CONSULTATION REPORT
GREENWOOD UMC
GREENWOOD, IN
MARCH 4, 2012
Introduction:
We, the consultation team, would like to thank Reverend In Suk Peebles, Staff, lay leadership and congregation of Greenwood United Methodist Church for the invitation to consult with this Body of Christ. The following observations and prescriptions are the result of this team studying the following information: a) Greenwood United Methodist Church’s self-study document provided by its leaders, b) interviews with pastors, staff and ministry team leaders, c) a focus group with members of the congregation, d) a meeting with the administrative council, e) a MissionInsite demographic report of the area’s population, f) input from Saturday’s leadership workshop and, g.) input from the Faith Perceptions Mystery Guest Worshipper Report. Our prayer is that God will use this assessment experience and consultation report, to help Greenwood United Methodist Church more effectively make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the community and the world.
Strengths:
Greenwood United Methodist Church’s greatest strengths are as follows:
1.PERSEVERANCE
The church has persevered through a decade of troubled years punctuated by a financial crisis and ineffective pastoral leadership. Even though the church has decreased substantially in worship attendance and membership, it still has a viable future because its membership has not given up or given in and still desires to become the church God calls it to be. We echo the words of Kelly Clarkson, a musician, who has released a new song with this lyrical line: “What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.” The church can use this strength to embrace a new future that is filled with promise and hope.
2.FRIENDLY PEOPLE
We have discerned through the mystery guest report that the people of Greenwood UMC are friendly with one another and seek to make guests feel like family, so that guests become a part of God’s family. Guests were warmly greeted which included when they first entered the church and the time before and after the worship service. The warmth of the relationships at Greenwood UMC was considered to be a strength of the congregation, by long time members and first time guests.
3.LOCATION AND CAPACITY
The church is extremely visible because it is located on a major street of the city and near the Greenwood Park Mall. The proximity to multiple retail outlets means thousands of people pass within 100 feet of the church every day. The Greenwood UMC building, parking lot and grounds have the capacity to double their attendance and activity without adding additional space. The narthex and the Suter Hall are accessible and provide excellent large gathering spaces for community interaction. There are also adequate classrooms to expand ministry to children, youth, young adults and adults.
4.PRE-SCHOOL
Greenwood UMC has for many years provided a Preschool that reaches beyond the local church into the community. Children and their parents have been introduced to Christian values rooted in the scriptures. Young families have a positive feeling about this ministry of the church. This ministry of the church has occasionally been a pathway for families to enter the life of Greenwood UMC.
5.MINISTRIES OF HOPE
There are several outwardly focused ministries such as Shepherd’s Table, movie night, trunk and treat and tutoring at two local elementary schools which have been added recently. Greenwood UMC has had a long history of outstanding leadership by the United Methodist Women in the area of mission outreach. A strong scouting program continues to be a beacon to the community. We are hopeful that these and other ministries will bear fruit.
Concerns:
Greenwood UMC’s greatest areas of concern are as follows:
1. LACK OF CLEAR, SHARED VISION
Greenwood UMC has no clear, shared vision to accomplish an outwardly-focused mission “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” The church could not articulate their role in God’s mission to make new disciples, nor has it discovered its unique mission to the community. A clear shared vision will focus the ministry of the church on the mission field.
2.LACK OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
The church does not adequately communicate and make connections with those inside and outside the church, including…
●Communication between staff, members, leaders, potential leaders and volunteers
●Lack of quality materials for newcomers
●Poor exterior and interior signage
●Ineffective marketing of the church
3.INADEQUATE MINISTRY TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN
The Mission Insite study clearly identifies that children are a major portion of the population surrounding the church. There are few significant ministries to attract children and families beyond the pre-school. There are no support structures in place that enable participation by this age group. The consultation team discovered that the nursery is not staffed during Sunday morning worship. This says to families with children that this church is not prepared to receive children because they are not a high priority.
4.LIMITED CONNECTION TO THE MISSION FIELD
The congregation does not have a strong outward focus, since most activities; programs and staffing are geared to serving the existing membership. While there are new emerging outreach ministries there is no clear process by which persons become introduced and integrated into the life of faith in Christ and the church. There is a need to “build bridges” to the community to effectively reach new people for Christ.
5.NO CLEAR DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
It is the finding of the consult team that no one could articulate a discipleship pathway at Greenwood UMC.
How does a person:
●first connect to Jesus Christ and the church?
●grow in their knowledge of the faith?
●become connected to other believers for support and accountability?
●become active in service to others for the purpose of sharing the gospel?
Prescriptions:
In order to address the above concerns, Greenwood United Methodist Church must implement the following prescriptions:
1.MISSION AND VISION:
The congregation understands that the day this consultation report is accepted (should that be the case), this congregation will adopt, “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” as its mission statement.
The congregation will have a service of prayer and forgiveness, to embrace God’s mandate for making disciples. This will allow the membership to be fully prepared for the Lord’s vision for the future. This will be led by Paula Gast, Church Development Prayer Coordinator or someone she provides, in consultation with the senior pastor, no later than May 20, 2012.
Also, the coach will conduct a Day of Visioning Workshop for the congregation. The purpose of this day is to dream of how God might want to work through the congregation both individually and collectively to reach the surrounding community. This day will occur on or before May 26, 2012. Following the Day of Visioning, the pastor, in conjunction with the coach and the leadership of the church, will articulate a vision, which will be presented to the congregation by June 30, 2012.
Upon adopting the new mission, every ministry in the congregation must demonstrate how it will accomplish the vision. To that end, the leaders will conduct a mission and ministry audit. Any ministries not focused on the mission will be given a year to adapt in order to fit the mission statement or be dissolved. This audit must be completed by January 1, 2013.
2.COMMUNICATION:
By June 1, 2012, the senior pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a Communication Evaluation Task Force of 3 persons, to evaluate the effectiveness of current communication within the congregation, as well as the community. They will research and explore healthy communication practices of other churches, and present a plan for recommended changes to the Administrative Council. They will pay particular attention to: 1-e-mail, 2-websites, 3-bulletins/newsletters, 4-pamphlets describing church ministries and outreach, 5-posters and digital information boards, 6-newcomer materials, 7-signage, 8- any unused technologies such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and external Wi-Fi.
The Communication Evaluation Task Force will report their recommendations to Administrative Council on or before September 30, 2012.
3.FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN:
The Senior Pastor, in conjunction with the coach will create a Children’s Ministry Task Force, consisting of no more than seven individuals on or before June 1, 2012, to do the following:
●visit at least 3 congregations as large or larger than Greenwood UMC, which have a thriving, growing, 21st century, Children’s ministry by September 1, 2012.
●create a vision for children’s ministry including a job description for a staff position, dedicated to all Children’s ministry at Greenwood UMC by November 1, 2012 and presented to Staff Parish Committee by November 15, 2012.
●conduct an assessment of the facility, related to needs of the Greenwood UMC Children’s ministry and make recommendations for immediate changes to the Trustee board, on or before , January 30, 2013.
●implement a new Children’s ministry by August 1, 2013.
4.CONNECTION TO THE MISSION FIELD:
The senior pastor and the coach will establish a Task Force of 6 persons by June 1, 2012 to develop and implement a system for radical hospitality. This system will include:
●a Radical Hospitality Workshop lead by a Church Development team member on or before August 31, 2012. With the following focus
○intentional outreach method for individuals to invite friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. to connect with Christ and the church.
○develop strategies for the church to connect with the community for making disciples.
○a church wide process to intentionally connect all potential new persons to the ministries of Greenwood UMC, including those from the pre-school, service/missions contacts in the community, Sunday morning guests, youth ministry, recovery groups, etc.
The Radical Hospitality system will be integrated into every aspect of church life by:
●being addressed from the pulpit.
●reporting results regularly to the Administrative Council.
●implementing the system at weekly staff meetings.
●Members of the Task Force will attend the Annual Conference Friday keynote workshop “Making Room” on Friday, June 8, 2012.
This system will be in place and operating by November 15, 2012.
5. DISCIPLING PATH
The pastor, in consultation with the coach, will put together a Task Force of three persons on or before June 1, 2012, to create a clear discipleship path for moving people from where they are on their spiritual journey to becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. The discipleship path will be designed for everyone, whether a non-believer or one who is maturing in their faith. This discipleship path will represent a lifelong process. The Task Force will discern a faith development plan within a Wesleyan model that encourages all persons:
●to connect and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ;
●to help them be transformed by studying the principles of the Christian faith;
●to provide connection opportunities with other believers for support and accountability; and
●to be in service to others for the purpose of the mission.
Additionally, the pastor in consultation with the coach will provide a training process to create the necessary opportunities (i.e. small groups, classes, Sunday school, missions etc.) for entry onto the discipleship path. This new process will be adopted and implemented in the life of Greenwood United Methodist Church at all ministry levels (children, youth and adults) by August 1, 2013.
Conclusion
We, the consulting team, want to thank you for the opportunity to serve your congregation through this Fruitful Congregation Journey assessment process. Our prayer and hope for your congregation is that God will use this process to help your church become more effective and fruitful. May God give you courage and strength as you move forward.
- Steve Clouse
- Rev. Mark Gough
- Rev. Jack Hartman
- Rev. Karen Powell
Town Hall Meeting Dates
Sunday, March 11, 2012 – 12:00 PM
Sunday, March 18, 2012 – 12:00 PM
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – 7:00 PM
Church Conference Date:
Sunday, April 22, 2012 – 12:00 PM