Waynedale United Methodist Church Consultation Report October 29, 2016 INTRODUCTION: We, the consultation team, thank Pastor Ted Jansen, the lay leadership, and the congregation of Waynedale United Methodist Church for the invitation to consult with this body of Christ. The following observations and Ministry Action Plan are the result of this team studying the following information: 1) Waynedale UMC s self-study document provided by its leaders, 2) FCJ on-line survey, 3) interview with the pastor, 4) interviews with key leaders, 5) results of the Friday evening focus group, 6) a meeting with the Ad Council, 7) the MissionInsite demographic report of the area s population, 8) Faith Perceptions Mystery Guest Worshipper Report, and 9) input from Saturday s leadership workshop. Our prayer is that God will use this assessment experience, and consultation report to help the congregation of Waynedale UMC more effectively be and make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the community and the world. STRENGTHS 1. Location Waynedale UMC is situated in a prime location. The church is located strategically across the street from Waynedale Elementary to the west and off Bluffton road to the east, which is a main artery from I469 into downtown Fort Wayne. The mystery guest worshipers indicated that the church was well-known in the community, and were easily directed to the church by individuals in the community. There is a great harvest field right outside the church doors. 2. Preschool The Waynedale UMC preschool has been an asset to the church and the community for over fifty years. The preschool has faced challenges because of changes in the public schools, and the leadership and board have continued to adapt to the changing environment and continue to be successful. The preschool is an excellent connecting point into the life of the church which so far has gone untapped. 3. Building Waynedale UMC has a well-maintained facility even though there are three distinct wings that are representative of their respective era. They have plenty of room to grow and accommodate the children and youth they are trying to attract. The children s area is especially bright and welcoming. One mystery guest noted: The mural on the wall of Noah s Ark was beautiful and fun. It seemed like a room that I would feel safe having young children in and I believe they would enjoy it as well. The church is already considered to be a community center since it hosts a monthly meal, scouts, AA, TOPS, etc. so many opportunities are available to connect the church with the community.
4. Pastoral Leadership Pastor Ted s stable leadership, through his methodical approach to finances and structure, is addressing some of the issues facing Waynedale UMC. His efforts are to be applauded. He also has been making connections with new people in the community in various ways, including being a lunch buddy at Waynedale Elementary and conducting chapel for the preschool students. 5. Improving Stewardship Currently, Waynedale UMC has significant financial concerns, including a negative balance in their general fund. However, the church under Pastor Ted s leadership is making plans to launch a capital campaign in 2017 to fund needed repairs, perform some renovations and retire our debt. The church has hired Church Growth Services (CGS) to help in this capital campaign. Church Growth Services has a proven track record in helping churches raise the funds necessary to retire debt. Additionally, the church has undertaken its annual stewardship campaign in the fall of 2016 to encourage giving to the general fund in 2017. These are all positive steps to improve the overall financial position of Waynedale UMC. CONCERNS 1. Lack of Clear, Shared Vision Very few leaders could quote the mission of the United Methodist Church, to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. No one could articulate how the church specifically and uniquely has a clear focus on how they will accomplish the mission of the church. Without a clear, shared vision to fulfill the mission, the church will not be able to use its resources in the most effective way to be and make disciples in transforming the world. 2. Unclear Faith Development Process While the church offers Sunday school classes, as well as Bible studies for men and women during the week, there is currently no strategic process to help persons new or long-time members and attenders to discern where they are on their spiritual journey, and what steps they could take to move forward. In addition, the church has no intentional plan to help those in the community, or new to the church, understand faith and how they could grow in their faith. There is no clear answer to the question, How does a seeker or Christ-follower at Waynedale UMC walk through the stages of spiritual faith development to become a disciple who reproduces disciples? 3. Absence of Leadership Development Strategy The consultation team heard repeatedly that a small number of people do an incredible amount of work, while having difficulty finding volunteers. During the Saturday workshop, several indicated that they didn t know each other s spiritual gifts and so there is the potential for untapped leadership. The consultation team could discern no intentional process to develop new leaders. The church s lack of leadership development is limiting the church s ministry effectiveness and growth. 4. Aging Congregation with Few Young Families
The on-line congregational survey revealed that Waynedale UMC s number one concern is that it is an aging congregation, which was also expressed in various ways throughout the weekend. The survey also showed a concern for the lack of children and young families in the life of the church and declining attendance. While the congregation has identified these concerns as important, there has been no strategic plan to reverse the decline of children and young families within the life of the church. The consultation team concurs and lifts these concerns as major issues to be addressed. 5. Lack of Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship The Mystery Guest Worshipper report identified an inconsistent nature of the worship experience, including the hospitality guest components. One mystery guest commented, when asked about a willingness to return said, I think that if I was an individual in my 60 s or older, I would be more likely to attend this church again. Although, not unfriendly, they were also not super welcoming to my family, as visitors. Another commented about the post-service atmosphere, Nobody came up to me afterward. Everyone seemed to be rushing to the doorway, perhaps to be first in line for coffee, tea and snacks! Everyone seemed to be happy and pleasant but not interested in saying hello to the stranger! I did not feel like a part of the group. The overall worship experience at both the traditional and contemporary service needs to be evaluated. MINISTRY ACTION PLAN (MAP) 1. Develop a Clear, Shared Vision The congregation understands that the day this consultation report is accepted, this congregation will reaffirm The United Methodist Church s mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. In order to prepare the congregation s heart to be unified with this mission, the congregation will enter into a season of prayerful reflection. A prayer team will be formed, by December 20, 2016, in consultation with the pastor and the coach that will commit to a weekly time of prayer in the church, praying for the Holy Spirit to ignite and saturate the church. This prayer team will begin by January 18, 2017 and commit to a minimum of one year of intentional prayer for the church. The church will hold a service of prayer and forgiveness on a Sunday morning to reaffirm God s mandate for making disciples and transforming the world. This conference-paid service will be arranged by the FCJ Prayer Coordinator, in consultation with the pastor, and be held by January 29, 2017. The pastor will regularly attend Peer Mentoring sessions with other pastors in the FCJ process to help lead the congregation forward. The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will form a team of three to five persons by January 18, 2017, to identify the core values and discern the vision for the church. The coach will conduct a Core Values Workshop followed by a Vision Workshop for the congregation. The Core Values Workshop and the Vision Workshop will be completed by February 28, 2017. The team will present their recommendations to the Ad Council for review and adoption by April 16, 2017. Upon the adoption of the core values and vision, ministry leaders will demonstrate how each ministry will accomplish the mission and vision. To help accomplish this goal, the coach will present the Vision to Ministry workshop by April 30, 2017 which will help the team accomplish the ministry review.
Following the workshop, the team will conduct a ministry review of all existing ministries to evaluate ministries for their faithfulness and fruitfulness to the mission and vision. Any ministries that are not faithful to the mission and vision and any ministry that is faithful, but still not fruitful, will be modified and reevaluated for fruitfulness. All continuing ministries will set goals and objectives in alignment with the mission and vision. This review must be completed by October 1, 2017, and reported to the Ad Council. All new ministries must demonstrate how they will be aligned to the mission and vision and have yearly goals for fruitful ministry. Each year all ministries will be reevaluated for its fruitfulness with goals set for the following year. 2. Develop a Discipleship Pathway The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a team of three to five persons by May 1, 2017, to continue to develop a clear discipleship pathway that helps move people from where they are on their spiritual journey to becoming fully committed followers of Jesus Christ. The coach will lead an Intentional Faith Development workshop by May 21, 2017, to assist the team in its development of a discipleship pathway. The discipleship pathway will be designed for everyone, whether a non-believer or one who is maturing in their faith. This discipleship pathway will represent a lifelong process in which participation in a faith development group will be encouraged and expected. The team will discern a faith development plan within a Wesleyan model that encourages all persons to: connect and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ, be transformed by studying the beliefs and principles of the Christian faith, connect with other believers for support and accountability through small groups, identify and connect with God s purpose for their lives through prayer, participate in opportunities for risk-taking service and mission, and invite others into a relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. This plan will be adopted by the Ad Council and will be implemented in the life of Waynedale UMC at all ministry levels by September 1, 2017. 3. Develop New Leaders to Facilitate the Church s Mission and Vision The coach will lead a Creating a Teamwork Culture Workshop for the Ad Council by September 15, 2017, to deepen the trust and teamwork of the Ad Council for the road ahead. The coach will then lead an Accountable Leadership Workshop for the leaders of the church by October 31, 2017. Immediately following the workshop, a team made up of the pastor, and SPRC representative and an additional four to six members will begin to devise a plan for identification, recruitment, mentoring and deployment of new leaders at Waynedale UMC. This new leadership development plan will allow the church to more effectively accomplish its mission and vision. This plan may include, but is not limited to the following: Studying the books, Ultimately Responsible by Sue Nelson Kibby, Leadership and Organization for Fruitful Congregations, by Stephan W. Ross, and other resources recommended by the coach. Utilizing spiritual gift inventories and tools such as Strengths Finder to identify leadership strengths.
Seeking out other churches with effective leadership development processes and studying the plans they have in place for leadership recruitment and training. Developing new leaders as an intentional plan and culture of the congregation. Contacting the Indiana Conference Leadership Development staff to discover additional tools, resources, and training opportunities available for leadership development. The new leadership structure needs to be in place by January 1, 2018. The next step will be to revise currently written job descriptions in order to establish clear vision-centered job descriptions for the staff and ministry team positions. These job descriptions will provide an objective basis for evaluation, accountability, and supervision. This must be completed by April 30, 2018. Staff and ministry teams will give and receive annual evaluations based on the accomplishment of their goals 4. Effectively Reach and Integrate Young Adults with Children into the Life of the Church In order to develop inspiring, relevant ministries to young adults with children, the pastor, in consultation with the coach, will form a Children s Ministry Taskforce by January 1, 2018. The team will develop a plan for children s ministry that will include the following: Review, implement, and follow the Safe Sanctuaries policy by January 30, 2018. Use the MissionInsite Report to determine the potential number of families with children who could be reached by Waynedale UMC. Consult with a conference specialist in children s ministry recommended by the coach to assist with this process. As a team, visit three congregations who have a vibrant young family and children s ministry. Evaluate current programming and hospitality to determine effectiveness in reaching the target audience of parents and young children. Evaluate current worship experiences to determine effectiveness in reaching the target audience of parents and young children. Develop a plan to follow-up and engage children and young families in other church ministries. This evaluation and plan need to be completed by March 18, 2018. 5. Develop a plan for Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a hospitality group of 5-6 people by February 1, 2018. The coach will lead a Hospitality Workshop, to discern the necessary components of an effective system that continually tracks and connects with guests so that they become integrated into faith and the church, by February 15, 2018. The hospitality group will design and implement the church s hospitality to guests beyond the first-time visit by March 18, 2018. The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a team of 5-6 people to work in the area of worship by March 1, 2018. This team is to: Study the Mystery Guest Report to determine action steps for connection with desired demographic.
Consider alternative sites for developing worship that connects; such as, a storefront worship rather than inside the church. Visit other churches that are connecting to the desired demographic (churches of various sizes). Attend a worship planning workshop (e.g., Center for Congregations, or The Worship Design Studio). Recruit and train individuals who can lead worship that connects with the desired demographic. Utilize the findings of the Children s Ministry Taskforce (MAP 4) to connect worship, hospitality, and connection with the desired demographic. A plan will be established and presented to the Ad Council by June 1, 2018 as to how to have effective and meaningful worship that connects with the desired demographic of the church s mission field. Worship that connects will be in place by September 9, 2018. CONCLUSION We, the consultation team, thank you for the opportunity to serve your congregation through this Fruitful Congregation Journey assessment process. Our prayer and hope for your congregation are that God will use this process to help your church become more effective and fruitful in being and making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. May God give you courage and strength as you move forward. Steve Clouse, Lead Consultant Scott Pattison, Coach Jill Wright, Consultant Town Hall Meeting Dates (at the church): Thursday, November 3, 2016 6:30pm in the Fireplace Room Sunday, November 6, 2016, 1:00pm in the Fellowship Hall Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 10:00am in the Nursery Church Conference Date (at the church) led by the District Superintendent: Sunday, November 20, 2016, after the 9:30 worship service (approximately 10:35am)