Category: Uncategorized

Dear CLC Family,

We are very encouraged by your ongoing feedback and support, as we move forward in this new season of growth as a church.  Based on the recent decisions regarding the role and terms of elders at CLC, the Governance Committee has decided our next step is to expand the elder board by the election of an additional three members. 

As you know, Nelson Mead and Larry Cleek have been serving as the only two elders since Gary Fick and Ray Crognale stepped down. This would be quite a load in ordinary circumstances. Because of the proliferation of work as a result of the re-visioning process, it has become crushing. 

In addition, Larry and Nelson both recognize the strength of having a larger leadership team with a variety of gifts that complement theirs. To discuss the process of selecting additional elders, there will be a congregational meeting Wednesday, April 27^th at 7:00pm.

At this meeting, the following questions will be addressed:

1.)  Role of an Elder: What is an elder? What does an elder do?

2.)  Qualification of an Elder: What characteristics and gifts should one possess to effectively serve as an elder?

3.)  Policies and Procedures Governing Elder Board: What policies have been put in place by the Governance Committee to ensure accountability for the elder board and prevent abuse?4.)  Selection Process: How and when will new elders be selected?

Please prayerfully consider attending this important meeting. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to any member of the Governance Committee.

In Him,

Ward Davis

(On Behalf of the Development Team)

² We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; ³ constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; ⁵ for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction…

-1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

Dear CLC Family,

As you all know, as a church we’ve been undergoing a process of re-examining how we “do” church. This has involved much prayer, study of Scripture and hard work on the part of several committees.  One committee that has been doing quite a bit of work is the Governance Committee. 

Over the past five months. the Governance Committee has been prayerfully examining questions related to how CLC is governed, the role of prophecy in the life of the church, how church leaders should be selected, and the role and qualifications of elders. 

One question the committee has wrestled with is the degree to which women are free to participate in Church leadership. Therefore, they convened a congregational meeting in February to discuss the specific question of allowing women to serve as elders- and gave you an opportunity to be part of the conversation. Thanks to all of you who participated in that meeting and let your views be known. 

The Governance Committee took into consideration the feedback provided by all of you and after much prayer has come to the decision that women should be eligible to serve as elders at CLC. The committee chose to leave for a later time, the question of whether a woman can serve as head elder. 

One common sentiment the Governance Committee has heard consistently from the congregation over the past several months is the need to expand the elder board. To that end, the committee has set the goal of adding three more elders to the board in the near future. 

The members of the Governance Committee are as follows: Larry Cleek, Nelson Mead, Pam Bateman, Charlie Becker, Paul Simonet, Stan Harrington, Beth Peck, Aubree Cleek and Bill Cushman. If you have any questions about how they came to their decision, they would be more than happy to speak with you.

The elders and Governance Committee believe that as we trust the Lord and continue to seek His heart for CLC, He will bring clarity to those areas where it may be currently lacking. We ask that you continue to pray that the Lord’s purposes for CLC be fulfilled and His kingdom advance in the Ithaca/Dryden area.

In Him,

Ward Davis

(On Behalf of the Development Team)