information meeting with congregation sunday august 17, 2014 mission study update
TRANSCRIPT
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Information Meeting with Congregation
Sunday August 17, 2014
Mission Study Update
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Objectives for Today
• Provide a brief update on Mission Study process
• Share highlights of NPC survey
• Not a day for extended discussions (you will have that opportunity later)
• Call for reflection and preparation for next meeting on September 21
Thank you for coming here today, your support in answering many questions and your prayers!
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What is a Mission Study?• A process that our congregation goes through to seek to discern how God – Thy will
be done - would have NPC to be and to act in the future
• Led by the Mission Study Team (MST) selected by the nomination committee last spring
• The process results in the Mission Study Report written by the MST that is presented to Session for approval
• It will also be submitted to the Committee on Ministry in the Presbytery Boston for review
• This is necessary before a congregation is allowed to elect a Pastoral Nominating Committee to search for a new minister
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MST Members & Organization
• Tom DeVol (Chair)
• Jean Risley (Interim Sr. Pastor)
• Laurent Boer
• Dan Romaine
• Jay Straughan
• Harold May
• Beatrice Firempong
• Wendy Williams
• Dan Hynes
• Sara Staats
• James Yeh
• Emi Wieczorek
* Judy McInnes is replaced on her request for health reasons by Dan Romaine
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Overview of Mission Study Report• Description of the current “status” of NPC
- “Who are we and where are we”
• Outlines the mission for the next 5 – 8 years- “Who do we need to be and where do we need to go”
• Forms the basis for the profile for calling a senior pastor- “What do we need to do get where we need to be”
• Based on supporting data, input, conversations etc.
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Internal – Up CloseCommunity
Demographics &
Ministry Review
Staff Interviews
2 Surveys
Staff InterviewsTwo Surveys Discernment (short) Congregational (long)Demographic InfoMinistry Assessment
Financial Analysis
NPC History
BuildingReview
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External – Far OffCommunity
Demographics
Community Survey
& Community Leaders
Neighboring Churches
Community SurveyCommunity Leader InterviewsOther Churches Demographics
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Soul Searching Disagreement
AgreementDirection
Reflection Review
Interpretation Questioning
Prayer
Meditation Searching
Writing Discussion
DRAFT MISSION STUDY REPORT
SESSION APPROVAL PROCESS
MST OUTPUT
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Overview of Completed NPC Analysis
1. Congregational Survey: 147 participants, 253 questions, 1000 comments
2. Demographics Mapping: 15 zip codes, multi-dimensional analysis
3. Staff Interviews: 9 interviews/ 14 questions/ 10 hours of conversation
4. Ministry Assessment: 20 participants/ 12 questions
5. Mission Assessment: 3 respondents / process review
6. Building status: assessor report
7. Financial View: expert view
Purpose of today is to share key findings from the Congregational Survey
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• Interviews to discuss knowledge and expectations for NPC (in progress)
• Interviews on a variety of questions (what works well …) and programs. Some have promised support and help if needed.
• Interviews regarding roles in Newton for NPC; some asked for joint initiatives and collaboration
• Detailed demographic analysis purchased reflecting 66% of NPC member zipcodes (Newton, suburbia to the west and the city suburbs)
Conducted Activities Related to External Community of NPC
Community Leaders
Similar/Related Churches
Neighboring Churches
Demographics
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Demographics – Who Are We?
• 80% of respondents were members
• Most “long-timers” of NPC – 77% members / attenders more than 5 years, only 8% less than 3 years
• Respondents across all age categories, though 60% 45 or older
• Regular attenders – 67% come every Sunday
• Live close – 72% live within 20 minutes of NPC
• Family-centric – 77% married, 49% with kids, kids ages distributed equally
• Highly educated!! 56% have graduate degrees
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We agree on so much!• Strong affirmation of Christ-centered, diverse, authentic believers who
want to grow in Christ – 90% agree or strongly agree on these points
• Generally high degrees of belonging to NPC- Members are supportive of each other – 73% support- What holds us together more important than our differences – 74% support
• There is a strong support, recognition and intention to be an inclusive inter-generational church family
- A strong majority sees this as basis for our church- But 23% feel marginalized and ignored, need to address
• Theological agreement important (71%) but not political agreement (only 9% agree/strong agree important)
- Most respondents don’t want church to take stand on controversial issues (43% agree/strongly church to take stand)
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Sunday Morning is So Important! • 94% come on Sundays to be challenged in our faith and taught
the Word, 80% says NPC provides weekly alignment
• Sermons highly valued – emotionally & intellectually challenging sermons, honest and humble preaching
• Testimonies, Communion, Hebrew benediction and inspiring and diversified music are strong elements
• Move to single service viewed as generally working fine
• Opportunities cited to engage more of congregation in worship service planning, music and to integrate contemporary/traditional
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Individual Needs • Generally satisfied with personal faith/faith life
• … but looking to grow in many areas. The following identified as areas of highest personal dissatisfaction:
- Personal spiritual growth – 36% satisfied- Personal bible study – 36% satisfied- Prayer life – 46% satisfied- Spiritual development of family – 47% satisfied
• Looking for personal spiritual development – strengthen faith, bible study, prayer, overcome busyness, involve God – 80+%
• Comfortable with sharing faith, but need to find more time to share – 60%, connect with other believers more easily – 63%
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NPC Programs Areas of especial strength for NPC:
- Women’s ministry, mom connection, Wednesday night, VBS, Nursery school, youth, Small groups, bible study groups, Retreats
Areas identified that need improvement:- Adult Ed (but people want this!), Children’s ministry, children’s
programming, Men’s ministry, Local mission (but want this!), Community connection, Deacon’s
Areas identified as highest importance going forward:- Children & Youth, Small group, bible study, adult education, Local
mission
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Additional Feedback on Specific Groups• Elderly:
- Visiting elderly is important for NPC (92%) and seen as key for pastoral role- A specific plan/ministry for homebound finds strong support (75%).
• Lay Leadership:- The pastor should encourage and mentor lay leaders (80%); - At the same time NPC needs to find new ways to develop our callings
(80%) and somehow instill a passion for volunteering) (85%)
• Community:- 50% of respondents feel we welcome newcomers well, however
• only 38% think we are good at pulling in new attendees- Reaching out to former members (70%), or who can’t attend (80%) or
another visiting program for members/ attenders (62%) is needed
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Witness to the World• Readiness for evangelism, but seek training and practice to
overcome cowardice and timidity
• Generally value global mission work but not well understood- 77% important, 43% like missions that NPC supports (40% neutral)- But 62% believe we are not good in communicating the results of our
mission work (We like Missionaries that come back to share stories: 90%)
• Desire for more focus locally- Only 9% believe majority of mission work should be international- 65% believe we should do more local outreach
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Our Building, Our Finances, Our Staff• Our building:
- We love our building (81%) although is the building holding us back? Yes:30%; No: 46%
- 62% assesses that maintenance needs to be improved; 45% thinks the building is outdated
- A majority will support (time, $, resources) in a multi year plan to upgrade and maintain facilities
• Our finances:- We can improve our giving; and a large group sees more rental income to be
generated from the facilities- We need to have more affordability discussions
• Our staff:- We have a great staff (84%) but we need more clarity on staff roles and re-
evaluate staffing needs
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Doctrinal & Denominational Challenges• Strong alignment on Doctrinal issues:
- 91% believes Jesus is the only way to salvation- 87% adheres to Jesus and Scripture whatever is going on in PCUSA- 85% believes the whole Bible as rule for my life- 66% agree with the sexual standard for ordination in the old book of order- 57% agrees that all Christians should abide by that standard
• Less awareness and agreement on Denominational issues:- Most people not informed:
• Informed about issues in PCUSA? 55% somewhat, 11% not at all• Informed about denomination alternatives 51% somewhat, 38% not at all!
- 54% believe NPC should consider separating, but 30% disagree or strongly disagree- 45% believe NPC should remain on track to be Presbyterian, another 27% large
neutral- But 42% go to NPC for the community, not because of denominational issues,
another 20% neutral
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What Are We Looking for in a New Pastor?
Important
Christian role model- 97% agree/strongly agree next Pastor should model Christian living, 98%
believe s/he should engage in personal bible study and prayer 98%, 99% believe s/he should have a rich spiritual life
Primarily fulfillment in preaching and teaching (89% agree/strongly agree), sharing gospel inside NPC and out (95%)
Leader – inspires other to take action (96%), mentor (93%) Be most at home leading worship (73%)
Least important
• Spend most of time in counseling and visitation – 30% agree/strongly agree• Civic roles and leadership – 31%• Take charge leadership – 50%• Acts on goals others have set – 56%• Satisfaction from leading church programs – 57%
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That was a lot of data … in summary:
Who we are, what we need
• Bible-based church
• Diverse congregation: age, political beliefs, origins, incomes; desire to engage all parties
• Highly educated, Family-centric, Looking to grow in faith
• Importance of Sunday worship service – relevant sermons, worship through music
• Want to invest in our families, need help to do so
• Desire to invest in our church and in our local community
What is desired / needed in a Senior Pastor
• Solid spiritual background, role model; Bible based
• Leader – build community, mentor
• Be inclusive, engage all factions of church
• Focus on preaching and spiritual life of church
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What Now?• Reflection!
• Participate in the “Weekly thought for the Mission Study” program to prepare for Sunday September 21
• Join on September 21 for a meeting with the congregation to contemplate the preliminary recommendations
• Pray for NPC, MST and ask for God’s Call for NPC
A draft report will be prepared for submission to Session after September 21st