Deep Shift Transformation Update
May, 2008

According to our coach Denise Van Eck of Deep Shift, Ashland is doing extremely well in our transformation efforts.  Since the April newsletter article, the Session has met and each Elder has made a personal commitment to Ashland's transformation.  On May 19th, the Elders and Deacons met jointly and the Deacons joined the Elders in their commitment.  Each Sunday, a 'Time for Transformation' has been included in both workship services as an opportunity to provide updates.  The Session will be meeting virtually with Denise via a web conference service in the next couple of weeks.  During those meetings, we will attempt to define keys words while we explore some of the data gathered in phase one and thus far in phase two.

The next major step was formation of a 'Healthy Church Team' with representation from all walks of the congregation (outside of the session and the Deacons).  The purpose of this team is to come together and prayerfully discern and define what being a 'healthy church' means for Ashland.  They will grapple with some weighty questions like:

1. What does it mean to be the Body of Christ in today's world?

2. How does this definition compare with the Body of Christ tow thousand years ago?

3. What does it mean to be a faith community engaged in God's work in the future?

4. How can Ashland help each of us engage in personal, spiritual formation and re-formation?

5. How do we as individuals and as a congregation respond faithfully to the crises facing our world?

In light of Jesus' radical message, what is our duty to God?  to ourselves?  to our families?  to our neighbors?  to our enemies?  to our planet?

Seventeen people volunteered to serve on the "Healthy Church Team"!   This is a wonderful response and demonstrates the continued commitment to Ashland's future.  The 'Healthy Church Team' was dedicated on Sunday, May 25 during both services.  At that time, the contemporary worship team presented a new song, "Wilderness" that Rob Kelly wrote as a theme song for our transformation process.  Please that the tema members for their willingness and pray for God's guidance of their work together.  The team members are: Kim Bednarik, Audrey Berg, Katie Cashin, Bonnie Clarke, Jerry DeBoer, Rene Florendo, Rob Kelly, Scott Kern, Sandy Losemann, Lee Murphy, Sue Murphy, Noble Pribble, Jerry Rensch, Amy Rudai, Pat Rudai, Carol Walter and Bob Williams.

One final note: you are invited to participate with the 'Healthy Church' team members at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Joppa, Maryland on June 7 from 9 am to 3 pm. On that day, members from all Baltimore Presbytery churches that have begun Deep Shift transformation projects will "cluster" together with the Deep Shift coaches for a time of training and experience sharing.  Coffee and pastries will be served at 8:30 am and lunch will be provided.  You may attend the full day or a half day.

Elder Ron Baldwin