Making Choices - Together

Opening:

God of the guiding star, the bush that blazesShow us your wayGod of the stormy seas, the bread that nourishesTeach us your truthGod of the still, small voice, the wind that blows where it choosesFill us with lifeGod of the elements of our inward and outward journeysSet our feet on your road today.Amen.

Making Choices – Learning Goals for Today’s Lunch and Learn

• Why do we need to “make choices”?

• What do we need to make choices about?

• What learning – about ourselves, the community, our context – will help to clarify our options?

• What is the process and timeline for making choices?

Lunch & LearnSunday, October 5, 2014

The Transition Team:

Brenda BurtonJohn Donelan

Rev. Douglas duCharmeScott Gilland

Chris Miller (Presbytery)Jackie MorrisStan Murray

Lois ScottBev Vanstone

The Role of the Transition Team

• Focus – review, clarify, develop goals set by the Board

• Learn – promote conversation, learning, understanding about future directions

• Include – involve the congregation

• Model – be examples of responsible participation, healthy relationships, and faithful witness

Transition Team ReportingTransition Team:• Reports progress

to the church Board

• Reviews how transition work is progressing

• Considers the congregation’s progress towards fulfilling the goals

• Has a new mission been identified and claimed by the congregation?

Transition Team

Church Board

Presbytery

Initiates Mission

Articulation Process

Search for New Minister

Congregation

What the Transition Team is Not

It is not a JNAC (Joint Needs Assessment Committee)

It will not be involved in the search process

It does not make decisions (it seeks to equip the Board and the congregation to make good choices for future ministry)

What brings us here – why “transition”A recognition of the need to make some choices in view of:• Financial pressures – growing deficit• Membership decline – changing needs and interests• Increasingly vague purpose and direction• Use our building more in line with our mission• Renew and equip new leadership

Do this in a spirit of hope! We have the time, energy and resources to make significant

changes!

How the Transition Team works

Transition Team’s mandate established by the Board

• Worship• Governance• Sustainability• Communication

Commitment to renewing our mission

Rooted in Northlea’s identity

Building on a clear expression of purpose

Expressed in concrete emerging directions for ministry

How does the Transition Team do its work?

Transition Team:

• works collaboratively• is not a decision-making

body• has no preconceptions

about outcomes• seeks to listen and build

ownership across the congregation

What’s it like to be on the Transition Team?

• Lois Scott• Bev Vanstone

Stretch your imaginationFind a perfect star in the pattern below. As you look for it, try to be aware of the search strategies you use.

The Transition Team has been working on 3 different time frames at once!

• 2014

Short-term Focus

• Now to 2016

Future Directions and Planning

• Now to 2020

Emerging Future (and not-so-future) Trends

SHORT-TERM FOCUS(2014)

Short-term Focus (2014)

Governance Structure - Simplify

New Leadership - Recognize volunteer weariness

Worship - Explore ways to diversify

Cool Church - Invest in, and re-build

Ministry & Personnel - Refresh our approach

Pastoral Care - Strengthen our capacity to care

Outreach - Re-ignite

Governance Structure• Simplify

• More focus on mission, less on administration

Some examples:• Communication Team• Hospitality Team• Lay Pastoral Care Team

• How do we get there?

New Leadership

• Address the need for new leadership

• Recognize volunteer weariness

Worship

Explore ways to diversify worship options

• Promote Taizé• Jazz Services• Animal Blessing

Cool Church

Invest in Cool Church to re-build

• Hire coordinator• Train volunteers• Improve outreach

Ministry & Personnel

Refresh our approach

• Provide training• Strengthen process and

support for staff

Pastoral Care

Strengthen lay pastoral care –our capacity to care for each other.

Outreach

• Re-ignite!• Build connections and

partnerships in the community

FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND PLANNING(now to 2016)

Congregation

Community

Building

Renew Northlea’s shared identity, purpose and direction

Purpose(What? Why?)

Direction(Where? When?)

Identity(Who?)

Create our implementati

on plan

Identity/Values

• Who are we?• How do we know?

Purpose/Mission

• Why are we here?• What are we here for?• Would anyone notice if

we weren’t here?

Direction/Vision

• Where are we going?• How will we get there?• When will we get there?

Creating an Implementation Plan

• Implementing our directions – making them real.

• Develop a work plan to implement directions, including identifying the leadership style and skills needed in a new minister.

EMERGING FUTURE (AND NOT-SO-FUTURE) TRENDS(now to 2020)

The Future…

In 2020…• What does the congregation

look like?• What does Leaside and the

surrounding area look like?• How is the church building

being used, and by whom?

Let’s take a step back…

In 1950, could we see?• Sunday shopping?• The end of prayer in

school?• Moms working outside the

home?• Church attendance falling?• Government addressing

poverty and the poor?• Internet? Social Media?

Skip to 2014 …• What AREN’T we seeing?• What ARE we seeing?

The future congregation?• Changes in family profile -

what does a “family” look like?

• Changes in patterns in family life, use of time and its impact on church

• Fewer numbers, but more engaged

• Demographics

The future community

• Impact of crosstown transit• Changing attitudes towards

organized religion and exploring spirituality

• Rise in cultural/religious diversity in the community

• Growing gap between rich and poor

The future church building

• Environmental issues – greening church

• Loss of public/common space in the city and community

• Economics of maintenance• Shift in focus from

Landlord/Tenant to Partnership/Community

Let’s Review Transition Team –

research, learning,

communicating, listening,

clarifying options

Let’s Review Transition Team –

research, learning,

communicating, listening,

clarifying options

Board and Congregation -involvement,

input, ownership

Let’s Review Transition Team –

research, learning,

communicating, listening,

clarifying options

Board and Congregation -involvement,

input, ownership

Recommendations concerning governance,

mission, future directions

Let’s Review Transition Team –

research, learning,

communicating, listening,

clarifying options

Board and Congregation -involvement,

input, ownership

Recommendations concerning governance,

mission, future directions

Decision-making by the Board and

Congregation

Let’s Review Transition Team –

research, learning,

communicating, listening,

clarifying options

Board and Congregation -involvement,

input, ownership

Recommendations concerning governance,

mission, future directions

Decision-making by the Board and

Congregation

Implementation plan, including steps in search process for new

minister!…

Over to You!

• Respond to the sample mission and vision statements• Read resources we circulate (e.g. Steinke’s “Buckle Up!”) • Watch Peter Steinke’s DVD To Make a Difference (will be available

in the Nursery on Sundays)• Visit specific churches on Sunday to sample worship and community

– a sign up sheet will be posted• Participate on organized visits to some churches that use their

buildings in ways that reflect their mission and priorities, are sustainable, and connect with the community - these will be organized soon!

• Talk to members of the Transition Team – share your ideas!• Think about where your passion lies – get involved!

Make a difference in how this work proceeds and what decisions we all make! This is a shared responsibility and commitment, and we need help:

Next Lunch and Learn! November 23rd

“… the church of the future will be more relational, more diverse, more collaborative, more hopeful, and more agile…”

 An anonymous blog post,

September 2014

God, you are always calling your people to follow you into the future, inviting us to new ventures, new challenges, new ways to care, new ways to touch the hearts of all. When we become fearful of the unknown, give us courage. When we worry that we are not up to the task, remind us that you would not call us if you did not believe in us. When we get tired, or feel disappointed with the way things are going, remind us that you can bring such newness as resurrection that changes us and gives us life. Amen.