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MOVING TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR FPC’S FUTURE Printable copy of Notes and Slideshow
Follow-up from Strategic planning weekend January 11-12 2008 The Rev. William Borror Introduction First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, Iowa is a living community of faith. They are the inheritors of a strong and generous tradition of Presbyterian presence in the town since its beginnings. Under the leadership of their newly installed Pastor Debra Miller there is a renewed desire to be a faithful and growing mission presence to their community and beyond. This document is to be a resource to help the leadership of FPC move forward in setting goals and priorities in order that ideas and observations can be turned into concrete action and progress. I. CRITICAL ISSUES FACING FPC
FPC is a church that has been in decline in attendance, membership and overall giving for this entire decade and before. The church’s immediate viability is dependent on first stabilizing these downward trends and then to beginning to move towards positive growth in both giving and attendance.
There seems to be two major concerns. First, there are multiple issues around an aging congregation. This is another “number” that raises concern about the church’s future. The other question raised is whether or not there are programs and ministries that address the life needs of this age group. The other concern is the need to attract younger families, children and youth. There seems to be a bit of a tension between the perception that the youth and children programs themselves are strong yet at the same time they are not attracting more young people. There is a need for more objective analysis and evaluation in this area.
Our greatest strengths are often are greatest weakness. The active participants at FPC really enjoy being together. This sense of family is a great asset. The problem with this orientation is that it can create a church that only exists for itself. It also can make it hard for new people to be welcomed or included. The commitment to fellowship needs to balance with a concern for outreach and ministry beyond FPC. There also needs to be a conscious effort at integrating new people into the existing fellowship.
FPC’s purchase of 10 acres outside of town has created the possibility of building a new church and relocating the congregation. Sometime in the future there needs to be a realistic and unbiased feasibility study as to what would be the best location for the congregation and the Burlington community. There is no pressing need to do this anytime soon.
There are serious problems with financial planning, tracking, reporting and budgeting. Before the congregation can be challenged to give more, the session needs to demonstrate that it has a good handle on how resources are currently being used. Individual committees need to create and oversee their ministries under the general oversight of session. The Finance committee needs to be monitoring how the endowments are performing. There should be an overall philosophy of how investment income should be used.
There was a general consensus that all areas of the church had to do a better job of communicating with each other. There seemed to be a general consensus that session needed to do a better job throughout the year of interpreting its work to the larger congregation. II. BEING THE CHURCH-ACTS 2:41-46 Acts 2:41-46 was used as framework for the overall Church program and ministry. The six categories were used to organize all the church’s work. Based on the text they were 1. Teaching 2. Fellowship 3. Worship 4. Meeting Needs 5. Stewardship and Property 6. Evangelism and Outreach Participants had an opportunity to list the current programs that fall under each heading and also to evaluate the current state of the ministry. What the groups came up with is listed in the appendix. The following is a combination of observations, comments from the group, and some preliminary comments to assist in the formation of a strategic plan. III. MINISTRY AREAS
Questions for the next stage of the plan:
B. Teaching-In summery, the folks who graded this area generally gave the children’s and youth ministries high marks. It might be helpful to get feedback from parents and youth not involved for their assessment. Currently, there is no confirmation class. The small group ministry seems to be going well. At the time of the retreat, there were no adult education opportunities. Questions for the next stage of the plan: 1. How can the church communicate better to the larger Burlington community the programming it has available for children and youth? How can the programs be improved to attract new participants? 2. How do we restart the confirmation class? 3. Are there better ways to tie in fellowship with adult discipleship and education? C. Worship-This is an area where the minister has lots of influence and as Deb gets acclimated to the congregation it will undergo some natural and necessary transition. Since the retreat there have already been some areas addressed. Questions for the next stage of the plan: 1. How can the logistics of Sunday morning worship (greeting, worship leading, etc.) be carried out more efficiently? 2. How is the church promoting the fact that it offers two alternative styles of worship? Is it possible that the chapel has become too small for the contemporary service? Would there be advantages to moving into the sanctuary?
Like most Presbyterian churches, FPC needs to do a lot of work in this area. The chief aim is not church growth but to fulfill Christ’s “Great Commission” to go into the entire world and preach the gospel. However, I would recommend that FPC spend a season of getting its own house in order and deepening the church’s knowledge of the Faith before embarking on a more intentional evangelism program. The following questions can be addressed immediately: Questions for the next stage of the plan:
The members of FPC are involved in serving the community in lots of different ways. What seems to be lacking is an overall strategy of integrating mission into the life of the church. There also is a need for study and reflection on how mission and caring for those in need is a part of the Christian walk. There seemed to be a strong sense of the church is not doing enough in this area and a desire to do more. Growth in this area could be one of the most exciting things that happen at FPC over the next 18 months. Questions for the next stage of the plan:
The church currently worships in a beautiful historical building in the middle of Burlington proper. A number of years ago it purchased 10 acres on the edge of town about 5 minutes from its current site with the idea that it might at some future time relocate and build a new facility. Currently there is neither clear consensus to move the congregation nor any evidence that the funds could be raised. The church is blessed to have both a great building in decent shape and a piece of property for future considerations. However, older buildings are in constant need of maintenance and repair. There does not currently exist a maintenance plan or schedule. There is currently a lot of confusion and disorganization around the finances and budget. Several factors include the recent resignation of the treasurer and the absence of a functioning finance committee during the interim period. The 2008 budget was created by the financial secretary instead of the committees of session. There were no clear answers to questions about investment income, managing the portfolio, principle balance. Based on the budget information available, it appears that just under a fifth of the current budget is being funded by interest from the endowment, or about 20% of the budget is being supported by members in heaven. There has been a general downward tend in giving over the last six years. The chief stewardship event is the luncheon at the Comfort Suites; at the very least that needs to be retooled. A biblical approach to stewardship needs to become a more central focus of FPC. Questions for the next stage of the plan:
TABLE OF INPUT FROM RETREAT A. Fellowship Small Groups: Hiking; Dining; Bible Study; Book Study; Movies; Because we Care; Game night; Men's Breakfast; PW; Bowling; Genealogy Coffee after church Baseball game Walking Women Bible Study Wed. Youth Club Sunday night youth Ballroom Dancing Paint-a-thon Sunday School Gems Men's coffee group Congregational picnic Pot luck Ice Cream Social Ladies' Night D by C Craft Christmas Tea Caroling Progressive dinner (4/08) Combined services Softball Team VBS Bell Choir Choir Puppet ministry Tiny Bells Youth Choir Contemporary Music Mission Trips Christmas Cookie Bake Mariners Issues Small groups are static Who's in charge? Reactivation members New Ideas-SCC night; Bulletin Boards: Communicating – Small group activities (pictures), special events
B. TEACHING
C. WORSHIP Contemporary Choir Chancel Choir Bells Organist Sacraments Special Music Youth programs Ushers Greeters Liturgist Preaching Prayer 2 Services Special Services – Lent, Good Friday Providing Child Care Children's Message Welcome Visitors Creation bags Taping Services / Shut-ins Use of internet Puppet ministry Friendship pads
Issues Acolytes Getting Ushers, Liturgists & Greeters Large print bulletins Listening devices for hard of hearing Print more bulletins 2 Services Serving communion at early service Attendance & Participation Organist full-time Welcome visitors Choir gets out of sanctuary sooner before worship Quiet time during prelude
Goals
Ushers: Receive training and accept responsibility to be there or get substitute Liturgists, Greeters & Acolytes: Be sure we have a coordinator for each of these areas. Invite (through print or personally) people to participate. Publish list by date of who is scheduled and have a plan for getting subs. Encourage worshippers to follow along with scripture reading by listing pew Bible Page # and/or projecting scripture on wall. Investigate different projection possibilities (permanent?) in sanctuary. Goal of choir being done practicing in sanctuary by 10:10 am. When prelude begins, encourage congregation to use that time for quiet reflection. (list in bulletin, pastor model it & choir walk in quietly. D. Evangelism / Sharing Gospel Advertising (Bees, cable TV) New Member classes Welcoming committee Youth Club Gift bags for visitors Bazaar & luncheon Walking Women's Bible Study (Wed. a.m.) Mission trip and Mission giving Everyday evangelism Saturday night service
Issues Not for sure who is a visitor. (encourage visitors to be recognized) Welcoming is significant – Deb does, others need to also FPC needs to be listed every week in Church Happenings (The Hawkeye) Advertise special services Advertise what we do for Hope Haven To know/understand/feel the Gospel Publicize and invite community, word-of-mouth invitations to church Goals Bibles for All Advertise via billboard outside church: highlight activities, short sayings etc. Bible Class – training for evangelism
E. Meeting Needs Battered Women's Shelter Homeless Shelter Paint-a-thon Hope Haven Birthday Parties Angel Tree / Cozy Tree Food Pantry T.P. Mission Trips Shut-ins / Special Friends Funeral Dinners Thanksgiving Baskets Troop Support VBS Care packages No More Death Meds (prescriptions) Red Cross Walking Women Study Christmas Offering One Great Hour Prayer Chain Bone Marrow Christmas Caroling Hospital Visitation Adopt-a-highway Crop Walk Salvation Army Mission giving Least coin (P.W.) Joy Offering Music / Bell Choir / etc. Transportation for Needy (Sundays, appointments) Extended Communion
Issues Communication: What's going on monthly Evening Circle More responsive F. Stewardship / Building
Comfort Suites (Stewardship Banquet) – Should be greater; more often; less of a “turn off” ; visualize, lay out the costs Valet Parking Handicap accessibility Elevator Options of properties Stained glass / Sanctuary Organ / Grand Piano Building Maintenance – Life expectancy of Physical Plant: Boiler, windows, roof, organ etc.
Issues
Choir Room plaster Cost of meal at Comfort Suites Declutter and organize all areas “Save our Organ” drive for ongoing maintenance Future plan for property purchased Clarify budget / priorities
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