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LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE New Spirit, UCC Savage, MN Pastor Minnesota Conference August 1, 2017 LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE CONTENTS Position Posting Who Is God Calling Us To Become? Who Are We Now? Who Is Our Neighbor? References Consent and Validation God is able to provide you with every blessing, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

POSITION POSTING LISTING INFORMATION Church name: New Spirit United Church of Christ Street address: 14394 Quebec Ave, Savage, MN 55378 Supplemental web links: http://www.newspiritucc.org/ Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/newspiritucc Conference: Minnesota Conference UCC Association: Minnesota Conference acting as an Association UCC Conference or Association Staff Contact Person Name: Reverend Steven Boorsma, Association Conference Minister Title: Conference Minister Phone: (612) 871-0359 Email: steveb@uccmn.org Summary Ministry Description: New Spirit United Church of Christ in Savage, MN is seeking a creative, energetic and visionary pastor. We are on the younger side as congregations go. New Spirit UCC was formed in 1993. Today our mortgage is paid and more than half of our members are under the age of retirement. We are Open and Affirming and the only progressive UCC congregation in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area south of the Minnesota River. If you are: committed to Christ's call to love and serve all God's people; creative, a self-starter and interested in helping shape the future of an enthusiastic and willing community of faith; a dreamer and a doer, a leader and a team player; a preacher, pastor and teacher; outgoing, socially engaging, have a relaxed interpersonal style and enjoy working with people of all ages; committed to social justice, and know ways to help us not just care about what happens in our communities and world, but do something about it; able to inspire and motivate us as a congregation to be an agent of change...... you may just be called to be our next pastor! PAGE 2

For 10 years our pastor served on a half-time basis. Since his retirement we have developed a new vision for our church s mission. We have received 16 new members, confirmed 6 youth, and increased our stewardship pledge by $20,000. A $45,000 grant awarded to us by the MN Conference UCC in 2016 will enable us to call a new pastor at 2/3 time. We expect that our renewed purpose and momentum will soon allow us to move to a full-time ministry. Faith is a journey, not a destination. We live that perspective. Members come from many denominations, some have no religious background, and we have active friends of other faiths. Our denomination s idea of a Still Speaking God affirms our practice of taking the Bible seriously, but not literally. As an Open & Affirming congregation we welcome people and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities. As best we can, we try to reach out to the community and the world, to be God s people in the way of Jesus Christ by loving others, serving those most vulnerable and working for justice and peace. We also like to have fun! Singles and couples. Families and empty-nesters. Gay and straight. Transgender and Questioning. Elders and children. Norwegian-Americans, native Kenyans and East or West Coast transplants: you are welcome here. To apply, contact Marita Karlisch at maritak@uccmn.org and ask that your profile be sent. Photographs: Pencil portrait of our church building drawn by a young adult church member. PAGE 3

Youth confirmands on confirmation Sunday. Burning of our mortgage in December 2016! What we value about living in our area: We value the high quality schools and safe neighborhoods in our area. We value the small town feel Savage retains even though it exists in a large metro area. We also value easy access to parks, trails, and even the big city life and amenities it offers. Current size of membership: 74 adults 27 children 5 associate members Languages used in ministry (other than English): None Position Title: Minister/Pastor Position Duration: Settled a called position intended for longer-term ministry in which the minister moves church membership to the congregation and moves standing to related association Compensation Level : 2/3 time Does the total support package meet conference compensation guidelines? PAGE 4

Yes SCOPE OF WORK preparation and leadership of worship including scripture study, crafting of liturgy and bulletin, sermon preparation, guiding and sometimes finding lay liturgists, planning of music in coordination with musical staff or volunteers, preaching, offering of prayers, administering sacraments, etc. o Days may vary due to special events; In July for the past 2 years we have done service on Wednesday evenings outside rather than on Sunday mornings administrative type duties including copying worship bulletins, updating church website, sending weekly email updates of upcoming events and worship scripture readings, oversee church staff, etc. May seek to use volunteers to help with some of these tasks, as needed/wanted. faith formation and vitality through prayer, Bible study, service, identifying helpful resources and opportunities and helping lay persons take advantage of them teach confirmation/new member class for youth and/or adults pastoral care in collaboration with lay people (at least to those who are sick, elderly, or grieving) maintain regular office schedule participate in wider church activities such as conference meetings, boards and committees as time permits visit prospective members study and prayer to increase faith and to improve skills so as to lead, teach, preach better energizing and deepening the spiritual connections and faith understandings of others in all they do leadership development by working with people in the church to create ministry and programs community engagement and leading the way for the church to be an ambassador of God s love Baptisms, weddings and funerals for members and friends of the congregation PAGE 5

Core Competencies: Enthusiastic - able to bring energy and passion into your vocation and share with the congregation Relatable able to build relationships with a wide range of people and ages Compassionate able to listen, recognize the needs of others and help COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT Salary Basis $60,000 total compensation Includes: o Salary o Housing allowance o Social Security offset o Retirement Annuity o Life and Disability Insurance o Health and Dental Insurance: self and family, if needed o Business/Professional expenses o Continuing Education Benefits: Salary plus Benefits - please see list above What is the expected living situation for your next minister Living elsewhere and commuting Comment on the residential/commuting expectations for your next minister. While we would prefer that you live in or near Savage in order to be more engaged with the local community, we understand that commuting from a nearby community may be more pragmatic. State any incentives: None at this time. PAGE 6

Describe peer and professional supports available for ministers in your association/conference: Associate and conference minister, and conference supported events Other active and retired clergy in area and in congregation Two seminaries within the metro area: United Theological Seminary, New Brighton and Luther Seminary, St. Paul Local area meetings of clergy Practice of ministry groups If applicable, describe how your church will adopt part-time adjustments in the pastoral schedule to support a minister s bi-vocational employment: Historically our church has employed pastoral leaders in a part-time capacity of 20-25 hours per week. In our most recent annual meeting, we approved a budget for a 2/3 time pastor which was/is very exciting! We are discovering what new opportunities and adjustments this additional resource time calls for. As a congregation committed to growth, we would need to find ways to discuss changes brought an increase in membership and church activity may have on your schedule. PAGE 7

WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US? Describe the ministry goals you envision your next minister co-collaborating with the congregation to achieve. Our ministry goals include: Youth focus Relationships with youth beyond confirmation Pastoral care Being inspired and challenged Building relationships with other progressive churches Awareness and involvement in our Christian Ed program Fearless in our community; not an island Setting goals that challenge us but are also achievable Describe how your vision of the minister you are now seeking will assist the congregation in making an impact beyond its walls. Our minister will be a part of our community by getting to know the area and the resources within. Preferably they would be well aware of cultural and sexual orientation issues and help us become a center for Gender and Racial Equity in the south metropolitan area. They are someone with vision and the ability to prioritize - helping us to identify the things we do well and focus on a few rather than do mediocre on many. Specify language requirements or culturally-specific capacities preferred in a next ministerial leader, and why those matter to the congregation s sense of calling. We would prefer someone with many of these qualities: Multilingual with English as primary language Compassionate and loving Accepting of all and actively open and affirming LGBTQ knowledge and awareness experience with minorities Knowledgeable and always learning of opportunities to gain/grow our exposure to culture outside our church walls No limits on age/race/sexual orientation PAGE 8

Thinker and learner someone who is always seeking new knowledge that will be beneficial to all Open to others' ideas and opinions Knowledge of how to grow a church both in mission and in size Based on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The Marks of Faithful & Effective Authorized Ministry that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation s ministry in these areas. Strong exhibiting a spiritual foundation and ongoing spiritual practice Continuing discernment of one s call in community. Exhibiting a commitment to lifelong spiritual development and faithful personal stewardship. Caring for all creation Providing hope and healing to a hurting world. Attending to one s own spiritual and pastoral care, including engagement in supervision as appropriate. Stewarding the resources of the Church. Working together for justice and mercy Identifying and working to overcome explicit and implicit bias in the life of the Church and world. Understanding community context and navigating change with a community. Engaging in mission and outreach. Strengthening intra and inter-personal assets Developing and maintaining a healthy sense of self as shaped by God, community, and life experiences. Exhibiting strong moral character and personal integrity. Respecting the dignity of all God s people. PAGE 9

WHO IS GOD CALLING US TO BECOME? Who is God calling you to become as a congregation? An open and affirming community of courageous people of faith who are listening for ways God is calling us to share our love with a hurting and broken world. Describe how God is calling you to reach out to address the emerging challenges and opportunities of your community and congregation. In 2015 we began the "New Beginnings" initiative to redefine the mission of NSUCC. This is a year-long program that began with training of a committee by external consulting group suggested by Conference. Through small-group meetings with the congregation and months of discernment, we reformulated our mission in 2016 to be a church that is focused on Gender and Racial Equity. We are now working with two consulting groups to do additional congregational training to help lead us to be a center of Gender and Racial Equity in the south Metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. In addition to "New Beginnings", we have completed a 3 part workshop on Anti-Racism, completed an Intercultural Development Inventory to assess our intercultural competence as way of determining a baseline of where we are today in our racial and gender equity ministry, and how to change, and a retreat on Gender & Sexual Orientation to help us identify changes needed to become a multicultural, antiracist congregation. PAGE 10

WHO ARE WE NOW? CONGREGATIONAL REFLECTIONS 11-YEAR REPORT CONGREGATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS PARTICIPATION AND STAFFING CHURCH FINANCES HISTORICAL INFORMATION CONGREGATIONAL REFLECTIONS Describe your congregation s life of faith. Within our church, John Roschen, a retired UCC minister and former pastor of NSUCC is appreciated and admired for how he is able to connect what is happening in the world and its impact on us personally through small group discussions. The work of Marcus Borg, an American New Testament scholar. His description of God and humanity fit the progressive mind of our congregation. Additionally, God is most often described as gracious and loving. Describe several strengths or positive qualities of your congregation. Progressive church one of few in our area Mission focused Open & affirming Welcoming and joyful warm, caring environment Open to new ideas Describe what worship is like when your congregation gathers. Worship is central to the life at New Spirit UCC. Our time together in a cozy worship sanctuary is lively with children and adults actively involved in any and all aspects of worship. We are liturgical and yet casual. Our liturgies and our music have a traditional feel even as we use contemporary language and concepts in the various forms of worship. We are used to following the lectionary for worship and preaching. PAGE 11

Children are dismissed for church school part way through the service after an intimate setting for a children s message delivered by members or the pastor sitting in a rocking chair. Though nestled in the suburb of Savage, we have open spaces right out our windows. Baptism is done with family and friends around the font. The smiles and the greetings are warm and uplifting. Good preaching meets folks where they are and draws them into the narrative of the ancient text in such a way that the text reads us. The message acknowledges our humanness and our struggle to be more Christ like. It is filled with grace and hope and offers us the opportunity to see the world with different eyes even sometimes with the eyes of God. At the end of good preaching and good worship, we all want to pause and say...awe...amen. Describe the educational program and/or faith formation vision of your church. Youth educational program is determined by the CE board and minister. It is designed for children from age 4-confirmation. Typically all children, other than confirmands, meet in one classroom due to our size. The children participate and sometimes lead special programs 3-4 times per year that are primarily designed by the CE teachers. Additionally we have held Sunday morning classes on stages of faith development. Attendees listened and shared their personal faith journey stories. Our confirmation curriculum and involvement has varied over the years. Often influenced by both the number of confirmands and the minister on staff. We typically see a drop in attendance and involvement of youth after they are confirmed. We'd love to see this change! Describe how your congregation is organized for ministry and mission. Currently our interim pastor gathers input from a representative from each board and formats a monthly newsletter that is emailed to members and friends. Hard copies are made available in the church building for new comers and those without email. Additionally a weekly update is emailed by the interim pastor that includes prayer concerns, recent church related news and an introduction of the coming Sunday's worship message and the related bible passages. We also have 3 congregational meetings a year to conduct church related business such as approving the annual budget and discussing decisions that will impact all. Boards are defined in our bylaws. They include information on the responsibilities of each board, the required number of members, and the term length. PAGE 12

When it comes to decision-making, how many hours are spent in meetings per month? 2-4 hours per month Think of a time when action had to be taken quickly, for example when a crisis or disaster occurred. How was that accomplished? We recently had someone break into our garage on the church property. The custodian called one of the trustees who arrived at the property within 10 minutes of the phone call. The trustee then called the police and various church leaders to make them aware of the situation. The trustees came to a group consensus on the lock replacement needed for the door and installed it shortly thereafter. Can you provide the next minister with a copy of an organization structure, bylaws and/or annual report to further explain the patterns of the church s activity and governance? Yes PAGE 13

11-YEAR REPORT Church#: 360055 Assoc: 434 Schedule: 0 New Spirit United Church of Christ Savage MN 55378 YEAR MEMBERS AVG WEEKLY ATTENDANCE CHR ED/ FAITH FORM CONFIRMATION CONFESSION TRANSFER OR REAFFIRM DEATHS OR TRANS OUT OTHER LOSSES NET MEMBS ADDS- REMOVED 2006 79 54 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 2007 78 40 40 4 0 0 2 3-1 2008 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2011 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2012 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2013 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2014 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2015 78 40 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 2016 77 41 30 0 3 3 7 0-1 YEAR CURRENT EXPENSES CAPITAL PAYMENTS BASIC SUPPORT SPECIAL TOTAL OTHER SUPPORT OCWM GIFTS WIDER MISSION BASIC SUPP% CURR LOCAL TOTAL EXPEND PLEDGES AND OFFERINGS 2006 $75,054 $0 $8,092 $960 $9,052 $0 $9,052 10.78 $84,106 $0 2007 $131,233 $14,292 $7,267 $1,220 $8,487 $2,618 $11,105 5.54 $156,630 $80,738 2008 $131,233 $0 $5,561 $1,362 $6,923 $0 $6,923 4.24 $138,156 $0 2009 $131,233 $0 $8,931 $1,718 $10,649 $0 $10,649 6.81 $141,882 $0 2010 $131,233 $0 $7,593 $1,589 $9,182 $0 $9,182 5.79 $140,415 $0 2011 $131,233 $0 $7,516 $1,080 $8,596 $0 $8,596 5.73 $139,829 $0 2012 $131,233 $0 $3,745 $320 $4,065 $0 $4,065 2.85 $135,298 $0 2013 $131,233 $0 $1,114 $1,145 $2,259 $0 $2,259 0.85 $133,492 $0 2014 $131,233 $0 $2,087 $1,487 $3,574 $0 $3,574 1.59 $134,807 $0 2015 $131,233 $0 $565 $940 $1,505 $0 $1,505 0.43 $132,738 $0 2016 $89,059 $16,692 $6,068 $2,178 $8,246 $3,447 $11,693 6.81 $117,444 $84,779 % CHANGE MEMBERS AVG WEEKLY ATTENDANCE CHR ED/ FAITH FORM TOTAL ADDITIONS TOTAL REMOVALS CURR LOCAL TOTAL EXPENSES OCWM TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2011-2016 -1.28 2.50-25.00 0.00 0.00-32.14-4.07-16.01 2006-2016 -2.53-24.07 25.00 0.00 0.00 18.66-8.90 39.64 PAGE 14

CONGREGATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS Describe those who participate in your church. Number of active members: 52 w/children Is this number an estimate? (check if yes) Number of active non-members: 6 Total of church participants (sum of the numbers above): 58 w/children Percentage of total participants who have been in the church: Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes) More than 10 years: 60% Less than 10, more than 5 years: 10% Less than 5 years: 30% Number of total participants by age: 0-11 6 6 12-17 18-24 25-34 2 35-44 7 45-54 55-64 65-74 12 9 11 5 75+ Are these numbers an estimate? (check if yes) Percentage of adults in various household types: Single adults under 35: 10% Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes) Joint household with minors: 30% Single adults age 35-65: 15% Joint household with no minors: 30% Single adults over 65: 15% PAGE 15

Education level of adult participants by percentage: High school: 10% X Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes) College: 70% X Graduate School: 10% X Specialty Training: Other (please specify): 10% Military/Ministry Percentage of adults in various employment types: Adults who are employed: 70% Is this number an estimate? (check if yes) Adults who are retired: 20% Adults who are not fully employed: 10% Describe the range of occupations of working adults in the congregation: Educators, clergy, business professionals, medical, laborers, child care Describe the mix of ethnic heritages in your congregation, and the overall racial make-up. Most UCC congregations tend to describe themselves as diverse. Yet, the vast majority of UCC congregations are mono-cultural. What does diversity mean in your context? 98% Caucasian List the date your congregation has had or will have a conversation using a resource such as the Welcoming Diversity Inventory. Comment on the results. Members of congregation participated in a 3 part Anti-Racism workshop as part of our New Beginnings endeavor in March and April of 2017. Downloading & Internalizing Maps & Meaning Downloading & Internalizing the Racial Social Order PAGE 16

Downloading Racism Myth, Social Reality, Fame of Understanding Members of congregation participated in IDI (Intercultural Development Inventory) in March 2017. The cost of this inventory was covered through a grant from Chapel Hill UCC. Congregation met together to hear results and individually to learn about individual results. IDI provided both group and individual insight on how we sense and respond to cultural differences and the intercultural challenges we are facing. The next step is to engage in targeted learning to increase our intercultural competence in bridging across diverse communities. Members of congregation participated in Open & Affirming training in order to become an Open & Affirming church in 2008. Our initial foray in 2007 did not go well. We decided to take a step back and re-evaluate. We then began a more focused process that included educational sessions, small-group discussions, and congregational meetings to learn, explore, and ask questions. We took a vote and the motion passed by a majority. We lost two families following the vote but gained a number of others. PAGE 17

PARTICIPATION AND STAFFING Complete the following chart. Please leave blank any fields that are not applicable to your congregation. Ways of Gathering Estimated number of people involved in attendance Who plans each of the listed gatherings? (list any and all worship planners, such as various lay leaders, pastors, musicians, other staff) Adult Groups or Classes 5-35 Pastor, clergy members, lay persons Baptisms (number last year) 1 Pastor Children s Groups or Classes 2-12 Sunday school teachers w/input from Pastor 1 confirmation class with a group of 6 youth Christmas Eve and Easter Worship 50-60 Pastor and deacons Church-wide Meals 10-20 Deacons and Church, Growth & Fellowship committee Choirs and Music Groups 8 Choir Director Church-based Bible Study Communion (served how often?) 40-50 Monthly Pastor and Deacons Community Meals Confirmation (number confirmed last year) Drama or Dance Program 6 in May 2017 Pastor Funerals (number last year) 2 Pastor and Deacons Intergenerational Groups Outdoor Worship 25-35 Pastor and Deacons Prayer or Meditation Groups Public Advocacy Work 3-8 Missions Board PAGE 18

Retreats 6 Confirmation class Theology or Bible Programs in the Community Weddings (number last year) Worship (time slot: 9:30 am) 35-45 Pastor and Deacons Worship (time slot: ) Young Adult Groups or Classes Youth Groups or Classes Other Additional comments: In 2016 we held service on Wednesdays in the month of July rather than on Sundays. These services were held outside and included a simple hotdog and burger barbeque beforehand and live music before and during. These services were an opportunity to let our neighbors know we are here and to come join us. This event was a success! List all members or regular participants in your congregation who are ordained, licensed, or commissioned ministers. Indicate those with current United Church of Christ Three-Way Covenants (i.e. serving in a congregation) or Four-Way Covenants (i.e. serving in a ministry beyond a congregation). Name Three-Way or Four-Way Covenant? (3 or 4 or No) Ministry Setting Type of Ministry Role Retired? (Y or N) Sue Allers- Hatlie 4 Educator Clinical Pastoral Education N Verlyn Hemmen 4 Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor N Richard Mark 3 Retired Y PAGE 19

Dick Nichols 3 Retired Y John Roschen 3 Retired Y Paula Nordhem 3 Church N David Hohmann 3 Church Interim ministry Y If one or more previous pastors or retired ministers currently hold membership in the church, describe their role(s) in the life of the congregation: John Roschen actively attends worship services, conducted small group discussions Dick Nichols most recently retired NSUCC minister, currently attends worship elsewhere List all current staff, including ministers. Exclude the position you are seeking to fill. Indicate which staff person serves as head of staff. Length of Staff Position Head of Staff? Compensation Tenure for Supervised (full time, part current by time, volunteer) person in this position Child Care Staff Part-time Deacons 10 Choir Director Staff Part-time Deacons 8 Accompanist Staff Part-time Deacons 15+ Custodian Staff Part-time Trustees 10 Interim Pastor Staff Part-time Rep Board 14 months REFLECTION Reflection: After reviewing the congregational demographics and activities above, what does this information reflect about your congregation s overall ministry? PAGE 20

While we are demographically, a homogeneous group of members, we are intentional about trying to address how we can grow to be a more diverse group of people as can be seen in our recent New Beginnings endeavor. CHURCH FINANCES We were delighted to receive a grant of $45,000 from the Minnesota Conference spread over the next 3 years to strengthen the work of our congregation. This grant allowed us to increase the pastor position from 1/2 time to 2/3 time. Our hope is to continue this 2/3 position and even increase it as our congregation grows. This grant was the result of an individual request made in December of 2015 by our Moderator, our interim Minister, and members of our board of representatives. After the initial work of New Beginnings we felt a renewed energy in our church and an excitement around our new mission, gender and racial equity. We sought funding to help us increase our pastoral contract as the pastor plays an integral part in educating the congregation and community about gender and racial equity. Current annual income (dollars used during most recent fiscal year) Source Amount Annual Offerings and Pledged Giving Endowment Proceeds (as permitted within spending policy, such as a cap of typically 4.5%-5% on total return) Endowment Draw (beyond what is permitted by spending policy, drawing down the principal ) $74,843 (this is $20,000 more than last year!) $0 $0 Fundraising Events $677 Gifts Designated for a Specific Purpose $10,590 Grants $2,000 Rentals of Church Building $3,282 Rentals of Church Parsonage $0 Support from Related Organizations (e.g. Women s Group) $0 PAGE 21

Transfers from Special Accounts $0 Other (specify): In-Kind Donations $2,999 Other (specify): Capital Campaign $9,936 TOTAL for 2016 $104,327 Current annual expenses (dollars budgeted for most recent fiscal year 2016): $109,198 Proposed 2017 budget: Income Pledges $ 87,152.00 Other Offerings $ 9,360.00 Special Offerings $ 3,300.00 Capital Funds Drive $ 5,000.00 In-Kind Donations $ 2,500.00 Grants $ 2,000.00 Expenses Christian Education $ 1,080.00 Church Growth and Fellowship $ 1,400.00 New Beginnings $ 5,000.00 Deacons $ 11,866.48 Pastor Search Expenses $ 1,000.00 Missions $ 100.00 OCWM $ 4,630.60 Special Offerings $ 3,300.00 Trustees (excluding Pastor) $ 26,002.59 Maintenance Reserve $ 5,000.00 Operating Reserve $ 7,500.00 Pastor $ 60,000.00 Net Income (Loss) $ (17,567.67) Loan Principal Paid $ - Total Net Income (Loss) $ (17,567.67) The Minnesota Conference grant of $45,000 to be used over the next 3 years will potentially be used to offset any actual Net Loss we incur in 2017 due to our increased pastoral costs. Considering total budgeted expenses for the year, compare total ministerial support. What is the percentage? 32.6% PAGE 22

Has the church ever failed to pay its financial obligations to a minister of the church? Never. Is your church 5-for-5, i.e. does it include each of the following contributions during the church year? (indicate those included during the most recent fiscal year) _X_ Our Church s Wider Mission (OCWM Basic Support) _X_ One Great Hour of Sharing _X_ Strengthen the Church _X_ Neighbors in Need _X_ Christmas Fund In what way is OCWM (Basic Support) gathered? If calculated as a percentage of operating budget, what is that percentage? 5% of general offering income. What is the church s current indebtedness? Total amount of loan debt: $0 Are capital and other payments current? Yes. If a building program is projected or underway, describe it, including the projected start/end date of the building project and the total project budget. None. If a capital campaign is underway or anticipated, describe: Year(s) Purpose Goal Result Impact 2015-17 Pay off building loan $25,000 $24,073 thru 4/17 Building loan paid off. Reserve fund established. We paid our mortgage off 2 years and 3 months earlier than the loan end date! What a huge accomplishment and celebration this was for our congregation. PAGE 23

Describe the prominent mission component(s) involved in the most recent (or current) capital campaign. Retire debt to enable further ministries. Reserves (savings): $2,500 in Capital Fund reserve Describe all buildings owned by the church: Main church building; 2-car garage; storage building. Describe non-owned buildings or space used or rented by the church: The local school districts' cooks rent our church building for continuing education training sessions. On average, they use our sanctuary space 6-8 times per year. Which spaces are accessible to wheelchairs? The church building is wheelchair-accessible via our lift. The garage is accessible but not the storage building. A small balcony above the main worship areas seats 18. Reflection: After reviewing the church s finances and assets described above, what does this information reflect about your congregation s mission and ministry? In our pledge drive for 2017, we increased our pledging units from 21 to 32, a 52% increase in participation. Our pledge dollars increased from $63,000 to $87,000 and we now have a $0 mortgage. We have operated with a fiscally-responsible and lean budget for many years, and our primary focus has been to eliminate debt so that we can further our mission and ministries. We accomplished our main goal of paying off our building loan this past year, and are now planning how we can utilize this extra capital in service to our community. We are excited by the continued commitment of our members toward not only being fiscally responsible but also toward giving to others. PAGE 24

HISTORICAL INFORMATION Name one to three significant happenings in the history of your church that have shaped the identity of your congregation. Add the most important event in the life of your church in the past 10 years. 1. Purchasing the property our church sits on and converting the farmhouse into our church building. 2. Paying off the mortgage on our church property in the fall of 2016. 3. Retirement of two long-term pastors. One was the pastor with us from the beginning of our church building project and the other has been with us for the past 10 years. 4. Contributing to the building of a school in Dandabu, Sierra Leone as part of a partnership with a church member serving in the Peace Corps. 5. Receiving a $45,000 grant from the MN Conference to be used over the next 3 years to help us grow. The most significant happening in our church history was becoming an Open and Affirming church. The process and education the congregation engaged in to move us toward this designation and commitment was rewarding for most and an end for others. While we lost some members, we gained others and have continued to grow in our commitment to be an ONA congregation. Describe a specific change your church has managed in the recent past. The most recent change we have managed is the retirement of our pastor from the last 10 years. Overall the presence of our interim pastor has brought positive changes and infused some new energy into the congregation. We have seen a few changes such as: Slight change in the worship service content and order Change in leadership style Some families have taken a step back and are waiting to see transitions are handled in different ways Welcomed 16 new members, 6 of whom are confirmands, into the church New opportunities have been introduced: we gained $2000 in funding to help the congregation participate in racism awareness education and take the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Assessment PAGE 25

Outdoor worship on Wednesdays in July that included food and music and attracted new guests and members. We received a $700 grant from the MN Conference to help fund this event. Every church has conflict, some minor, some larger. Where two or three are gathered, there will be disagreement. Describe your congregation s values and practices when it comes to conflict. An example of when conflict occurred within our church was during our Open and Affirming process. Our initial foray did not go well. We decided to take a step back and re-evaluate. We then began a more focused process that included educational sessions, small-group discussions, and congregational meetings to learn, explore, and ask questions. We then took a vote and the motion passed by a majority. During the process, while there were heated discussions and differing opinions, communication remained open and caring. Our church communication is open and caring. We use the small-group discussions and congregational meetings as an inclusive forum when decisions that impact all are needed. PAGE 26

Ministerial History Staff member s name Years of service UCC Standing (Y/No) Dick Nichols 10 Y John Roschen 9 Y Sondra Carter 1 Y Rosemary Rocha - interim Nancy Swanson - interim Lois Vetvig - interim Kathy Gibson-Christensen interim Y Y Y Y Comment on what your church has learned about itself and its relationship with persons who provided ministerial leadership: Historically we have chosen ministers who have stayed with us until retirement. And while we have enjoyed their leadership and ministry, we are interested in calling someone who is near the beginning or middle of their ministry career. We would like someone engaging and knowledgeable of current world events and their potential impact on us. Someone who listens and shows compassion and caring for others and is interested in working with us to discover who we are as a congregation and guide us to who we want to become as a church. Has any past leader left under pressure or by involuntary termination? Yes, 20+ years ago - Pastoral style was off putting to many members of the congregation. Many sermons had a negative message that made members uncomfortable. After many conversations between the pastor and pastoral support committee, the congregation decided it would be best to part ways. Has your church been involved in a Situational Support Consultation? N Has a past pastor been the subject of a Fitness Review while at your church? N PAGE 27

WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR? COMMUNITY VISION MISSION INSITE COMMUNITY VISION How do the relationships and activities of your congregation extend outward in service and advocacy? We have participated in the following service related activities: Local: Ruby s Pantry Savage community food program Brain Power in a Backpack ISD 191 after school food program ROCK Reaching Our Community s Kids a Prior Lake-Savage after school food program Aliveness Project Gift giving at Christmas time for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities CAP Agency Food and clothing donations Children helped prepare school bags for children in homeless shelters Global: Feed My Starving Children Food preparation KIVA Provide small loads through International nonprofit micro lending organization to people globally Peace Corps Helping to fund teacher training for the school in Dandabu, Sierra Leone we previously helped fund the building of Currently Transformational Committed to gender and racial equity as a congregation: Educational sessions on racism awareness by Herb Perkins Congregational and individual assessment via Intercultural Development Inventory Fresh Perspectives Consulting through the Kaleo Center to develop a plan of action for Gender & Racial Equity focus PAGE 28

Describe your congregation s participation in meetings, relationships and activities connecting the wider United Church of Christ (association / conference / national setting). Representatives from the congregation attend the Minnesota Conference UCC annual meeting and we are a 5 for 5 congregation that contributes to Our Church s Wider Mission (OCWM), and the Special Missions Offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen The Church, Neighbors In Need and The Christmas Fund. Our contribution to the greater church has been casual in the past but we are open to greater involvement, if you are! Check all of the following statements of witness that apply to your UCC faith community. (Find more information on these statements at ucc.org.) Accessible to All (A2A) Creation Justice Economic Justice Faithful and Welcoming X_ God Is Still Speaking (GISS) Immigrant Welcoming Inter-cultural/Multi-racial (I M) X_ Just Peace Global Mission Church X_ Open and Affirming (ONA) WISE Congregation for Mental Health Other UCC designations: Other similar designations in affiliated denominations None Reflect on what the above statement(s) mean(s) to your community. Is your congregation interested in working toward any of the above statements of witness in the near future? We are intentional about becoming a multicultural and multiracial congregation. We have participated in these activities to help us begin our journey: Racism awareness education. Intercultural Development Inventory assessment and reflection. Sexual Orientation Gender Identity Retreat to understand and learn how people and our culture deal with and/or experience gender equity/inequity. PAGE 29

Describe your congregation s participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities (with other denominations and religious groups, local and regional). We have participated in the following activities over the years: Organize and prepare a Seder meal as a learning and worship experience. Attend a Jewish temple both as part of confirmation and as a congregation as a learning experience. Participated in the Taking Heart Program for the 2 nd year and attended an IFTAR dinner during Ramadan as a way to interact with those within the Muslim faith. Partnered with Bethesda Baptist Church in Minneapolis to foster a relationship that would help give both churches worship learning experiences outside their four walls. Participated in the Savage Community Ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve worship service. If your congregation has a mission statement, how does that mission statement compare to the actual time spent engaging in different activities? Think of the range of activities from time spent gathering, to governance, to time spent going out. Mission statement: New Spirit UCC is a progressive Christian community committed to living Jesus commandment, Love your neighbor as yourself. We are united by our welcoming and affirming of all peoples regardless of ethnicity, culture, gender identity, age, abilities, economic status, family structure, or sexual orientation. Our calling as individuals and as a community is to serve our local and world community with a joyous and generous spirit, and to be a refuge for all desiring comfort, inspiration, and challenge through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. We feel we are doing and living our mission by not only what we do in our church life but also in our daily life outside the church. Reflect on the scope of work assigned to your pastor(s). How is their community ministry and their ministry in and on behalf of the wider church accounted for in the congregation s expectations on their time? Our past pastors have been involved in the community as a Chaplain with the local police department and contributed to the local newspaper with a Pastor's Corner reflection on a rotating schedule. We would hope that our new pastor would continue to contribute to our PAGE 30

community in similar ways and would include time for these activities in their scheduled work hours. MissionInSite Comment on your congregation s MissionInsite report with data for your neighborhood(s) or area. What trends and opportunities are shown? Growing single parent households Increasing aging population Smaller household sizes How do your congregation s internal demographics compare or contrast to a) the neighborhoods adjacent to your church, and b) other neighborhoods with which your church connects? 80% of our wider community is Caucasian while 98% of our congregation is. 60% of our congregation has been a participant for 5 years or more. 45% of our congregation falls into the Boomer generation or higher while the Boomer generation in our wider community is made up of about 20%. How are the demographics of the community currently shaping ministry, or not? We see an opportunity for reformulating our mission to be a church that is focused on gender and racial equality. We are interested in casting a wider net to look not only within Savage/Prior Lake but also outside our immediate community. We are open to new opportunities that may not necessarily be reflective of the demographic data. What do you hear when you talk to community leaders and ask them what your church is known for? We're known as the former farmhouse church that sits behind Target. What do new people in the church say when asked what got them involved? Progressive Inclusive Welcoming PAGE 31

Small Want children raised in open & affirming environment PAGE 32

REFERENCES REFERENCE 1 Candy Moffitt / Church Musician 952-210-1510/ candace.moffitt@gmail.com / Church Musician My name is Candace (Candy) Moffitt and I have been New Spirit s church musician (piano and vocalist) for the past 20 years. I ve been searching for words that would accurately describe New Spirit United Church of Christ congregation. The first word that pops into my head is TOGETHERNESS. The New Spirit congregation has a proud history of building TOGETHERNESS. Before settling in to our current church home in Savage, the congregation was nomadic renting space at the Redwood Community Center in Apple Valley. TOGETHER, each Sunday, they had to haul a trailer, unpack the trailer, pack the trailer, and start all over again the following week. They learned how to be efficient and cooperative. Then, when they found the Savage property, they transformed a farmhouse into a church building. Again, they had to do it TOGETHER. It wasn t always easy or smooth but that TOGETHERNESS got it done! Another word I would use to describe New Spirit s congregation is FLEXIBILITY. The congregation is willing to try new things. Last year, when our interim minister suggested Wednesday night summer services, the congregation showed their FLEXIBILITY by embracing the mosquitoes, the hot dogs, and the wonderful informal worship services. COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE is a phrase that also describes this congregation. Racism, LGBT, and global issues drive this congregation s passions. When one of our young people joined the Peace Corps and voiced a need to build a school in Sierra Leone, the congregation did some serious fundraising. A final word that I would use to describe New Spirit s congregation is MUSICAL. We have enthusiastic congregational singing of the hymns and a very committed church choir under the leadership of Jerry Barte. Our Sunday School leaders involve the children not only with Sunday School lessons about Jesus but also they include bell ringing and plays. We get lots of compliments on our singing when visitors come to church. FUN is another word I would use to describe the congregation. There are many events like plays, restaurants, lectures, and community-building activities that are planned throughout the year. In spite of the many positive attributes of New Spirit, I would not describe it as a thriving congregation. We need guidance on how to attract new membership to our small congregation. We don t have the bells and whistles of a larger church. The leadership of our church s programs falls on the shoulders of the minister and the dedicated core members. With the exception of the core membership, the congregation as a whole has a feeling of nonurgency to attend church services. The congregation has done some serious assessing and planning this past year as we transition to a new minister. How does a small church mobilize a community? How can we attract people in our neighborhood? Are we welcoming enough? Is our message what we believe? Are we too progressive or aren t we progressive enough? New Spirit United Church of Christ is a caring, supportive congregation who likes singing, eating, and praying together. I am proud to be a part of their journey. I feel optimistic that this wonderful band of Christians will overcome its smallness and have an impact in the south-of-the-river suburbs with Jesus message of hope and love. PAGE 33

REFERENCE 2 Stacy Wells / Intercultural Development Inventory Consultant 612-845-3038/ swellmn@gmail.com / Consultant I had the pleasure of meeting the New Spirit congregation in February of 2017. They are engaged in ongoing work regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, and I administered the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as a part of this effort. A large majority of the congregation took the optional opportunity to take the IDI, attend the group feedback session, and to meet with me for an individual feedback session to discuss their personal experience across cultures. I was at the church several times between February and April, and I always felt welcome no matter who I encountered. Everyone was warm, welcoming and accommodating. I had the unique opportunity to talk with members individually and I genuinely enjoyed the personal conversations. The topic of culture, race, and the like can be very challenging, but they approached this with curiosity and openness. I think New Spirit s work around diversity and equity is a real strength of the church, particularly as they look inward to see and understand the differences existing in the current membership. This will allow them to be open to new members. While the size of the congregation and the length of time many members have belonged allows for a family atmosphere, I would imagine this could be intimidating for someone that may be considering New Spirit as a church home. However, once one spends time at the church, I would imagine that they would feel as welcome as I did. Another thing I noticed was the involvement of members in church activities. The membership seemed very active in the youth activities, volunteer efforts, and church up keep. It seems that members are committed and enjoy being a part of the New Spirit congregation. I had a wonderful experience engaging with New Spirit and believe others will as well. I would be happy to answer any additional questions or discuss my experience further. Respectfully Submitted, Stacy Wells, consultant 612.845.3038 swellmn@gmail.com PAGE 34

CLOSING THOUGHTS CLOSING PRAYER STATEMENT OF CONSENT CONFERENCE/ASSOCIATION VALIDATION CLOSING PRAYER Sometimes names are just names. At New Spirit, our name means something significant to us all. There is a "spirit" that is fresh and energetic and engaging here. Many of us joined because we felt that spirit the first time we gathered with the other members. This is not a "typical" church. There does seem to be a "new spirit" here and it gives us a sense of hope for today for all of our tomorrows. We hope you will consider being a part of this place we've come to love. Thank you for reading our materials. We hope and pray that you caught a sense of who we are and what we believe we are being called to be and do. Our love for God spills over to our love for each other and for the community we live in. We long to make a difference - especially for those treated unjustly. We pray for someone with the vision and compassion to walk with us in that calling. PAGE 35

STATEMENT OF CONSENT The covenantal relationship between a church and those called by that church to serve as pastors and teachers and in other ministerial positions is strengthened when vital information is openly shared by covenantal partners. To that end, we attest that, to the best of our abilities, we have provided information in this profile that accurately represents our church. We have not knowingly withheld any information that would be helpful to candidates. As the committee charged with the responsibility for identifying and recommending suitable new minister for our church, we have been authorized to share the information herein with potential candidates. We understand that a candidate may wish to secure further knowledge, information, and opinions about our church. We encourage a candidate to do so, recognizing that an open exchange of relevant information builds the foundation for continuing and healthy relationships between calling bodies and persons seeking a ministry position. 1. Which individuals and groups in the church contributed to the contents of this Local Church Profile? Search Committee members: Cheryl Stoos Verlyn Hemmen John Loutzenhiser Charlotte Smith New Spirit Board of Representatives PAGE 36

Signed: Cheryl Stoos / Search Committee Member / 08.03.2017 Name / Title / Date PAGE 37

VALIDATION BY CONFERENCE/ASSOCIATION The congregation is currently in good standing with the association / conference named. Staff Comment: As the profile indicates. The congregation initiated a grant request from the conference. It was a thorough plan that was well received by the Board of Directors who unanimously approved the request. To the best of my knowledge, ministerial history information is complete. To the best of my knowledge, available church financial information is presented thoroughly. My signature below attests to the above three items. Signature: Rev. Steven J. Boorsma Name / Title: Associate Conference Minister Email: steveb@uccmn.org Phone: 612-230-3367 Date: August 30, 2017 This document is created through support to Our Church s Wider Mission (OCWM) and is only possible through the covenantal relationships of all settings of the United Church of Christ. Jesus answered them, Have faith in God! Mark 11:22 PAGE 38