Relationship Lessons from the Life of Moses

We are starting a new series of messages entitled “Relationship Lessons from the Life of Moses.  The series focuses on the different kinds of relationship lessons which can be learned from Moses’s life, and how we can apply these lessons to our own lives today.

February 5 – Pastor Russ:  Born During Complicated Times –    Exodus 1:8-2:10

February 12 – Pastor Russ:  Making Life Complicated –    Exodus 2:11-14

February 19 – Pastor Russ:  When God Complicates Your Life –    Exodus 3:1-15

February 26 – Pastor Russ: It’s Complicated When Your Best Friend Blows It -  Exodus 32:1-24

Cornerstone Church Constitution: Information, Questions and Answers

Introduction to the Constitution Process

The mission of the church is of vital importance. Christ’s call to make disciples is the pursuit that we need to passionately engage in as a body of believers in our world.  To accomplish this no detail is insignificant.  We need to constantly evaluate our ministries and their ability to build up the body.   Any barrier that keeps us from accomplishing the mission needs to be held up for examination.  As spiritual leaders we need to pray and ask for discernment that the ministiries of Cornerstone Church come from a place of obedience to God’s kingdom plans.   Scripture teaches us that as leaders we will be called to give account for how we lead.

As we engage in the ongoing  practice of accountability, we find that we have regular evaluations of individual ministries, programs, and staff.  This is important and necessary to ensure the quality of these indivdual areas.  However these are all interconnected in a larger frame work or structure.  And our practice of evaluation should also extend to looking at the bigger structures of leadership and management within the church.

With this in mind Council decided to look at the Constitution and structural organization of the Church and initiated this process by appointing a committee on October 19^th, 2009.  It’s been a prayerful process, and we continue to walk carefully through it.  In this document you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about the proposed constitutional draft, a list of key leadership values in the proposed structure, as well as testimonials from other churches and organizations that have benefited from going through this process.  If you’d like to explore this further, take the opportunity to examine the proposed documents (they are available to download as .pdf’s at the bottom of this page).

 

Constitution Frequently Asked Questions

Why make these proposed changes?

Our current constitution is limited in its ability to accommodate the needs of a growing ministry at Cornerstone Church.  The desire is to clarify issues of authority and responsibility, as well as providing a framework for the ongoing development of management policies.   We also want to ensure in our leadership structure that our spiritual leaders have greater authority to exercise their gifts of prayerful discernment in directing the overall mission and vision of Cornerstone Church.

Does this model give the pastor too much power?

This is an important concern, because we’ve all seen power abused.  The proposed leadership structure will clarify the power that the lead pastor may exercise, as well as their responsibilities and accountabilities to the board.

Does this remove or minimize the congregation’s voice?

No, if anything this leadership structure affirms the voice of the congregation in a way our current constitution assumes, but never specifically prescribes.  In the proposed documents the congregation is identified as the authority in the church, and it lines out specifically how that authority is exercised.  Further, it prescribes how the board and the lead Pastor are to engage the congregation in more meaningful conversation on the mission and vision of Cornerstone Church.

Is this the perfect system? 

There is unfortunately no perfect system.  We are all human beings prone to sin, and to abusing the systems that are meant to protect.  What this proposed system of leadership does better is clarify responsibilities and accountabilities, thus minimizing the possibility for abuse.  And, if abuse does occur, it gives clear authority in regards to accountability. 

Cornerstone Leadership Structure – Quick Values Check:

The affirmation, involvement and empowerment of every individual and group at all levels is vital to the success of Cornerstone Church

Decision-making proceeds from shared values, vision and mission, not unilaterally from the Board or the Senior Pastor. Decisions are made as close as possible to where they are implemented.

The lead pastor and staff are responsible for management, delivering services on behalf of members in accord with Board-stated priorities and for achieving the strategic goals within the limitations of the authorization and resources available.

Authority, responsibility and accountability are the primary components of all relationships. Limitations (of authority) and expectations (of responsibility) are the secondary components.

Each individual is responsible for creating, owning, understanding and implementing the mission or purpose of Cornerstone Church.

Cornerstone Church is results oriented. Indicators and measurements of strategic results are identified and applied. Monitoring progress towards results and monitoring compliance with limitations form an ongoing process.

Testimonials

“The key benefit of investing in leadership structure is the clarity that can result as roles and responsibilities are discussed and agreed upon.  The introduction of policy governance at Briercrest created an opportunity to clarify the expectation the board had of the president and the expectation the president had of the board.  The conversation was helpful because it enabled a new level of clarity about roles, a new freedom to work in those roles, and a new accountability to deliver in those roles.   It reduced the surprises and frustration that comes about when roles and expectations are not set out and agreed upon.“

Dwayne Uglem, President of Briercrest

 

“The most significant value of a governance approach to church leadership structure is that it allows for the best influence at the best places. In many churches, the staff (especially the lead pastor) gives overall direction to the vision and mission of the church. This is a problem because when the pastor changes, the vision changes. Often the board (or the council) ends up managing the changing vision as staff naturally change. In a governance system, the board is responsible for setting vision, mission and strategic plan. Staff and membership have input into this but it is owned by the board. The primary role of staff (mainly lead pastor) is to implement this vision/mission. A compelling vision can be better embraced by everyone in this case. Also, when pastoral changes happen, the vision doesn’t change. So, the best influence for vision and strategic plan happens at the board level with input from staff. The best influence for membership is to give regular feedback to the board about the vision and mission of the church. The best influence for implementation of this vision and strategic plan happens at the staff level.This make sense because staff have specialized training to do the ministry of the church. Boards generally do not have this specialized training.

When governance works, the board engages membership to set visionary direction and the staff manage and implement that visionary direction.”

Dale Dirksen, Associate Pastor, Forrest Grove Community Church

 

“The most frequent word I hear from churches who use the Relationship Model for their governance is “clarity”. People feel much more confident when they know how authority flows in the church and how much authority they have to make decisions.  The confusion and sense of powerlessness is replaced by a clear sense of direction and clear expectations of responsibility.  The relationship between the pastor and the church board is strengthened with this clarity. It’s been a great pleasure to watch the difference these Biblical principles make for churches.”

Les Stahlke, Church Leadership Consultant, Author of Church Governance Matters

 

“For nearly four decades of pastoral ministry at various levels of church sizes and complexity, I have been struck with the importance of efficient church governance.  How well a church is governed may very well spell the difference between “mission accomplished” and “mission aborted.”  Instituting great church governance is hard work yet with significant payback.  Time invested in assessing and enacting clearly written and articulated leadership and management for churches will prove to be time well spent.”

Dr. Les Somers, Lead Pastor, StoneRidge Fellowship Church, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia

 Proposed Constitutional Documents

Constitution Draft (.pdf)
Board Governance Manual Draft (.pdf)
Management and Policy Draft (.pdf)

The Book of Revelation Classes

This DVD series will be led by Roger & Lisa Braun at Cornerstone Church, in the Mayfair Room, as an adult Sunday School Class, during the 1st service.

All adults welcome, whether you’re in Senior High or a senior who’s 80+…you’re all welcome.

Classes begin Sunday, January 22 at 9:30 am and will be an hour in length.

Sunday Feb. 18th and Sunday Apr. 8th there will be no classes.
There are 13 classes in total and so this study will take us up to Sunday, April 29th, which will be our last class in this series.

 

Jan. 22 – Lesson 1 – The Lost Blessing

Jan. 29 – Lesson 2 – Ephesus: Repent or Else

Feb. 5 – Lesson 3 – Smyrna: The Rich Church

Feb. 12 – Lesson 4 – Pergamous: The Church at Satan’s Capital

Feb. 19 – NO CLASS

Feb. 26 – Lesson 5 – Thyatira: Jezebel’s Church

Mar. 4 – Lesson 6 – Sardis: The Dead Church

Mar. 11 – Lesson 7 – Philadelphia: The Church of Brotherly Love

Mar. 18 – Lesson 8 – Laodicea: The Disgusting Church

Mar. 25 – Lesson 9 – Rapture: Fact or Fiction

Apr. 1 – Lesson 10 – The Two Resurrections

Apr. 8 – NO CLASS

Apr. 15 – Lesson 11 – Who is That Woman?

Apr. 22 – Lesson 12 – The Marriage of the Lamb

Apr. 29 – Lesson 13 – The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

 

We hope you can join us!!

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us anytime.
rl.braun@sasktel.net

This is the link to the Facebook event page, if you’re interested in seeing additional photos and a couple of videos.

The Gift (Christmas Eve 2011)

For those of you who missed the Christmas Eve Candlelight service, or for those who just wanted to see it again, here is the encore of The Gift.  This video presentation was part of our Candlelight service, and involved many artists, and musicians in telling the story of one boys search for the true meaning of Christmas.  There is also an accompanying book available, which was handed out at the end of the Christmas Eve service.  If you would like one please contact the church office and we’ll set one aside for you.

The Gift from Cornerstone Church on Vimeo.

There is also an audio only version as well, which can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.

The Gift (.mp3)

Change in Services

Starting January 8, 2012 we will have two services that are slightly different from each other. The 9:30am service will contain less music and more teaching. The 11:00am service will continue on in its current format.

Families will come into the 9:30am service together and the children will be dismissed for their programs during the offering time.

The reason for the change is to advance and enhance our Bible teaching time. Our Advisory Board will review the change after a three month trial period.

Beth Moore 2012

Dates and places:

 

Cornerstone Church (315 Lenore Dr. Saskatoon)

Fridays beginning January 6;2012, 9:15 AM

 

Lisa Braun’s Home (230 McKay Crt. Warman)

Tuesdays beginning January 3; 2012, 7:00 PM

 

Warman Gospel Church (418 Central St. W. Warman)

Thursdays beginning January 5; 2012, 9:15 AM

Fall Newsletter

This fall’s edition of Cornerstone Connected is now available online.  View it by clicking the following link: Cornerstone Connected Magazine.pdf

The Church Has Left The Building

The church has left the building. This is our focus and theme for the fall as we look at the roles we have to play as members of the body.  Take an opportunity to prepare each Sunday as you come to worship, or as you listen on the podcast, to engage in the mission that God has called you to as a member of His church.

The Church: Studies in Ephesians

Sept. 4 – Guest Speaker – Marc and Lisa Honorat – Haiti Arise
Sept. 11 – Russ – The Church – A Place to Dream – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Communion
Sept. 18 – Russ – The Church – A Place to Serve – Ephesians 4:14-16
Sept. 25 – Russ – The Church – A Place of Light – Ephesians 5:8-14

Giving… Until It Makes A Difference… In Us

Oct. 2 – Guest Speaker – Dr. Cory Neudorf – Chief Medical Health Officer
Oct. 9 – Russ – Giving – It’s All About Love – 1st John 3:16-20 – Communion
Oct. 16 – Lorn – Giving – It’s All About Faith – Matthew 6:25-34
Oct. 23 – Russ – Giving – It Comes with a Warning – James 5:1-6
Oct 30 – Guest Speaker – Len Bachiu – God Speaks Today – Psalm 46

Haiti Trip February 2012

 

If you are interested to going to Haiti in February 2012 please complete an application form and give it to Loretta Penner, Pastor Russ or Brad Banman.  The application forms are at the Mission Bulletin board or you can contact Loretta. We are able to send 10 – 15 people and we would like to confirm the people going by September 2011.

Donations for Hands On Ministries

Donations of dry goods will be collected for Hands On Ministries on the second Sunday of every month of 2011.

Ideas:

• pasta
• peanut butter
• peanut butter
• jam
• cheez whiz
• ketchup
• cheese slices
• juice crystals
• granola bars
• cans that can be opened without a can opener
• fruit cups
• feminine hygiene products
• cleaning solutions
• hats and mitts