welcome to the st james november potluck

WELCOME TO THE ST JAMES NOVEMBER POTLUCK

A TIME TO SHARE FOOD and FELLOWSHIP … AND AN UPDATE ON THE SEARCH PROCESS

This document was presented as a power-point presentation at the November parish-wide potluck. The narrative (words in green throughout) were presented by Matt Weber, chair of the survey parish profile sub-committee of the St. James search committee.

The following was passed out.

We were asked to think about “our Notions” during the presentation.

Sent to as broad a base as possible; not just regular attendees.

300 paper and e-mail invitations.130 responses

…we are many individuals with many life stories.

We are a mature and well-educated congregation. 95% respondents have attended college, and 43% of us have graduate degrees. About 40% of respondents were over 65, and another 40% were 45-64. Sixty-two percent of respondents were female;

thirty-eight percent were male. Two-thirds of us attend church three or more times a month,

and half of us have attended St. James for over twenty years.

How long we have been at St. James

On social issues, one quarter of us are conservative, one quarter are moderate, one quarter are somewhat liberal, and one quarter are very liberal.

When asked if they were satisfied with how things are at St. James, sixty-one percent agreed or strongly agreed, and another 24 percent tended to agree. In the typical church, about 50 – 55% agree or strongly agree. Saint James had a 6% Solid Negative. A negative number that approaches or exceeds 10% indicates polarization in the congregation over one issue or another.

In the typical church, about 50-55% agree or strongly agree.

A negative number that exceeds 10% indicates a polarization .

THE TOP FIVE

The strongest correlates with this satisfaction were the quality and spiritual content of worship services, the quality of the leadership, and the opportunities for members to engage in active ministries.

We were given a list of 17 goals and asked how much extra energy we should devote to each.

The areas where respondents wanted additional energy placed included: • reaching new people, • attracting families with children and youth, and • developing our spiritual generosity and financial support, • working to heal those broken by life circumstances and • working to revitalize the community around the church.

Areas where least additional energy was required included: • enlarging and improving our music and • enlarging and improving our physical facilities. • Our consensus was that we were proud and satisfied with the time

and treasure we already commit to music and our physical plant.

Lowest priorities

INDEXESResponses to groups of questionsCompared to the Holy Cow! consulting agency’s data base of mostly Episcopal ChurchesScores of “Indexes”

We are more progressive than most…

INDEXESResponses to groups of questionsCompared to the Holy Cow! consulting agency’s data base of mostly Episcopal ChurchesScores of “Indexes”

We are more flexible than

most…

INDEXES…Compared to the Holy Cow! consulting agency’s data base of mostly Episcopal Churches..

So we are rather progressive, and somewhat, but not overly, flexible…

That sounds about right.

Some of us stand, and some of us kneel!

Throughout worship, please stand as you are able as indicated by the * or kneel if you prefer as indicated by the

INDEXESConflict Management

Governance

Readiness for Ministry – lay ministry

Worship and Music

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

INDEXESHospitality

Passion and Energy “Morale”

Use of lay ministry “Spiritual Vitality”

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Since attracting new members is our number one goal, hospitality might be an area where we could use a little more work.

“Spiritual Vitality”INDEXES

Contributions

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Percentile rank 15

“Spiritual Vitality”INDEXES

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Und als der Tag der Pfingsten erfüllt war, waren sie alle einmütig beieinander.

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place.

Cuando llegó el día de Pentecostés, estaban todos juntos en el mismo lugar.

Quand le jour de la Pentecôte arriva, les disciples étaient tous rassemblés au même endroit. Come giunse il giorno della

Pentecoste, essi erano tutti

riuniti con una sola mente

nello stesso luogo. κα

ι εν τ

ω

συμπλη

ρουσθα

ι

την η

μεραν τ

ης

πεντη

κοστη

ς ησαν

παντες

ομου

επι τ

ο αυτ

ο

Op de Pinksterdag waren zij allemaal bij elkaar gekomen.

Ao cumprir-se o dia de

Pentecostes, estavam

todos reunidos no

mesmo lugar.

오순절날이 이미 이르매 저희가 다 같이 한곳에 모였더니

Ilipofika siku ya Pentekoste, waamini wote

walikuwa wameku tana mahali pamoja.

Đến ngày lễ Ngũ Tuần, môn đồ nhóm họp tại một chỗ.

五 旬 節 到 了 ,門 徒 都 聚 集 在 一 處 。

A, no ka taka mai te ra o te Petekoha, e noho tahi ana ratou katoa i te wahi kotahi.

“Spiritual Vitality”INDEXES

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place.

Attributes for our new Rector

“Spiritual Vitality”INDEXES

Contributions

Percentile Rank0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Percentile rank 15

We should increase the participation of children and youth in our worship services

Personal contact with the Rector Is very important to me

To me, the most important part ofSt. James is….

In addition to being a strong worship leader and preacher, our next Rector should be….

In addition to being a strong worship leader and preacher, our next Rector should be….

A STRONG PASTOR

INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

SPIRITUAL GUIDE

EDUCATOR

GROUP FACILITATOR

ADMINISTRATOR

COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR

If we over generalize our many individual life stories, we can be left with distorted perceptions.

If we use intellectualization as a defense mechanism, we avoid facing our emotions and making real change.

We must recognize that these numbers are a tool ……

THANK YOU!

ALL ARE FALSE