Q: Where did New Beginnings come from?

A: New Beginnings was developed to help congregations that have been struggling with sustainability, make a bold decision about their future.

Fast Facts:

• Designed to lead “stuck” congregations to make a DECISION about their future

• Entire process takes about 6-8 months• Cost is $2800 for churches in a cluster

setting ($1,000 more if solo)• This may be your only chance in this

Presbytery this decade

Phase One:The On-Site Assessment

Phase Four:Making a Decision about your

New Beginning

Phase Three:Small Group Meetings

Phase Two:“Cluster Event”

Leadership Retreat

Acts 1:8

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In groups, select one underlined phrase. Answer:1. What do you think Jesus is saying here?2. What does this mean for our congregation?

The Spirit gives the Church power for mission in the world

• Power to change lives• Power to restore

relationships• Power change towns

and cities• Power to dismantle

systems• Power to heal the

world

These efforts can and do happen through vibrant, local congregations

• Passionate people with a God-sized vision

• People who learn to love each other

• Congregations that are outward-focused

• Congregations who know their identity as followers of Christ

We meet all kinds of congregations

• Churches that have debt• Churches with serious

maintenance issues• Those considering

turning over their property to another group

• Churches with large facilities, and only a few worshippers.

At times, congregations become “stuck”…

• They still read their bibles & listen for God

• They still love & pray for each other

• They have a good pastor

• Many have nice, well-kept facilities

• They try to reach out

So why are these churches declining?

Church development follows a fairly predictable pattern

Birth

Gro

wth

Decline

A church develops different elements at certain points

Vision/Energy

Relationship

Administration

Programs

Energy

Intimacy

Administration

Programs

Energy/Vision Loss

Relationship Loss

Program Loss

? ? ? ? ?

And a church loses different elements at certain points

Dividing the lifecycle into QuadrantsG

row

thD

ecline

Dividing the lifecycle into Quadrants

Sustainable

Not Sustainable

1 4

32

You are not alone

5%1 4

32

35%

45%15%

• Declining either slowly or quickly• Often struggling financially• Sense of hopelessness• Nervous about changes• Tentative toward outward mission• Vulnerable

Common Characteristics of Congregations in the“4th Quadrant”

• A declining church may rent facilities to various groups who take over the facility. Church’s mission becomes that of “landlord.”

• Power conflicts, personal agendas and members behaving badly

Pastors don’t stay long.• Churches get short-sighted. They may sell off

pieces of property (or cash in investments) to pay operating expenses, salaries, etc.

When congregations realize they are struggling, they sometimes make bad choices…

Without an intervention, the average congregation lives 60 yrs

Closure

When a church begins to decline, anxiety goes up!

We used to think “trying harder” would move us ahead

That would get us some incremental change…but not enough

But a completely new thing is required

Stand back and look

New Beginnings helpsyou see a new thingthat could emerge

The birth of something new requires innovation, prayer & courage

The New Beginnings Assessment Service helps churches make good decisions about

their future

The New Beginnings is helpful because:

• It begins with an analytical assessment of your congregation’s situation. It demonstrates “Where we are right now.”

• It helps leaders make a compelling case for change.

• It does not impose change, but it helps create an atmosphere for change to be discussed and adopted by the church.

New Beginnings helps churches choose their future.

Instead of letting it get chosen for them.

The New Beginnings Service Provides:

• A wealth of data about your congregation and community

• A model for analyzing the data and drawing conclusions about your ministry

• Leadership training for your congregation• A small group discussion process for

reaching a decision about your church’s future• Support and guidance along the way

New BeginningsMeasures:

• Cong. Demographics• Community Demographics• Gaps between Cong./Comm.• Participant tenure• Historical trends in attendance• Historical trends in giving• Financial data & comparisons

• Building condition• Visitor

attractiveness• Energy level• Community needs• Strengths of Cong.• Online Presence

The Process

Phase One:The On-Site Assessment

Analysis of Campus:

“The Sacred Walk”

Gaps Between Congregation &

Community

Up-to-DateCensus Data about your

neighborhood- Overall Growth- Generational info- Racial/Ethnic info- Faith preferences- Household income- Major needs

Phase Two:Cluster Event / Leader Retreat- 7%

• Weekend Retreat with other congregations in Presbytery

• For 8-10 of your leaders• Leadership training• Review of Assessment• Small group training• Network with other church

leaders

Phase Three:Small Group Meetings

• Involves 50% of your congregation in the analysis and decision-making

• Led by Cluster Event attendees

• 6 week process• Leads your church to a

decision

Phase Four:Making a Decision about

your New Beginning

What is Godcalling us to be

and do?

Throughout All Phases:Ongoing Support and

Coaching

Your partners from the Presbytery will be

alongside your church as it makes a decision.

New Beginnings is an Assessment

Service

• Does not “come in and tell you what to do.”• Best followed in churches where there is not a high

degree of conflict.• Gives leaders confidence in charting a new course• Teaches skills for navigating change• Helps avoid chasing the wrong strategy• Builds congregation-wide excitement for something

new

New Beginnings is an Assessment

Service

• Can give your church confidence in charting a new course

• Can help your church avoid chasing the wrong strategy

• Engages a large proportion of your congregation in life-giving discussion

• Can build congregational excitement for change

DetailsPresbytery of

Susquehanna Valley

• Minimum of two congregations must apply• Fee for service: $2800 per church* ($3800 if solo)• Includes:– Three days of consultants’ travel– Ten copies of the Assessment Report– Cluster Event training for 8-10 leaders– Ten copies of Home Meeting Leader Guide– PDF versions of final Report, Leader Guide

September 26 -- Deadline for applications

October 29, 30, 31 or November 1, 2013 -- Assessments Performed

January 18-19, 2013 -- Cluster Event

Local choice 2013 – Small Group Meetings

Proposed Timeline for this Presbytery

Ann PhilbrickPhilip Lotspeich

Congregational Consultant for New Beginnings

ann.philbrick@pcusa.org philip.lotspeich@pcusa.org888-728-7228 ext.5244