Session Recommendation Regarding WCPres Joining with Menlo Church. A Matter of Head, Heart and Spiritual Discernment. WCPC Meeting 4/15/2018

Transcription

1 Session Recommendation Regarding WCPres Joining with Menlo Church A Matter of Head, Heart and Spiritual Discernment

2 Laying a Foundation with Prayer 2 Guiding Prayer Pastor Benjamin

3 Moving Ahead: All In All Together 3 Our Session has been called to spiritually discern how best to govern our church Regardless of the vote: Much work to do Be united

4 Overview Let s Start with the Recommendation 4 Session recommends joining Menlo Church as the most effective and efficient way to accomplish the mission of reaching the unchurched for Jesus Christ in Walnut Creek, Diablo Valley and the East Bay 4

5 Purpose of Today s 5 1. Present Session s recommendation and rationale 2. Acknowledge the congregational concerns 3. Paint a picture of what Menlo Church WC would look like 4. Consider the potential risks to joining or not joining Menlo 5. Provide time for discussion, questions and answers 6. Review Timeline and Next Steps

6 WCPres Path Forward 6 Our goal and passion as identified in Our Path Forward report is the Great Commission: to be a strong community that is reaching the unchurched with the gospel and seeing God transform our lives, our neighbors, and our world

7 Our Landscape Changed. 7 4% in church 96% not in church

8 Some Things Have Not Changed Mission Study Report 2012 TAG Report 2016 Connections Team Report 2016 Nancy Beach Report 2017 Path Forward We want to reach the unchurched We re not attracting or retaining young people We appeal most to people who like church (the 4%)

9 Average Attendance B

10 Where Are We Now? Year Downward Slide Attendance Baptisms Finances Overall Community Impact New Challenges Presented Deferred Maintenance Costs Limited Budget to Invest in Growth Aging Congregation Neighboring Church Plants Walnut Creek is changing

11 11 Your current template is perfectly designed to produce the results you re currently getting. - Andy Stanley

12 12 Summarizing the Situation We need to do something radically different if we are to grow, remain viable, and increase our impact.

13 How best to reach the unchurched? Remain Independent Join Menlo Church

14 Why Not a Pastor Nominating Committee? 14 PNC months or longer Menlo 1-12 Months Two Very Different Timelines Can t attract great applicants while considering joining Menlo Church

15 Session Learned 15 Church Partnership can be highly effective in certain conditions Combining two weak or shrinking churches doesn t create one strong, growing church Criteria for the right partner includes One Partner needing to be strong and growing Sharing a common mission and denominational fit

16 How Session Proceeded Informal conversations with Menlo began August, Mutual Campus visits Sept-Nov 3. Due Diligence Team formed in December 4. Bus Trips, s, and Fireside Chats 5. Recommendation from the Due Diligence Team 6. Recommendation from Session to

17 17 Session s Discernment - Dave Heck

18 What Menlo Church WC Would Look Like 18 Staffing Ministry Areas Missions Governance Property Foundation

19 Practical Considerations Staffing 19 FT Campus Pastor FT Campus Administrator/ Connections Director FT Children s Director FT Student Ministry Director FT Worship Leader FT Life Groups / Missions Coordinator FT Audio/Visual/ Lighting and IT specialist FT Facilities Specialist Custodians contracted

20 Practical Considerations Ministry 20 Sunday Worship 2 Sunday Services Contemporary Music Alpha & Starting Point; no Adult Sunday School Preaching 30 minute video sermon Campus pastor live preaching 3-5 times/year Children s Sunday School Curriculum/Supplies developed centrally Large group and age-specific break-out for elementary school Student Ministries Combine HS and MS for large group gathering Break-out into age-specific groups

21 Practical Considerations Ministry 21 Life Groups Lay-led small groups, meeting 3-4 times/month Up/In/Out Requirements Staff person to coach/foster/train Wide variety

22 Practical Considerations Missions 22 10% of MC budget given to missions Recipients must embody mission of Menlo One year grace period for current missions efforts; will be evaluated So far, Menlo Church has not dropped any missionaries at Saratoga or San Jose Serve Your City 3 times/year

23 Practical Considerations - Governance 23 9 elders overseeing all campuses, not representing any individual campus John Ortberg is Sr. Pastor and oversees church with central leadership team and Session

24 What Menlo Church Will Do 24 $1.5M investment Training of staff Sanctuary Improvements $600k in HVAC, Roof, Bathrooms Renovate building A Apartments managed by Menlo s Property Mgmt Vision for replacing buildings B & C with new construction

25 What Would Do 25 Be All-In Property Apartments Foundation Become full members of Menlo Church Operate under the name Menlo Church, Walnut Creek

26 Practical Considerations Foundation 26 Here s what we re proposing to Menlo: The Foundation (F) will dissolve and its assets will be donated to Menlo s Church of the Pioneers Foundation (COPF). COPF will use F s assets in a manner consistent with the intent in which they were initially donated to F.

27 First Menlo Proposal Limitations 27 : Manage Gym and Pre-School Buildings (i.e., B & C) $600k in HVAC, Roof, Bathrooms Manage Preschool Manage Apartments Retain property and Foundation funds 27

28 Who Would Control the Non-Menlo Managed Property? Mission and purpose? Freedom to act? Freedom to spend money? Governance and accountability? Risk of going rogue Institutionalizes Us vs. Them 28

29 Why Session Is Recommending All-In 29 Practical considerations of property ownership Keeps us focused on mission, not property Makes us one with Menlo Church Allows us to rebrand who we are Feel led by the Holy Spirit

30 Recurring Concerns What are our potential risks? 2. Why can t we do this ourselves? 3. What other Partnership options exist? 4. Why the aggressive timeline?

31 What Are Our Potential Risks? 31 is unable to adapt Members leave or withdraw We don t like losing control Our identity feels compromised Concern over appropriate distribution of resources Worry over succession plans These type of risks exist no matter what path we take

32 Why Can t We Do This Ourselves? If we could do this ourselves, why haven t we? 2. The statistics on church-turnarounds are grim. 3. A better question: Can we accomplish our mission more effectively by joining Menlo? 32

33 And a Bigger Problem You May Not Be Aware of 33 Complaints Politicking Resistance & Work Arounds Many Committees & Reports but no change We undermine leadership

34 Recurring Concerns What are our potential risks? 2. Why can t we do this ourselves? 3. What other Partnership options exist? 4. Why the aggressive timeline?

35 Viable Partnership Options 35 Same mission and values Track record of growth & vitality Track record of successful multi-site Compatible denomination Compatible geography Financial strength Only Menlo Church met all of these criteria

36 Why the Aggressive Timeline? 36 Practical Considerations Mid-summer vote would reduce turnout June 3 vote enables new Fall Programs Reduce cost of being in limbo All-out effort to fully inform

37 Why the Aggressive Timeline? 37 We ve been in transition as a church for a long time 3 years with Interim Sr. Pastor Doug Stevens Many years deciding and resolving denominational issue Many years clarifying mission/direction/strategy

38 Voting Process Details 38 Congregational Vote on June 3 Simple majority to join Menlo Church Aiming for high turnout and strong majority

39 What it Means to Stay Independent Change programs & strategies to improve impact 2. Fewer programs, better quality 3. Improve our Staff/Elder leadership model 4. Determine staffing levels 5. Launch PNC for permanent Senior Pastor 6. Increase funding for: HVAC, roof and other maintenance Capital improvements Investment in new initiatives

40 Why Is Menlo a Good Partnership Option? 40 Proven Success Organizational Health Adept at Program Implementation Ability to Drive Change World-class Teaching Financial Strength Organizational Efficiency and Effectiveness Innovation Opportunities Leadership and Governance Heart for Reaching the Unchurched

41 Why We re Excited... Menlo s Ministry Strategy 41 Focus on what really drives mission impact Place high value on Sunday Morning excellence Use Life Groups for discipleship, service, and community Church planting to drive engagement and evangelism Vision is for WCPres to become a sending church again Measure everything: each campus experiments and learns from other campuses. Successful programs are replicated. First 10% of budget goes to missions!

42 Timeline If We Join Menlo April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 Aug Sept 2018 Oct 2018 Sunday Presentations In-Home Dessert s Get out the Vote Campaign June 3: Vote Staff Selection & Training Sanctuary Upgrades New Program Begins 42

43 Next Steps for and Menlo Church 43 Be Steadfast in Our Prayer Lives Model Mature Christian Character and Conduct Host and/or attend a Dessert to learn and discuss the details

44 44 Questions or Comments about What You Heard?

45 45 Closing Prayer