EAST END UNITED REGIONAL MINISTRY: A PROPOSAL MAY 14, 2017 On September 25, 2016 Cosburn, Eastminster, Glen Rhodes, and Hope United Churches voted to continue to work together towards a proposal for becoming a regional ministry in the east end of Toronto. Since then, considerable and detailed work has been done on the project. This has included Research: - An Environics study on the demographics of the area. - A rental analysis for each of our buildings looking at income and mission maximization - Financial modelling and forecasting - We received opinions of value for sale/development on Glen Rhodes, Cosburn, and Eastminster As congregations, we participated in: - Joint worship - Joint working groups Analysis Guess Who s Coming to Dinner project (May) - The Transition Team has really drilled down to test the hypothesis for regional ministry proposed in September. The product of this work is this proposal to continue towards regionalization. - The Transition Team has reached significant agreements on goals, values, principles for a regional ministry. - We have learned to share honestly and openly with each other. We have built trust which allows us to discuss difficult things with each other. We feel ready to work as a single community of faith and mission. Our commitment to the project is a commitment to the future. Regional ministry is for the benefit of the United Church ministry and mission in the future, not just the present. It will be our legacy for future generations. 1
THE PROPOSAL & QUESTION This proposal is for the development of an East End United Regional Ministry. The regional ministry approach is a growing movement within the church where a number of congregations come together to reimagine and reshape their mission and ministry by looking at the needs of our neighbours, opportunities for loving service, and our resources to do so, over a wider geographical area. By working together, the church becomes stronger, more effective, and better resourced through people working jointly on committees and projects (volunteers and staff), by reducing costs and expanding our income streams, and increasing our potential for receiving ministry grant funds available through the church locally and nationally. We will be a place of real community - intergenerational, face-to-face, neighbours. We welcome, encourage, include, and accept. Since regionalization can support multiple campuses for worship and programming it offers some of the strengths of amalgamation without the disruption and pain of closing down and reopening congregations. It s happening in a number of denominations, in rural and urban contexts, and is bringing new life, energy, and growth to congregations. It is in our DNA as United and uniting churches. The question we will be asking and answering on June 4 is will Cosburn, Eastminster, Glen Rhodes, and Hope become a regional ministry in the East End of Toronto. This report includes: Why is the East End of Toronto a good place to develop a regional ministry: What are the opportunities here that will be best met by working together? The guiding vision and mission for the regional ministry The outcomes we expect from regionalization The core values and principles that will guide our decisions and actions in becoming a regional ministry WHY IN THE EAST END? Toronto s East End is undergoing significant and rapid change. The neighbourhoods around our churches are becoming younger and less ethnically diverse. Over 50% of people in our area are millennials with young families (children under age 5) who are buying homes in neighbourhoods to have easy access to downtown. There is huge potential for developing relationships and programs to connect with young adults who are actively seeking support for parenting, opportunities to express their creativity, and places to de-stress and find balance and meaning in their lives. 2
At the same time the area has pockets of poverty and need, including a community of Indigenous Canadians. We have a high value for serving these people and advocating for their needs. We do this now through programmes (e.g. the food ministry at Glen Rhodes; Out of the Cold at Eastminster), and through our buildings (e.g. providing affordable rentals to groups who share our missional values). There is a large area of east end Toronto that is completely without a United Church presence due to previous church closures. We have no ministry in Leslieville, an area which is now rapidly growing with We will be a place where people will work for justice that is shaped by the Christian values that the United Church espouses. We are love in action. younger families. Should we choose to do so, by working together we can strategically extend the scope of our ministries especially through the work of a new community (pioneer) minister whose vocation is to work with people not attracted to our more traditional styles of church. VISION & MISSION Coming together into a single regional church represents a bold new paradigm for the United Church of Canada. The proposition shifts us from 4 individual churches thinking inward, maintaining our existing congregations and serving our specific needs, to looking outward. Together we strategically open our perspectives to focus on the specific spiritual and material needs of a whole municipal region, and together we find the best ways to reach out in service and love to these unique community needs. This makes for exciting times as we can embrace new opportunities, and find a new relevancy and sense of purpose. People will find faith, moral, and spiritual formation and support for themselves and their children. Further, we see that there are 2 ways to thrive as a church as congregations who are able to provide a full program of worship, pastoral care, education and outreach and as small faith groups whose primary focus is to connect with people not drawn by our traditional, inherited styles of church. A regional ministry will allow us to do both. OUR SHARED VISION is to become a vibrant United Church presence in East End Toronto: enriching lives changing communities 3
OUR SHARED MISSION: Together we will live our vision by Growing in understanding of our neighbours, making new relationships that will guide and shape our ministry and mission developments. Engaging people of all ages in Christian learning and dialogue, raising awareness of the support faith can bring to personal choices and attitudes. Expanding our ministries of justice, service, and advocacy especially with regards to issues of food security and housing. Fostering spiritual growth and nurture for people of all ages through music, arts, and educational programs. Having a stronger voice and presence when advocating for reconciliation, peace and justice (e.g. TRC, interfaith relationships). Broadening our ability to reach out to people through worship by offering a variety of styles and services from traditional to innovative at different sites and times during the week. Offering attentive and compassionate pastoral care to members and neighbours. Developing our capacity to offer sacred and community space to our neighbours in ways that promote public good and support our ministries. We will be a place where people can express their concerns about social justice and find a way to become involved. Refocusing our volunteer and staff time and energy on mission and ministry. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF A REGIONAL MINISTRY A diverse program of worship (traditional Sunday morning and different styles and different times) attracting new people Mutual support for mission and ministry with in our neighbourhoods. We will be part of an innovative model of ministry which will open up new potential and possibilities beyond what each of us could do on our own. A shared pool of volunteers & participants. More expertise (volunteer and professional) to develop and expand our ministries. We will be able to offer more consistent, high quality programs. 4
More financial resources, more financial security. Resources from future property sales, or income generating community uses, will be assets to support regional ministry. There will be cost savings through working together. More volunteer and staff energy and time will be spent on mission and ministry rather than property issues and administration A strategic, more even, distribution of mission across the area. A stronger voice for advocacy. We become the site of a new style of community-based ministry designed to reengagement with the community and people not currently drawn to our traditional forms of church. This community minister will be funded through grants available through the Presbytery and National Church. We will be a place where people can de-stress and find solace; a place to slow down and be still enough to hear the call of the Divine. Maximization of the potential for building use as holy spaces, for income, and for the benefit of the community. Decisions about the best use of properties are made within a strategic framework looking at the best use for the United Church and for the community. If/when a property is sold or repurposed, the congregation will already feel part of a wider congregation who are providing pastoral care, compassionate support. OUR SHARED VALUES & PRINCIPLES MISSION & MINISTRY We value Being part of vibrant communities of faith Love in action Goals will be set for each ministry area and will be stated in our Ministry Articulation Plan (MAP) Principles Our programs and activities will: 1. Work for justice that is shaped by the Christian values that the United Church espouses. 2. Make a positive difference in peoples lives and in the lives of our communities. 3. Draw people closer to the Divine and the Divine in each other through traditional and innovative worship and programming 5
WORSHIP We value Diversity and creativity in expressions of faith and community Participation in worship leadership that is open to all Excellence in music and artistic expression Goals To offer a diversity of worship styles from traditional to innovative at different locations and different times. People will be drawn into multiple ways to experience the Divine through prayer and meditation, music, through an experience of holiness and sanctuary. To build and develop excellence in liturgical music and the arts. Principles Our worship programs and activities will: 1. Maintain a consistently high quality music program 2. Facilitate diversity and creativity in worship styles and times 3. Provide opportunities for lay people to grow in faith and participation through worship leadership 4. Facilitate joint worship enriching our worship experiences through having vibrant, large worship services for all ages with great music through the joint choir MINISTRY TEAM & SUPPORT STAFF We Value The role of staff in supporting the vision and mission of the East End United Regional Ministry Equitable employment practices Goal To have a team in ministry and administration who will inspire, grow and support the vision and mission of the East End United Regional Ministry. The top priority, for our budget, is sustaining and growing a ministry team with skills and experience to help us live our vision. Principles for Ministry and Personnel during the transition period 1. All employees will be engaged in the process. 2. The structure and employees in it will support the mission and strategic vision of the East End United Church. 3. Everyone will be treated fairly and respectfully. 6
PROPERTY Current Situation We have too many big old church buildings. We have a deep appreciation for the emotional value of each of our buildings and the rich memories that they embody for our congregations. These are massively larger spaces than we actual need. We have a high value for our sanctuaries. We know they are the most expensive spaces to maintain as they are used by the community less than other spaces. We also recognize that at this time each property requires considerable energy and money in regular administration and maintenance and in deferred capital repairs. There are more building than we need, and they are very costly responsibilities. Goal Maximize the use and potential of the properties as assets for ministry and mission. We Value Our sanctuaries for worship. There are symbolic and emotional reasons to keep sanctuaries. We believe these spaces are essential for inviting people into engaging with the Divine and with the Divine in each other. We believe our sanctuaries are our best places to invite community to experience Divine and the Divine in each other. Our land and buildings as having been developed by the community as community spaces to serve community needs. Our properties (land and buildings) as resources for mission and ministry Principles In stewardship of our properties we will: 1. Take stewardship responsibilities for the financial sustainability of the sanctuaries; our givings will support the costs of the sanctuaries. 2. Manage the rest of our buildings (other than the sanctuaries) to be financially self-supporting 3. Engage with strong community partnership in any repurposing of our buildings. Our properties are intended for use as community property. However, we don t have the energy or resource to be the primary partner in a community use development. 4. Make decisions to keep property based on the capacity for income generation, and a strategic assessment of the best locations to maximize our capacity to do missional/community good 5. East End properties must communicate our vision and mission to our neighbours. They will be aligned with these purposes so that people, through our properties, can see who we are, what we believe, and what we want for the world. 7
FINANCES We value Ongoing financial sustainability and balanced budgets Sufficient resources to enable the East End Regional Ministry to live its vision. Goal Financial sustainability with the capacity to fund a ministry team (including administration & property management) with the skills and experience to help East End United Regional Ministry live its vision. Principles In financial stewardship, we will: Develop centralized financial management and planning including year-to-year budgets and investments. Engage varied sources for funding with targets. These will include congregational stewardship, income from properties, investments, and grants. Test a variety of options and make strategic decisions TRANSITIONAL GOVERNANCE The Transitional Joint Council will be tasked to developing an organizational structure with five main functions: worship, stewardship, ministry and personnel, community service, and communications. Teams will be formed to address the various functions required to support mission and ministry with the flexibility to facilitate and direct ongoing functions and/or short-term projects. Teams will be made up of volunteers and staff currently working in these ministry areas, coming together across the congregations to create a single team (e.g. justice and advocacy, education, worship, M&P). Many of these groups have already met. Some have begun to work together. The Transitional Council will be made up of 2 representatives from each congregation. Its function is to: validate and approve proposals from the leadership teams against the values and principles of East End United and ensure that they support the vision and mission (as stated in our Ministry Articulation Plan). oversee the transition tasks necessary to becoming a regional pastoral charge including but not limited to: recommending a new governance structure, initiating work towards a setting a single budget and tax status, initiating a selection process for East End minister(s) as necessary. seek and allocate resources for ministry. communicate with Presbytery. Decisions of the Transitional Council will be made by consensus. It will also be responsible for on-going strategic planning. 8
This Council and the ministry and mission functions creates a conceptual structure. Communications will be a key component of success as it underpins all aspects of the vision and mission. WORSHIP Music Family ministry Education & spirituality MINISTRY & PERSONEL Staffing Volunteers COMMUNICATIONS Internal External TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICE Justice, advocacy Pastoral Care Arts Hub STEWARDSHIP Property Finance COMMUNITY MINISTRY (to be developed) TRUSTEES 9
PRAYER FOR DISCERNMENT Holy One, Spirit who is Love, we pray as members of the body of Christ for the opening our eyes, our ears and our hearts. We seek wisdom and guidance, self-understanding and vision. We struggle as followers to be faithful to our baptism. We pray as congregations to be faithful to our mission and ministry. Help us to lay aside every other consideration as we seek good paths for following Christ, the ones most responsive to these times. Help us to see you, O Christ, in the faces of those around us, especially those with great needs and few resources. Help us to know how to love and serve others, how to seek justice and resist evil, how to proclaim you, crucified and risen, as our judge and our hope. Come, Great Spirit, to open our eyes, our ears and our hearts for the choices and the call before us. Amen. 10