Thank you for your continued prayers as we process decisions related to the local food pantry in Metamora. Our key decision at this point concerns the property at 1200 W. Mount Vernon St, Metamora, IL. Key dates for members and friends interested in the food pantry.
Sunday, May 31 - Congregational Meeting to discuss date about the property
Sunday, June 7 - Two week notice for official congregational vote concerning the property. There will also be an open house to see the property. There will be an open house for 1 hour directly following 9 am worship and following the potluck after Sunday school.
To read the updated decision making process, please continue reading...
Food Pantry Decision Making
Process Update
On Thursday, May 14, Jim Hauter, representing the Metro Peoria Baptist Association, met with Pastor Michael. In the meeting Jim offered to gift the property at 1200 W. Mount Vernon, Metamora, IL to Metamora Mennonite Church for the purpose of ongoing ministry to the community. That offer changed our decision making process. Because of that change the Agreement on Procedure, dated Thursday, March 26, is no longer in effect. Specifically, step 5 has been abandoned and additional steps have been added.
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Brief History of the Process thus far
On Sunday, April 19, the congregation met following a potluck. During that gathering, those present unanimously affirmed that we should move forward, taking leadership in the local food pantry.
On Sunday, May 3, the congregation gathered following Sunday school to discuss the options concerning the location of the food pantry. We considered the option of purchasing the current facility at 1200 N. Mt. Vernon, leasing space or running the pantry out of Metamora Mennonite Church. At the end of that meeting, the strong consensus (38 to 2) was that we run the pantry out of our property.
On Thursday, May 14, Jim Hauter extended an offer to gift Metamora Mennonite Church the property at 1200 W. Mt. Vernon. The Leadership Team determined that this offer fundamentally changed the decision making process. Therefore, they shifted the planned emphasis of the May 17 meeting to focus on this question: Should we pursue accepting the property and running the food pantry from that location.
On Sunday, May 17, the congregation gathered to discuss accepting the gift of property and how to process that decision. The consensus (39 to 1) of the group was that we should pursue accepting the property. The group wished to have information about the condition of the property, the value of the property, and the cost of ownership.
Next
Steps
On Sunday, May 24, it was announced in worship that there will be a congregational meeting on Sunday, May 31, following Sunday school, contingent upon getting useful data from a building inspection and appraisal. That data is secure and the meeting will go forward.
On Sunday, May 31 we will gather to share information about the property, and answer further questions.
On Sunday, June 7 there will be an open house at the property [1200 W. Mt. Vernon, Metamora, IL – It is on the South side of Route 116, West of The Flame] People can visit the property for 1 hour following the 9 am worship service. Additionally, people can visit the property following the potluck. If people cannot make either time, they can contact Pastor Michael to arrange to see the property.
On Sunday, June 7 an announcement will be made in worship concerning the congregational vote to be taken on Sunday, June 21.
On Sunday, June 21, we will have a congregational vote. The focus of the vote will be whether or not to accept the property offered to us as a gift from the Metro Peoria Baptist Association for the purpose of running the local food pantry.
Open
Process
Once again, this is an open process. Please feel free to contact the Leadership Team, Pastors or Missions Team members with any questions or comments along the way. Thank you for bearing with us through a confusing change in process.
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