Introduction The Ministerial Vocation Committee and the Office of the Stated Clerk of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church are responsible for denominational vocational services. As part of the process of matching ministers and congregations, the Office of the Stated Clerk provides resources and advice to both pastors and congregational search committees. To that end, we ask congregations and ministers to complete information forms as an introduction to each other, and a first step in the process of calling a minister for a congregation. For both the individual pastor and the congregation, this is an opportunity for self-study and for evaluation of current ministry and goals. This calls for honesty, effort, and commitment to open communication. The Church Information Form presents the local congregation s history, challenges, and goals. It is our hope that this will be of help in facilitating the search process, assisting the church in focusing on future directions and pastors in gaining some sense of the nature and uniqueness of this congregation. Contents Part 1 Church Information Part 4 Leadership Expectations Part 2 Building/Financial Information Part 5 Church History Part 3 Church Characteristics Part 6 Other Information Please return the completed document to: Office of the Stated Clerk Evangelical Presbyterian Church 5850 T.G. Lee Blvd. Suite 510 Orlando, FL 32822 Phone: (407) 930-4239 Fax: (407) 930-4247 E-mail: info@epc.org EPC Church Information Form 2015 1
Part 1: Church Information 1. Name: River City Church Address: 267 E. Highbanks Road DeBary, FL 32713 Telephone: ( ) 386 668-4495 Fax: ( ) 386 668-3313 E-mail: contact@rivercitychurchpc.com Website: RiverCityChurchEPC.com 2. Presbytery: Florida & the Caribbean Presbytery Ministerial Committee Liaison: Rev. Matthew Everhard, DMin 3. Search Committee Chairman: David Pedersen Address: 1005 Collins Ave. Orange City, FL 32763 Telephone: ( ) 386 956-8753 E-mail: 2dpedersen@gmail.com 4. List all paid staff positions _ Pastor Full time Part time _ Office Manager Full time Part time _ Worship Arts Director Full time Part time _ Children's Director Full time Part time _ Ministry Director Full time Part time _ Pastoral Intern (RTS Student) Full time Part time _ Preschool Director Full time Part time _ 8 Preschool Teachers Full time Part time _ Full time Part time Position Available: Pastor Date of Vacancy: January, 2019 Position Available: Date of Vacancy: 5. Membership (please state approximate numbers and percentages) Five years ago Currently A. Number of church members Did 165 B. Number of family units not 95 C. Worship attendance track 146 D. Profile of church members (1) Age: % 11 0-11 % 4 12-18 % 3 19-24 % 6 25-34 % 14 35-49 % 18 50-64 % 44 65+
(2) Occupation: % Business % Professional % Trades % Stay-at-home parent % Agriculture % Retired % Other (Specify: ) We don't track (wdt) (3) Educational level of adults % wdt some high school % wdt high school % wdt college % wdt graduate school (4) Percentage of members belonging to the congregation: Less than one year % 5 years or less % 61 6-10 years % 10 years or more % (5) Racial/Ethnic composition of congregation % 1 Asian % 1 Hispanic % 2 African American % 95 Caucasian % 1 Other / Specify: 6. Worship A. Time Average Attendance 10:30 146 B. Frequency of communion celebration: 12 per year C. How are members involved in planning and participation in the liturgy/worship? Staff and lay people combine to lead worship through singing, playing instruments, leading prayers, teaching the weekly children's message, and preparing the elements for communion. Elders are available after each worship service for prayer at the front of the sanctuary. D. Style of liturgy used in your worship (e.g., traditional, contemporary, variety): The actual liturgy is fairly traditional. We have a Call to Worship, Prayer of Invocation, Confession of Sin and Assurance of Pardon, Catechism readings, and the Apostles Creed on communion Sundays. E. Type of music used in worship (e.g., traditional, contemporary, variety): While the liturgy is traditional, the worship style is a blend of taditional and contemporary. We use the new 'Hymns of Grace' hymnal as our source of songs... i.e. tradtional hymns, Getty hymns, and Sovereign Grace songs, etc... EPC Church Information Form 2015 3
7. Church/Sunday School A. Average attendance in Church School (under 18 years) 16 B. Average attendance in Adult Education (Sunday) 40 8. Community Setting (check as many as apply): Location Function Growth Rural Industrial Growing Small town College/University Static Metropolitan Agricultural Declining Suburban Recreational Inner City Military Approximate population of community 21,000 Racial/Ethnic composition of community: % 1 Asian % 1 Hispanic % 2 African American % 95 Caucasian % 1 Other (Specify: ) 9. Program Information: List major boards, committees and organizations that are part of your church and frequency of meetings (monthly, weekly, etc.): Name Purpose of Group Number of members Frequency of meetings *Leadership role Adult Discipleship Small Groups, Sunday Sch. 5 10-11 2 Finance Set Budget, Pledge Drive 6 12 2 Personnel Oversee staff 6 7-8 2 WIM (Women in Ministry) Various women's ministries 9 12 3 Missions Op. Xmas Child, missionaries 5 10-11 3 Prayer Monthly prayer gathering, etc. 5 12 3 Congregational Care Cards, Sick members, etc. 7 12 3 Children & River City Preschool Oversee both ministries 8 12 3 *Indicate leadership role expected by using the number below: 1. Pastor takes primary initiative and responsibility. 2. Pastor and laity share responsibility. 3. Laity takes primary initiative and responsibility. EPC Church Information Form 2015
Part 2: Building/Financial Information 1. Current annual budget: $_ 511,552.00 Last year s annual budget: $_ 470,505.00 (Please attach a copy of current budget) 2. Percentage of income received toward budget: % 101 3. Amount contributed for (last complete reporting year: ): $309,620.00 A. EPC per member contribution $ 33.00 B. EPC World Outreach Missionaries $ C. EPC Benevolence Askings $ D. Presbytery giving $ 15.00 per member E. Other Missions/Missionaries $ 7,000.00 4. Property owned by church A. Describe buildings and property (other than manse). In 2009, our church experienced a tragic fire which burned our entire facility to the ground. Thankfully, insurance awarded us $2.5 million to rebuild. As of 2012, we have completely new facilites for worship, office space, classrooms, and a fellowship hall and kitchen. We also have a separate Preschool facility that sees 75-80 preschoolers each year. B. Are your buildings adequate for your present program? No If no, please explain: C. Is a building program projected? No If yes, describe what and when and projected cost: D. Does the church own a manse? No Condition: Good Fair Poor Number of bedrooms: Office/study: In Church In Manse Not provided Other: EPC Church Information Form 2015 5
6. Compensation: A. The salary range we are prepared to offer: Position: Pastor Position: $ Commensurate to experience $ B. The average annual increase over the past three years is: Position: Pastor $ or % 2 Position: $ or % C. Housing Housing allowance Manse only Either of the above D. Benefits and expenses: Pension (minimum 10% gross effective salary) EPC family plan Federal rate 4 weeks negotiable Medical insurance Life insurance Social Security Travel/mileage Book allowance Study leave allowance Annual vacation Number of worship services (in addition to vacation and study leave) for which pastor is provided relief (per year) Other (Specify: ) EPC Church Information Form 2015
Part III: Church Characteristics Circle the number that most closely describes the current congregation characteristics and future goals: Our congregation Currently Goal Agree Disagree Agree Disagree 1. Supports the pastor. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 2. Readily shares their gifts with the rest of the congregation. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 3. Places a high priority on sound biblical preaching. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4. Gladly welcomes visitors and new members. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5. Is involved in local evangelistic ministries. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 6. Is often found living their faith in their communities. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 7. Has a spirit of unity. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 8. Cares about each other. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 9. Looks to its Session for leadership. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 10. Ministers well to members who are hurting. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 11. Uses members gifts in its worship. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 12. Contains people willing and able to lead the congregation. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 13. Is capable of change when and where appropriate. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 14. Is spiritually alive. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 EPC Church Information Form 2015 7
15. In what ways does your church participate in ecumenical activities? HOPE - A local, interdenominational organization addressing human trafficking, Second Harvest Foodbank (occasional food drives, monthly giving), Pregnancy Center, a new clinic in Africa (members are medical professionals helping to build a clinic in Ghana), Angel Tree gifts each Christmas, WIM makes pads for seniors who are bedridden, we host the local Boy Scout troop, members are involved in Kairos Prison ministry, and we host the local Classsical Conversations group. 16. Describe the strengths of your congregation: 1.) Hunger for God's word (expositional preaching, strong teaching) 2.) Healthy range of ages (young to old) 3.) We are very adaptable, flexible, and persevering 4.) Vibrant in-home Community Groups 5.) Desiralbe location in a safe, growing community with a deb-free $3 million facility and preschool 6.) Strong staff 17. List specific problems with which your congregation struggles: 1.) Newer members not understanding the commitment of eldership 2.) Developing a long-standing youth ministry program. We have had sucess in building a Children's minstry, but have yet to build a sustainabile youth ministry. 3.) Overall communications could be improved 18. List major goals that this congregation has set for itself: Continue increasing missions giving incrementally each year Continue to grow as a praying church Continue to see adult conversions and baptisms Continue to improve communications A plan to fully include the Preschool into the ministry of the church EPC Church Information Form 2015
19. Has there ever been disciplinary action taken against a pastor of your congregation? No 20. Has there ever been any disciplinary action against an elder or deacon of your congregation? No If you answered to either 19 or 20, please explain: 21. Have you completed a mission statement, vision statement and/or a strategic plan for your congregation? Date: 07/23/2018 No If yes, please attach copies. EPC Church Information Form 2015 9
Part 4: Leadership Expectations 22. What five key characteristics/gifts/skills should a person bring to the position? 1.) Strong, biblical teaching and preaching 2.) A love for people and the ability to express Christ's love to the people 3.) Ability to lead and relate to a multigenerational & multicultural community 4.) Good interpersonal skills (sense of humor, ability to listen to people, etc...) 5.) Able to raise up new leaders EPC Church Information Form 2015
Part 5: Church History 1 What do you consider to be the three most important events in the history of your church? 1.) Leaving the PCUSA, and joining the EPC in 2015 2.) The fire in 2009 and susequent rebuild of our church facility and preschool in 2012 3.) Celebrating our 60th anniversary in April, 2018 and retiring our dept to the PCUSA, becoming debt-free 2. What do you consider to be the most interesting and challenging event in the life of your church in the last three years? Since joining the EPC, the overall revitalization that has taken place in River City Church EPC Church Information Form 2015 11
Part 6: Other Information 1. List the last three persons in this position: Position: Pastor Name Dates of Service Rev. Dustin Jernigan 01/2016 to 01/2019 Rev. Don Mason (iterim) 04/2015 to 01/2016 Rev. Joe Evers (Interim) 03/2013 to 04/2015 2. Other significant factors about our church not covered in previous questions: Our recent pastor, Dustin Jernigan, has left in order to accept another call to an EPC church in a community that better helps his young son find the medical therapy that he needs. The church has grown in many ways over the last 5 years.. financially, spiritually, and numerically. Our prayerful hope is to continue this upward trend by supporting our next pastor who will lead us. Sadly, recently a tragedy occurred in DeBary: a teenager murdered his mother late at night and eventually took her body and buried her remains deep in the woods at the back of our property. Although not a church family, it has been a shock to our community. Janet Clark Clerk of Session David Pedersen Chair, Search Committee Date: _ 12/09/2018 Date: 12/09/2018 We encourage churches to list their openings on the EPC Ministry Staff Opportunities List (www.epc.org/mso). For more information or to send your posting e-mail epchurch@epc.org. EPC Church Information Form 2015