360Team Report. Phase 1: Who We Are. Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

Transcription

1 360Team Report Phase 1: Who We Are Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world

2 Introduction History For over 160 years First United Methodist Church of Olympia has been a cornerstone for the Olympia community, providing guidance and compassion to the people around us. We are the oldest United Methodist congregation in the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference and have consistently been one of our Annual Conference s largest churches. We are a church with a history and commitment to our local and denominational communities. As a congregation we commit ourselves to Jesus commission to, Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We follow in the Wesleyan Christian tradition that encourages our personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and also a deep commitment to charity and social justice, following in the actions and ministry of Jesus Christ that we find in scripture. In the past 20 years, most Christian denominations in the United States have faced challenges and have entered a period of significant decline. FUMCO has also experienced challenges and difficulties in a similar time period that have led to a gradual decline in membership and active participation in the church. In 2012, the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference asked our church to participate in a 360 Readiness Survey to identify areas of strength and areas needing improvement to strengthen our ability to be an anchor church in our community. We are a community with diverse opinions and theology. However, overarching themes were apparent in our survey. The results indicated that as a congregation we needed to take a careful look at who we are and what God is calling our church to be as we prepare to grow. Our church is challenged to discern who God is calling us to become and to focus our work in fulfilling this call. The 360 Team is a task force charged by the Church Council to lead FUMCO to discern God s direction for our church and to facilitate the Council in future planning and implementation. We are facilitating this process so that FUMCO may follow God s call into transformative relationship with and caring for this world. Updated 6/20/13 Page 1

3 Purpose of this Report In Spring 2012 the 360 Team was formed to facilitate a church-wide discussion to help us better understand who God is calling us to become. Our task it to identify how we can more effectively use our existing strengths in core areas as we value and identify where, how, and why we need to grow. The 360 Team has proposed taking this on in three phases: Phase 1 Discern who are we? as a church and body of Christ. Phase 2 Discover who God wants us to become within our membership, our community and our world. Phase 3 Implement a plan to fulfill our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The 360 Team is excited to present this report that documents the work completed in Phase 1, the vital first step on a path toward being ready for growth. Updated 6/20/13 Page 2

4 Executive Summary 360 Team Members The 360 Team is comprised of the following individuals: Jeff Klein, Team chairperson George Hollingbery, Church Council chairperson Phil Stutzman, Staff Parish Relations chairperson Mary Mahaffy, Lay Leader Rev. Joanne Coleman Campbell, Lead Pastor Rev. Ruth Marston, Associate Pastor Rev. Carolyn Peterson, Discipleship Pastor 360 Readiness Survey In early 2012, the First United Methodist Church of Olympia (FUMCO) was asked by the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Methodist Church to take part in a Readiness 360 Survey. The purpose of this survey was to assess our church s spiritual and practical readiness to multiply by reaching new people in new ways and expand a faithful and effective ministry into the 21 st century. FUMCO was selected, along with eight other churches in the Pacific Northwest Conference because: We are an anchor church of the Conference and our growth and vitality is important for the overall health of the Conference; and It is believed that we have the capacity to do what is needed to be a thriving church now and in the future. The survey asked questions to gauge the level of congregational readiness in the areas of Spiritual Intensity, Missional Alignment, Cultural Openness, and Dynamic Relationships. Each area was graded on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0 to determine if the church was ready to expand its ministry in that area. The results showed that we were strongest in terms of Spiritual Intensity. While there were strengths in all areas, the results of the survey indicated that the congregants of our church felt we were not yet ready to reach out to new people in new ways. Preparation work needed to be done. Given that we are called by Christ to provide an effective ministry in our world, the 360 Team was formed and subsequently approved by Church Council to help facilitate strategizing and planning for FUMCO. The purpose of the 360 Team is to work directly with the Church Council to facilitate a long-term strategic plan for our church to fulfill its mission. As a part of this process, short-term goals will also be set to help achieve the long-term goals. A key step to any future planning is to understand our mission, whom we serve, what we do, and who we are. The purpose of this report is to discuss who FUMCO is and our mission in this world. Updated 6/20/13 Page 3

5 In short, the mission of FUMCO is to Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We are a multi-generational congregation that generally lives in the Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater areas. We have a membership of 820, but see an average of 280 people each Sunday and 450 unique individuals each month. We provide many ministries from prayer teams, Bible studies and educational opportunities, to community outreach and Christian Action opportunities. We are diverse in our beliefs but find ways to focus on our common belief in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Strategic planning is not new to FUMCO. In the past decade there have been four major planning efforts. There has been, however, a challenge in formalizing, implementing, and communicating these efforts to the congregation. This has left many in the congregation disheartened, confused at what FUMCO is doing, and concerned that their voice has not been heard. At times, past planning efforts did not consider or align its efforts with FUMCO s mission. It is the intent of the 360 Team and of the Church Council that this planning effort be different. We purposefully have taken a step back to investigate who we currently are, what we currently do, and what God is calling us to become. It is our intention to facilitate and help the Church Council provide a clear, concise plan of action that is communicated to our congregation so that we can fulfill our ultimate goal of being faithful Christians and doing God s work in this world. This report is our first official report-out to the congregation concerning this process. Updated 6/20/13 Page 4

6 Phase 1 Steps Readiness 360 Survey Results The 360 Team was formed after the FUMCO congregation took the Readiness 360 Survey in Spring The team was formed to review results of the survey and determine, with the input of Church Council, the next steps to focus and multiply our ministry. As previously discussed, each area was graded on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0. A score of 1.0 indicated that the church was not ready to implement changes and a score of 4.0 indicated that the church was ready to implement changes. The scores and summary discussion for each area as written in the report from the Readiness 360 Survey are as follows (the full Readiness 360 Survey results can be found in the Appendix at the end of this report): Spiritual Intensity: Score of 2.5 There is some fire in people s hearts at FUMCO, but it isn t burning as brightly as it should. FUMCO has some work to do in strengthening the personal connection between your people and God and God s mission for you in the world. It would be wise to spend some time reconnecting with God through renewing spiritual practices both personally and as a church body. Missional Alignment: Score of 2.0 Many folks at your church have a good sense of where God is calling you to go, but others are not aligned with this point of view. There is seldom enough personnel or financial resources to run in many directions at once. Now is a time for serious conversation about FUMCO s priorities. Cultural Openness: Score of 2.0 On one hand, many in the church want to reach diverse people, but many in the church still have great apprehension about what this might mean in terms of changing the face of FUMCO. There may be some limitations in terms of how far the church is able to reach toward different kinds of people in the next few years. Open communication will be critical. Dynamic Relationships: Score of 2.0 In some respects, your church has seen some amazing relationships and friendships across the years. However, the DNA of these relationships is not currently indicative of the church as a whole. You have some work to do in terms of cultivating trust within the church and relating effectively to folks who are different from the majority of the members. Updated 6/20/13 Page 5

7 As can be seen from these results, more work within FUMCO needs to be done prior to implementing new methods to reach new people in new ways. Knowing this, the 360 Team asked for the blessing of the Church Council to take a step back and answer the following questions: What is our mission? Who are we? What do we currently do? What ministries do we currently support? What communities do we represent? What do we believe? 360 Process Outline To help answer these questions, the 360 Team has been adhering to the following process outline: (Items listed in Phase I have been completed and are summarized further in this report. Italicized items listed in Phase II have been started but are not reported in this report. Items listed in Phase II that are not italicized have not been started. Items listed in Phases II and III will be reported on in the future.) 1. Phase I: Consider Who We Are a. Understand Our Mission i. Discuss mission with all ministry teams what does it mean to them? b. Review Recent Planning Processes i. Review FUMCO s past visioning and strategizing exercises 1. Synopsis of exercises in this report c. Explore Who We Currently Are i. Provide organization chart ii. Who are our congregants right now? 1. Age demographic 2. What communities are represented? iii. Whom do we serve? iv. What do we believe? 2. Phase II: Set Long Term Goals (5 Year Plan) General Broad-Based Goals a. Who does God want us to become? i. Ask congregation to pray for guidance 1. Prayer seminars 2. Worship time 3. Courier articles Updated 6/20/13 Page 6

8 ii. Ask congregation why they follow Jesus Christ and to tell us their story 1. Tell us your story results are available at the church office iii. Ask congregation to answer questions on what they have learned through prayer on what God is calling us to become individually and collectively iv. Determine other ways to reach out to the congregation to hear their voice v. Coordinate listening and discerning groups with congregants b. Review responses; work with Church Council to provide a long term vision c. Set Short Term Goals (1 Year Plan) Specific, Measurable, and Attainable Goals 3. Phase III: Implement Plan i. Review the work of all ministry teams 1. How will each ministry team work to help FUMCO meet long-term goals toward mission? 2. Provide a minimum of (3) real, measurable tasks for each team. The tasks must provide the first steps in meeting the long-term goals of FUMCO. a. Measure the progress of the short-term goals. Are they still in line with the long-term goals? b. Church Council to make adjustments as necessary Updated 6/20/13 Page 7

9 Phase 1 Results Understanding the Mission of First United Methodist Church Understand Our Mission: Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world An exercise was performed with the 360 Team and Church Council, as well as with most leadership and ministry teams, to break down the mission statement to better understand what our mission really means. It has been determined that the mission statement itself is very broad. Making disciples, transformation, and the world have various meanings. Even Jesus Christ can have many definitions from teacher to savior. We are accepting that we have a broad mission. With that said, we recommend that our ministries become focused on this mission as we move forward in the strategic planning process. FUMCO s Visioning and Strategizing Synopsis Every church, if it is to thrive, must continually discern how to be the church in a way that is faithful to God and to the current times in which it lives. FUMCO has performed strategic planning throughout its history in different ways. The implementation of the planning is always the difficult part and has met with varied success over the years. The 360 Team has reviewed the existing documents of the last 25 years of visioning, strategic planning, and implementation. We are looking at both the failures and successes of effective implementation and are trying to analyze the underlying causes, so that we may allow those insights to inform our own process. In this time in history, it is critical that we master the art of adaptive learning, so that we at FUMCO may continue to be a relevant community through which God s Good News may flow. Old strategies and processes may no longer be useful. With any new strategy we create and implement, we must be constantly learning and adapting from each step of the process. The visioning and planning work conducted since 2008 has been informing the direction of the church. In , Rev. Dale Cockrum led the congregation in a study informed by the book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Robert Schnase. Discussion groups formed around the five practices Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Ministry, and Extravagant Generosity. In , Rev. Jan Van Pelt, Interim Pastor, continued the work through a series of listening sessions utilizing Appreciative Inquiry. Four vision foci were identified: to become a more inviting congregation, to provide richer and more varied opportunities for spiritual growth, to intentionally nurture our own faith community, and to do Christ s work in the world. In 2010, we held three sessions during a Listening Season to share our values, our passions, and the pressures on our lives. In 2012, we took an all-church survey called Readiness 360: Multiply your impact, and a small team of leaders was sent to a training offered by the PNW Conference to help interpret the results and learn how to utilize them in planning for our future. This team became the Updated 6/20/13 Page 8

10 360 Team that has been given the task by the Church Council to lead them in creating a strategic plan that will shape a vibrant future for God s work through the FUMCO congregation. After reviewing and incorporating the information and insights of the previous six years, the 360 Team is moving forward to the next phase. Phase 1 Results - Who Are We? Who Are We? Spiritually Who are we and what do we believe? Members of First United Methodist Church of Olympia are Christians following the Wesleyan traditions of the United Methodist Church passed down by our founder, John Wesley. Our Wesleyan traditions embrace four sources of authority (known as the quadrilateral) that are rooted in the tradition of the Church of England, and include Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience. Scripture: United Methodists share with other Christians the conviction that Scripture is the primary source and criterion for Christian doctrine. Through scripture, the living Christ meets us in the experience of redeeming grace. Reason: John Wesley states that without reason we cannot understand the essential truths of Scripture. He states that reason is not a mere human invention and shall be assisted by the Holy Spirit if we are to understand the mysteries of God. Tradition: The theological task does not start anew in each age or each person. There is a rich and varied contribution of traditions from many cultures around the globe, but still all Christians share a common history. Tradition acts as a measure of validity and propriety for a community s faith insofar as it represents a consensus of faith. Experience: John Wesley stated that the experience of the Holy Spirit is a critical component in the Christian life. We follow Wesley s practice of examining experience, both individual and corporate, for confirmations of realities of God s grace attested in scripture. As United Methodists, we accept the core beliefs of the United Methodist Church and are governed by The UMC Book of Discipline. The United Methodist Church has a booklet called Traditional Beliefs of United Methodists, based on the insights of John Wesley, that outlines the basics of United Methodist beliefs; this booklet is available to anyone upon request. The United Methodist Church is the second largest mainline protestant denomination in America. Mainline protestant denominations, including the United Methodist Church, have traditionally stressed social justice and personal salvation. Our congregation is comprised of people who come from a number of different faith and non-faith backgrounds, and we represent a wide theological perspective. Our challenge is to be a safe place for individuals to explore God s calling upon their lives. We are called to be a place where all can learn discipleship of Jesus Christ, to worship God as Updated 6/20/13 Page 9

11 we learn from, support, and respect one another, and to work together to continually discern and live out God s mission for the congregation as a whole. Who Are We? Demographically We currently have limited statistical information about those who are actively involved in FUMCO: gender, worship attendance, and marital status. Since we have ages for only half of our people at this time, we cannot make any useful analysis in this area. Distribution of Members and Attenders* by Gender Distribution of Members and Attenders by Marital Status Married - 46% Male - 41% Female - 59% Single - 11 % Children & Youth - 12% Unknown - 31% Distribution of Worship Attendance Members - 42% Attenders - 28% Visitors - 25% Other - 5% *An Attender is defined as a person who lives locally, has attended regularly for at least a few months, but has not joined the church as a member. Updated 6/20/13 Page 10

12 Who Are We? Geographically Geographically, most of FUMCO s members and attenders come from Thurston County, primarily from Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater. The local visitors follow the same geographical pattern as members and attenders. Geographical Distribution of Members and Attenders Olympia - 63% Lacey - 15% Tumwater - 7% Other Thurston County - 3% Outside Thurston County - 12% Geographical Distribution of Visitors Olympia - 54% Lacey - 19% Tumwater - 2% Other Thurston County - 1% Outside Thurston County - 24% Who Are We? What are our ministries? We at FUMCO are involved in many ministries that further God s call in our lives and in our world. Some of us have a purpose of ministering to our church body and our needed growth into mature Christians, while others have a focus on our call to those outside our walls, to those who may never be a part of our congregation. Our goal is to have everyone in our faith community be a part of each of these ministries in some way. The chart on the following page gives a sense of the diversity of our ministries. The financial resources allocated to each ministry area in the 2013 Budget are shown below Budget Allocation by Ministry Areas Faithfully Serving 27% Gratefully Worshiping 30% Gratefully Worshiping Joyfully Learning Gracefully Cherishing Faithfully Serving Gracefully Cherishing 20% Joyfully Learning 23% Updated 6/20/13 Page 11

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14 Who Are We? Organizationally In 2011, FUMCO adopted the mission statement of the United Methodist Church as our own: Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We vision ourselves carrying out this mission by gratefully worshiping God, joyfully learning discipleship, gracefully cherishing one another, and faithfully serving the world, under the guidance and through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the structure that helps shape and organize our work. All that we do must be in alignment with our mission to make our ministry most effective. Throughout 2012, the church leadership and the congregation have been wrestling with the mission, as we come to understand how it will shape our church and all that we do. We continue to do so as we move into the next phase. The following is a Church Council organizational chart outlining the internal governing body of FUMCO. Only those groups that have a seat on the Church Council are represented by this organizational chart: First United Methodist Church of Olympia Organization Chart Updated 6/20/13 Page 13

15 Next Steps: Phases II & III Phase II What Does God Want Us to Become? After we have considered "who we are" as a Church, we can consider "What then does God want us to become?" This is a discerning process that will lead to a goal-setting exercise for short-term and long-term goals. This requires an individual to visualize a future condition, so ask yourself: Individually, how do I see my discipleship in action in the future? Collectively as a congregation, a church family, how do I see us maximizing our gifts, skills, and talents in our missional work in our community and the world? God has a plan for First United Methodist Church of Olympia. We believe that throughout our lives God has been speaking to each one of us, and throughout this process the 360 Team will use various methods for persons to share the passions that God has placed within each of our hearts. Through a process facilitated by Church Council and the 360 Team, we will be able to find a pattern to our individual thoughts and then formulate a comprehensive plan in September that will play to our collective strengths. The committees and ministry teams of the church will work with the Church Council to create goals in the last quarter of 2013 that are in line with and will further the Council s strategic plan. There is no question, we have many gifts, and we are called to offer those gifts in our discipleship. This is an exciting process that will generate significant results for our faith community. Transforming lives and bringing people to Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world can be done so much more effectively when we work together and understand our individual strengths and how they contribute to the whole. This is Phase II of the strategic planning process, forming goal sets about what we want to become. Upon completion of Phase II (December 2013), we will have short-term goals that will align with a long-term vision for FUMCO. Phase III Implementing and Transforming Our World During Phase III (which begins January 2014), we will implement our plan to achieve these short- and long-term goals. More importantly, we will be doing work in our community, based specifically on the passions that God has placed in our hearts. The congregants of First United Methodist Church of Olympia are a diverse group of gifted and talented people with a variety of passions. God has called each of us to do our part in fulfilling Christ s commission. In Phase III, we will all get the opportunity to work together to help make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Updated 6/20/13 Page 14

16 Updated 6/20/13 Page 15

17 Appendix: Readiness 360 Complete Report Updated 6/20/13 Page 16

18 Updated 6/20/13 Page 17

19 Readiness 360 Complete Report For First United Methodist Church of Olympia April 14, 2012 Prepared by: Readiness 360, LLC

20 Overview Congratulations for being willing to engage in a serious conversation about your readiness to reach new people in new ways! The Christian movement in North America was strong for so many generations because churches planted new churches that planted new churches. Untold thousands of churches, decade after decade, state after state! Only a small percentage of today's churches still have multiplication of ministry on their radar. Your church does - and that sets you apart! First United Methodist Church of Olympia asked several of its leaders and participants to participate in the Readiness 360 process. The survey many of you took assesses your church's spiritual and practical readiness for faithful and effective ministry in the 21st century. 179 persons took the Readiness 360, a mix of staff, key leaders and active ministry participants. The Readiness 360 assesses four critical capacities for multiplying thriving ministries. In the rating system below, your church's level of multiplication energy is indicated by the number of rabbits (God's most adorable multipliers). The more multiplication energy your church has, the more ready you will be to start something new. FUMCO is strongest in terms of Spiritual Intensity and is most challenged in terms of Missional Alignment. KEY: =not ready, =not yet ready, =almost ready, =ready Spiritual Intensity: 1/2 There is some fire in people's hearts at FUMCO, but it isn't burning as brightly as it should. FUMCO has some work to do in strengthening the personal connection between your people and God and God's mission for you in the world. It would be wise to spend some time reconnecting with God through renewing spiritual practices both personally and as a church body. Missional Alignment: Many folks at your church have a good sense of where God is calling you to go, but others are not aligned with this point of view. There is seldom enough personnel or financial resources to run in many directions at once. Now is a time for serious conversation about FUMCO 's priorities. Cultural Openness: On one hand, many in the church want to reach diverse people, but many in the church still have great apprehension about what this might mean in terms of changing the face of FUMCO. There may be some limitations in terms of how far the church is able to reach toward different kinds of people in the next few years. Open communication will be critical. Dynamic Relationships: In some respects, your church has seen some amazing relationships and friendships across the years. However, the DNA of these relationships is not currently indicative of the church as a whole. You have some work to do in terms of cultivating trust within the church and relating effectively to folks who are different from the majority of the members. Page 2 of 23

21 SPIRITUAL INTENSITY: All great Christian movements are intense spiritually, marked by a deep love for God and a surrendering to what God is seeking to do through human beings. It is critical that a spiritual fire burns within the hearts and souls of those leading and participating in the life of the church. Without personal passion for Christ, we lack an adequate source of spiritual energy for vital and multiplying ministry. There is some fire in people's hearts at FUMCO, but it isn't burning as brightly as it should. FUMCO has some work to do in strengthening the personal connection between your people and God and God's mission for you in the world. It would be wise to spend some time reconnecting with God through renewing spiritual practices both personally and as a church body. In your church: Many people have an expectation of encountering the living Christ personally and/or in the congregation. Practicing spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible study, fasting, Christian works, etc.) is not a major part of life together. People are willing to take risks as an expression of their faith and trust in God. Leaders - paid and unpaid - demonstrate spiritual vitality. Areas of Relative Strength Score Areas of Potential Improvement Score 1. People have found that hard work and sacrifice pays off richly in spiritual fruit. 2. Your church moves with a sense that it is sent to share something of eternal value with the world. 3. People report meeting the living Christ at some point in their life People report utilizing their spiritual gifts and talents. 2. People put faith into their own words and relate it to their own life experience. 3. Your church prays together in order to better understand God's will and make good decisions Page 3 of 23

22 DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS: Disciple making depends in large part on our relational skills our relationship with God and with others. A church's people must develop good habits for leading others into a transformative relationship with God through Christ. In some respects, your church has seen some amazing relationships and friendships across the years. However, the DNA of these relationships is not currently indicative of the church as a whole. You have some work to do in terms of cultivating trust within the church and relating effectively to folks who are different from the majority of the members. Your ability to form relationships with new people is colored by: A lack of welcoming behaviors. A struggle to incorporate new people into the life of your church. Positive experience partnering with other leaders and groups. There is a need for greater teamwork and leader development. Leaders - paid and unpaid - who may be struggling to work together. Areas of Relative Strength Score Areas of Potential Improvement Score 1. People are okay with the idea that your church could grow. 2. Your church has a healthy, trusting partnership with at least one other community agency or entity for the good of the community. 3. People are happy to open the church's facilities for community use Your church seems committed to doing things in a way that is oriented to guests and visitors. 2. People have the experience of inviting friends and neighbors who, in turn, become active participants in the church's life. 3. New people are quickly assimilated into your church's teams and groups and ushered onto the ministry playing field Page 4 of 23

23 MISSIONAL ALIGNMENT: 73 Highly fruitful churches consistently prioritize the investment of their resources (time, talent, treasure) according to their Biblical vision and mission. Plans and major initiatives must stem clearly from Biblical mandates and a quest for fruitfulness. There is a willingness to let go of strategies that aren't bearing as much fruit. The more churches do this the better they are aligned. Many folks at your church have a good sense of where God is calling you to go, but others are not aligned with this point of view. There is seldom enough personnel or financial resources to run in many directions at once. Now is a time for serious conversation about FUMCO 's priorities. To this end, your church has: A clear understanding of our mandate to reach new people. A disconnect between its stated mission and its core practices and activities. Fear of backlash if the church makes decisions that are in line with its mission as opposed to pleasing people or maintaining status quo. Uncertainty about the church's ability to start new ministries that thrive. Clarity about the core principles of the church's faith. Passionate support for the church's direction. Areas of Relative Strength Score Areas of Potential Improvement Score 1. Your church focuses on God's abundance, not on your lack of resources People believe that procedure should never be used to shut down mission advancement People think in terms of the church's mission more than what's in it for them personally Your church keeps its eye on reaching it mission field without stressing over funding issues Your church's mission connects with people's compassion for others who are suffering or spiritually estranged from God People in your church are clear about who makes what decisions Page 5 of 23

24 CULTURAL OPENNESS: 73.5 Since the first century, effective churches have been reaching across cultural boundaries to share the Christian good news with diverse people, who begin with different experiences, perspectives, and stories. Churches that exhibit fortress behaviors or who spend excessive time mourning social change often have difficulty sharing life with new kinds of people. On one hand, many in the church want to reach diverse people, but many in the church still have great apprehension about what this might mean in terms of changing the face of FUMCO. There may be some limitations in terms of how far the church is able to reach toward different kinds of people in the next few years. Open communication will be critical. Your congregation's capacity for embracing new cultures (e.g., socio-economic, racial/ethnic, generational, etc.) is marked by: Attitudes and behaviors that indicate some difficulties in crossing cultural boundaries, especially with your neighbors. A good ability to form meaningful community with people who puzzle and/or offend you in certain respects. Some anxiety about increasing diversity in your church. Energy for working with different kinds of people. Difficulty in sharing power with new people. Mixed experiences that may make it difficult to reach younger people. Mixed experiences that may make it difficult to reach people in different socio-economic groups. Areas of Relative Strength Score Areas of Potential Improvement Score 1. The ideas of young people are valued. 2. People have a positive attitude toward their neighbors who have different instincts, tastes or points of view People believe that your church is building relationships with young people (ages 18-30). 2. You have a mix of newcomers and old-timers in leadership at your church People discipline themselves to look past troublesome cultural, situational issues in order to focus on bigger issues, such as inviting people into the experience of God's grace Once oriented, your church trusts people to lead Page 6 of 23

25 What excites you about the possibility of us multiplying our impact through starting a new place or ministry for new people? would like to see the church grow. I think new members should be mentored to become leaders at a speed with which they;'re comforable. We get to have a new ministry for new people to feel more welcome. We get to have a new ministry for new people to feel more welcome. Larger, more diverse congregation - new ideas, new energy, more participation in church activities Would love to see us continue to work to end homelessness. Check out Plymouth Housing group in Seattle to see what is possible If there's a way to bring in young people, poor people, and especially a diverse congregation (we are mostly white), we would more accurately reflect the community. It would create challenges, but is so important. It makes our church stronger and helps us appreciate the diversity of our community. Getting to know new people Have a bigger group of people to get involved Having more people to recruit for the technical team I'm excited that those people would know God and have a place for fellowship and spiritual growth. We will be reaching an age group that is least represented in our congregation, and can influence better influence the lives of their peers as a result (age teen thru 30). I am hesitant as I don't feel we are addressing the needs of our current congregation and ministering to them in a successful manner. Though I do understand the desire to reach out to new folks. I think we do a fairly good job of Sunday morning ministry, but we have nothing to offer programming wise for during the week. We do not offer any mid-week programming for children like preschool, Awana, before/afterschool care. We could do a Moms group like MOPs. We don't really have a women's ministry (outside of UMW) or a men's ministry. When you look at other church's websites, many of them offer significant mid-week programming and vital youth programs. Ours does not. I do understand that there will always be flaws in our church and that one particular church may not serve all our needs. But, in the last 10 years, my family has utilized the mid week programs of FIVE other churchs in this community. The church should expand in a growing community.keeping the worship activity in one place cannot achieve good growth We need to reach more people, especially the young and young families More is usually better. Our congregation is aging. We need young people who are able to carry on the work of the church. Right now the same few people do all the projects. It's a gift to others to make a way for them to experience the love of Jesus the Christ. It would bring new life into the church, new ideas and actions. I am not excited until I see how this will be achieved. Growing disciples of Christ, seeing God's will be done, I think doing a better job ministering to young people and our senior high youth is the single most important thing our church could do. no comment Maybe we can get more excited about God and love God more and get others excited about God also. Our mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ, through worship, learning, cherishing and serving is very to the point and exciting. It will help bring vitality to the church. I believve that which isn't growing is dying, so we must grow to remain viable. The possibility that we might orient ourselves to Christ and to faithfulness to God's word in the process. That if we do this right, take our time to do this prayerfully and with real heartfelt care, we might address, mend and improve many of our existing troubles and shortcomings as well. It is something that must be done; we can't leave anyone out in "transforming the world" Page 7 of 23

26 New ministries bring new ideas and commitments. New people excited to help in the community. Our church is great at getting involved in volunteering, and fresh blood would really help. Seeing young families in our church & seeing our church grow in new directions. Increasing the number of people who join our church. Just getting more people in our congregation... hopefully those who are just STARTING to get gray hair. Reaching out to an age group with ideas and information that appeals to their senses. Reaching out to new people and connecting with them. More people will find Christ and their lives will be richer, fuller, deeper and they in turn will do more to help make the world better for all. I welcome new people and new ideas and the energy they bring. A vibrant community needs this new energy to keep progressing. By virute of questions posed in this survey, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that starting new place or ministry is the most appropriate means for growth in our church. Many churches have attempted to start new ministries and places of worship in recent years - FUMCO is behind the curve. It should assess it's ministries fully and comprehensively to determine it effectiveness and focus on the things we do well for the sake of the community in unity. everything! Transforming lives and furthering God's kingdom by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and serving others in need. Having more people in our congregation and more people to participate in ministries. We have very few members between the ages of 20 to 40. It is a hard group to attact with the demands on their time between work and child rearing, but it is an important age segment. Makes sense. Different folks are comfortable with different approaches. Having a choice will serve a more diverse group of people. new people bring new visions and perspectives I would love to see more young adults active in the church Helping others find the love of Christ and the peace it brings. It may make up for slight loss of interest that was strong in the past. I'm excited about the energy and new ideas that a new ministry and place would bring, particularly if it would reach people that are not currently being reached by traditional churches. Our church is in need of new growth in order to survive. The opportunity to bring more diversity to our congregation, both ethnically as well as socially. No comment Creating a way to have a positive impact on the spiritual growth of new people is pursuing God's work - the hard part is finding that way! If we get a youth minister soon. Bring back former youth and building the youth program Its okay. I just hope we tell them about JESUS, not just our church. 1] Watching Jesus change lives through changing hearts that have been hardened and mislead by our society. 2] I would be excited to meet new friends who are developing their personal relationship with Christ. 3] And the deeper their relationships are with Christ the more life changing power HE is given through the Body of Christ. 4] I'm tired of hearing calls to do more and feeling pressured to give more,both of time, talents, and offerings. I would like to see first hand and hear of all the good stuff we as a body have done and can do. I'd be excited to see His Kingdom and His People speak up for The Word and Truth of scripture. The hope this would provide an opportunity for a more praise filled worship, joyful singing, scripture study and opportunities for new people to experience God's presence, love and grace right where they are. Then that they would experience a strong fellowship in loving and serving Christ and one another. I like the idea. It offers another oppportunity to rreach out to people in the name of God through Jesus. It expands God' reign in fostering meaningful lives. It develops individual character and leadership. It brings healing and healthy possibilities to our community through the engagement of multiple generations. For new people to experience joy in their relationship with God. Page 8 of 23

27 The church as it stands today is experiencing a slow death. We absolutely need to adapt to what interests and draws in younger people. I enjoy gathering energy from younger folks, and listening to them helps me to understand the world today. When I joined the church 27 years ago I was one of the youngest adult members; that's still true today, which is a sad statement. Most of my friends have left this church. I feel that this is the wrong direction to take the church. I think we are at an exciting place, a cross roads, not unlike the rest of organized religion around the world. Some have taken their stance (the Catholic Church) and statistics show that is not the right approach. Over 10% of Americans are ex-catholics. We need to make sure that our church isn't so stubborn and out of touch. As our society is progressing and people are changing, everything must change with us. One approach, as is being discussed, would be to branch out with new ministry, new places of worship, new people, all targeted towards a younger demographic that isn't really represented currently in our congregation. I believe that while this approach would accomplish the goal of recruiting new, younger members, it comes with the risk of separating the old and the new. That seems too risky to me, we should not be separating the church. Keep it simple, the table church. Instead, I think with some hard work and soul searching and experimentation, we can update our services and practices so that they will attract new young members and families while still including them in the congregation as it is today. The congregation is our greatest asset, a group of people like family with unconditional love and understanding, all working together to better ourselves and follow in the footsteps of our Lord. I think that we can take this and build on it because we already have the congregation. We just need to make it more attractive to the upcoming generations. Let's keep it simple. How can we get young adults to join our church? Make the service on every Sunday worth going to, fun, meaningful and helpful in our lives. If the lessons we teach are so valuable that we make Sunday the most important day of the week again, then we will never have a problem attracting new member again. I think this can be accomplished by using our exceptional music talent, both from staff as well as song team, and completely reshape our services. Let's talk about what makes us Methodists. What makes us Christians. Instead of reading scripture and singing hymns, let's talk about what is happening in the world and how we can live our lives in a way that follows Christ's teaching. Then relate those messages to the scripture. I'm not saying move on and forget the bible and the lessons in it, but I'm suggesting that we interpret it in the present tense. Let's sing songs that we don't need to read the words for, that we can sing from the heart. Let's talk about the things that we don't want to talk about: gays in the church, divorce, sex, war, Islam, sin/forgiveness, etc. I think we can bring our church into the 21st century simply by talking about the issues that affect us in our every day lives. I have no doubt that we can accomplish this, with exceptional senior leadership that is will to change, evident in this questionnaire itself. Thank you for tackling this instead of ignoring it as other organizations are doing. That more people will know themselves to be God's beloved and peace will reign in God's diverse but colorful kingdom. the thought of getting younger folks in the church excites me because we are so heavy on somethings The involvement of people who are not or would not be comfortable in our present building, style or understanding of their needs/wants and motivations. Actually not much. There has been too much dishonesty and political actions, it has left me with more concerns about the agenda's than excitement over new attendees and place. I have to again trust the leadership before I'm going to be excited. I'm a relatively new (less than a year) and relatively young (33) member. I think a new young adult ministry might draw in more people that are bit younger than I am but might also attract those in their 30s who value this sort of Christian leadership in our community. I would personally enjoy having more peers in the Congregation and perhaps playing some sort of role in creating such a ministry. Seeing more people relating to God and able to find a way to nurish that relationship. become know for evangelism in the community Getting new programs and feeling a new sense of purpose in the congregatin. New younger faces with families and ideas. Young children in our church. I believe a new place of ministry for young adults will also revitalize the existing congregation. Bringing Jesus into their lives, allowing them to know the grace, peace and love the will experience. It's always great to see the church growing. Good idea in theory but lots of details to be worked out. No comment It excites me that we are starting to open our hearts to change. This is what Jesus was about: reaching people who need purpose, support and connection to a higher purpose. He also was about opposing domination and injustice Page 9 of 23

28 We have an opportunity to change people's lives for eternity. We are standing at a crossroads, and it is our responsibility to act.cco Fresh perspectives and openness of ideas I support the idea of youth/young adult program. I Like it. The opportunity to bring more people to Christ. To provide opportunity for othere to grow spiritually. Providing opportunity for people to come to Christ and have a church home. I am excited to see more youth and young families in the church. I want an active youth group for my children as they grow up. Reaching out to people in need in our community not much We will keep the church alive and growing I'm not excited about that suggestion. The congregation and staff need to figure out how to use the space we developed in the big remodel. We need new people and also young people to keep new ideas and energy in our congregation. If we don't see growth we get comfortable and complacent with our relationship with God. I don't think God wants us to just come and worship. We are needed to be the tools and bring people to Christianity. We will bring new life and younger people to our church. we need to fill up our pews before we start something new. Having new ideas and thoughts on the Scriptures - more ways to spread the gospel and love of Jesus. It means the congregation is open to new ideas. Hopefully, it means that new people with feel more comfortable. I am looking forward to seeing a more diverse congregation. I really believe God wants to see a more diverse congregation. I would enjoy seeing more 18 to 35 year olds in the congregation. We need some type of ministry to reach out to this age group to encourage them to come to FUMCO. More people will benefit from this new ministry. Meeting, and listening to new people is always an exciting prospect to me - and cannot fail to cement our place in religious leadership for our greater community. I am not at all excited by this. New people, yes; new place, no. Working at making a difference every day and not just on Sundays and acting on our beliefs and helping the poor We need to grow! New faces bring vitality and new ideas. We have been stagnant. Our church needs new young members and families. Our church will not grow/survive without them! New people, new ideas, deeper commitment to christ I would love to see a place where everyone feels welcome and loved as soon as they walk in the door. I would love to see a vibrant youth and young adult community growing in God's love. Bringing in good people It will allow us to grow as a church and bring more people to God's word. More opportunities to reach more people with the message of Christ We need to bring more youth and vitality into our church. Young people! Page 10 of 23