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Faith Identity and Research Study Team (Faith FIRST)August 2015Congregational Mission StudyFaith Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, FloridaCHAPTER 1: OVERVIEWFaith Presbyterian Church is a church within the bounds of Florida Presbytery, which requires its churches to conduct a congregational mission study whenever a senior pastor leaves the church. The purpose of the study is to help a church, before it begins searching for the next pastor, to understand who it is (identity), what it feels God is calling it to do in the future (mission), and what kind of pastor would help get the church to its desired future. We believe that the search for a new pastor is worthy of investment of time and resources, because we wish for a new pastor who will stay and grow with us. The average tenure of a Faith senior pastor is 10 years, and the average transition period is one to three (1-3) years.Our study began in February 2015 when our interim pastor, David Garnett, invited 16 members of the congregation recommended by current elders and church staff to serve on the study committee. Eight of those 16 church members agreed to serve and were placed on the committee, which came to be called “Faith FIRST” (Faith Identity Research Study Team). The committee members were: Kelly Garland, Sam Lester, Jim Mabry, Jill Stewart, Jason Taylor, Chad Van Iddekinge and Artie White. The committee was chaired by Ginny Dailey and resourced by David Garnett. (During the committee’s work, Mrs. Lester resigned from the committee and church.)The study involved researching all aspects of Faith Church, as well as Faith’s surrounding community, including the greater Tallahassee area, the Presbytery of Florida, the PCUSA denomination, and general religious trends in the country. As part of its study, the committee accomplished the following research tasks:*History. A Faith church history was written. Sources for the church history included a partial history written for the church’s 40th anniversary, Session notes, and oral histories taken from some of the church’s founding and long-term members. The history includes the names of all pastors who have served the church and the dates of their service, amounts of money given to the church each year, and key events in the church, the denomination and the world.*Current Church Demographics. Demographic statistics were compiled and summarized for the current membership of the church, using answers to particular questions in a congregational survey and membership rolls information, and for the community using demographic databases.*Plot Map of Membership. Using MissionInsite, we plot-mapped all the addresses of members of Faith to see where Faith is drawing its membership. We also used MissionInsite, Census, and other online information to gain insight about what kind of people live in our members’ neighborhoods, and how we might reach out to them either (a) in service or (b) as potential Faith members.*Church Finances. We worked with our church’s finance manager, Charlotte Rigsby, along with our church’s stewardship consultant, John Hewett, to obtain information regarding the church’s financial situation.*Current Church Programs, Staff, and Facilities. We created an inventory of current programs offered at the church, along with staff who administer those programs, and facilities resources that provide space for those programs.*Current Church Mission Activities. Through interviews with key church members and staff involved in the mission efforts of Faith, we compiled a list of current mission efforts being undertaken by Faith.*Congregational Opinions (Focus Groups and Surveys). We used two methods to determine congregational opinions. First, in April 2015, 50+ randomly selected church members participated in nine small focus groups. A random-number generator was applied to the church directory, and church members were randomly chosen to attend one of six different focus groups. In addition, a focus group was conducted with the Faith FIRST members, staff members, and the youth. The following questions were asked in all focus groups:What are our church’s greatest strengths?What are our church’s greatest weaknesses or challenges?What do you think God is calling our church to be or do in the future?Are there any current programs or missions you would like to see our church change, expand, or deemphasize?Are there new programs or missions you would like to see our church implement?What kind of pastor do you think would best help our church become what God is calling us to be or do in the future?Second, informed by the focus groups, a congregational survey was developed and distributed to members in May-June 2015. The survey asked members to comment on the following topics:Faith’s current and future mission - mission statement, priorities, direction, level of benevolence, practices of stewardshipMembers’ current involvement in the churchWorshipThe next pastor301 out of 958 church members (31%) completed the survey, which we regarded as a strong response from the congregation. This survey response represents nearly the same number as the average weekly Sunday morning attendance of 325 (though not necessarily the same individuals).*Community Context. In an effort to get a sense of Faith’s wider community mission context, we read available information about Tallahassee and talked to key members of the Tallahassee community. For example, we tried to get a sense of the unmet needs in the Tallahassee area that might lead to new mission opportunities for Faith Church. To get a sense of the Presbyterian community context we sought out information from the Presbytery staff and the PCUSA denomination. We also looked into national religious trends that might affect church-going in Tallahassee. *Theology. Interim Pastor David Garnett provided the committee with Bible-based materials reminding them of what God is looking for in a church. Pastor Garnett also preached sermons from the gospels and Sinai experience to provides lessons from the Bible about the church in transition and what God is looking for in a church.This report summarizes the information we gathered from the above sources. We have tried to pay particular attention to information that reveals something about Faith’s understanding of its own identity and mission at this time, and of its desires for its next pastor.CHAPTER TWO: FAITH’S HISTORY1954…Eisenhower was president, the Korean War was over, Doak Campbell was FSU’s president, and Brown vs. Board of Education ended “separate but equal” public education. Everyone in Tallahassee went to church on Sunday, and First Presbyterian Church was running out of room. 90 pilgrims from First Presbyterian Church (oldest church building in Tallahassee, built 1835-1838) were dispatched to start a new congregation on the northern outskirts of Tallahassee, which then did not extend much beyond Betton and Bradford roads.The new congregation was mostly young adults in their thirties with small children. The men were developers, builders, bankers, doctors, lawyers, professors, accountants and the like; the women, with a few exceptions, were homemakers. The new congregation met at Kate Sullivan school, found a pastor within a year, selected “Faith Presbyterian” as its name, purchased land for a new church building on N. Meridian Road, and started building and growing. In only eight years the Fellowship Hall, north education wing (current preschool) and south education wing were occupied. Two manses were built or purchased. The surrounding neighborhoods were building up, and the congregation rapidly increased to 600+ members. In 1966 the current sanctuary was completed, ending a period of near continuous growth of the church physical facilities. Not until 1990 would additional physical space be added to the campus, with the completion of the current administration/education/music wing west of the sanctuary. Faith’s first senior minister was Oliver Carmichael, 1955-1958. His staff consisted of a part-time secretary. A volunteer Sunday School superintendent coordinated the recruitment of teachers and the education efforts of the church. The elders and deacons jointly were the ruling body of the church in those years. They were busy with land purchase and building contracts, and raising capital, but also started a Boy Scout troop, and proposed “a sincere effort to make our benevolence budget match our operating budget by 1956.” The goal was not met, however. A major development at PCUSA occurred in 1956, with a change in rules allowing women to be ordained as teaching and ruling elders.Faith’s original mission statement (1955): “Covenant of Church Membership - I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Saviour of sinners. As a member of the Faith Presbyterian Church of Tallahassee, I dedicate myself unreservedly to His service and promise that as regularly as I am able, I will attend its services, observe its sacraments, and share in its work.”The second senior minister was Walter Styles, 1959-1974. Older Faith members describe him as being superb at pastoral care; he would appear, at 3am if needed, always in coat and tie, at the hospital or at the home, to help or to comfort a member with a crisis. For several years, his office was on the second floor of the current scout hut/caretaker building. A preschool started in 1960, and grew to a nursery school plus kindergarten in 1963. Church benevolences steadily increased, and in one year, 1963, the 50% goal was met, albeit at a time when the operating budget was small. Benevolence spending was allocated mostly through the Florida Presbytery, except that several physicians in the Faith congregations made summer trips to a mission hospital in Mexico.The 1960’s were a time of civil rights assertions and tensions. In 1960, the PCUSA resolved that “Presbyterians, individually and corporately, patronize those places that serve the public without racial discrimination.” In the same year, in response to the perceived threat of a “kneel in,” the Faith Session voted not to seat black persons at Faith worship services. In 1963, the year of the march on Washington, the Faith Session reversed its prior decision. In 1969, the Faith Session sent a letter to the Presbyterian Board of Missions, expressing concern about such things as the radical content of Montreat conferences, and experimental communion services, with inappropriate music and dress. In the following year, two Faith elders resigned, in protest of the “liberal trend of the church.” Along with First Presbyterian, Faith purchased property in 1961 on Old Bainbridge Rd, for a new Presbyterian church; the property was then deeded to Florida Presbytery, and later became the site of Covenant Presbyterian Church. In 1966, Faith’s first Associate Pastor was called, Rev. Sam Peters, who served as youth minister; his tenure was short, as he left in 1968 to seek more education. By 1970, 106 children were enrolled in Faith preschool, and Faith membership was up to 860. Faith was supporting two missionary families. In 1971, Ira Kennerly started a 3-year tenure as Associate Pastor. Also in 1971, the first woman elder and the first woman deacon were elected. 1973 marked the start of Faith Counseling Center (FCC) under the direction of Rev. George Nichols. The first FCC offices were in the much-used scout hut building, and later moved to the south education building. The Session provided start up funding and approved continuing support to make up the difference between FCC revenues and expenses. FCC clients were served on a sliding scale fee basis. From the start, most FCC clients were not from the Faith congregation.The third senior minister was Michael McGehee, 1976-1982. In Rev. McGehee’s first year, the Faith Session reiterated its previous goal of making benevolences equal to 50% of the church operating income. Benevolence giving steadily increased, and the 50% goal was met in 1980 and 1981. Rev. Roger Williamson was called as Associate Pastor in 1977, and replaced after a short tenure by Rev. Jeffreys Mitchener in 1979. In these years, FCC continued to grow, and for several years FCC was the largest recipient of local benevolence funds. There was no building fund or capital campaign ongoing, but funds were found to re-roof the education building. Member donations also made possible the purchase and installation of the Holtcamp pipe organ. Christmas Eve services were started, amidst much concern in the congregation that few members would leave home to attend! In 1979, 24 families left Faith to become founding members of Fellowship Presbyterian Church in the Killearn area. Both Rev. McGehee and Nichols (at FCC) left in 1982. Rev. Jeff Mitchener served for a year as Interim Pastor, during which time the first youth mission trip, to Haiti, occurred. In 1983 Debra Chandler was hired as Faith’s full-time music director. When Rev. Mitchener accepted a position as Associate Presbyter for Florida Presbytery, Rev. Frank Elvery stepped in as Interim Pastor, and continued as Associate Pastor in the first year of the next pastorate. In 1984, Rev. Wiliam Finlaw arrived as FCC director. The fourth senior minister was Rev. Glenn Bass, 1985-2002. Rev. Bass was the first Faith senior minister with a doctorate in theology; his background was also unique as had been a professional football player for several years before becoming a minister. Members, especially mothers, recall with anxiety how Rev. Bass would carry a newly baptized infant in one outstretched hand to introduce the child to the congregation; he never dropped one! Early in the Bass tenure, with membership up to over 1200, the Session arranged a study of the state of the church, using an outside consultant. The conclusions of the assessment were that Faith: (1) was understaffed, (2) lacked clear lines of leadership, (3) needed more hands-on participation by members, and (4) needed more senior adult programs. In response, Rev. Michael Frandsen, 1986-1991, and then Rev. Sarah Holben, 1988-1992, were called as Associate Pastors. The church leadership structure was changed to a unicameral Session of teaching and ruling elders; the deacons constituted a separate Diaconate, with a service and pastoral role, which is the structure that continues today. Faith adopted a new mission statement. Several senior programs, including “exercise for life,” and Prime Timers, were started. In just a couple of years, therefore, the recommendations of the church study were put into place. Faith’s Mission Statement (1984): “… to serve the sovereign God by ministering to the whole person-by serving spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs--in the congregation, the community, and the world."By 1986, church membership was up to over 1300, and Faith, along with Fellowship, Lafayette, Covenant and First Presbyterian Churches, began looking for a site for a new Presbyterian church in the Bradfordville area. In 1986, Beverly Sims started her service as Faith Preschool director, in which capacity she still serves. In concert with the mission to serve “in the community,” Rev. Bass joined and actively served on the boards of several community organizations. Faith continued yearly mission trips, provided an apartment for displaced families (in affiliation with the Red Cross) and for a time supported a Vietnamese refugee family in Tallahassee. In 1987 the mortgage on the sanctuary building was paid off. Faith had a budget surplus, and sent a Christmas gift of $16,000 to a hospital in Zaire. Membership was up to over 1,500, empty seats were scarce at Sunday worship services, and long range planning for an expected membership of 2000 by year 2000 began. By 1989, a facility plan was developed that included 5 phases of construction: (1) new administration/education/music building plus additional parking; (2) a new counseling center, and scout facility/caretaker residence; (3) a family life center; (4) a chapel; and, (5) a new sanctuary roof. The congregation approved proceeding with phases (1) and (5) of the facility plan, at a cost of around $1,100,000. A capital campaign, named “Adventures in Faith” raised the necessary pledges rapidly, and the current administration/music/education building was occupied in 1990. Also in 1990, 67 Faith members left to become founding members of the new Christ Presbyterian Church in Bradfordville. Despite these transfers, and an additional purge of 200 inactive members from Faith roles, membership reached a high of 1650 by 1993.Growth of all kinds (membership, revenue, facilities, and programs) marked the period 1985-1995; the next several years saw a reversal of these growth trends. There was turnover of the Associate Pastor and program staff positions; Rev. Frandsen left to assume a senior minister position; Rev Holben left to become Associate Pastor at a church in South Africa, Rev. Mary Jane Cornell accepted a call as Associate Pastor in 1994, only to leave within a year when her husband was transferred to a job in another state. In 1995, youth director Betsy Fisher resigned to enter teaching. By 1996, the ministerial staff consisted only of Rev. Bass and Rev. Beth Lindquist McCaw, interim Associate Pastor. Rev. James Monroe was hired as Parish Associate to help fill the ministerial gaps. Session minutes in these years record marked disagreement among Faith elders concerning PCUSA social justice positions, the administration and staffing of church programs, and the role of the Faith senior minister. The music program flourished nevertheless, with 250 participants in various choirs, and a Sacred Arts Festival involved groups outside of Faith in performances. The first Faith Habitat House was built, the Heifer Project started, and 15 Stephen ministers were trained. Eventually, in 1998, Rev. Taylor Phillips was called as Associate Pastor, with responsibility for youth programs, but his tenure at Faith was only two years. Rev. McCaw continued in the role of permanent Associate Pastor. In 1998, after the arrival of managed care in Florida, and with changes excluding Faith-based practices from state medical assistance programs, FCC was “struggling to stay alive.” Faith’s Mission Statement (1999): “We serve as a mission station for growing disciples of Christ.”In 1989 several PCUSA Presbyteries petitioned the GA to provide discretion in ordination of church officers without regard to sexual orientation; in 1991, a report from the Presbyterian task force on human sexuality was considered at the GA. The report was not adopted, indicating issues of sexuality were unsettled in the PCUSA nationally. A conservative confessional statement, not adopted by PCUSA, “The Summit Confession,” was endorsed by the Session, but was opposed by the senior minister, and some elders. In early 2002, after working to resolve differences, the Session adopted the following “Unity Statement”: Faith’s Unity Statement (2002): “We are determined to affirm one another as sisters and brothers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, We choose to talk together in dialogue, in mutual affirmation and mutual admonition, We are resolutely determined to stay together, and to worship together, thereby being the church Jesus has built upon the rock. We continue to believe in the denomination’s regular process of deliberation. We agree that persons within the church may disagree on various issues, but we encourage those who disagree to do so in ways that honor Christ and build up his church. The Session of Faith Presbyterian Church affirms and supports only those confessions, creeds, and statements of belief that have been officially adopted by the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.”In 2002, Rev. Bass announced his intention to retire. In the last two years of the Bass tenure, Faith began an exchange of pulpits, choirs, and congregations with Bethel AME Church. Lastly, in 2003, Rev. Eddie Soto arrived as Associate Pastor, and in 2004 Rev. McCaw moved to a new role as pastor for seminarians at the University of Dubuque, a position she holds currently.Faith’s Mission Statement (2000-2004): We serve as a church home for worship and to call and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ. The mission of the Faith Presbyterian Church is to serve the sovereign God by ministering to the whole person -- by serving spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual needs -- in the congregation, in the community, and in the world.1. Our mission as a congregation:? To proclaim faithfully God's unconditional love as revealed in Jesus Christ as Lord andSavior.? To worship as an offering of our praise and Thanksgiving and as a means of renewing our commitment.? To provide a learning environment for all ages for members to grow in knowledge andunderstanding of the Bible and of the love of God in Christ.? To nurture the growth and deepen the commitment of members. ? To provide a community of Christian love.2. Our mission in the community and in the world:? To proclaim with enthusiasm God's unconditional love revealed in Jesus Christ and toinvite all persons to accept Him.? To inspire and encourage our members to work for justice, peace and right.? To be God’s steward with responsibility for that which God created.? To encourage and support the efforts of the organizations and institutions which seek to minister to the welfare of humanity in Christ's name.We commit ourselves to these purposes with confidence that Christ is the living hope!The fifth senior minister was Rev. Thomas Borland, 2004-2014. Rev. Eddie Soto remained as Associate Pastor until 2007. In 2008, Rev. Bea Miller was called as Associate Pastor, with emphasis on service and pastoral duties. A fortuitous development was the availability of Rev. Sally Campbell-Evans to serve part-time as Parish Associate, when her husband became the pastor at St. Paul’s Methodist Church. A new Faith mission statement was adopted in 2005. The initial planning retreat in the Borland tenure set goals of enhancing communications with members, hiring staff equal to a full-time employee (FTE) for children’s Director of Christian Education (DCE) and FTE for youth DCE, establishing a seniors program, planning a contemporary service, and sending direct mail to residents living near the church. By 2005, FCC had ceased functioning; Faith members agreed to assume the mortgage debt and operating debts of FCC, and to assume ownership of the Delta Court property. several new staff were hired during this period, including Kelly Fitzgerald as children’s DCE in 2004; Shannon Guse as youth’s DCE in 2005; Peter Pursino as music director in 2006; and Karen Hill as church administrator in 2007. In 2008, Brittany Harrold replaced Kelly Fitzgerald, and was herself replaced by Trinity Whitley in 2011. Both Kelly Fitzgerald and Brittany Harrold left for additional religious studies.Faith’s Mission Statement (2005-present): Follow the Path of Christ:Follow the path of Christ into Discipleship: Which includes calling people to discipleship and training them in Bible and biblical interpretation, theology, church history, spiritual disciplines, spiritual gifts, discerning vocation, various church ministries, with commissioning and prayer for those called to these ministries, applied Christianity (ethics, contemporary issues); Follow the path of Christ into Christian Community: A community that exhibits Koinonia (sharing of all things as family), a Christian - not emotional - basis of unity, inclusiveness, evangelistic outreach, solidarity with the poor, and a prophetic voice for our time;Follow the path of Christ into the Future: Which means interpreting the Bible for today; open-minded debate of difficult issues; unity without uniformity; patience in disagreement; reaching people in new ways with the Christian message. In 2008 a capital campaign, “Journey of Faith,” was started. The capital project focused on renovations of current facilities, including HVAC, bathrooms, handicap access, interior surfaces, windows, sanctuary lighting in, steeple, mold abatement, exterior painting, and new exterior door security locks. This campaign was unusual, in that Faith also pledged 20% of all money raised to benevolences. Solar electric panels were added to the capital project in 2009; the chapel was removed from the list of future facility improvements. This capital campaign, in retrospect, coincided with a slump in the economy; pledged funds were slow in arriving, and the campaign was kept open two additional years, with no benevolence matching. All expenses were paid by 2013. The diaconate disbursed over $200,000 in additional local benevolences from funds raised by “Journey of Faith.” This was divided with 25% going to international clean water projects, and the remaining 75% going to local programs through a grants committee. The local projects included: construction of handicapped access to the pool at the Apalachee Parkway YMCA, purchase of a large commercial refrigerator for the Homeless Shelter, construction of street-lighting in a subsidized-housing neighborhood, and construction of ramps for disabled persons through Rainbow Rehab and Ability First.In 2009, the Sunday morning contemporary service began. Each October the “Pumpkin Patch” fundraiser involved many of the Faith congregation as volunteer workers, and gave Faith something of an identity in Tallahassee as the “pumpkin church!“ Mission trips continued on a twice-yearly schedule, with one trip outside the US (usually to a Caribbean country) and one domestic trip. In 2010, in cooperation with several other churches located along Meridian Road, Faith started a food bank named “Manna on Meridian.” Monthly Taize services began in 2013. In 2014, the “Furthest Pew” visitation started, making possible communion for members unable to attend church.Rev. Borland delivered his sermons beside, not behind, the pulpit, and without notes. Members recall his sermons as stimulating, provocative, Bible-based, with bits of church history and modern theology included. He limited his involvement outside the Faith congregation mostly to Florida Presbytery activities and projects. The midweek programs at Faith grew, with a supper, children and youth programs, Pastor’s series, and choir practice. Members of the Faith congregation continued to hold disparate views on Bible interpretation, and especially on PCUSA social justice positions. Rev. Borland addressed this diversity of opinion within a congregation on numerous occasions, using a characterization of “A, B, and C” issues. Rev. Borland retired in November 2014.Presbyterian DenominationWhen Faith was organized, there were four Presbyterian churches in Tallahassee, all PCUSA, of which two had an ancestral relation to First Presbyterian (Faith and Lafayette). Faith itself actively supported the development of Covenant, Fellowship, and Christ PCUSA churches. Beginning in the 1980’s, however, there has been fragmentation of the Presbyterian church community in Tallahassee (and nationally). Today, there are 14 Presbyterian churches, including seven PCUSA churches, five PCA churches, one Evangelical Presbyterian, and one Orthodox Presbyterian church. Several of these churches are located near Faith, or the neighborhoods in which Faith members and potential visitors reside, and present a competitive challenge to member retention or recruitment. Thus, some of the PCUSA (and presumably) Faith membership decline may reflect moves to a different Presbyterian denomination.The Florida PresbyteryFaith Church is the largest church within the Presbytery. Trinity Church in Pensacola is the second-largest church, with 730 members. Two church members are currently serving on committees of the Presbytery, and two Session Members attend each Presbytery meeting in addition to staff members. CHAPTER THREE: WHO WE ARE (CURRENT STATUS OF FAITH)(1) Membership TrendsThe following graph charts Faith’s membership and annual receipts from its founding in 1954 to 2014. The yellow boxes identify the senior pastor for each time period.Faith’s membership increased steadily into the 1990s, and then began a slow, gradual decline that is continuing today. Faith’s membership peaked in 1993 at 1,655 members, fell sharply for eight (8) years, and has drifted down slightly since then. Membership, worship service attendance, and giving have been mostly flat since 2008. Today, Faith’s membership is about forty percent (40%) smaller than it was at its zenith.The following graph shows the percent change in the three groups (1965 to 2013). As the graph shows, Faith’s membership trend-line is BETTER than the membership trend in PCUSA membership nationwide but WORSE than the county-wide population trend. Faith is not growing in line with Leon County’s population growth. However, our church is not declining in the same way that PCUSA membership is declining.Faith Membership Compared Faith Membership Compared to Leon County Populationto PCUSA Membership2918232254292-652219273481Since the mid-1990’s, Faith’s membership trend line has contrasted with the Leon County population which has steadily grown.Since 1965, PCUSA membership has steadily decreased from 4.2 million to 1.7 million members today. In contrast with this 30-year decline in the PCUSA denomination, Faith membership grew steadily from 648 members in 1965 to the peak membership of 1,655 in 1993. Since 1993, Faith’s membership has declined slowly to current levels (958 members). As Faith membership has declined since 1993, the PCUSA’s membership has also continued to decline. While it may be too early to fully understand broader trends, Faith’s membership decline may be consistent with a national trend of decreased church attendance and membership in recent years.(2) Where We AreThe map below plots the home addresses of Faith members, using the MissionInsite database. Faith draws its members from throughout Leon County and beyond and is considered a regional church, rather than a “neighborhood” church. While many Faith members live fairly close to Faith (within 2 miles), a number travel more than 2 miles from their homes to attend our church. For example, members who live in the Killearn Lakes area, the Buck Lake area, and the Southwood area drive approximately 9-13 miles (20-30 minutes by car) to get to our church, passing a number of PCUSA and other churches along the way.Over 90% of Faith’s membership live within 10 miles of the church, while over half live within 5 miles. Most of the members come from the northeast quadrant of Tallahassee.1136375257704(3) Our Members’ DemographicsMedian Age: 60.5Gender: 44% male, 56% femaleEthnicity: 99% white (non-Hispanic)Average Annual Household Income: $94,728Education: 85% of respondents have completed a bachelors degree or have more education.(4) Satisfaction with FaithIn the survey, we asked members how satisfied they are with Faith. 72% of respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with their membership. Further, 82% of respondents indicate that they are likely or very likely to remain a member.Survey Respondents’ Level of Satisfaction with Faith Membership3237907618509 Survey Respondents’ Likelihood to Remain Faith Member932415509099(5) Church StrengthsChurch members seem to be in general agreement about what they have liked most about Faith: Youth and children’s programs, including the preschool, Pastoral care, Mission outreach, Strong preaching by Rev. Tom Borland,Church staff, and Christian education opportunities for all ages. (6) Staff and Lay LeadershipThe church staff includes a mixture of long-time members with comprehensive institutional knowledge and memory as well as newer members with fresh ideas and perspectives. The average tenure of a senior pastor has been 10 years, and the average tenure of an associate pastor has been 4.6 years. The staff is organized as follows:-635017780037985701381760(generally 12-15 PT staff)(generally 12-15 PT staff)-4864093355340(generally 6 PT nursery workers on staff)(generally 6 PT nursery workers on staff)In July 2015, Trinity Whitley answered a call to be Pastor of the Presbyterian University Center, so Faith is currently conducting a search for a Director of Christian Education for Children.Our Session is comprised of 25 church members who are responsible for the leadership of the congregation, the orderly administration of Church functions and activities, and establishing the policies and procedures for the Church. The Senior Pastor serves as the Moderator of the Session, and Barney Ray serves as the Clerk of the Session. Associate Pastor Bea Miller serves on the Session.Our Diaconate is comprised of 25 church members who are responsible for ministering to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith. The office of deacon is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ.Our church has twelve standing committees, each led by a member of the Session: Adults & Families Committee - responsible for the comprehensive educational program of the adult ministry: for initiating, promoting, and evaluating new programs; for enlisting and training all personnel needed to carry out its work; and coordinating its work with that of other committees;Buildings & Grounds Committee - responsible for the care and use of all church buildings and grounds, furniture, furnishings and building infrastructure equipment (to include heating and air conditioning equipment, all plumbing and fixtures, kitchen appliances), with the exception of organs, pianos, and electronic equipment such as copiers, computers, servers, printers, and any other such items as may be specifically assigned to other committees;Children & Families Committee - responsible for the educational and fellowship programs of the children’s ministry; for initiating, promoting and evaluating new programs; for enlisting and training all personnel needed to carry out its work, and coordinating its work with that of other committees;Evangelism Committee - responsible to joyfully share the good news of Jesus Christ and to promote Faith Presbyterian and its mission in the local community. This committee aims to make the community aware of the Christian worship at Faith, the various activities in the life of Faith and to promote and encourage growth through new membership and participation in Faith by all existing members;Finance Committee - responsible for providing guidance, help and support to the Session, the Church Administrator and the Financial Secretary in matters pertaining to the financial operations of the church;Management Committee - responsible for administrative matters involved with operating the church; publicity both within and without the church; preparation of informational reports; long-range planning; standard procedures adopted by the Session for the operation of the church; and other administrative responsibilities as assigned by the Moderator, Session or Senior PastorPersonnel Committee - responsible for all matters pertaining to church employees and for giving support to the Senior Pastor in the administering of personnel policies and practices as set forth by the sessionPreschool Committee - responsible for guidance and oversight of the Preschool, and serving as liaison between the Session and the Preschool;Stewardship/ Commitment Committee - responsible for leading our church members into an increasing understanding of the meaning of a full commitment to Christ and into an involvement in the local and worldwide task of Christian witness and service; committee focuses on six (6) aspects of Christian life: Financial Stewardship, Time and Talent Stewardship, Assimilation of New Members, Vocation Education, Memorials, Church Roll;Witness Committee: responsible for the entire mission program of the church, including Local Missions, World Missions, and Campus Ministry;Worship & Music Committee (with sub-committees: Sacristy and Music) - responsible for the time and place of the preaching of the Word, the administration of the sacraments, and all other services of worship; and exercises authority in the use of music in worship and other church programs.Youth & Families Committee - responsible for all educational programs and fellowship activities for mid-high and senior high, for enlisting and training all personnel needed to carry out its work and for coordinating its work with that of other committees.(8) Worship ServicesFaith offers three Sunday morning worship services with two distinct styles of worship, as well as a Sunday evening Taizé service on the second Sunday of each month. During summer months, we adjust the schedule to have two services and a fellowship breakfast, known as “Summer Koinonia”. This is a way to give Sunday School teachers a break and allow members who typically don’t see each other because of their worship schedules to see each other in worship. Sunday Morning Attendance At Each Service837481281940Survey respondents indicate that weekly attendance at Sunday morning services is becoming increasingly rare. About 40% of the survey respondents attend Sunday morning services less frequently than weekly.Frequency of Worship Attendance2570479348849Sunday 8:15 a.m. This early service takes place in the Sanctuary and is a smaller, more intimate worship service using traditional liturgy and hymns. The service usually includes a Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, one hymn, scripture and sermon, and is about 45 minutes in length. There is no choir at this service and the musical accompaniment is piano rather than organ. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Based on data from the congregational survey, the average age of attendees of this 8:15am service is 64.5 years of age. Attendance at this service represents 10.7% of Sunday morning attendance, and averages 30 people weekly in 2015; 8.5% of survey respondents attend this service.Sunday 9:00 a.m.? The 9:00 service is our "contemporary" service. Also 45 minutes in length, it consists of contemporary music led by a Praise Band, along with prayers, scripture and sermon. The 9:00 service sometimes utilizes dramatic readings of the scriptures or video presentations. This service meets in the Fellowship Hall. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated occasionally during this service. Based on data from the congregational survey, the average age of attendees of this 9am service is 47 years of age. Attendance at this service represents 16.4% of Sunday morning attendance, and averages 50 people weekly in 2015; 10.2% of survey respondents attend this service.Sunday 11:00 a.m.? This is our full traditional service, consisting of 3 traditional hymns, and the rich liturgy of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). An hour in duration, this service follows Sunday School for all ages. The music is led by Faith's Chancel Choir with organ accompaniment. It also occasionally features Faith children's choirs, as well as handbells. The Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. The Sacrament of Baptism is celebrated periodically throughout the year at this service. Based on data from the congregational survey, the average age of attendees of this 11am service is 58.8 years of age. Attendance at this service represents 72.9% of Sunday morning attendance, and averages 225 people weekly in 2015; 81.2% of survey respondents attend this service.Taizé Service: This candlelit service centered on prayer and music is held in the sanctuary on the second Sunday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Previously held on Friday nights, this service has been moved to Sunday nights beginning in fall 2015. The service lasts 50 minutes, although worshippers may stay and pray as long as they wish. Services are ecumenical and open to all denominations.Worship ElementsAmong the 14 elements of worship identified in the survey, the respondents ranked them in importance as follows:1772299434340When asked about the mix of services provided, there was a broad range of responses, and not much consensus. It appears that attendees of each service responded to support the maintenance “as is” of their respective services.(9) Programs and MinistriesFaith Church is involved in a wide variety of programs and activities, both focused inward and outward, within the community.Ministries Focusing on Faith’s Membership (And Others)Chancel Choir – sings weekly at the 11am worship service Church Workdays - Building & Grounds committee organizes work days to maintain and spruce up the church facilitiesChildren’s Choirs – Fantastichoir, Cherub Choir – children’s Christian music classes on Wednesday nights Church Library – providing Christian education and reading resources for church members, including children’s books, videos, DVDs and CDs Easter Sunrise Breakfast/ Service – service with St Paul’s Methodist at Lake Ella Easter Workshop and Egg Hunt – program for church members and community children to celebrate Easter Faith Family Retreat- annual fellowship and Bible study for families with young children, at Dogwood Acres Faith Ringers – adult hand bell choir, performs periodically at worship services Faith Sports Teams – Faith has a co-ed softball team Fall Jubilee – food, entertainment, and celebration of church and membersFall Open House - food, entertainment, and publicity of church activities, programs and committeesFellowship Cruise – members travel together for fellowship every few years Fellowship Meals – deacons host these monthly pot-luck meals in Fellowship Hall Fit @ Faith – twice-weekly fitness classes for church members and the community in the Fellowship Hall (currently on hiatus in need of new leader)Front Office Volunteers - church members serve daily in the front office, answering phones, providing administrative and other support for the churchFlower Ministry - flowers from Sunday service are divided into smaller arrangements and taken to those in need - shut-ins, etc.; coordinates Easter lilies, Christmas poinsettias, and Palm Crosses for Palm SundayFurthest Pew - providing communion services to those unable to attend worship services Holy WOW, WOWIE, and Club 45 – children’s Christian education classes on Wednesday nights Hospital Visitation - members visit hospitalized church members 6 days/weekLunch Bunch – gathering for senior adults for fellowship Meninger Preaching and Retreat – retreats and worship service(s) led by specialist in centering prayer and meditation Men’s Bible Study – meetings weekly Praise Band – sings / performs weekly at the 9am worship service Presbyterian Women – church circles meeting monthly; vibrant program with many members and activitiesPumpkin Patch – selling pumpkins to raise funds for children and youth camp and conference scholarships and other children/ youth programming; also providing field trips to preschool and school children throughout the community; providing family movie nights for community fellowship Service of Remembrance – evening service for those who have lost a loved one Stephen Ministry - providing Christian counseling and one-on-one support to church members and non-members in need of supportSplash Party – twice per year, swim parties for church members to fellowship together Summer Camps – camps and conferences for children and youth church members, including Passport Kids, Dogwood Acres, Montreat and Theatre Arts for KidsSunday School classes – for adults, children, youth Support for Seminarians – church members provide support – financial and spiritual – to seminary studentsTrunk or Treat – festival and hot dog dinner for church members and community children to celebrate Halloween and fellowship together Vacation Bible School – one-week program in June providing Christian education and fellowship to church members and community children (400 kids); providing youth opportunities for service and leadership, including “Mission Madness”Westminster Oaks - retirement community where many Faith members resideYoung Adult Supper Club - monthly gathering for fellowship and fun for young adults Youth Programs – on Sunday nights and Wednesday nights The children and youth programs remain a high priority for Faith members. While they were rated as a significant current strength for Faith, survey respondents also rated enhancing and improving the children and youth program as one of the top priorities for Faith moving into the future. In particular, adult members expressed a longing for the huge and vibrant youth ministry of the late 1980’s, when the youth program took 100+ students to Montreat, numerous students attended overseas mission trips, and there was a huge and vibrant youth choir. Some expressed that the relationships and spiritual growth they experienced in those youth programs are what have brought them back to Faith as adults to raise their own children and youth in our church.Ministries Focusing on Local CommunityAnonymous Groups – Alcoholics Anonymous and other similar organizations use the church facilities for meetingsBlood Drive – collecting blood donations for local blood bankBoy Scouts – support for Boy Scout, Cub Scout troops, including use of Scout HutBridges Out of Poverty Program – training program to support families to rise above poverty Christmas Connection/ Angel Tree – donations of gifts to families in need during Christmas season, through Catholic Charities/ Catholic Social Services Deacon Benevolence Fund – providing financial or housing assistance for walk-ins and referring agenciesECHO – Emergency Care Help Organization – faith-based human service agency providing essential goods and services to those in need Grace Episcopal Mission – faith-based service providing food, clothing, worship and counseling to those in need Habitat for Humanity – Faith supports building of a house with a team that participates in building daysInn Between House – through Lutheran Social Services, providing counseling, transitional housing for families in need Kiwanis – Kiwanis uses the church facilities for meetingsManna on Meridian – This is one of Faith’s largest ministries, started 5 years ago. We focus on providing groceries to those with emergency needs Martha Ministry / Bereavement Meals – taking frozen meals to families with babies, illness, loss, extreme needs, etc. Meals on Wheels – FPC members deliver Meals on Wheels to elderly/ shut-ins in need on Memorial Day to give “regular” volunteers and staff a holiday Pregnancy Help Information – provides counseling, baby clothes, support for pregnant women Preschool – providing Christian education in half-day classes for 2-year-olds up through Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) and Kindergarten Second Harvest Food Bank – provides food from local grocery stores and restaurants, distributes to aid agencies Serve in Love Day – each spring, members and youth serve local community groups in need throughout TallahasseeShelter Meals – providing meals once per month for the homeless shelterSouper Bowl of Caring – food drive on Super Bowl Sunday, generally given to Manna on MeridianThanksgiving Basket Food Drive – Women’s Circles organize turkey meals and deliver them to families in need during Thanksgiving seasonMinistries Focusing on National or International CommunityAnnual Church Mission Trip – trip organized by witness Committee through PCUSA – sometimes within US (New Orleans) and sometimes overseas (Guatemala or Haiti) to provide service to a community in needSupport for Missionaries – church members provide support – financial and spiritual – to overseas PCUSA missionaries, including temporary housing when they visit TallahasseeRed Cross – provides disaster assistance, etc.CROP Walk – walk to raise funds for Church Rural Overseas Program and hunger organizations in US and internationallyOperation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes – Samaritan’s Purse – providing shoeboxes of toys, books, gifts to children in need overseasPCUSA Offerings & Initiatives: these are separate offerings/collections done, respectively, once yearly, and administered through the PCUSA Pentecost Offering – for At-Risk Children and YouthPeace & Global Witness Offering – during World Communion Sunday – addressing systems of injustice across the worldChristmas Joy Offering – during Christmas season, providing financial assistance to current and former church workers and their families, and to students attending Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schoolsOne Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – sharing God’s love with our neighbors-in-need around the world, to those affected by natural disasters, providing food to the hungry, and helping to empower the poor and oppressed(10) FacilitiesThe people of Faith are blessed to be housed on a beautiful, wooded 9+ acres on the north end of the middle of Tallahassee. The main structures of the church are comprised of the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Preschool Building and Christian Education building; all which total more than 45,000 square feet and are valued at nearly $3 million. The church also owns a small (1,500 ft2) building on adjacent property (Delta Court) which served as the Faith Counseling Center, but is now the operations center for Manna on Meridian. Sunday School classes have been known to meet in this building in the past as well.Construction recently began on a Columbarium intended to provide an affordable and meaningful burial option for people within the Faith family.Because our facilities are several decades old, there is a constantly prioritized list of improvements to make to our buildings and grounds.506730280125(11) Mission ActivitiesFaith Presbyterian has a long-standing tradition of supporting mission activities and missionaries, both international and domestic. Throughout the decades scores of congregation members have participated on mission trips around the world, from digging water wells in Africa and building homes in Costa Rica and Guatemala, to cleaning up hurricane disaster areas along the Gulf Coast. The church’s Witness Committee oversees mission efforts and has an average annual $51,000 budget. The following international mission programs are currently supported by Faith:Connie Cirilla and Wilson FamilyHaitian American Friendship Foundation (HAFF)About: Serving the Bohac community of Haiti’s Central Plateau, HAFF offers education, Christian outreach, life skills training and medical and dental clinics to those living in a 12-mile radius. Luta and Jeremy Garbat-WelchAfrica Community Health Facilitator About: Luta advises partners on community health and development programs in Malawi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Zambia. She promotes the Community Health Evangelism initiative, which brings people together to discuss discipleship and evangelism. Her duties include a special focus on the health ministries of Malawi’s Synod of Livingstonia. Jeremy is a trained chaplain. Lloyd and Melanie MonroePorch de SalomonPanajachel, GuatemalaAbout: This unique non-profit ministry serves the indigenous people of the Lake Atitlan region with humanitarian relief, and it has a coffee house/café serving food and faith to locals and visitors. The coffee house also holds worship services. Dan and Elizabeth TurkChurch of Jesus Christ of Madagascar (FJKM)Madagascar, Africa About: The Turks serve FJKM’s development branch, which includes departments of health, environment, agriculture and safe drinking water. Dan works with the FJKM environment department, assisting residents with planting trees for fuel wood and construction wood. Elizabeth serves the health department by working with rural communities to prevent and treat the major illnesses present in this area, including malaria, measles, diarrhea and pneumonia. Tim and Barbara WoodSports Outreach InstituteOmetepec, Guerrero, MexicoAbout: The Woods are part of an international ministry that trains, equips and deploys Christian leaders into communities to share the Gospel. Their ministries in the Costa Chica region include a missionary church, Christian school, soccer club, hospital chaplains, youth camps and missionary camps. ChristarAbout: International organization that establishes churches where they do not exist, particularly in Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim countries, and to introduce local residents to Christ.Faith also supports the following domestic mission programs:Presbyterian University Center (PUC)About: This PCUSA campus ministry is located at Florida State University and is a community of and for students. PUC offers a coffee house, Thursday supper program, fall and spring retreats, Sunday vespers service as well as fellowship events and activities. Thornwell Home and School for ChildrenAbout: This non-profit organization is in covenant relationship with PCUSA’s Synod of the South Atlantic and serves children and families throughout South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Children from families in crisis are referred, and it is here where kids can receive safety in a loving, Christian environment. Other resources Thornwell provides include in-home visitation, a learning center and a hands-on farm, where kids can learn about agriculture, healthy eating and responsibility. Mission trips are typically held during the summer months and involve small groups of Faith members to visit our missionaries in the field. They occur whenever missionaries’ schedules permit and when the host country’s political climate allows. Intergenerational trips give members a first-hand opportunity to experience a different culture and work with and witness to others. Missionaries also come to Faith, sharing their stories with our congregation and getting to know more members who may not be able to participate in a mission trip. (12) Seminary StudentsExposing congregation members to God’s word and love can also have a professional impact as well as personal. Throughout its history, Faith has had several members feel God’s call to pursue ministry as a career. The church is proud to have propelled these individuals towards religious education and to share God’s word in congregations beyond Faith’s walls and Tallahassee. Former (or current) Faith seminarians, to name an incomplete list, include:Harry PhillipsCuyler SmithCharles EcholsMichael FransdenKelly Fitzgerald FransdenBrian CopelandRachel HoodKeith LeachBrittany Harrold PorchCaroline Craig ProctorTrinity WhitleyDuring their time at Faith, and while in seminary, students have received financial gifts to defray the cost of books, tuition and gas. CHAPTER FOUR: FINANCESOverviewOver the last six decades, the congregation of Faith Presbyterian Church has generously supported the ministries and facilities of the church through annual stewardship campaigns and through four capital campaigns. The Finance Committee, consisting of Session members and non-Session members, is responsible for providing guidance and support to the Session and staff relating to the church’s financial operations. The Finance Committee develops budgets, manages the budgeting process, and handles financial oversight. The Stewardship Committee consists of Session members and non-Session members. The Committee leads church members to an increasing understanding of the meaning of a full commitment to Christ and into involvement in the local and worldwide task of Christian witness and service. The Committee’s responsibilities include financial stewardship, “time and talent” stewardship, assimilation of new members, memorial gifts, and maintenance of the church rolls. Over the last 5 years (2010-2014), our church has averaged total receipts of $1.18 million annually, with a peak in 2012 of $1.22 million. The 2014 receipts are $75,000 less than the 2012 receipts, and there has been a drop in 2015 receipts so far this year.Annual Receipts (Member Giving)Dollar Change from Previous YearPercentage Change from Previous Year2010$1,188,0202011$1,125,049-$62,971- 5.3 %2012$1,223,281+$98,232+ 8.7 %2013$1,208,609-$14,672- 1.1 %2014$1,147,973-$60,636- 5.0 %(2) Capital CampaignsFaith has launched four major capital campaigns in its sixty-year history in support of major expansions or improvements to the Faith Church campus. The visions for the physical campus have evolved over time; some have been completed, while others have been set aside for more pressing goals.1958-1960 - Building the Fellowship Hall - The Fellowship Hall, north education wing (current preschool), south education wing, and two manses were constructed.1965-66 - Building the Sanctuary - The sanctuary was completed in 1966, putting the physical facilities in place that lasted until 1990.1987 - Adventure in Faith - $3 million campaign for campus expansion, including a gymnasium, chapel, and columbarium. Raised approximately $2 million and completed many improvements, but decided against gymnasium, chapel and columbarium. (Note: In 2013-14, the columbarium project was revived, with a separate and directed fundraising effort. That project continues to move forward.)2007-2008 Journey in Faith - $2 million campaign for repairs and improvements. Raised $2 million, and paid off all debts within a few years. The church dedicated 20% of the funds received to benevolences. This was divided with 25% going to international clean water projects, and the remaining 75% going to local programs through a grants committee. The local projects included: construction of handicapped access to the pool at the Apalachee Parkway YMCA, purchase of a large commercial refrigerator for the Homeless Shelter, construction of street-lighting in a subsidized-housing neighborhood, and construction of ramps for disabled persons through Rainbow Rehab and Ability First.(3) Our Annual Receipts (Financial Resources Coming Into Faith)StrengthsFaith has numerous financial strengths, and would be considered by some to be in an enviable position for a church of its size and resources.Faith Presbyterian Church has very low debt - only $138,000 for a mortgage on the Delta Court building. This annual debt obligation ($15,970) is fully covered by the annual rent payments ($16,380). Otherwise, Faith Presbyterian has no other indebtedness. This is a significant strength and relatively unusual for a church of its size.Faith Presbyterian Church has operating cash reserves of approximately $280,000, which equates to three-months’ operating funds. This is a significant strength and relatively unusual for a church of its size.Giving trends for the past five years show that there is broad-based support for the church’s annual budget. For example, in some churches a very few number of families contributes a significant portion of the church’s annual receipts. (A common adage is that 20% of families provide 80% of a church’s support.) At Faith, the annual receipts come from a broader range of families. The top 04445118third (33%) of giving households (about 130 households) provide 77% of the total giving for the church. This provides some stability and diversity in the annual contributions, as compared to many other churches.The graphics below show the population of givers in each of four giving ranges and their cumulative giving, illustrating that hundreds of families contribute to the financial support of Faith Presbyterian Church.-8470674589963Contributions from Households Giving This Range of Annual Contributions:Contributions from Households Giving This Range of Annual Contributions:Manna on Meridian, a food and clothing distribution program, operated by our church and neighboring churches, provides food for 200+ families each month. This program receives about $35,000 annually in donations (approximately $3,000/ month) and is funded entirely by donations; it is not funded through Faith’s annual budget and does not receive any government or public funding. (Note: Faith’s 2008 Journey of Faith Capital Campaign included funding for benevolences as explained in more detail below; the creation of a $5,000 reserve fund for Manna was one of the items funded by those capital campaign benevolence funds.)Pumpkin Patch, an annual fundraiser for the Children’s and Youth Ministries of the church, raises approximately $32,000 annually (net). These funds are used to fund scholarships for mission trips, scholarships for camp and conference attendance (Dogwood Acres, High School Montreat, Middle School Montreal, Passport Kids), the church family retreat, and the salary for the summer intern for children and youth ministries. These funds are not part of Faith’s annual budget, and are handled separately as “Designated Funds”.Data regarding our membership’s income indicate that we have the ability to continue and increase annual giving. In the area where most of our church members reside, the residents have higher percentages (between 50-100% higher) of affluent, influential households compared to Leon County or the State of Florida overall. (See Mission Insite Data, and US Census Bureau Figures 2009-2013.)As one of the results of the Journey of Faith capital campaign, the church installed a 25-kilowatt solar panels system to generate electricity. As a result of this solar system, Faith saves approximately $2,500 per year in electricity costs.Concerns: Our church has numerous financial concerns as well.Less than two-thirds (64%) of member households give financially to the church. Of the 668 households within the church membership, 428 member households give financially to the church. 240 households (36%) do not give at all, and 113 households (17%) give less than $300/year. We would like to see our church giving patterns improve.Most of the financial support of the church comes from the older members of the church.In dollars, approximately three-quarters (74%) of the church’s annual membership contributions come from members aged 61 and above. In numbers of members, of the 428 households that contribute to the church annually, 250 of those households are aged 61 and above, which is 58% of the giving households.Between 2002-2012, Faith averaged 11 deaths/year among members. During this time, there we805185505474re only 2 bequests: $85,000 in 2002 and $40,000 in 2012. (Presbyterian Foundation, 2014)Below are bar graphs that show the age breakdown of giving units based on the age of the oldest member of the giving unit, for pledge and non-pledge giving respectively. This is not an age graph of the entire congregation, and does not reflect non-pledge giving for which there is no record of the giver.Church receipts are not distributed evenly throughout the calendar year. Receipts tend to lessen in the summer, but usually catch up by December. This uneven cash flow can present difficulties in paying bills and salaries. A significant portion (11-13%) of the annual budget is collected in December, which is informally referred to as our “December Drama”. This phenomenon is common among other churches, particularly mainline Protestant churches. The level of pledged giving compared to non-pledged giving has decreased over the last few years. In 2012, it was near 90%, while in 2014, it was down to 84%. Although this is in line with a national trend moving from pledged giving to non-pledged giving, this shift is causing significant financial uncertainty at Faith. Pledged giving is crucial to the realistic, long-term financial planning for the resources we are called to steward in God’s name. The drop in pledged giving causes the Session to reduce the budget available to church committees and programs, or to maintain the budget by increasing the amount of anticipated non-pledge giving. For example, the 2015 pledges were $70,000 less than the 2014 pledges. The Session chose to increase the anticipated non-pledged giving by $70,000 in order to maintain the same budget as 2014, i.e., to avoid cuts in expenses or programs. Thus far, the non-pledged giving has not increased at a rate to reach $70,000 by the end of the year. This could create a budget shortfall, except that the church’s spending so far in 2015 appears to be about $60,000 down from 2014; thus, this will likely be a wash by the end of the year. However, this example demonstrates the financial uncertainty introduced by a decline in the amount of pledged giving.Survey responses indicate pledging may be even lower:85344055117932270691163677Did you or your family make a pledge to Faith in 2015?Did you or your family make a pledge to Faith in 2015?For those who did not make a pledge, the top four reasons provided were:2566207408701From 2010 to 2014, the annual budget grew by $61,000, a 5% growth rate over 5 years - or roughly 1% per year. This has largely been in response to flat or reduced giving since the economic downturn. However, it’s noteworthy that our members’ total giving in the last ten years has been stronger than the national trend, even though relatively flat. Faith has not seen reduced needs for programs, missions, and/or ministries - on the contrary, those seem to continue to grow.While Faith’s annual receipts dipped during the recession, the receipts seem to have recovered from that decline. However, in both 2014 and 2013, the receipts dipped again, by 5% and 1% annually respectively. This drop seems to be attributable to: (a) changes made by the PC(USA) General Assembly which have caused concern among some members (primarily but not exclusively relating to same-sex marriage) and (b) the retirement of Pastor Tom Borland and uncertainty about a new pastor. The issue of same-sex marriage is a challenge that has been addressed in 2015 by the Session; the church’s actions have resulted in a loss of pledges and membership, as well as some increased pledge amounts from members. (As of the end of August 2015, 19 members have requested the removal of their names from Faith’s membership rolls. In relation to those members, we anticipate a decline of approximately $23,000 of contributions through the remainder of 2015, and a loss of approximately $50,000 in 2016.) While this issue could result in further downturn, it appears that the Faith membership is rising to the occasion over this controversial issue as it has in addressing controversial issues in years past.There is increasing competition for contributions from our members and potential new members - from other churches, from non-profit and civic groups, etc. In years past, tithing was a more common practice, with the full tithe going to the church; today, members often give a portion of their “tithe” to organizations other than the church. (Presbyterian Foundation, 2014) Both our survey responses and MissionInsite research support these trends - there is increasing competition for the dollars from our members and potential new members.-5549902243692965450259705What Percentage of My Total Annual Charitable Contributions Go to Faith?883800231060Faith Presbyterian Church has no endowment. This is a concern given the size of our church and campus. The Stewardship Committee is in the formative stages of prioritizing an effort to support an endowment campaign for the church and its campus.(4) Our Annual Expenditures (Financial Resources Going Out)The following pie chart provides an overview of how the church’s funds are spent, including staff time. Thus, the salaries of staff are divided amongst the services/ programs provided. These figures are presented in an attempt to provide an overview of how the church’s259888845128 money is spent.We spend about one-third (33%) of the funds received on church support, maintenance and administration. This includes utilities; insurance; telephone and computer connections, equipment and services; office supplies; hospitality supplies (including the cost of Fellowship Luncheons and Wednesday night meals), among other things. A few examples are:Janitorial Supplies: $4,400/ year; this includes toilet paper and hand towels, vacuum cleaner supplies, etc. This is approximately $12/ day.Yard Services: $13,000/ year. This is $252/ week.Fellowship Meals: $7,600 / year. This is $633/ month.Insurance: $50,000/ year. This is $961/ week.Office Supplies: $31,200/ year. This includes copies, postage, copiers, postage meters, etc. This is $85/ day.Telephone and Computer Network: $18,900/ year. This is $52/ day.We spend about one-quarter (24%) of the funds received on Worship & Music. A few examples are:Praise Band for Contemporary Service: $23,400/ year. This costs on average $450/ week.Chancel Choir Section Leaders: $9,321/ year. This costs on average $180/ an Maintenance: $1,500/ year. This is $29/ week.Worship Supplies and Expenses: $3,200/ year. This includes licensing fees for music, kick-off expenses, music folders, handbell gloves, polish, batteries, etc. This is $62/ week.Music Scores: $2,500/ year. The typical cost of one new song ranges from $135 to $250 or more, including licensing fees and sheet music copies; this covers one new song for only 18 Sundays per year.We spend about 18% of the funds received on Youth and Children’s Ministries and the Preschool. This includes Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, Wednesday night programs, Bible milestones, camps and conferences, etc. Sunday School curriculum for children: $2,280/ year. This is $190/ month, or $44/ week. We have about 60 children in Sunday School each year, so this is an average cost of $38 per child. We use the curriculum we purchase, and then share remaining materials with other churches, such as Grace Mission and Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church in Panama City.Nursery Workers: $16,400/ year. Nursery workers provide care for children ages 0 to 12 during Sunday worship services, Wednesday night classes and programs, and many other church events. This is approximately $315/ week.Preschool: $58,356/ year. The church subsidizes the operation of the Preschool by providing utilities, insurance, sexton, and some administrative services, valued at approximately $58,000/ year; in addition, the church subsidizes the Preschool through free rent/ physical facilities (not included in the $58,000 figure). The Preschool serves approximately 125 children at a time; the church’s support covers approximately $467 per child annually. The church spends approximately $4,863/ month or $1,122/ week, or $160/day on this Preschool support.We spend about 12% of the funds received on Benevolences and Missions. This includes Shelter Meals, ECHO support, Habitat for Humanity, missionary support, and many other items. A few examples are:PC(USA) Denominational Support: $13,392/ year for “per capita” contribution and $45,516/ year in “voluntary” contribution, for a total of $58,908 per year. These funds provide support for Presbytery, General Assembly, and the Synod. Missionary Support (direct): $34,500/ year; $2,875/ month; $663/week; $95/day. See Chapter 3 above for a description of the missionaries supported by our church.Mission Trips: $5,000/ year. On average,12-20 people go on mission trips each year; so the budget covers approximately $250-425/ person. The church aims to cover 50% or more of the total cost of the trip. The church aims to limit the cost to each participant to $600 each trip in order to make the trips accessible to all members.Presbyterian University Center: $10,000/ year, which is approximately 6% of PUC’s annual budget. This is $833/month, or $192/ week, or $27/ day. This center provides a Presbyterian and Reformed-tradition gathering place for the Tallahassee area’s 45,000+ university students, including a weekday coffee house, weekly supper programs, Sunday vespers services, Bible study groups, and fellowship activities.Seminarian Support: $1,500/ year. In 2014, this paid for the equivalent of one student’s tuition for a two-credit class.Shelter Meals: $1,700/ year, or $145/ monthFood Bank Support, such as ECHO and Second Harvest: $6,200/ year, or $510/ monthHabitat for Humanity: $6,100/ year, or $510/ monthLevel of Giving to BenevolencesIn years past, Faith has had a strong commitment to funding benevolences and missions. In some years, Faith has endeavored to provide 50% of its financial receipts to funding benevolences and missions, and once or twice, has achieved that goal. In 2007-2008, Faith dedicated 20% of the funds received in the Journey of Faith capital campaign to benevolences and missions. The idea has generally been to prioritize spending money on people other than ourselves as part of God’s call to us. When asked about what the level of benevolence/ mission funding should be (i.e., what percentage of members’ financial contributions should the church give to benevolences and missions), survey respondents indicated a broad range of responses:Survey Respondents’ Preference for Level of Benevolence Giving254793302656Responses from the congregational survey indicate that Faith members would like to see Faith devote its financial resources among the following ministry categories as follows. These responses are consistent with national trends, which favor spending time and money closer to home.Survey Respondents’ Preference for Church Spending101600254000(5) Looking AheadIn 2015, the Stewardship Committee is launching a three-part multi-year stewardship campaign, involving a fresh approach to the Annual Giving Campaign, a planning effort for the next Capital Campaign (likely in 2018 approximately), and the creation of a Planning Giving (Legacy Giving) Campaign. The goals of this multi-year process include to: (a) build on institutional knowledge and memory, (b) engage in the church-wide Bible study of stewardship and (c) educate all members of the congregation about the finances of the church.Potential Future Campaign (2018 approx.) - The Buildings & Grounds Committee and Management Committee anticipate that another capital campaign is likely to be needed within a few years to provide funding for campus repairs and improvements. This would include resurfacing of the parking lot, replacement of the caretaker’s apartment and Scout Hut, renovation of the Delta Court building, updating A/V systems, etc.CHAPTER FIVE: WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS?Our committee drew the blue line around the clustered area of our members to create a study area, and we researched the demographics and other details about this study area. Our “neighborhood” comprises a large portion of Leon County, with a1462465313194 focus in central and northeast Tallahassee. The population within the study area is 204,156 people. Much of this research relies on data from MissionInsite, ESRI demographic data, PCUSA “Field Guide to Presbyterian Congregations”, PCUSA Mission Agency, “Ten Year Trends” (), the Leon County Statistical Digest 2014, and US Census data.A. Comparison of Our Members to Our Study Area PopulationAt the time of its establishment, Faith may have reflected the community in which it was located. Over time, Faith has developed an identity shaped by the initial founders of the church and their families over the following generations. This identity is closely tied to the PCUSA denomination. While Faith and the PCUSA denomination have established their identities, the community around Faith has changed, following local and national trends. Households characterized by older, more affluent white families predominate Faith’s membership, while the predominant demographic group in the surrounding community are ethnically-diverse young singles in the blue collar and white collar sectors.(1) Age: Although much older than our surrounding area, our church membership age profile is typical of most PCUSA congregations.2454423439420 In our study area, 16% of the population are age 60+ as of 2014. By 2024, 19% of the population in the study area will be age 60+. In contrast with the age demographic of our study area, 48% of our members are age 60+.While in most congregations, the worshipers between 45 and 64 years of age make up the largest group (39%), in our congregation those members make up only 18%. This is less than that age group’s occurrence in the general population.Leon County’s generally young population (not surprising given the colleges and universities in the community) is not mirrored in our church membership.(2) Ethnicity: Our church racial diversity mix is less diverse than our surrounding area and less diverse than typical PCUSA congregations.98% of Faith’s members are white (non-hispanic). In the study area, 56% of the population is white (non-hispanic), and that number is anticipated to remain stable for the next five years. Statewide, 58% of the population is white (non-hispanic).1505577370840In our study area, the next-most numerous ethnicity is Black/ African-American (non-hispanic), making up 33% of the population. This is more than double the percentage of Black/ African-Americans in Florida statewide (15%).In our study area, the Hispanic/ Latino population comprises only 6% of the population, also anticipated to remain stable for the next five years.(3) Gender: Faith’s membership is comprised of 56% female members and 44% male members. This is slightly more even than the national PC(USA) statistics. The ratio of female members (58%) to male members (42%) has remained stable since the mid-1960s.(4) Income: In our study area, there is a gap between the “haves” and the “have-nots” 14% of the population within our study area lives below the poverty line; this is higher than the statement average (11%) of the population living below the poverty line. Our study area has a 9% lower-than-average annual household income and lower-than-mean annual household income than the statewide average or mean. At the same time, based on Mission Insite demographic and other data, our study area (and particularly our membership) includes some of the most affluent residents in the area. Our members’ average annual household income is higher than the study area or Statewide figures.Annual Income (Members Compared to Surrounding Area)431800436879(5) Education: Our members have attended more school than the population of our study area or statewide. 85% of survey respondents have completed a bachelors degree or more education. The following graphic shows the percentage of population that holds-6350237577 a graduate or professional degree in the locations surrounding our church based on ESRI 2014 data.(6) Getting to Know Our Study Area Population: We used Mission Insite demographic data and our own analysis to gain insight into the behaviors, attitudes and preferences of the households within our study area and membership. Using data from 113 million US households, the Mission Insite data breaks the population into like-minded, like-situated segments (called “mosaic segments” or “demographic groups”) in accordance to a wealth of data from the US Census Bureau, the commercial market, and other government data sources. It seeks to provide a multi- dimensional view of a community taking into account multiple socio-economic and life stage factors. Using the Study Area we created (where our members reside), we ran queries for information about the most common like-minded groups within our study area. The following descriptions are rough approximations of the population within our study area and our membership. “Population Profiles”: Faith Membership Compared to Study Area and State of Florida44% of our study area population are made up of “Singles and Starters”. These are people under age 35 (“Generation Y”) starting out on their own. They are young singles and some starter families in diverse urban communities. They are very much in transition in their lives: in their careers, relationships, and finances.Our study area (44%) has more than triple the percentage of “Singles and Starters” than nationwide (9%) and more than ten times the percentage of that group in our church membership (4.5%). This is largely reflective of the college population as well as recent graduates and support workers for those colleges and those in government jobs.6% of our study area population comprises a group referred to as “Power Elite”. These are individuals with high net worth - high annual incomes, homes in exclusive neighborhoods, healthy nest eggs, and lots of insurance. They gravitate to churches with history or long-standing reputation, or to churches that value ecclesiastical traditions.Our study area has more than triple the percentage of “Power Elites” than in Florida statewide, and our membership has more than 8 times that percentage. This demonstrates that our membership includes affluent, well-established singles and families, well above the regional proportion.The next-most numerous segment of our study area population and our congregation’s membership is “Booming with Confidence”. In general, these individuals are prosperous, established couples in their peak earning years living in suburban homes. They value quiet good taste. These individuals participate in a church or religious organization, but as one among several service organizations, alumni organizations or other non-profits and clubs. Church property, program, and leadership are intentionally a blend of old and new.Our church membership (22.5%) has more than four times more of this demographic group than the nationwide average (5.3%) and about three times more than our study area (8.2%).(7) Religious Affiliation and Involvement: In general, the population within our study area is equally as, or slightly less, “religious” as the statewide population. 47% of the population consider himself or herself to be a “spiritual person”, both within the study area and statewide. A lower percentage of people within our study area believe it is important to attend religious services than the percentage of people statewide. A lower percentage of people within our study area believe his/ her faith is really important to him/ her than the statewide percentage. In our study area, only 15% of the population believes his/her faith is really important to him/ her.In our study area, only 19% of the population believes it is important to attend religious services.It is noteworthy that since Faith’s creation, the number of churches in the immediate vicinity has grown. There is higher “competition” for church members today than in Faith’s founding years.B. Who Are Our Neighbors?Faith Presbyterian’s vision statement identifies serving the Christian Community as a priority. Faith has defined the neighbors we serve to include: the neighborhood surrounding our church, the greater Tallahassee and Big Bend area, the local university community (FSU, FAMU and TCC), and the World.(1) Neighborhoods Surrounding Our ChurchOur immediate residential neighbors can be distinguished by where they are in terms of Meridian Road. The residences to the east of Meridian Road are typically well-established, well-to-do single-family homes, such as the Betton, Waverly Hills, North and South Ride, and Live Oak Plantation neighborhoods. Many of these individuals are professionals, university professors, etc. In contrast, the residences to the west of and alongside Meridian Road are typically apartments and town-home communities, with lower-income families and individuals, such as London Town, Cameron at Woodcrest, Rolling Hills, and Meridian Place apartments. Many of the residents here are transitional - i.e., persons going through divorce who have sold their homes, persons living newly independent. Many of these individuals work as retail cashiers, entry-level jobs for state government, etc. The largest demographic group in this immediate geographic area is single young adults, and there are sizable populations of young children in the apartment complexes. In addition to these residential neighbors, Faith is surrounded by institutional and commercial neighbors, including the Tallahassee Mall (becoming the Centre of Tallahassee), the Trousdell Aquatics Center and Gymnasium, Woodcrest Office Park, Delta Court Office Park, and Harbor Chase Assisted Living Facility. The Tallahassee Mall has been a failing shopping mall for the last 10 years, but is undergoing significant renovations. It is planned to have open-air shopping and restaurants, a large concert venue, and a K-8 school campus. This renovation could present opportunities for Faith in terms of exposure to new people and new activities. Further, the “North Monroe Commercial Corridor” is currently being considered for strategic initiatives by the local governments and the Chamber of Commerce. If redevelopment or other programs occur in that area, that could present opportunities for Faith.The three elementary schools closest to Faith are Sealey Elementary, Gilchrist Elementary, and Kate Sullivan Elementary. Many of our members’ children and grandchildren attend Gilchrist, while Sealey is attended by lower-income, racially-diverse students. While Gilchrist has ample volunteers and mentors to support the school, Sealey does not. Sealey’s school is seeking volunteers, mentors, and help in many ways. For example, United Way provides backpacks or lunch boxes so that Sealey students have food to eat over the weekends. Kate Sullivan has changing demographics and may have community needs in the years to come.(2) Greater Tallahassee and Big Bend AreaTallahassee is a “metropolitan Mayberry” - it’s got a “small town” feel although it’s the 10th largest “metropolitan” area in FLorida. Tallahassee is a politically active, environmentally conscious, and politically-liberal “blue” community within the politically-conservative “red” north Florida Panhandle. The largest employer is the government. While the State has been one of the fastest-growing states in the country, the Tallahassee area is different from the rest of Florida. The Tallahassee area is in the average range of population growth, economic income, and cost of living within the State of Florida. It is relatively stable in terms of wages, population growth, job growth, etc., in comparison to the State of Florida. Despite this relative stability, within a regional radius of Tallahassee (and within the Metropolitan Statistical Area) are the towns or areas of Gretna, Midway, Greensboro, and Monticello - these are some of the poorest towns and regions within Florida. They have some of the highest rates of unemployment, child mortality, high school drop-outs, incarceration, etc.Faith has various ministries, such as Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, and other service projects, which are expressions of social justice and Christ’s love extended to the less fortunate and marginalized.(3) Local University Community (FSU, FAMU, and TCC)Faith supports the Presbyterian University Center (PUC), which provides outreach to the local university community. In addition, Faith hosts young-adult and college-age education and fellowship programs. The Pew Research Forum report, Religion Among the Millennials, published February 2010, found “Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans. Fewer young adults belong to any particular faith than older people do today.” The manner in which the young adults of today relate and interact through social media outlets and electronic technology also has significant in how Faith communicates the message of Jesus Christ to this current generation. Presenting the concept of the one, true God and salvation through Jesus Christ alone requires on-going relationships with this generation and the creation of an atmosphere that allows for freedom to explore the tenets of Christianity as it relates to today’s society.(4) The WorldOver the decades, dozens have been led by God from Tallahassee onto foreign mission fields as Faith has responded to world challenges with great commitment and discipleship. As mission work changes in the new century, Faith will need to be innovative and willing to consider new perspectives on missions. In the past, Faith has placed emphasis on supporting and equipping indigenous Christian leadership around the world. In the 1980s, high school students took part in summer mission trips, learning about foreign cultures, participating with local people, and exploring their own faith. A number of those mission participants went on to become seminarians. In recent years, due to economic constraints, Faith has organized smaller and closer-by mission trips. Faith’s mission work will need to shift to recognize economic realities and developments in 21st Century philanthropy, e.g., that non-Western Christians far outnumber Western Christians, and that the “majority” Christians have much to teach us about mission work and discipleship.C. Looking Into The FutureFaith Presbyterian’s vision statement identifies following the path of Christ into the future as a priority. Faith FIRST has engaged in a survey of community leaders, including members and non-members, to develop a forecast of things to come in our neighborhood.Leon County’s data indicates that the overall population and economy will continue at the same pace it’s been over the last 20-30 years: slow, stable growth of about 2% annually. (Leon County 2014 Statistical Digest) At the same time, Faith is part of the PCUSA denomination, which is experiencing declining membership and resources. This decline could have an impact on the PCUSA national organizations and resources, as well as the Presbytery, PUC, and Faith. Faith may need to engage in these organizations and processes to support their vitality.The area’s top challenges seem to be: poverty, hunger, and violence. The poverty levels are indicated by: high numbers of single-parent households, lack of high-paying jobs, and Tallahassee area ranked #1 in nation for economic segregation, meaning that people have no economic mobility (change to move up and out). The hunger concerns are evidenced by the 14,000 children living with food insecurity in Tallahassee. The violence concerns are evidenced by the City’s #2 rank statewide for violent crime, in particular gun violence.Currently, the local community whom we serve or help is different from the local community with whom we worship. As we look forward, Faith should consider this and ensure that we are welcoming to all. CHAPTER SIX: WHO IS GOD CALLING FAITH TO BE?We gathered congregational opinions in a variety of ways - including interviews with officers and founding members, periodic open-ended questions to the congregation, focus groups, and a congregational survey, as well as our own research and analysis. Following is a summary of these opinions.(1) Member EngagementWe struggle with new member shepherding and member engagement. With respect to new member shepherding, this struggle relates, at least in part, to our communication of our programs, activities and ministries to our existing and new members, and to our process of incorporating new members. One effort aimed at overcoming this challenge is New Member Dinners; Faith members (including our Senior Pastor and his wife) have hosted New Member Dinners which were very successful and are recalled fondly by members. These dinners, and similar efforts, are helpful in overcoming this challenge.With respect to member engagement, only 53% of survey respondents indicate they are active or very active in Faith. 26% indicate they are minimally active or not active, and 21% indicate they are somewhat active in Faith. Survey respondents who indicate that they are not active identify the top five reasons for not being more active at Faith as:2995293405392This struggle relates, at least in part, to the depth of relationships among members. There should be an increased focus on unity within church activities and members. When membership exceeded 1,500, some felt the church had an “impersonal” character, and it was difficult for members to know each other. This struggle has continued even as our membership has declined, so it is something we should address.Further, building a sense of church community, as well as defining who our neighbors are, can be complex when our members do not live in close proximity to each other or to Faith. Various efforts to build a sense of belonging or “small church feeling” in a large, dispersed congregation has been, and continues to be, an ongoing challenge throughout our history.(2) Worship AttendanceAlthough over half of Faith members (56%) are involved in Christian education (e.g., Sunday School, Bible study), only around one-third (34%) of members regularly attend one of the three Sunday worship services. Survey respondents indicated that increasing attendance at Sunday worship services should be a top priority for Faith as we move forward. We should identify why the majority of Faith members do not consistently attend Sunday worship.Faith’s Average Attendance (2014)12746325456633944223190118934% members typically attend Sunday worship34% members typically attend Sunday worship501614386360066% members do not typically attend Sunday worship 66% members do not typically attend Sunday worship 1545589123443956% members typically attend Christian Education56% members typically attend Christian Education2538055168910044% members do not typically attend Christian Education44% members do not typically attend Christian Education(3) Diversity of Thinking/ TheologyWe consider ourselves to be a church made up of diverse theological perspectives - welcoming to both progressive and conservative interpretations of the Bible and Christian faith, and all those in between. 62% of survey respondents said that Faith should continue to be a place of diverse voices on theological and social/political issues. Respondents who prefer Faith to become either more7156450307128Remain diverseRemain diverse progressive/ liberal or more traditional/ conservative were almost evenly split on either side of the issue, with slightly more favoring a more traditional/ conservative approach. These responses indicate an appreciation for the mixing of ideas and a welcoming of differing views.158511845766332194501357100Remain diverseRemain diverse17550202246100More traditional/ conservativeMore traditional/ conservative42989502403580More progressive/ liberalMore progressive/ liberal Our history demonstrates that we can successfully navigate diverse views on theological issues. Faith has adopted and incorporated PCUSA positions on social justice issues throughout its history, often with dissent and occasional member resignations, dating back to the 1970s.This diversity in theological views continues to be both a source of pride and tension in the congregation and to warrant our attention. Whether we are “doing diversity well” is a question on which we should continue to focus. We would like to see more unity among the membership, including cross-fertilizing of ideas, fostering of constructive dialogue about difficult issues, and broadening and deepening of relationships among members.(4) Presbytery and PCUSA SupportFaith is a microcosm of the larger PCUSA denomination, with the same theological, social, and political spectrum as in the broader denomination. Thus, Faith should view the steady membership decline in the PCUSA with concern and make targeted efforts to continue to overcome that trend. Faith has a strong history of new church development, seminarian support, and Presbytery support, which could provide an opportunity for Faith to support the PCUSA denomination more broadly.(5) Mission Statement71% of the survey respondents told us that Faith’s current mission statement, calling the church to discipleship, Christian community and Biblical interpretation for changing times, accurately42811703288665UnsureUnsure18910291838642Accurate as isAccurate as is describes the congregation’s identity and mission. 14% of respondents were unsure about its accuracy; 15% of respondents believe it should be revised in some way. Of those who believe it should be revised, there were a variety of reasons for and proposals for revision. The two most31132462689225Should be revisedShould be revised1590167484573 common comments were concerns about the phrase “interpret the Bible for our times” and expanding the definition of the phrase “Christian community” to be more inclusive.(6) Programs and ActivitiesBased on the committee’s review, focus group participants’ and survey respondents’ comments, the church, its members, and staff are spread too wide and thin. This struggle relates, at least in part, to the breadth of Faith’s programs and activities. It is time for a top-to-bottom review of all that the church does together, with an eye toward pruning some activities, possibly doing less and doing the remaining things better. There is a concern about trying to do too much at Faith, risking burn-out of church members and staff.Our history demonstrates that even very-effective, very-popular mission programs can have a lifecycle that comes to an end. For example, the Faith Counseling Center (FCC) came to an end as a result of external changes despite a long successful track record.(7) Mission Opportunities for the FutureIn the context of a thorough evaluation of the church’s programs and activities, the committee suggests that there are a few key mission opportunities close to home that the church should consider. Faith can consider realignment of our current programs and activities. These suggestions reflect the view of survey respondents that prefer, on average, 42% of the church’s time and money be used to care for those in the local Tallahassee community with 30% of the church’s time and money being used to care for those in the national or international community. The survey respondents prefer that 28% of the church’s time and money be spent in service to the Faith membership.Percentage of Time/ Money Church Should Devote to Each Category82708249449 Our neighborhood and community survey indicate that there are opportunities for following the path of Christ in our local community, including our immediate neighborhood. We see opportunities for:Programs, activities, and classes targeting the adult single population, which is a large and growing segment of the population surrounding our church;Programs, activities, and classes targeting at-risk children (and families) residing in apartments south and west of Faith, in particular during the hours of 3pm to bedtime;Partnerships, exchanges, and other activities with local African-American churches in our immediate surrounding neighborhood; andPrograms and activities to address the hungry and food-insecure children in the Tallahassee community.(8) Stewardship64% of Faith’s households give to the church. However, 26% of giving units contribute $300 or less per year. We should try to identify reasons why members choose to give (or not), as well as how members decide how much to give. The congregational survey responses suggest a variety of factors, including:Increased competition for charitable dollars, Resistance to pledging, Personal financial constraints, and Concerns about the direction of the church and/or PCUSA denomination. Faith has a commitment to a high level of benevolence giving. We have a track record of giving 20% in our recent capital campaign and up to 50% at various moments in our history. Survey respondents indicate no consensus about what that level of benevolence giving should be. For example, 28% are unsure what that level of benevolence giving should be. We should engage in a conversation about what that goal should be in the future, and how to define “benevolences”.(9) Church PrioritiesSurvey respondents (as well as focus group participants) told us that Faith’s top six priorities for the coming years should be to:Increase member participation in the life of the church;Do more to help new members integrate into the life of the church;Increase attendance at Sunday worship;Enhance and/or expand children and youth programs;Increase member giving/ tithing; andIncrease membership.(10) Next Senior PastorWe presented survey respondents with 25 characteristics and asked them to identify the most important of characteristics the next senior pastor should possess. The four most important characteristics were as follows:Preaching and worship leader: An effective preacher and worship leader; communicates a clear and consistent message through sermons that are carefully prepared and artfully delivered; is able to challenge and inspire the congregation from the pulpitCommunicator: Possesses strong written and oral communication skills; is comfortable speaking in a variety of settings (both small and large groups) and addressing a variety of topicsSpiritually mature: Shows strong spiritual grounding; demonstrates integrity by walking the talk; is seen by others as trustworthy and authentic; is able to articulate a clear and consistent theologyBridge builder: Strives to unite the congregation; is adept at connecting the people of different cultures, worldviews, and theological positions; can help people work through conflicts; can identify common ground and elicit cooperation in crafting mutual solutionsAt the Town Hall meeting, Faith members expressed an interest in a senior pastor with experience in attracting new members and handling issues of diverse theological perspectives within the membership. ................
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