Transformation Report: Fall 2016

Transcription

1 Transfrmatin Reprt: Fall 2016 By CAT Team (Milt Cx, Mary Hlland, Jeff Jhnsn, Pastr Larsen, Paul Metz, Cindi Perrine, Vicki Spiller, and Jasn Tews)

2 Executive Summary Where we started April f 2016, we launched the Cngregatinal Assessment Tl (CAT) in respnse t the declining state f ur cngregatin in bth membership, resurces, and ability t fulfill the Methdist missin t make disciples f Jesus Christ fr the Transfrmatin f the wrld. The intent f the survey was t give us insight int areas we can fcus n t transfrm ur church in the cming years. The survey was intended t be the first step in ur jurney. The CAT Team was frmed t rganize the administratin f the survey and prvide structure and leadership fr transfrmatin based n survey results and ther insights. Samaritan Center fr Cngregatins was the cnsulting rganizatin hired t help with the implementatin and interpretatin f the CAT survey. Where we are (as f August 2016) T date we have accmplished the fllwing. Cmpleted Survey with nearly 100% participatin rate (95 respnses). CAT Team and Church Cuncil reviewed detailed results with Samaritan Center fr Cngregatins (May 2016) All Church meeting held t prvide Executive Summary f CAT survey results. See recrding here: Tw Listening Sessins held in June t cllect additinal insight and suggestins frm cngregatin. Mnthly infrmal sessins held in July and August and will cntinue intermittently as needed. (see details belw) CAT Team reviewed all ideas and cmments prvided thrugh Listening Sessins as well as infrmal cnversatins. CAT Team priritized ideas and cmments based n: impact t cmmunity and cngregatin and ease f implementatin. High impact/high interest ideas that culd be implemented easily have been put int mtin. High impact ideas that take mre time are in planning. (See later sectins fr full inventry f actin items and status.) Where we are ging next (Fall/Winter 2016/2017) As we cntinue t explre new directins fr the church, we will fcus n these areas: Fall all-church transfrmatin wrkshp (tentative date: Octber 9 th ) t slidify ur missin, values and guiding principles and mre deeply discuss wrship and hspitality and utreach. Establishing a cmmunicatins apprach that supprts the needs f the cngregatin and cmmunity t engage, prvide feedback, and share experiences. (Begin in Sept) Experiment with One-Church, One-Tpic apprach (Sept and Octber 2016). Expand adult educatin fferings, specifically a back-t-basics curse (Jan 2017). 1

3 Apprach Iterative Prcess Overall, we are adpting an experimental, discvery-fcused apprach t transfrmatin. By learning ur way frward thrugh prayer, dialg, explratin, and examinatin, we believe we can build a transfrmative culture within ur cngregatin that will serve us well in an ever-changing and increasingly challenging wrld. Here is the basic prcess we will fllw: Discver (CAT Survey) Benchmarking frmal bservatins Examine Cngregatinal and cmmunity feedback/respnse Describe (CAT Survey Review) Listening Sessins frmal Discussins Experiment Vlunteer Leaders Cuncil/Cmmittees Clergy Imagine Listening Sessins CAT/Church Cuncil/Vlunteers 2

4 Adaptive cngregatin This is what we aspire t as an evlving church that remains true t ur missin and aligns ur actins t the missin in a way that is clearly visible t church members and the cmmunity. A strng Missin is ur cmpelling WHY. Alng with that missin we will need t articulate ur values and guiding principles things we can display thrugh ur actins that cmmunicate t ur cmmunity wh we are and what they can expect frm us. Transparency (clear cmmunicatin and gvernance) creates trust and accuntability amng ur members and with the cmmunity. Vice creates engagement and cmmitment and a cntinuus surce fr discvery. 3

5 Listening Sessin Tpics Belw are materials used in the listening sessins that highlight the tpics discussed. Tpic: Cmmunity Engagement Q59: Develp and implement a cmprehensive strategy t reach new peple and incrprate them int the life f the church. (#2 pririty) Q64: Wrk t renew and revitalize the cmmunity arund the church by building calitins with partners (#4 pririty) Q95: an effrt t increase ur resurces t balance ur budget I am willing t increase rental f ur space t ther rganizatins. (95% agree r tend t agree) Missinal Church dex: Lw t Mderate Mst members f ur church wuld be cmfrtable sharing faith-stries with persns in the cmmunity where they live and wrk (very lw) Sme small grups frm ur church intentinally meet ut in the cmmunity rather than in the church building in an effrt t reach thers (mderate) Our church has targeted specific grups within ur cmmunity that we reach ut t with the message f the Kingdm f Gd (lw) Many different ministries in ur church are taking steps t reach persns in ur cmmunity rather than serve ur wn members (lw) Our members spend time listening t the needs f the peple in the cmmunity s that they can respnd t thse needs as a Christian witness 4

6 Tpic: Attract Yuth and Families #1 pririty Q57 Make necessary changes t attract families with children and yuth t ur church. #1 fr age grup < 35, #2 fr age grup 35-64, #1 fr age grup >65 Cmments Q98 and Q99 Children and Yuth prgramming: The church needs t expand its prgramming. Sunday prgramming needs t be beefed up and an additinal day during a weeknight needs t be ffered. Mre children s activities. Says it s drky Yuth ministry needs an verhaul. Need smene in leadership wh understands yuth and cares abut and fr them. Fcus n building a slid cnnectin with ur yuth. Prgram cnflicts with sprts/ schl activities, needs t be mre fun, lack f yuth pastr desn t help, ther churches have tns f kids in yuth prgram which attracts mre kids Lack f interest and enthusiasm Friends dn t attend 3-4 yuth is nt an effective yuth ministry we g elsewhere Cnfirmatin experience was lackluster my teens are nw engaged at 1st Cngregatinal (3 Tpic: Hspitality year cnfirmatin prgram) and 1s Pres. Changing yuth leaders has led t a lss in interest Hspitality is rated high by survey respndents BUT is very lw (less than 10th percentile) when cmpared t ther churches. Questins Our church welcmes and is enriched by persns frm many different walks f life Being part f this church cmmunity has given new meaning t my life A friendly atmsphere prevails amng the members f ur church I sense an atmsphere f genuine care and cncern amng ur members in time f persnal need Members in ur church have been prepared t persnally welcme guests in wrship services 5

7 Tpic: Cmmunicatin and Change There are n specific questins in the CAT addressing cmmunicatin. Overall lw satisfactin and lw energy puts us in the Recvery/Revitalizatin Quadrant: We need t recver a sense f meaning and purpse Mderate t lw scres arund gvernance and cnflict reslutin suggest we need mre pen dialg, cnversatin and clarity in purpse and directin. This grup wuld discuss ur missin/values/guiding principles and hw we can ensure transparency within the church and give everyne a vice (missin/transparency/vice) Tpic: Spiritual Vitality Q58: Prvide mre pprtunities fr Christian educatin and spiritual frmatin at every age and stage f life (#5 pririty) Q54: Strengthen the prcess by which members are called and equipped fr ministry and leadership (#6 pririty) Spiritual Vitality dex: LOW verall and in cmparisn t ther churches. My spiritual experiences ften impact the way I lk at life My spirituality is really the basis f my whle apprach t life I experience the presence f Gd in my life I wrk t cnnect my faith t all ther aspects f my life Althugh my faith is imprtant t me, I feel there are ther mre pressing things in my life right nw (agree = lwer index) 6

8 Missin/Values/Guiding Principles Draft Belw is a draft f ur cngregatinal missin, values, and guiding principles based n the CAT survey results, listening sessins, and cnversatin. CAT team will seek cngregatinal input and alignment in the upcming all-church meeting. MISSION: Create a vibrant, engaged and pen cmmunity f disciples wh transfrm ur wrld thrugh acts f cmpassin, prayer, and cnnectin. VALUES: Missin and service A multi-generatinal cmmunity Relatinships Prayer and religius study beynd wrship GUIDING PRINCIPLES Cngregatin-Led We believe great things happen thrugh the church cmmunity wrking as the bdy f Christ. teractive We seek and encurage church members t engage with each ther and the cmmunity utside f wrship, sharing their vice and gifts. Open - We respect ur differences and welcme authentic cnversatin and questins as it enables us t achieve ur missin. Empwering We equip ur leaders with skills and knwledge t be effective. We empwer everyne t fulfill the missin thrugh hspitality, service and cnnectin. timate We seek direct and meaningful cntact with everyne arund us including thse we serve, ur cmmunity, and ur cngregatin. Everyne in Ministry Everyne in the Church can be in ministry in sme way and we are a cmmunity f believers wh will supprt each ther in finding and grwing their persnal ministry. Agile and Adaptive We recgnize that the wrld is rapidly changing and we must be respnsive t the evlving needs f ur cngregatin and the cmmunity. We use methds and best practices t be adaptive and flexible. Respnsive We are biased tward actin and strive t respnd t needs. We fcus n DOING gd wrk. Transparency - Our leaders speak penly abut plans t achieve cngregatinal gals. They welcme accuntability fr remaining true t ur missin. 7

9 Actin List Belw is a simplified list f the feedback and actin pints against which we are tracking prgress. See the When clumn fr an estimated timeline. Nw items are planned t be cmpleted in the August-Octber timeframe. NA items are cmpleted, deferred, r nging. Near items are expected t be implemented by January, 2017 and items culd take a year r mre t implement depending n scpe. Idea Descriptin/Details/Updates When Status Cntact Wrship in the Park Prvide pprtunity t serve cmmunity thrugh utwardfacing wrship. NA Dne Pastr Play chimes Make the chimes wrk NA Dne Evan Brun Plan events t engage cmmunity Share music with cmmunity 9/11 Service Expand adult educatin Adpt 1 church 1 tpic Directry update Cmmunity Rummage Sale Methdists On the Mve Engage with church fr feedback and ideas Establish cmmunicatin plan/prcesses Cmmunicate leader rles and activities This is an nging activity already undertaken by Becky. (includes things like Ice Cream scial, mvies, etc.) Becky is cmmunicating events thrugh fliers, mailers, and dcument hlders utside the church. This is an nging activity already undertaken by Evan. Paradise Suite cncert is just ne example. Prvide pprtunity t serve cmmunity thrugh utwardfacing wrship. Survey rganizatin n tpics f interest t fllw Way f Lve series. Wrk with adults t plan sessins that meet needs f cngregatin. Aug 10 Survey cmplete Prvide a mre cnsistent educatin experience with every grup in church studying ne tpic. Will start with Way f Lve n Sept 4th. Als supprts hspitality and cmmunicatin - scheduled fr Octber Scheduled fr September Scheduled fr Octber Have cnducted fllw up listening sessins July and August. August sessin fcused n children and yuth prgramming. Will explre additinal tpics in the fall at allchurch meeting after the annual church cnference. Create a cmmunicatins plan and begin changing cmmunicatins within church and als with cmmunity. Cindi needs t schedule time t wrk with Annette (Church Administrative Assistant) and vlunteers t plan mre fully. Things already dne: established church blg, imprvements t website. Have leaders sharing in wrship/thrugh e-ntes/ blgs/ etc. NA On ging Becky W. NA On ging Evan Brun Nw Nw Nw Nw Nw Nw Nw Nw Prcess Prcess Prcess Prcess Prcess Prcess Prcess Prcess Pastr Cindi Perrine Pastr Mary Hlland Jasn Tews Pastr Cindi Perrine Cindi Perrine Nw Planning Vicki Spiller 8

10 Idea Descriptin/Details/Updates When Status Cntact Define and prmte ur Why Church Members in Wrship Explre Alternative Wrship appraches Examine Welcme Center prgram Articulate, prmte and live accrding t a clear missin and set f values and guiding principle. Will refine at all church meeting in Octber. Mre invlvement f members in wrship (e.g. Jim Crker ding the prayer n Sunday). Need t explre what this might mean mre fully. Plan t include mre explratin/discussin in all church discussin in Octber. Welcme Center ministry will cntinue this year as it has in the past. At the same time, we will examine the ministry in general t determine if it culd be imprved t better supprt the needs f thse served and better engage ur cngregatin. Near Near Planning Prcess Nt Nt Cindi Perrine Pastr TBD Jhn Ruckstaetter Supprt mre missin prjects Needs t be discussed in mre detail and in cntext f what we already d. Nt TBD clude utreach in cmmunity events Build a hspitality culture Find ways t imprve yuth prgram Needs t be discussed in mre detail and in cntext f what we already d. identify a plan t d mre with entire cngregatin n hspitality. This will be a tpic at the upcming all church meeting. Laura (directr f yuth and children ministries) attended August listening sessin and is lking int suggestins as well as gathering her wn ideas. We will see things evlve ver the curse f the schl year. Nt Nt Nt TBD Pastr Laura Antnelli Find ways t imprve K-12 educatin See abve. Nt Laura Antnelli Explre ptins fr building use/rental Discussed July 20 - Suggestin t ask Trustees t lk int ptins and prpse ideas. This is a lng-term endeavr. Nt Trustees What d yu think? Cntact anyne n the CAT team if yu have questins r suggestins. Be sure t let us knw if this reprt is useful. We want t knw! T keep in tuch with the church transfrmatin, fllw ur CAT Team Milt Cx, Mary Hlland, Jeff Jhnsn, Pastr Larsen, Paul Metz, Cindi Perrine, Vicki Spiller, and Jasn Tews 9