Mishawaka Coalbush United Methodist Church CONSULTATION REPORT April 7, 2013 Introduction We, the Fruitful Congregation Journey (FCJ) consultation team would like to thank Rev. Mary Eileen Spence, staff, lay leadership and congregation of Coalbush UMC for the invitation to consult with this Body of Christ. The following observations and prescriptions are the result of this team studying the following information: a) Coalbush UMC s self-study document provided by its leaders, b) Coalbush UMC s members completing the FCJ survey, c) The report from the Mystery Guest Worshippers provided by Faith Perceptions, d) Interviews with the pastor, staff and ministry team leaders, e) a focus group with members of the congregation, f) a meeting with the Administrative Board, g) a MissionInsite demographic report of the area s population, and h) input from the Saturday training workshop. Our prayer is that God will use this assessment experience and consultation report to help Coalbush UMC more effectively make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the community and the world. Strengths Coalbush United Methodist Church s greatest strengths are as follows: 1. WELCOMING AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE The people of Coalbush United Methodist Church are openly welcoming and friendly. One guest worshiper said they were immediately welcomed by the greeter. It was one of the warmest and most sincere greetings I have ever received. Other comments reflected a similar welcoming spirit. Their average rating for pre-service greeting was over a full point higher than the overall average of churches of similar size. 2. STRONG SENSE OF CHURCH FAMILY The people of Coalbush UMC are very caring toward one another. The team heard about sharing of meals, sending cards, visiting at funerals, and an overall sense of warm relationships which sometimes extends to those beyond the church. People in personal interviews and at the focus groups overwhelmingly described the people of the church as the best thing about Coalbush. 3. LOCATION/WELL-MAINTAINED FACILITY The church is in a strategic location in St. Joseph County at the intersection of 331 and the US20-bypass. The facility is extremely well-maintained and organized with more than adequate space for growing ministries and increased attendance. The building and property with its walking path, gazebo and pavilion are a real asset for reaching people for Jesus Christ. 1
4. GROWING DESIRE FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT Coalbush UMC has a growing desire to expand its outreach and involvement in the community to meet the needs of surrounding neighborhoods. Currently, volunteers commit numerous hours of service in areas such as: backpacks for local elementary schools, 4-H Fair Booth, Vacation Bible School, Hunger ministries, Summer of Service, Help with Love Support, Relay for Life, Reins of Life, and other mission projects. In addition, there is a vibrant pre-school reaching unchurched children and their families with the message of the love of Jesus Christ. 5. GROWING POOL OF PASSIONATE LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE The Consultation Team heard from many leaders who have a growing passion for serving Jesus Christ through mission, outreach and serving those beyond the walls of the church. There is an emerging energy around the church for reaching new people in the community. 2
Concerns Coalbush United Methodist Church s greatest areas of concern are as follows: 1. LACK OF CLEAR VISION BASED ON THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH Coalbush UMC is a church with much activity within the walls of the church and throughout the community. However, these activities lack a clear mission and unifying vision. In essence, the congregation has no clear understanding or direction to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Without a clear, inspiring vision, the congregation is focused on scarcity rather than the abundance of God and has no effective way to manage conflict. 2. INEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE While there are many dedicated leaders, the current structure is ineffective because planning is not cohesive nor is there a clearly defined system for identifying, training, and mentoring new leaders. The lack of a system for setting goals, job descriptions, supervision and evaluations does not allow for the marrying of accountability, authority, and responsibility into the leadership development and decision making process. 3. INADEQUATE SIGNAGE AND PARKING The Mystery Guest report raised a significant concern for those coming to Coalbush who are not familiar with the building. It was reported that it was not clear which doors to enter, the worship times were too small to read on the sign, there was insufficient information concerning the location of the worship areas and the children s ministry. Examples of how newcomers experienced attending the church for the first time were expressed as: apparently the contemporary service is located elsewhere in the church but I would not know how to find it alone ; I did not see any signage for the Children s Ministry ; I did not see any signs for classes for children on Sunday. The sign in front of the church is only noticeable when traveling south on Bremen Highway. Because of the current scheduling of worship service times, parking availability becomes a concern for people coming to the second worship service. One person interviewed observed people leaving because there was no available parking. This issue tells guests that their presence was not anticipated and creates an unintentional barrier for return. 3
4. NO INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY Although many members acknowledged their spiritual development as a work in progress, and some attempts have been made to help people grow in their faith through a Bible study, Sunday school and the Walk to Emmaus, there is no intentional pathway to move people of all ages from seekers to fully devoted and authentic followers of Jesus Christ. No one could clearly articulate how a person: selects a preferred worship experience first connects to Jesus Christ and the church grows in their knowledge of the faith becomes connected to other believers for support and accountability becomes active in service to others for the purpose of sharing the gospel 5. LACK OF CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY The Consultation Team heard that many individuals have a heart for serving others and that there is a desire for the church to have a greater impact in the community but we saw no intentional process to understand and reach the surrounding community. There is no intentional connection to current ministries in the church such as the Pre-school and Boy Scouts. Although the people are very warm and welcoming to newcomers, there is no intentional invitation, relationship-building, and follow-up to connect people to the life of the community of faith. This results in lost disciple-making opportunities. 4
Prescriptions In order to address the above concerns, Coalbush United Methodist Church must implement the following prescriptions: 1. DEVELOP A UNIFIED MISSION AND VISION The date these prescriptions are adopted, Coalbush UMC will embrace the mission of every United Methodist Church stated in the UM Book of Discipline: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The congregation will have a day of prayer, repentance and healing during a Sunday worship service. The purpose of this day is to embrace God breaking open the hearts of the congregation for the local un-churched, and prepare them for the Lord s vision for the future. To accommodate this, the pastor will contact a conference recommended person to lead the service. The day of prayer will be held no later than June 2, 2013. The Coach will conduct a Visioning Workshop by June 30, 2013 to assist the congregation in clarifying and providing a more focused vision to guide Coalbush UMC into the future. The days between the Day of Prayer and this workshop will be utilized by the people of the congregation as a call to prayer and fasting for this vision for the congregation. The vision will be presented to the Administrative Board by July 31, 2013. Upon approval, this vision will be communicated to the congregation as the future direction of the church. Upon adopting this vision, the Administrative Board will conduct a ministry audit to align the church s ministries with the vision. This audit will be completed by December 31, 2013. Ministries will be evaluated by their faithfulness to the mission and vision and their fruitfulness (results). Any ministries not faithful and fruitful will be given up to one year to align with the vision. If they are still not faithful to the mission and vision they will be dissolved. All continuing ministries will set goals and objectives in alignment with the mission and vision. 2. DEVELOP AN ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE The coach, in consultation with the pastor, will develop a behavioral covenant (for conflict resolution) for all church leaders and members to be adopted by the Administrative Board by September 30, 2013. The coach, in consultation with the pastor, will conduct an Accountable Leadership Workshop for the pastor and lay leaders by October 31, 2013. The coach, in consultation with the pastor, will also conduct a Creating A Team Culture Workshop for the pastor and ministry teams by November 30, 2013. 5
Upon completion of these workshops, the pastor and Administrative Board, in consultation with the coach, will initiate an ongoing system to insure that those who are given the responsibility and authority for ministry will be held accountable to that end. This system will be reviewed and approved by January 31, 2014. 3. PREPARE FOR NEWCOMERS THROUGH SIGNAGE AND PARKING The pastor, in consultation with the coach will recruit a task force of 3-4 people to analyze interior and exterior signage, from a guest s perspective. Signage should make it easy for people to locate worship spaces, restrooms, children s classrooms and nursery without assistance. Recommendation will be made to the Trustees by June 30, 2013. The Trustees will evaluate the parking situation and make recommendations to the Administrative Board by June 30, 2013. 4. DEVELOP A CLEAR DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will put together a team of three persons on or before August 31, 2013, to create a clear discipleship path for moving people from where they are on their spiritual journey to becoming a fully-devoted follower of Jesus Christ. The discipleship path will be designed for everyone, whether a non-believer or one who is maturing in their faith. This discipleship path will represent a lifelong process. The Team will discern a faith development plan within a Wesleyan model that encourages all persons: o to connect and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ; o to help them be transformed by studying the principles of the Christian faith; o to provide connection opportunities with other believers for support and accountability; o to be in service to others for the purpose of the mission; o to invite others to a relationship with Jesus and His church; and o to further discern his/her call to discipleship and leadership. The plan will be adopted by the Administrative Board and implemented in the life of Coalbush UMC at all ministry levels by August 31, 2014. 6
5. CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR RELATIONSHIP The Pastor, in consultation with the coach, will form a Community Connection Team by August 31, 2013, to develop an outward-focused strategy for the church to reach its community that is based on the church s vision and the MissionInsite demographic report. This team will strategize how to maximize the worship services, staff, children and youth ministry (with special attention given the pre-school children and their families) and church facilities for reaching the surrounding community. This strategy will be completed by February 1, 2014. The Pastor, in consultation with the coach, will form an Assimilation Team by June 30, 2013 who will develop and implement a system to track and intentionally connect new persons to the ministries of Coalbush UMC, including those from the pre-school, mission contacts in the community, Sunday morning guests, youth ministry, et al. This system will be in place by August 31, 2013. Conclusion We, the consultation team, want to thank you for the opportunity to serve your congregation through this Fruitful Congregation Journey assessment process. Our prayers and hope for your congregation is that God will use this process to help Coalbush UMC become more effective and fruitful. May God give you courage and strength as you move forward. - Claudia Lavy, Lead Consultant - Rob Seewald, Coach - Karen Powell, Consultant - Dennis Ticen, Consultant Town Hall Meeting Dates Saturday, April 13, 2013 Sunday, April 21, 2013 Monday, May 6, 2013 10:00 am 4:00 pm 7:00 pm Church Conference Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 6:30 pm 7