The Haywood Street Congregation’s Board kicked off the new year with its first meeting on January 27th and a half-day retreat on February 1st.  Officers elected are:  Sharon LeDuc, Chair; Bill Haggard, Chair elect; Susie Sweet, Secretary; Dell Dillard, Treasurer; Kelly Davis, Treasurer elect; and George Pettus, Chair of Finance Committee. Other board members include Susan Barnes, Keith Bryant, Hope Deifell (In-Reach), Ward Griffin (Finance), Beth Hook (Staff-Parish Relations), Lem Kirby (Staff-Parish Relations), Luke Lingle (Communications), Ann Merritt (Communications), Lynne Michael (In-Reach), Steve Noblitt (Staff-Parish Relations), Stacy Shelley, Cindy Smith (Staff-Parish Relations), and Mitchell Watson (Finance).

     Among many other items of interest, Brian reported that he is getting requests for mentoring from people across the US asking how we do what we do at Haywood Street Congregation.   He has recently travelled to Houston to the Shift Conference and was able to share with other groups similar to HSC. Shannon mentioned that we were blessed with 63 companions, 16 of them new, on Christmas Day, and that she is in discussion with Asheville Catholic School for 19 fourth graders and with several students at UNCA to come once a month. Dell stressed how “God has really been showing up at HSC during the past year” in so many ways, and especially with the successful opening of Respite and the generous increase in financial contributions.

     Leslie Anderson is guiding us in strategic planning for the next 3-5 years of the ministry of Haywood Street Congregation. We WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE your input in this planning; please share your ideas and concerns with a member of the board at any time.