First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church Brookings, South Dakota April 21-23, 2017

The Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) Team would like to thank Pastors Wade and Theta Miller and the leadership of Brookings First Methodist Church for your hospitality this weekend and for the privilege of teaming with you. Our prayer is that God will use this process to focus and maximize the potential of your congregation for fruitfulness for Christ. First Church embodies numerous resources and strengths ideally suited for next-level transformational ministry, as well as some concerns that need to be addressed in order for the church to move forward. Strengths 1. Facilities and Location. Both the large and well-kept original First Church building and the newer Community Life Center represent the strong investment the congregation has made to fulfill its historic calling to serve at the corner of church and community. Additionally, the prominent and accessible location is appreciated by members as a major asset. 2. Longtime Commitment to Mission. First Church has a passion to live out mission and service to those in need. Throughout the MCCI weekend, members and leaders talked about this commitment, shown locally through the Harvest Table, Headstart, the Solar Oven Partners, Diaper Project and many other efforts to minister to its neighbors. The Community Life Center itself is a tangible embodiment of First Church s missional heart for its community. Additionally, First Church has long been committed to mission around the country and around the world through youth and adult mission trips and financial support of world missions. 3. Worship Options, and Music. Members told the MCCI Team they truly value the multiple worship options that are offered each week on Sunday morning plus another worship opportunity on Wednesday evening. Both traditional and contemporary/modern worship styles are available, offering something for everyone. Additionally, First Church s music ministry (choirs, organ, bells, praise band, etc.) inspires the congregation in each of these worship settings. 4. Warm Relationships within the Congregation. Loving, close friendships and shared history are words that members of the First Church family used in describing their relationships with one another. Some in the congregation have been a part of this church their entire lives, and others represent the latest of several generations of their family to have been church members over First Church s history. Some have been here a shorter time but also feel a deep sense of belonging. The church s UMW, UMM and other groups all offer ongoing opportunities for the friendships to deepen and grow. 2

5. Commitment to Children and Youth. Throughout its history, First Church has remained constant in its commitment to ministry with the next generation. Numerous young lives have been discipled into eventual vocational ministry by this congregation. Both longtime and newer members repeatedly praised the church s desire to offer a quality children s ministry and youth ministry, confirmation program and other efforts that nurture young lives of faith. Concerns 1. Unhealed Issues from the Past. First Church members told stories of how unsettling the multiple pastoral changes during the last few years have been to the foundation of the church, resulting in a lack of closure and healing for many. This has resulted in a sense of disconnect from unity of direction and focus. Additional changes, including various adjustments of the Sunday morning worship schedule, have contributed to a feeling of congregational instability for some. 2. Leadership. Those on the church s payroll work long hours each week on behalf of the church family. While the congregation shared its appreciation for the dedication of the paid staff and pastors, questions were also raised about whether the talents and giftedness of the staff and pastors could be more effectively used through better teamwork and greater recruitment/deployment of volunteers. 3. Not Fully Ready for Guests. Mystery worshipers sent to all three Sunday morning worship service times at First Church reported varying degrees of warmth and welcome by the congregation, some reporting that no one spoke to them at all while they were in the church facilities and that they would not be interested in returning. Mystery worshipers also commented on inadequate signage to help them navigate the buildings, locate the children s ministry and understand where to park. Some found the worship bulletin less than user-friendly, with the majority of its content aimed at church members rather than guests. 4. Still Not Debt-Free. Although First Church has demonstrated a consistent financial faithfulness to paying down the mortgage on the Community Life Center, a balance of approximately $420,000 still remains before the CLC mortgage can be burned. Other facility repairs and building needs must also be addressed. 5. The Alley: A Dividing Line. With traditional worship taking place in the Sanctuary and modern/contemporary worship taking place in the Community Life Center, a number of members described the alley between the church s two buildings as a dividing line fostering a perception of separation between those attending different worship services. Members expressed the concern that those attending worship in two separate buildings don t have frequent opportunities to get acquainted with each other, see one another and experience themselves as one whole congregation. 3

Prescriptions 1. A Firm Foundation: Congregational Unity. In order to help reestablish a firm foundation upon which First Church can build following the numerous changes and transitions of the last few years, upon acceptance of this report the pastors will partner with the district superintendent to schedule an all-church, unified Sunday morning Worship Service of Healing and Hope. The service will be held in the Sanctuary if space allows. The Worship Service of Healing and Hope will be led by the district superintendent and the Dakotas Conference s Bishop Bruce Ough. The purpose of this service will be to acknowledge the leadership pains and frustrations of the past, discover spiritual release/closure and prayerfully affirm a renewed forward focus for the future together. The service will culminate with communion and a commissioning by the bishop of each member present on behalf of God s next new season of ministry fruitfulness. Following the service, an all-church fellowship dinner will be held so that the congregation can enjoy both making new acquaintanceships and enjoying established friendships. So that the repeated concerns expressed about the current Sunday morning schedule might be considered, the pastors and the administrative council will identify a Sunday Morning Schedule Feasibility Team by or before August 2017. This new team will include representatives from each of the existing Sunday morning worship services, together with staff members who are responsible for aspects of Sunday morning activities. The MCCI team will help identify a facilitator for the team (and a prescription coach will be provided if requested by the pastors/administrative council). The responsibilities of the team will be to consider the feasibility of concerns that have been expressed about the existing Sunday morning schedule and together clarify whether an adjusted Sunday morning schedule would better accommodate all worship and ministry needs. The Sunday Morning Schedule Feasibility Team will bring a report on their work, along with any recommendation they might have reached together, to the administrative council by or before December 2017. Should the team decide to recommend any Sunday morning schedule adjustments, these changes will be thoroughly communicated throughout the church family for an appropriate length of time, determined by the council, prior to implementation. 2. A Firm Foundation: Leadership Alignment. Upon acceptance of this report a prescription coach will be provided to partner with the district superintendent to facilitate a staff responsibilities alignment review, so that the paid staff, including pastors, can establish even more effective leadership, support and resourcing for the First Church congregation. The purpose of this review will be to ensure that the talents and expertise of all staff are maximized to help the congregation accomplish the prescription work outlined in this report, as well as all other ongoing ministry and mission efforts. The staff responsibilities alignment review will be completed by or before September 2017, and will include updated job descriptions for each position with specific fruitfulness goals and benchmarks for accountability. The district superintendent and the prescription coach will provide best practices teamwork training for the staff and pastors, as well as training on how to engage, equip and deploy more volunteers to serve in ministry. Additional aspects of the staff responsibilities alignment review will include, in conjunction with the Staff/Parish Relations Committee (SPRC): 4

Identification of any possible new staff position(s) that may be needed. Clarification and coordination for a strong and consistent care ministry for the entire congregation, so that church members of all ages feel connected and supported in times of crisis, illness, grief, aloneness and/or other circumstances. 3. A Firm Foundation: Getting Guest-Ready. To ensure that every new guest who visits First Church receives a wonderful welcome and effective followup/invitation to return, the pastors and administrative council will assemble these new short-term teams by or before August 2017: A new Guest-Readiness Team will partner with a prescription coach to create and establish a reliable and effective system of welcome, follow-up and first steps of connection for visitors of all ages who come to worship on both Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. This may include additional training for existing usher/greeter teams, recruiting and deploying more greeters to provide welcome at every door and other new protocols, all designed to ramp up the guest-friendliness and welcome of each worship service. The work of the Guest-Readiness Team and the new systems will be in place and operative by Advent 2017. In order to give First Church a highly recognizable visual identity and presence in Brookings, a Visual Identity Team will partner with a prescription coach to develop an updated brand/identity look that may include an updated logo and updated, coordinating templates for the weekly church bulletin, worship slides, church newsletter, posters, website appearance, etc. Special attention will be given to the updated worship bulletin template s user-friendliness for visitors, with content that avoids using insider language that isn t fully explained for visitors easy understanding. The new look and templates will be implemented and used consistently across all media platforms by or before November 2017. A Signage Team will conduct an all-facility signage audit (both inside and outside) and create a proposal for any additional signage needed to help guests easily find the children s ministry, the location of each worship service, the restrooms and other areas that guests usually frequent. Before any new inside signage is permanently hung, it should be vetted by at least five persons who have never been inside First Church in order to make sure that the signage is accurately placed to guide newcomers successfully. All additional signage will be in place by or before Advent 2017. To address the security concerns of young parents in today s world, a Children s Ministry Check-In Team will be formed to explore the cost and potential placement locations of a Sunday morning electronic check-in system for children attending any children s ministry class or nursery. The team will bring its proposal and cost estimate to the administrative council by or before October 2017. The system will be installed and functioning every Sunday morning by or before Lent 2018. 5

4. A Firm Foundation: Becoming Debt-Free. In order for First Church to finally resolve the remaining balance on the Community Life Center mortgage and fully fund any additional facility needs that currently need addressed, the pastors and administrative council will constitute a Capital Campaign Strategy Team by or before fall 2017. This new team, facilitated by Pastor Wade, will identify the parameters of a possible capital campaign, create a timeline and logistics, and (upon approval from the administrative council) launch and conduct the campaign as per the timeline. The goal of the capital campaign will be to help position First Church to fully underwrite the completion of the CLC s mortgage, as well as to fully finance the other current facility needs identified. 5. A Firm Foundation: Bridging the Alley. To help transform the alley between the two First Church buildings from a perceived dividing line into a wonderful zone of congregational connection, upon acceptance of this report the pastors and administrative council will identify a Bridge the Alley Team that is intergenerational (includes representatives from the youth ministry and both the traditional and the modern/contemporary worship services) by or before the end of June 2017. The responsibilities of this team will include the following: Plan and deploy at least three all-church events or activities during the next calendar year that involve those attending worship in both buildings, and that are held (assuming suitable weather) in the actual church alley and adjoining parking lot. The events/activities will foster fellowship, connection and new friendships. They may include music provided by the praise band, choir, etc., include celebrations of ministry fruitfulness progress or feature sharing of God stories, involve creative application of the Breakthrough Prayer Initiative, and/or other featured focuses that help foster good will and relational connection throughout the entire congregation. Attention will be giving to equipping the congregation to invite the churchless they know to attend the Bridge the Alley events or activities along with them, thus creating opportunities to invite guests to experience the friendliness of the First Church family. Additionally, discipleship coordinator Mandy Lyons deblonk will assemble and lead an unpaid team whose purpose will be to organize and carry out an all-new Building Bridges Dinner Groups initiative, starting in either fall 2017 or January 2018. The goal of the groups will be to help church members create new friendships with those attending a First Church worship service other than their own. Mandy and the deployment team will offer signups for the groups and will organize them with attention given to combining 5-8 persons from differing worship services. A convener in each group will invite everyone to a dinner location (home, restaurant, church classroom, picnic spot or other setting) for food and fellowship. Each Building Bridges dinner group may decide to meet again for dinner another month, or else meet once and then resubmit their names to experience a different Building Bridges dinner group the next time around and meet additional new people. The Building Bridges Dinner Groups Initiative will extend for an entire quarter and will continue another quarter (or longer) as per the interest of the congregation. New members will be intentionally invited to participate in the Building Bridges Dinner Groups. 6

Addendum (not a prescription) When these five initial Firm Foundation prescriptions are fully implemented and a firm foundation has been reestablished after the various changes of the last few years, the MCCI Team (upon invitation by the administrative council and the pastors, and with approval by the district superintendent) will return to First Church for an MCCI Phase 2 Day. After listening sessions with staff, leadership and the council, and member focus groups, the MCCI Team will prepare a Phase 2 report with an additional 2-3 prescriptions designed to help the church build additional forward momentum. Should the Phase 2 report and prescriptions be approved by a 90% or better vote of the administrative council, the MCCI will provide and underwrite prescription coaches as appropriate to help First Church accomplish the Phase 2 prescriptions. Immediate Governance Decision Steps The congregation will hold four Town Hall Meetings within the next 30 days to discuss these prescriptions. 1. Sunday, April 30 at noon, CLC 2. Wednesday, May 10 at 6:45 p.m., CLC 3. Friday, May 19 at noon, Basement 4. Thursday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m., Sanctuary Facilitators for these Town Hall Meetings will be identified by the pastors in conjunction with the MCCI Team. The congregation will vote on this report to either embrace or reject it in its entirety at an official church conference led by the district superintendent on Sunday, June 4 immediately following a 10 a.m. combined worship service. If embraced by a 75% or more vote of the official membership present, the MCCI will designate prescription coaches and team with First Church to implement these prescriptions. If the prescriptions are rejected, the MCCI partnership process and resourcing will cease. --------------------------------- Respectfully Submitted by: Rev. Sue Nilson Kibbey, Director of the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) Rev. Roger Spahr, District Superintendent, Dakotas Conference Rev. Terry McHugh, Executive Pastor of Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church, Cleveland, Ohio 7