Information Meeting with Congregation

Sunday August 17, 2014

Mission Study Update

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!

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

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

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.

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

External – Far OffCommunity

Demographics

Community Survey

& Community Leaders

Neighboring Churches

Community SurveyCommunity Leader InterviewsOther Churches Demographics

Soul Searching Disagreement

AgreementDirection

Reflection Review

Interpretation Questioning

Prayer

Meditation Searching

Writing Discussion

DRAFT MISSION STUDY REPORT

SESSION APPROVAL PROCESS

MST OUTPUT

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

• 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

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

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)

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

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%

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

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

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

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

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

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%

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

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