United Church of Christ



LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE5397500-939799Arcade United Church of Christ, CongregationalArcade, NYFacebook pagePastorNew York Conference, Western AssociationDecember 13, 2019LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE CONTENTSPosition PostingWho Is God Calling Us To Become?Who Are We Now?Who Is Our Neighbor?ReferencesConsent and Validation“God is able to provide you with every blessing, so thathaving all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”(2 Corinthians 9:8)POSITION POSTINGLISTING INFORMATIONSCOPE OF WORKCOMPENSATION & SUPPORTWHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US?LISTING INFORMATIONChurch name: United Church of Christ, Congregational, ArcadeMailing address:PO Box 95, Arcade NY 14009Street address:297 Main St., Arcade NY 14009Supplemental web links:, Facebook PageAdditional ecumenical affiliations:PAC: Pioneer Association of ChurchesConference: New York ConferenceAssociation: Western Association UCC Conference or Association Staff Contact PersonName: Rev. Gary FernerTitle: Associate Conference Minister for Search and CallPhone: 315-446-3073Email: gferner@Summary Ministry Description: Located in Wyoming County (the heart of Western New York), The Arcade UCC seeks a ? time Pastor for spiritual growth and guidance. Our new pastor will be a leader among the congregation and a proud representative in the community. We seek a likable person who will relate to people of all ages, backgrounds, and outlooks. This person will respect and embrace our 200+ history while ministering with our congregation using the latest 21st-century tools.What we value about living in our area: Education: Pioneer Central School District provides quality education, multiple sports and thriving visual and performing arts programs. The Arcade Free Library is part of a larger multi-county library system and is a great resource for both printed and electronic material. In addition to a great public school and library system, there are also local college opportunities at Genesee Community College’s Arcade branch. Local Cuisine: Local restaurants cover the gamut of styles from Italian, Asian, American, Greek, a local winery and craft brewery.Attractions: A few doors down from the church is one of our Arcade’s most alluring attractions, the Arcade & Attica Railroad, reminiscent of a step back in time to the late 1800s. A short 30-minute drive from Arcade has visitors standing near the “Grand Canyon of the East” also known as Letchworth State Park. Festivals: Arcade’s Winterfest is full of excitement, including a snow sculpture contest; Firefighters’ tug-of-war, a grand parade; hockey, horseshoe, and softball tournaments; a 5k run/walk; arts & crafts show with vendors; cardboard box sled races; an amazing Swiss steak dinner, and much, much more.The Arcade UCC has annually held a successful Fall Harvest Festival which attracts people from over an hour away to participate in a huge basket raffle, reverse bingo, live music, and a taste of our delicious Beef and Chicken Chowder, cooked over a hardwood fire all night long in a 35-gallon kettle!Arcade also hosts the spring Tri-County Trout Derby, an all-day event in which anglers from all over come to try and catch the “big one” for cash and other prizes.The church membership represents multi-county involvement. Small-town friendliness is an added value in our community!Current size of membership: 95-100Languages used in ministry (other than English): None.Position Title: PastorPosition Duration:Settled – a called position intended for longer-term ministry in which the minister moves church membership to the congregation and standing to the related pensation Level: ? TimeDoes the total support package meet conference compensation guidelines? YesSCOPE OF WORKCore Competencies:Faith Formation and Vitality: a sense of humor, Works well with youth, is aware of the world, bringing the Bible to life and make it relevant to todayCommunity Engagement: work with the youth in service projects in community and mission trips, work with other churches to be in communityStrategic Planning for current and new directions in ministry: upbeat worship service, technology savvy, digital presence COMPENSATION AND SUPPORTSalary: Arcade UCC has practiced pastoral compensation in line with the conference guidelines and has a budget for a pastor with a Masters Degree in Divinity with experience.The total pastoral compensation package for 2019-2020 is $62,187 with an additional $5,000 set aside for moving expenses. The budgeted amount includes cash compensation of up to $32,150.00 and a housing allowance of $9,650.00 will be adjusted to meet conference education and experience guidelines.Benefits:Salary plus Benefits: Health Insurance, Retirement Annuity, Travel Reimbursement, professional expenses/conferences, books, and ment on the residential/commuting expectations for your next minister.We would prefer for our pastor to live in the community. However, if he/she is bi-vocational this could be a point of negotiation.State any incentives: Continuing education funds, extra vacation, sabbatical available after five years of service.Describe peer and professional supports available for ministers in your association/conference: Communities of PracticeChurch and MinistryIf applicable, describe how your church will adopt part-time adjustments in the pastoral schedule to support a minister’s bi-vocational employment: Develop office hours that would benefit both parties, by appointment. Possibly have the 4th Sunday of every month off. The fourth Sunday is our Alternative Worship Experience (AWE) service with our praise band Far Cry.WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US?Describe the ministry goals you envision your next minister co-collaborating with the congregation to achieve. We would like to see our services reach a wider audience using social media platforms; such as podcasts, YouTube, and Facebook.We would like to establish youth programs with a strong Pastor presence in youth work that will create excitement, participation, and inspire our future church leaders.Describe how your vision of the minister you are now seeking will assist the congregation in making an impact beyond its walls. It is the expectation of our church that our pastor will continue to encourage and expand participation in our mission activities, including NY/HELP Honduras and youth mission trips.Specify language requirements or culturally-specific capacities preferred in a next ministerial leader, and why those matter to the congregation’s sense of calling.NoneBased on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church’s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The Marks of Faithful & Effective Authorized Ministry that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation’s ministry in these areas.Making connections with people of all abilities, races, gender identities, incomes, and political leanings; recognizes a climate in crisisTo nurture and support the congregation so that they can be an active and visible force of compassionate service and justice in the worldWHO IS GOD CALLING US TO BECOME?WHO IS GOD CALLING YOU TO BECOME AS A CONGREGATION?We believe God is calling us to be a congregation that is open to adaptation in an ever-changing world. We recognize the need to embrace change as we share our church in a world that often struggles to find time for worship and faith development.Describe how God is calling you to reach out to address the emerging challenges and opportunities of your community and congregation. Our outreach team is piloting two programs this fall to try and engage the community. One such program is called “Coffee Break” in which coffee, a small snack, and a place to commune are available to the community on Tuesday mornings from 9 until 11 am. One of the goals of this program is to identify the concerns of the community.The second program is called “Open for Prayer,” where we open the sanctuary for silent prayer and reflection for two hours each week and a scripture passage is provided for focus and inspiration while quiet music is played.One of our most successful outreaches has been our free monthly community dinner, and we recently reached a milestone of serving more than 10,000 dinners!We have not had a multi-year strategic plan or vision statement but welcome the opportunity to work on this with our new pastor.WHO ARE WE NOW?CONGREGATIONAL REFLECTIONS11-YEAR REPORTCONGREGATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICSPARTICIPATION AND STAFFINGCHURCH FINANCESHISTORICAL INFORMATIONCONGREGATIONAL REFLECTIONSThis past year for our annual picnic in the park we had a Baptist preacher deliver a very fiery message. Shortly after the service, a woman looked to her husband and proclaimed “I really enjoyed her message today.” The husband responded, “You like that ‘Hell-n-Brimstone’ preaching do ya?” to which the wife replied, “Oh, was that her name?”Describe your congregation’s life of faith.Our favorite theologians are Jesus, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Rob Bell, Walter Wangerin, and Joel Olsteen. They are all inspirational teachers and represent what we are looking for our congregation and our world, to live out Jesus’ word. God is described as the Alpha and Omega, Three in One, Divine of the Trinity.We feel the Holy Spirit through songs, and our children speaking. Our church members have been told on many occasions by visitors that they feel the presence of the Holy Spirit when entering the church.Describe several strengths or positive qualities of your congregation.Survey says: Our congregation is Positive, Joyful, Welcoming, Friendly. We have a wonderful choir and music program. We work together extremely well in order to accomplish our goals. Our survey concluded that we are 92% Positive. Describe what worship is like when your congregation gathers. Far Cry Praise Band at Annual PicnicAWE Learning About Godly PlayWorship is usually held in our sanctuary; we also host a picnic in the park at the end of summer. Service is based on Bible verses, normally from the liturgical calendar. Service has a quiet reflection, uplifting songs of praise, praising God for everything God has done for us. Service has a message usually based on the specific verse or verses. Our recent baptism was an adult; using the baptismal font, he was baptized and joined our church.Good preaching – interactive, thought-provoking, inspirational, attention-grabbing, able to stay on topic, clear and easy to understand, use of dynamics, and relevant to what is going on today.Describe the educational program and/or faith formation vision of your church. 0 - Confirmation Age: Participate in Godly Play.9-12th grade: Learn about the different types of religions, have book studies, open discussion, and podcasts. Lead worship two to three times a year. Encouraged to join one of our church committees.Adults: In Sunday school class, the leader reads a chapter or two of a book each week followed by a thoughtful discussion. Past pastors have also lead a weekly bible study.Our programs teach how to openly question and to work together to form answers. Describe how your congregation is organized for ministry and mission. We have a number of committees with positions of varying lengths from 1 to 3 years. At the beginning of each fiscal year, church members are encouraged to sign up or self-nominate to a committee. The council and most committees hold monthly meetings that generally run from 1-1.5 hours. On occasion, committee members have also attended by videoconference.The members of our committees are quite nimble and have come together quickly for time-sensitive decisions. Sometimes this can be accomplished with a quick meeting directly after the service. If something needs to be addressed during the week this can be accomplished via phone call or email depending on urgency.We can provide our policy manual, bylaws and our annual report to our new minister.11-YEAR REPORTOur 11-year report can be found here.CONGREGATIONAL DEMOGRAPHICSDescribe those who participate in your church:Is this number an estimate? (check if yes)Number of active members:49Number of active non-members:40-50Total of church participants (sum of the numbers above):100Percentage of total participants who have been in the church:Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes)More than 10 years:48Less than 10, more than 5 years:2Less than 5 years:7Number of total participants by age:0-1112-1718-2425-3445-5455-6465-7475+Are these numbers an estimate?(check if yes)8213172215Percentage of adults in various household types:Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes)Single adults under 35:5Joint household with minors:5Single adults age 35-65:1Joint household with no minors:19Single adults over 65:17Education level of adult participants by percentage:Is this percentage an estimate? (check if yes)High school:24.6%College:28.1%Graduate School:21%Specialty Training:19.3%Other (please specify):7%Percentage of adults in various employment types:Is this number an estimate? (check if yes)Adults who are employed:13Adults who are retired:31Adults who are not fully employed:9Describe the range of occupations of working adults in the congregation:Business, professional, clerical, laborer, farmer, homemaker, other. Describe the mix of ethnic heritages in your congregation, and the overall racial make-up.Race: Our current membership is 100% white.Our congregation is accepting and welcoming of different races, sexuality, physically and developmentally disabled. List the date your congregation has had or will have a conversation using a resource such as the Welcoming Diversity Inventory. We have very little diversity in our rural area and have not had a conversation. However, we are willing to explore that opportunity.PARTICIPATION AND STAFFINGWays of GatheringEstimated number of people involved in attendanceWho plans each of the listed gatherings? (list any and all worship planners, such as various lay leaders, pastors, musicians, other staff)Adult Groups or Classes10Lay leadersBaptisms (number last year)2Pastor and Worship & MusicChildren’s Groups or Classes8Christian Education (Sunday School)Christmas Eve and Easter Worship65Pastor/ Worship and MusicChurch-wide Meals50CouncilChoirs and Music Groups14Choir Director, Far Cry bandChurch-based Bible Study0Communion 1st of each month40-45Pastor w/Worship & MusicCommunity Meals100OutreachConfirmation (number confirmed last year)0Drama or Dance ProgramN/AFunerals (number last year)3Pastor and Family of deceasedIntergenerational Groups0Outdoor Worship35-40Pastor and Praise TeamPrayer or Meditation Groups0Public Advocacy WorkRetreats0Theology or Bible Programs in the Community5Lutheran church Community VBSWeddings (number last year)0Worship 10:3040-45Worship (9:30 July-August)40-45Young Adult Groups or Classes0Youth Groups or Classes4OtherList all members or regular participants in your congregation who are ordained, licensed, or commissioned ministers. N/AIf one or more previous pastors or retired ministers currently hold membership in the church, describe their role(s) in the life of the congregation:Pastor Emeritus: Charlie Hobbs now lives in Florida and does not participate in the life of the congregation.List all current staff, including ministers. Exclude the position you are seeking to fill. Indicate which staff person serves as head of staff.Staff PositionHead of Staff?Compensation (full time, part-time, volunteer)Supervised byLength of Tenure for the current person in this positionMusic DirectorNPart-timeCouncil12OrganistNPart-timeCouncil27SecretaryNPart-timeCouncil1REFLECTIONReflection: After reviewing the congregational demographics and activities above, what does this information reflect about your congregation’s overall ministry? We are a small but lively church of members with varying educational backgrounds and career choices who come together with a single purpose--to do God's work in our community. Our many talented artists, singers, musicians, bakers, cooks, speakers and intellectuals readily share their gifts to make our little church one of the greatest places to be.CHURCH FINANCESIncome/Expenses:Entire financial breakdown including income and expenses is available in our most recent annual report and can be found here.Considering total budgeted expenses for the year, compare total ministerial support. What is the percentage?50%Has the church ever failed to pay its financial obligations to a minister of the church?NoIs your church 5-for-5, i.e. does it include each of the following contributions during the church year? (indicate those included during the most recent fiscal year)We have been 5-for-5 for a minimum of 10 years_X_ Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM – Basic Support)_X_ One Great Hour of Sharing _X_ Strengthen the Church _X_ Neighbors in Need _X_ Christmas Fund In what way is OCWM (Basic Support) gathered? If calculated as a percentage of operating budget, what is that percentage? (recommended 10%)The council budgets for OCWM based on recommendations from the conference. $3,700 is currently budgeted by council for 2019-2020.What is the church’s current indebtedness? The total amount of loan debt: 0Reason for debt: N/AAre capital and other payments current? N/AIf a building program is projected or underway, describe it, including the projected start/end date of the building project and the total project budget.N/AIf the church has had capital campaigns in the last ten years, describe: N/AIf a capital campaign is underway or anticipated, describe: N/ADescribe the prominent mission component(s) involved in the most recent (or current) capital campaign.N/ADoes your church have an endowment? YesWhat is the market value of the assets? 9/30/19 $283,605.29Are funds drawn as needed, regularly, or under certain circumstances?As indicated in our By-Laws:Earned income from gifts and bequests to the Endowment Fund, unless otherwise specified by the grantors, is to be used to accomplish the following purposes:One half (1/2) – May be expended annually, and/or proportionately allocated for a specific project or program, and at such other times as deemed necessary and/or feasible for capital improvements and/or major buildings and grounds maintenance programs of the church, and/or for the following additional purposes:The enhancement of special programs of the church, including but not limited to Christian education, spiritual growth, music and programs oriented toward youth and/or families;For scholarships or grants to members of the church for the purpose of attending seminary or related training in service to God’s people;For scholarships for members of the church pursuing post-secondary education who demonstrate merit and/or need. One fourth (1/4) – Shall be expended annually, and/or proportionately allocated for a specific project or program, and at such other times as deemed necessary and/or feasible for outreach into the community, including but not limited to social service agencies to which the church relates and to special programs designed for those persons in the Western New York area who are in spiritual and/or economic need, and/or the wider mission of the United Church of Christ at home and overseas. One fourth (1/4) – May be expended annually, and/or proportionately allocated for a specific project or program, and at such other times as deemed necessary and/or feasible for any purpose listed under (“a”) and/or (“b”) above.What is the percentage rate of draw (last year, compared to five years ago)? In accordance with the by-laws, only the earned income is drawn. A complete breakdown of where the earned income was distributed can be found in our annual reports under the Endowment Committee section.Describe draw on the endowment, if any, to meet operating budget expenses for the most recent year and the past five years: 2015 - $1400 was used to pay for pulpit supply during the pastor’s sabbatical.At the current rate of draw, how long might the endowment last?The fund should last indefinitely because only the earned income is spent. Please comment on the above calculations or estimates:Over the last five years, the endowment fund has occasionally been used, in accordance with our by-laws, to restore our capital assets. Restorations that have taken place during the previous five years include sealing the parking lot, renovating our downstairs bathrooms, and repairing the West wall of the Kitchen.Other Assets:As of 9/30/19:Reserves (savings Trubee Collins): $24,791.89Investments (other than endowment): Parsonage sale- Pastor’s housing fund at Trubee Collins $27,753.71Memorial Fund: $12,649.23Music Fund (interest on $2,000.00 Cooper CD) $112.60Friends in Service and Hope (youth fund) $381.58Does your church have a parsonage? NoDescribe all buildings owned by the church:Church building and AnnexDescribe non-owned buildings or space used or rented by the church:NoneWhich spaces are accessible to wheelchairs? The pulpit is not wheelchair accessible but the rest of the building is. We would certainly adjust the chancel if necessary.Reflection: After reviewing the church’s finances and assets described above, what does this information reflect about your congregation’s mission and ministry? The council works with the committees to create a streamlined realistic budget for the church. In order to facilitate the overall budget, each committee prepares its own budget and then submits it to the council. Although we have fiscal challenges like many churches, we do have faith and are prayerful. We have a phenomenal treasurer who keeps us well informed. We have always found ways to meet our commitments to leadership. There have not been any significant budget changes or new ministry initiatives financed recently.HISTORICAL INFORMATIONName one to three significant happenings in the history of your church that has shaped the identity of your congregation. Add the most important event in the life of your church in the past 10 years.Our church has a rich history in helping the voiceless and the less fortunate. Over the course of the last 200 years, our little church here in Arcade has helped shape the world in many ways. We are proud of our accomplishments which include taking an active role in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad and the temperance movements in the early 1800’s.3057525314325Our work didn’t stop in the 1800s though; beginning in the late 1980s the church became personally active in a missions outreach project called NY/Help. These efforts were championed by a member of our church, Dr. Gordon Comstock who traveled to La Laguna, Honduras 29 times over the last 30-plus years. Many of our members were also inspired by Dr. Comstock’s work and also have made the trip to Honduras to assist in the efforts. Mrs. Ginger Comstock continues to serve on the board of this amazing mission. Dr. Comstock seeing Patients in HondurasIn the early 2000s we were blessed to be able to purchase the building next to ours and renovate it into a beautiful nursery, Sunday school rooms, meeting rooms, a church and pastor’s office, a library and handicap accessible bathrooms. This extra space also includes a storefront facing Main Street in Arcade and allowed us to share some amazing window ministries with the community. In addition to our window displays, this extra space has allowed us to be much more accessible to the community and allows space for our ever-growing Fall Festival and our new outreach Coffee Break.Our most important event in the last 10 years was our church's 200th Anniversary, an entire year of music, special worship observances, visits from state and national UCC leaders that culminated in a fantastic banquet.Describe a specific change your church has managed in the recent past.The biggest change our church has endured in recent history is the early retirement of our pastor. Pastor Robert Dievendorf had some sudden and significant life changes that accelerated his retirement timeline, and therefore our church was not prepared.It is encouraging to witness how well the church has managed since Pastor Bob’s departure. In spite of this, we have been able to keep the pulpit supplied with thought-provoking and interesting pastors, and successfully tried some alternatives to traditional worship, such as spotlighting the artists in our congregation. Our church has also recently welcomed several new attendees who have found a worship home. The teamwork of our members and attendees resulted in the largest and most profitable Fall Festival ever, not only raising funds but raising our profile in the community.Every church has conflict, some minor, some larger. “Where two or three are gathered, there will be disagreement….” Describe your congregation’s values and practices when it comes to conflict.We try to deal with conflict biblically, and anonymous complaints are encouraged to be dealt with face-to-face. Most conflicts are brought before the council for reflection and/or resolution.Our most recent concern was about one of our more active members bringing their small dog into the church while they were here preparing for Sunday service. It was a sensitive issue because the dog has always gone with the congregant everywhere, similar to a child with a parent. On the other hand, the church is a holy place and dogs can cause damage to the church. Should dogs be allowed at the church even when a service is not in progress? Or do we encourage support a dog can provide?We now have a pet policy and the dog is allowed to come to church, but the dog remains in a safe location in her crate.Ministerial History (include all previous ministerial staff for the past 30 years)Staff member’s nameYears of serviceUCC Standing (Y/No)Suzanne Hodges (Interim)12/2018 – 6/2019YRobert Dievendorf2009 - 8/2018YSuzanne Hodges (Interim)2006 – 2009YJames Fishbaugh (Interim)7/2004 – 2006YNeil McClelland10/2001 – 7/2004YRaymond Morris (Interim)11/2000 – 10/2001YLynn Morgan9/1997 – 2000YCarl Marks (Interim)6/1995 – 9/1997YCharles Hobbs (Interim)6/1993 – 6/1995YThomas VandeStadt5/1991 – 1993YCharles Hobbs (Interim)8/1990 – 5/1991YCarlton Talbot1983 – 1990YElizabeth (Lisa) Thwing1980 – 1983YJohn Ellis1972-1978YJohn Wetzel1960-1972, 1978-1980YComment on what your church has learned about itself and its relationship with persons who provided ministerial leadership:Our church is strong. It has to be; it has been here over 200 years through many different pastors and we continue to persevere even during trying times. Through the years we have been able to develop our lay leadership to contribute meaningful worship experience and good stewardship of our resources during challenging times. Over the years we have learned that we need a pastor who is confident and has dreams and visions for the future of our church.Has any past leader left under pressure or by involuntary termination? NoHas your church been involved in a Situational Support Consultation? NoHas a past pastor been the subject of a Fitness Review while at your church? NoWHO IS OUR NEIGHBOR?COMMUNITY VISIONMISSION INSITECOMMUNITY VISIONHow do the relationships and activities of your congregation extend outward in service and advocacy?Community dinners has served over 10,000 people ReThinkNY Help HondurasGlobal ministries partnerYouth mission trips yearlyAngel ActionPioneer ProSnack pack for kidsChurch World ServiceDescribe your congregation’s participation in meetings, relationships and activities connecting the wider United Church of Christ (association/conference/national setting).A member of our congregation is the New York conference moderator and previous moderator of the Western New York Area Churches in Covenant (WNYACIC).Our treasurer is also the treasurer for WNYACIC.Many members are active in WNYACICWe have members who are Lay delegates for the General SynodMember, Dr. Gordon Comstock is a member and one of the founders of New York Help Honduras. He has traveled there making 29 trips for 30 plus years.Other members of the congregation have also traveled to Honduras to help.Youth involved with Western Area Youth (WAY), UCC State and National youth events, and Dunkirk Conference Center (UCC Camp).Check all of the following “statements of witness” that apply to your UCC faith community. (Find more information on these statements at ).__ Accessible to All (A2A) __ Creation Justice __ Economic Justice __ Faithful and Welcoming_X_ God Is Still Speaking (GISS) __ Immigrant Welcoming __ Inter-cultural/Multi-racial (I’M) __ Just Peace _X_ Global Mission Church__ Open and Affirming (ONA) __ WISE Congregation for Mental Health __ Other UCC designations:__ Other Similar designations in affiliated denominations__ NoneReflect on what the above statement(s) mean(s) to your community. Is your congregation interested in working toward any of the above statements of witness in the near future?“Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away” John 6:37bEvery service begins with the proclamation “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here” and we live this statement out in our church. Over the years we have welcomed visitors and members of varying sexual orientations, races, income levels, physical and mental disabilities. Our Church is interested in conversations regarding Creation Justice, Immigrant Welcoming, Just Peace, Open and Affirming (ONA), and WISE Congregation for Mental Health. Describe your congregation’s participation in ecumenical and interfaith activities (with other denominations and religious groups, local and regional).We participate in the Pioneer Association of Churches (PAC)Community Vacation Bible School at the Hope Lutheran ChurchEcumenical Advent and Lenten Wednesday services and luncheons at Hope LutheranChristmas and Easter PAC Cantata led by our choir director and often accompanied by our organistIf your congregation has a mission statement, how does that mission statement compare to the actual time spent engaging in different activities? Think of the range of activities from time spent gathering, to governance, to time spent going out.From our by-laws “We are called by Christ to continually serve all creation with God’s love.”Some of our current work includes:Food bank Community dinnerSchool packs for Pioneer Central Schools Honduras Church World Service Coloring book collection for Oishei Children's HospitalCoffee Break ProgramCookie walk for school childrenWe are serving all creation with God’s love every time we collect food for the food bank, every community dinner we prepare and serve, every school pack that is put together, and every trip to Honduras. Our church does not need an activity to live our mission statement. Our congregation shares God’s love no matter what we are doing.Reflect on the scope of work assigned to your pastor(s). How is their community ministry and their ministry in and on behalf of the wider church accounted for in the congregation’s expectations on their time?We encourage attendance at the Conference’s annual meeting; this is two days.We encourage attendance at the three WNYACIC meetings. Meetings vary in length from 3 to 8 hours.PAC (Pioneer Association of Churches) which meets each month for a couple of hoursVisit members in the hospital and skilled nursing facilitiesVisit homebound congregation members.MissionInSiteComment on your congregation’s MissionInsite report with data for your neighborhood(s) or area. What trends and opportunities are shown?Although the QuickInsite report shows a small increase in population between 2010-2018, the report is predicting a decrease in population by 3% by 2028.Demographics indicate a higher incidence of blue-collar workers, households that are slightly below the poverty level that are predominantly white, and with a reasonable strong belief in God and Jesus. There are strong concerns about current and future finances and fear of the future or unknown.It is somewhat interesting that even though the reports indicate a strong belief in God and Jesus overall, there are also strong reasons cited for not attending a religious service. Some of the reasons other than not believing include religion being too focused on money; judgment; demands of raising children; moving away from the area, or it is boring.Based on this study it is recommended that our top three objectives should be to focus on increasing warm and friendly encounters, the quality of sermons, and holiday programs and activities.How do your congregation’s internal demographics compare or contrast to a) the neighborhoods adjacent to your church, and b) other neighborhoods with which your church connects? Based on our 2018 Survey Results, compared to the QuickInsite report we have a higher incidence of white-collar workers and an above-average adult education level.How are the demographics of the community currently shaping ministry, or not? Our ministry in the community reflects the demographics provided by the MissionInsite reports. There is a higher incidence of poverty and seniors, much of our work in the community has been focused on providing meals and food through food bank drives and free monthly community dinners.What do you hear when you talk to community leaders and ask them what your church is known for?Jay May, Mayor of Arcade – Arcade UCC is known for its youth program and community involvement. What do new people in the church say when asked what got them involved?Five new regular attendees found a place with us within the last year. Based on brief interviews with them, there is an overall consensus that the reason they keep coming back to our church is because of the people. They describe the members as very friendly, welcoming and outgoing. Although all five new attendees knew people in the church from outside affiliations, they did not cite this as their rationale for initially coming to the church. They were all looking for a church and found a home with us. In addition to regular attendance, the new attendees have been a huge help volunteering with the community dinner, the fall festival, the choir, and Cantata, and participating in Alternative Worship Experience (AWE).REFERENCESName up to three people who have agreed to serve as phone and written references. Make sure they are not members of your church but are persons who know your church well enough to be helpful to candidates seeking more information. Request a letter from each reference in answer to the four prompts below. Attach the letters (up to three) as desired.REFERENCE 1Rev Shawn Hannon / Pastor / Hope Lutheran Church, Arcade 716-969-5186 / pastorshawn@ / Friend and Pulpit SupplyREFERENCE 2Kathy May / Office Manager585-492-5534 / arckmay@ / Former Office manager at Arcade UCC REFERENCE 3Rev. Suzanne Hodges/ Pastor (retired) / Former Interim Arcade UCC585-749-6401 / pastorsu1@PROMPTS FOR REFERENCESDescribe some areas of strength in this church’s ministry. Describe some areas for improvement in this church’s ministry.Describe a significant experience you have had of this church’s ministry.Anything else you wish to share.CLOSING THOUGHTSCLOSING PRAYERSTATEMENT OF CONSENTCONFERENCE/ASSOCIATION VALIDATIONCLOSING PRAYER“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11STATEMENT OF CONSENTThe covenantal relationship between a church and those called by that church to serve as pastors and teachers and in other ministerial positions is strengthened when vital information is openly shared by covenantal partners. To that end, we attest that, to the best of our abilities, we have provided information in this profile that accurately represents our church. We have not knowingly withheld any information that would be helpful to candidates. As the committee charged with the responsibility for identifying and recommending a suitable new minister for our church, we have been authorized to share the information herein with potential candidates. We understand that a candidate may wish to secure further knowledge, information, and opinions about our church. We encourage a candidate to do so, recognizing that an open exchange of relevant information builds the foundation for continuing and healthy relationships between calling bodies and persons seeking a ministry position.Which individuals and groups in the church contributed to the contents of this Local Church Profile? Search Committee: Vanessa Adams, Ryan Bechdel (chair), Ginger Comstock, Denielle Romance, Nick Tillinghast, Skip Tillinghast Additional comments for interpreting the profile:Signed: Rev. Gary Ferner, Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call NY Conference 12-13-2019VALIDATION BY CONFERENCE/ASSOCIATIONThe congregation is currently in good standing with the association/conference named. Staff Comment: YesTo the best of my knowledge, ministerial history information is complete.Staff Comment: YesTo the best of my knowledge, available church financial information is presented thoroughly. Staff Comment: YesMy signature below attests to the above three items. Signature: Rev. Gary FernerName / Title: Associate Conference Minister for Search and Call NY ConferenceEmail:gferner@Phone:315-446-3073Date:December 13, 2019This document is created through support to Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) and is only possible through the covenantal relationships of all settings of the United Church of Christ. “Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God!’” – Mark 11:22 ................
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