Charlestown First United Methodist Church

CONSULTATION REPORT
November 8, 2015

INTRODUCTION

We, the consultation team, would like to thank Pastor Tom Hoffmeyer, the staff, lay leadership and congregation of Charlestown First United Methodist Church for the invitation to consult with this body of Christ.

The following observations and Ministry Action Plan are the result of this team studying the following information: 1) Charlestown UMC’s self-study document provided by its leaders; 2) Fruitful Congregation Journey (FCJ) on-line survey; 3) interviews with the pastor; 4) interviews with staff and ministry team leaders; 5) a focus group with participants from the congregation; 6) a focus group with the Church Leadership Team; 7) a MissionInsite demographic report of the area’s population; 8) Faith Perceptions Mystery Guest Report; 9) and input from Saturday’s congregational workshop.

Our prayer is that God will use this assessment experience and consultation report to help Charlestown UMC more effectively make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the community and the world.

STRENGTHS

1. LOCATION, FACILITIES, AND GROWTH POTENTIAL

The church is located on a main thoroughfare with visibility and an electronic sign, which draws attention to the church. The facilityallows for adequateministry space,is well maintained, and updated. The Trustees should be commended for maintaining and improving the facilities. Projected new industry to the area and the completion of the new bridge to Louisville should bring growth to the community that the church can plan for.

2. THE SPARK OF HOPE IGNITED THROUGH THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH

PROGRAM

Due to the love and passion of some leaders in the church, the children and youth

ministry has become a catalyst in helping the church to see that there is indeed an opportunity for new life and new direction for the future of the church. With continued emphasis in this area the church should continue to see new families connect to Charlestown UMC.

3. THE RESPONSE TO CARE FOR OTHERS

One of the consistent strengths of the church is how the membership surrounds other members in times of need. Additionally, the church shares its compassion to others through missions such as: the Guatemala project, Blessings in a Backpack, Christmas baskets, the food pantry, mission dinners and many other outreach opportunities.

CONCERNS AND MINISTRY ACTION PLANS (MAPS)

CONCERN #1: INEFFICIENT LEADERSHIP PRACTICES

It was clear after meeting with leaders of the church, the new leadership structure, leadership training, and the way decisions are made are not as healthy as a vibrant, growing church needs them to be. The current structure, though new, needs refinement as accountable leadership is not understood and therefore, commitments are not lived out.

MAP #1:ESTABLISH “BEST PRACTICES” FOR ALL LEADERS IN THE CHURCH

In order for the Church Leadership Team of Charlestown UMC to most effectively

lead for the future vision of the church, the following areas need to be addressed:

  • The new structure needs to be functioning in accordance with the Discipline of the UMC and working within an accountable leadership style. Therefore, the coach will provide training for all current leaders to assist them in understanding the “how and why” of the single board model and make necessary adjustments. A special called charge conference will be held with the District Superintendent for the election of leadership for the roles that have been determined.
  • In order to increase trust and accountability, the Church Leadership Team will hold a retreat no later than January 31, 2016, to begin to establish fruitful goals for the upcoming year for all administrative areas of the church. This retreat should be led by the FCJ coach and pastor. The training will focus on how to effectively function as the leadership team of the church. One priority of the retreat will be to look at all income, assets, and expenses of the church for the upcoming year so that staffing for the future can be realistically planned. A second priority for the retreat will be to prepare and agree upon a leadership covenant in order to establish biblical boundaries and Christian principles for church leaders to live into. This signed covenant will be reviewed prior to each leadership gathering.
  • The church will move from a committee structure to team-based ministry so that persons can more easily be involved in ministry that utilizes individuals’ gifts, abilities, passion, and experience.
  • The pastor, with assistance from the coach and/or District Superintendent, will provide all necessary training for each ministry team leader in order for individuals to fully understand what the responsibilities, expectations, and goals for their ministry areas need to include. Once this training is accomplished it is the responsibility of the pastor to oversee that each ministry team leader effectively trains their successor prior to taking on their leadership responsibility.
  • The Church Leadership Team will begin to intentionally focus on team building by attending a Creating a Culture of Teamwork workshop, led by the coach.
  • The Church Leadership Team will take responsibility for guaranteeing that the Safe Sanctuaries (child protection guidelines) are updated.A training for anyone who works with children and/or youth will be heldand will include background checks and other documents required by such guidelines.

All of the above work will be completed prior to June 30, 2016.

CONCERN #2: DIRECTION OF THE CHURCH IS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH A UNIFYING VISION

Charlestown UMC has not recently discerned God’s vision for its congregation. This leaves theleadership without a sense of direction toward accomplishing fruitful goals in most ministry areas. Additionally,long-range planning, evaluation of results and the wise stewardship of financial assets and human resourcesare hindered.

MAP #2: EMBRACE THE MISSION AND DISCERN A UNIFYING VISION

The coach will conduct workshops to help the congregation identify its core values and discern God’s vision for Charlestown UMC. These workshops will be conducted by March 31, 2016. The resulting core values and vision will be adopted by the Church Leadership Team by June 30, 2016. Prior to the vision workshop, the church will follow the directions of the coach regarding conducting community interviews and understanding the demographic report in order to understand the needs and possibilities for outreach.

Once the vision has been adopted, all ministry decisions will be made in alignment with the church’s mission and vision. Training will be provided for each ministry team leader so that fruitful, strategic goal planning can be accomplished.

CONCERN #3: LACK OF PASSION FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION OF GOD’S CHURCH

It is not uncommon for a church that has been in decline for several years to lose focus on the purpose of God’s command, “Go, make disciples.” It is apparent that many at Charlestown UMC have been more focused on the church’s survival rather thana) their own personal faith development,and b) building relationships within the community with those who don’t know God and/or do not have a church home.Furthermore, during the consultation weekend, many shared a desire for spiritual “zeal.”

MAP #3: GROW SPIRITUALLY IN ORDER TO BE FAITHFUL TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP VOWS

The pastor, in consultation with the coach,will offer a bible-focused study that allows for the congregation to return to their First Love, Jesus Christ. In order to demonstrate the congregation is fully invested to the future of Charlestown UMC, we would expect (minimally) 60% of the congregation’s average worship attendance to be involved in the study.

Additionally, a new stewardship focus will begin in February 2016 that highlights serving the church through utilizing the congregation’s gifts and passions as well as through tithing.

In order to develop community relationships, a task force needs to fully research (through the Community Interviews, MissionInsite study, and awareness of what is already offered) what missional, relationship building possibilities could be realized through Charlestown UMC. Once the task force has made its report, ministry leaders will determine at least three new ways to offer ministry events and/or programming that will reach this targeted audience.

A type of connection team (e.g. newcomer response team) will be established and trained so that follow-up and an on-going system can be in place in order to build relationships with all guests of Charlestown UMC. This work will be done in consultation with the pastor and the coach.

REQUIRED OF ALL FCJ CHURCHES:

The congregation understands that the day this consultation report is accepted this congregation will reaffirm The United Methodist Church’s mission: “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.”

A prayer team will be formed, in consultation with the pastor and the coach, that will commit to a weekly time of prayer in the church, praying for the Holy Spirit to ignite and saturate the church. This prayer team will begin the first week of January 2016 and commit at least to one year of intentional prayer for the church in this process.

In order to prepare the congregation’s hearts to be unified with this mission, the congregation will enter into a season of prayerful reflection. The church will hold a service of prayer and forgiveness on a Sunday morning to reaffirm God’s mandate for making disciples and transforming the world. This service will be arranged by the FCJ Prayer Coordinator, in consultation with the pastor, and be held by January 31, 2016.

The pastor will regularly attend Peer Mentoring sessions with other pastors in the FCJ process to help him lead the congregation forward.

CONCLUSION

We, the consultation team, also heard the congregation voice real concern for its long-term decline in attendance and financial strength. We are confident that if this congregation fully embraces the above MAPs, it will begin to see a return to vitality and fruitfulness.

We want to thank you for the opportunity to serve your congregation through this Fruitful Congregation Journey assessment process. Our prayers and hope for your congregation is that God will use this process to help your church become more effective and fruitful in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. May God give you courage and strength as you move forward in the future.

Ed Fenstermacher

Dennis Ingle

Ann Handschu

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Town Hall Meeting Dates (at the church):

Sunday, November 15 @11:30 am

Tuesday, November 17 @ 6:30 am

Sunday, November 22 @ 11:30

Church Conference Date:

Thursday, December 3 @7:00

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