TBC Lead Pastor Search Committee Questionnaire Results

Part A – Lead Pastor Responses by Score

CATEGORY AVG. 1 2 3 4 5 TOTAL

1 Character and Personality 4.82 0 0 1 11 61 73

2 Personally engaged in christian disciplines 4.68 0 1 3 10 45 59

3 Leader 4.64 0 0 5 16 52 73

4 Teaching 4.64 0 0 2 23 49 74

5 Preaching 4.61 0 0 2 25 47 74

6 Family Provider 4.51 0 3 5 17 48 73

7 Discipleship developer 4.35 0 3 6 27 38 74

8 Pastoral Care 4.32 0 1 8 31 34 74

9 Evangelizer 3.88 0 5 17 33 18 73

10 Personal Skills Developer 3.73 1 8 16 34 15 74

11 Church growth 3.72 2 6 23 23 20 74

12 Active in the community 3.59 0 12 20 28 14 74

13 Administrator 2.97 4 25 21 17 7 74

14 Denominational supporter 2.86 8 17 31 13 5 74

Part A – Additional Comments Consensus:

The church should seek a lead pastor with a passion for the gospel who is also friendly, welcoming, warm-hearted, outgoing, and accessible to all, and can form the staff into an effective team. We need someone who will build church membership, and who understands the attitudes and culture of Marin County residents. In particular, we want someone who can draw young adults and young families into the church. We need an articulate, intelligent, inspiring preacher whose sermons apply God's word to the day-to-day problems of our lives, and uplift and inspire us.

Other Ideas A: Don't have a lead pastor; try a team of co-pastors instead.

(But see Bylaws Article V.)

Part B - Discipleship Consensus:

Discipleship is one of the most important responsibilities of the church. Small groups and home Bible studies are the best format for discipling people and deepening relationships with other members. The lead pastor and church staff should make discipleship a priority, and lay people should be trained and equipped to disciple others and to teach Bible study classes.

Other Ideas A: A special “board,” with church input and approval, should work on revamping and re-energizing our discipleship program with fresh ideas.

Other Ideas B: The pastor could preach through a book of the Bible, while cell Bible studies study the same passages.

Other Ideas C: We need an intentional plan for grounding people in the spiritual disciplines.

Part B - Discipleship – Cont. Other Ideas D: Older men and women should be mentoring younger men and women.

Other Ideas E: Some small groups could deal with particular issues like parenting, addictions, and other personal issues.

Other Ideas F: There should be Sunday School classes for young adults that encourage them to connect through different activities. The young adult pastor should help with this.

Other Ideas G: Have one or two discipleship trainings a year.

Part B - Evangelism

Consensus:

This is so important that we, as a church, all need to be on it - put the time in, get the resources needed, and get us trained and prepared being ready to reach out to our community, Marin county, and target especially the young families.

Other Ideas A: To find a pastor talented in evangelism.

Other Ideas B: Evangelism requires special spiritual gift. Not even a pastor necessarily has it. So, find those gifted in evangelism, and support them to do it.

Other Ideas C: More activities to encourage wonderful people to join us.

Part B - Fellowship Consensus:

We should have more fellowship opportunities!

Almost universally the responses called for “relaxed” and “fun” opportunities for our church to gather in

small or large groups as these were seen as integral to building church wide community.

Other Ideas A: Create opportunities for members to have their friends attend the church or get to know

other members in a non-threatening environment.

Other Ideas B: Dinners for 7 and small group studies were consistently identified as invaluable for

fellowship.

Other Ideas C: Fun game nights, music nights (coffee house), movie nights, simple picnics after church.

Other Ideas D: Move Sunday coffee upstairs for increased fellowship

Other Ideas E: Fellowship times should focus on how God has blessed us / look to combine with service

events.

Part B - Ministry

Consensus:

We have some wonderful active ministries at the church and many members who are in the community doing their own amazing ministries. We should celebrate those ministries, advocate for them, and encourage and equip members to join them. Continue to develop a personal sense of ministry within our congregation.

Other Ideas A: Prioritize the community of Marin as a ministry/mission field. Offer classes, or services, that the community would benefit from, especially to young families.

Other Ideas B: Invest into our own congregation with ministry to our children, youth and young families.

Other Ideas C: Make greater use of the physical resources we have at our disposal.

Other Ideas D: TBC should not necessarily reinvent the wheel, but come along side government and civic leaders to help them resolve felt community needs, allowing us to share our faith and invite others to church.

Part B - Missions: Local

Consensus:

It is very important that we continue local missions!

FTWFU is a success and we should continue and encourage even more participation. We should look for other opportunities like the reading program at Tomales, Gilead House, and Open Door. Some suggestions were to start support groups or service projects for Marin county. Other suggestions including sponsoring enrichment classes for children such as the Wednesday night music program, Mandarin classes and drama classes here are the church.

Other Ideas A: Look where God is working and join Him.

Other Ideas B: Greater focus on Marin as a mission field.

Other Ideas C: Add evangelism to the mission work.

Part B - Missions: Global

Consensus:

Most responses said we are doing an excellent job in this area. Of the 75 responses, 30 commented on global missions, and of those 95% said we must continue global missions.

Suggestions: plan more trips to support our missionaries, closer contact with our missionaries with more frequent communication, consider going to other areas like Asia.

Other Ideas A: A few said we should focus on local mission first and then look globally.

Other Ideas B: The pastors should have a heart and vision for missions.

Other Ideas C: Pastors should go on mission trips

Part B - Worship Consensus:

The majority who responded on Worship feel that TBC’s style of worship is strong and appealing, but many would welcome gradual changes or less traditional styles of worship as long as we maintain a good quality of music and a truly spiritual atmosphere.

Other Ideas A: Of the people who commented on the style of worship half the responders felt that we should have one blended worship style that would not change the “traditional” feel of TBC, but would appeal to both younger and older attendees.

Other Ideas B: The other half who commented thought there should be a separate, alternative service that would be distinctly contemporary, or blended in a way that would appeal primarily to younger attendees.

Other Ideas C: Youth and children should be given a greater part in worship.

Part B - Worship – Cont. Other Ideas D: We should use the projector for songs and scripture verses. Save on paper and make the service easier to follow.

Other Ideas E: We should have a band made up of church members consisting of a wide variety of instruments: electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, cellos, piano, and organ.

Other Ideas F: Worship should be limited to one hour with twenty-minute sermons.

Other Ideas G: There should be more singing and praying in the various heart-languages of our fellowship, involving both children and seniors.

Other Ideas H: Attendees should understand that they are not the audience but are all participants in worship; God is the audience.

Other Ideas I: Sermons should be easily understood by everyone, including those who speak English as a second language.

Part B – Additional Comments Consensus:

TBC needs to draw more young families from our community. We need a full-time lead pastor whose focus is on this church and who will lead, not direct, the staff. The church, not the new lead pastor, should restructure the staff. Make more use of guest speakers and the talent from among our own membership. We should have more prayer for all who need it. Consider a Christian preschool at TBC.

Other Ideas A: Keep traditional service and music, not "me too" modern.

Other Ideas B: Modernize sanctuary, service, music.

Other Ideas C: Try different service/music styles at different services.

Other Ideas D: Keep us together in worship; do not have different service/music styles at different services.