Council unanimously recommended establishing a part-time ministerial position to assist Margie and the congregation during the ministerial transition. This position would exist for at least six months and possibly longer, depending upon the time needed to establish Vine Street’s long-term ministerial team. The Administrative Council authorized the Ministerial Transition Team, working with Margie, to prepare a job description for this position and to interview candidates. The Administrative Council will be prepared to receive a recommendation for this part-time interim minister at its April 23rd meeting. That recommendation will then be brought to the congregation, together with a recommendation to elevate Margie’s role, at the congregational meeting in May.  

These two actions by the Administrative Council are the first steps in Vine Street’s ministerial transition to fill the incredible shoes that will be left behind by Thomas’s departure. They are just the beginning of our new congregational journey. This summer, we will begin the process of discerning God’s will as we explore our new dimensions of ministry in the coming months and years. We are grateful for Margie and her ministerial gifts and thankful for the opportunity to seek a new minister to assist her during this transition.

The Ministerial Transition Team:

• Abi Flowers, Chair, Administrative Council

• Lydia Grubb, Chair-elect of the Administrative Council

• Ed Cole, Chair, Board of Elders

• Erica Hayden, Member of the Congregation

• Stephen Moseley, Member of the Congregation

• Jack Wallace, Member of the Congregation

Vine Street Grant Helps Power RESET

On Tuesday of this week, September 10th,  Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joined with AgeWell Middle Tennessee, the United Way of Greater Nashville, and other non-profit partners, in announcing the launch of a new financial empowerment collaborative offering personalized services designed with and for older adults in Davidson County.  The Mayor specifically cited  Vine Street’s  Community Ministry Grant of $44,000 to AgeWell, as the initial seed funding for the program.  Vine Street made this grant as a part of our community ministries grants program using our Hallie Warner “Needy Elderly Fund” as the source of the funds.  A copy of the Mayor’s press release, including the mention of Vine Street’s funding contribution, can be found at: Mayor Freddie O’Connell, AgeWell Middle Tennessee, United Way of Greater Nashville celebrate launch of RESET program - September 10, 2024

Known as the RESET program, “Raising Economic Security to Enjoy Thriving,”  the new program will offer financial empowerment counseling along with benefit enrollment assistance and referrals for supplemental income opportunities to older adults across Nashville.  The program was initiated and designed in response to frequent helpline calls and the Metro Social Services 2022 Community Needs Evaluation which found that due to the rising costs of food, housing, transportation and healthcare, more than half of older residents in Nashville are experiencing livable income poverty.  In early 2023,  AgeWell and the United Way convened a six-month planning process that included a series of focus groups with older adults and a coalition of government, non-profit, and faith community representatives.  It was this initial planning process that was funded by Vine Street’s grant.  Ed Cole and Kathy Zamata have been active Vine Street participants in the AgeWell process from the outset.  Ed has been a long-time AgeWell board member and Kathy is currently on the AgeWell Board.  A special relationship that Kathy has to this process flows from the fact that she was a “Stephen Minister” who called upon Hallie Warner in the final years of her life.  Seeing RESET emerge as a faithful expression of Hallie Warner’s wishes and Vine Street’s stewardship of her gift has been very meaningful!

On this Sunday morning, September 15th, Grace Smith, the Executive Director of AgeWell Middle Tennessee, will join us for worship and share more about RESET during our “Minute  For Mission.”   Join us in welcoming Grace and hearing more about RESET!

A Good Friday service for listening

Borrowed Language

Readings, Prayers and Songs for Good Friday

Download

We invite you to participate in this service anytime today. It's a recording, audio only, so you can listen and pray in your favorite chair or while taking a walk. May God bless us, both those of us who pray and those who don't, with the rich grace whose outpouring we recall and receive anew today.

What we can do

Disasters are stark reminders of the frailty of life and immediate needs, but the needs that existed before the tornadoes still are a need today (see more on how we can help below). One of those is making sure kids have nutritious meals at school and addressing school lunch debt--further living out part of our Vine Street essentials. West End Middle School, where we’re building a partnership, thanks to folks like Carol Doidge, Joan Fleming, and Michael LeBuhn (and everyone who has brought in books and is participating in their literacy night today) has about $2,000 in outstanding lunch debt. As a congregation, we're committing to paying off that debt. If you would like to contribute to this gift and strengthen our partnership with West End Middle, you can donate online or designate it in your gift on Sunday morning.

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How we can help

It's hard to feel so helpless after such destruction, especially so close to home. Here are a few things we can do

• Give to Week of Compassion--they were in contact with Disciples congregations around town early Tuesday morning and are already offering support for folks who were affected.

• Continue to pray and checking in with folks 

• Drop off supplies to New Covenant Christian Church between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm Thursday and Friday. They have specifically asked for canned and dry goods, soap, cleaning supplies, blankets, battery operated flashlights, and detergent.

• Be prepared to jump into action in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Organizations like Gideon's Army are on the ground doing good work. 

• Register with Hands on Nashville for a variety of relief work opportunities.

Please let Allison know if you are interested in a Vine Street service day (probably some Saturday in March or April) or know of relief opportunities and she will help coordinate and organize. 

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Spring plans

The Tennessee Disciples campground, Bethany Hills, has scheduled a work week, March 9-14. There will be all sorts of projects going on from big to small, and all levels of experience are needed. Come out and breathe the fresh air at Bethany Hills! Come for a half day, full day, or all week! Call the Camp Manager, Dee Wells, at 615-952-9184 if you have any questions, or send her an email. The address is Bethany Hills Camp, 1080 Bethany Hills Rd, Kingston Springs, TN. Register here

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Ministry Council Potluck

On Sunday, we will meet for lunch and conversations about our ministry. This month we'll discuss communications and church growth. You can sign up here or on the clipboard this Sunday.

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Building Update 

Our architect, Cyril Stewart, has sent a big roll of drawings to our contractor, Batten & Shaw, for bidding and an application for the permit. The drawings include details on landscaping, engineering work including structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical engineering, as well as interior design and finishes. Several subcontractors have already walked through the building to prepare submitting their bids.
 
Electrical engineering plans took a little longer than expected due to concerns about the location of our transformer that powers the entire facility. Thankfully, the transformer will not have to be moved.
 
Thorough testing revealed multiple areas with asbestos in tiles, adhesives, insulation, and finishes, and we are making plans to complete the necessary abatement work.
 
In a few weeks, we expect to have solid cost estimates for all parts of the project. In the meantime, our leadership has begun conversations about fundraising options we may include, both as a means to help offset the overall cost AND as a way to celebrate our bicentennial year and the memory of loved ones (like trees, personalized pavers, and artwork.)

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Livestreaming training

Are you interested in learning how to share our Sunday morning worship with members and friends who can’t join us in the sanctuary? For the past several months, we have been livestreaming our worship service on our Facebook page to extend our reach into the community. If you would like to learn the simple steps for sharing our worship with the world, please join us at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 29 in the sanctuary. Stephen Moseley and Doug Branson will walk you through how to set up our camera and stream our service live. It’s an easy process and we need several people trained up to share in facilitating this ministry opportunity.

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Don't Forget to Spring Forward!

Don't forget to change your clocks that don't automatically adjust! We don't want to miss you!