Trinity - St. Stephen’s

United Church

Amherst, Nova Scotia

Joint Needs Assessment Report

June 8, 2017

(Approved by Congregation of Trinity-St. Stephen's United Church, June 18, 2017)

Page 1 of 37

INTRODUCTION

Mission Statement

"To provide the opportunity to come to know Christ and one another, to grow spiritually and to become involved with Christian concerns within as well as beyond the congregation."

The members of the JNAC are as follows:

Gary Wilkie (Chair)

Judy Jonah (Secretary)

Ivan Macdonald

Gordon Helm

Bonnie Wilkie

Bruce Baxter

Margaret MacDonald

Ruth Gamble (Presbytery Appointee)

Jennifer Brown (Presbytery Appointee)

Marlene MacLeod (Presbytery Appointee)

Terms of Reference and Scope of Work

To review, edit, and update the Joint Needs Assessment Report, September 29, 2013, in accordance with Chignecto Presbytery Joint Needs Assessment Process, November 2016.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

Part A: Geographic Community Linkages...... 4-6

Part B: The Faith Community...... 7-9

Part C: Present Resources

  • Human Resources...... 10-12
  • Material...... 13
  • Financial...... 14-17

Part D: Ministry Personnel

  • Position Description...... 18
  • Time Allocation...... 19
  • Skills Profile...... 20
  • Terms and Conditions of Employment...... 21

Part E: Recommendations...... 21

Appendix A: Intentional Interim Ministry Final Report May 2017...... 22

PartA: GEOGRAPHIC Community Linkages

The Charge and Broader Community:

The Trinity St. Stephen's United Pastoral Charge, ( (facebook.com/tssuc) is located in downtown Amherst, Nova Scotia, at 1 Ratchford St.

Amherst is the second largest town, (9413 population in the 2016 Census) in Nova Scotia. (www.amherst.ca). Wehave other faith denominations including: Holy Family Roman Catholic, First Baptist, Christ Church Anglican, Amherst Gospel Hall, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Crossroads Community, Amherst Wesleyan, Immanuel United, Revival Centre Faith Pentecostal and Amherst Open Bible.

The Town, situated on TCH 104, is a few minutes from the NS/New Brunswick border and 40 minutes away from the Confederation Bridge leading to Prince Edward Island. The Greater Moncton International Airport ( is 40 minutes away and the Halifax Stanfield International Airport ( is 100 minutes from Amherst.

Maritime Conference Centre, The United Church of Canada, is located in Sackville, NB, marconf.ca.

Schools consist of: Two Elementary (Spring Street Academy and West Highlands), one Junior High (E.B. Chandler) and one High School (Amherst Regional), all described at: The Nova Scotia Community College (Amherst Learning Centre) is a satellite campus in Amherst () while the top-ranked Mount Allison University ( is 15 minutes away, in nearby Sackville, NB.

The Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, provides quality health care services. ()

The Cumberland YMCA (ymcaofcumberland.com) provides aquatic programs, strength and conditioning programs, fitness studio classes such as dance, yoga, and cycle fitness, gymnasium sports, child and youth programs along with social programs for seniors, health and wellness education and women’s programs.

A non - denominational, YouthGroup of 60, is organized and led by the First Baptist Church Minister of Christian Education.

Our Faith connections to the Community

Many gifts given by our congregation, are as follows:

  • sponsoring children to Camp Ta-Wa-Si each summer
  • active personal leadership in the Palliative Care Hospice Fund, in the building of the Cumberland County Hospice, which is to be built in West Amherst. Also providing financial assistance.
  • providing backpacks (toiletries & clothing) for homeless youth and delivered to the Police, YMCA and local schools for distribution
  • with other churches providing, filling and delivering of (80-90) Christmas Cheer boxes to needy families in our community. Also included are mitts and scarves knit by congregation members
  • providing workers and financial help to annual Highland Fling which supports the Cumberland Regional Health Care facility
  • active personal leadership in building Habitat for Humanity homes in Oxford, as well as financial aid
  • active personal leadership in the Amherst Rotary Club executive
  • active personal leadership inour Refugee project, new Syrian families in Amherst and ongoing assistance(Church financial contribution)
  • knitting of Teddy Bears for local hospitals and distant countries
  • active personal leadership in managing our Church Benevolent Fund which financially assists local families in need, such as rent or heating
  • "Music at Trinity" which arranges and hosts in Sanctuary, various musical concerts, 4-6 per year, for whole community
  • Provide spare and support for Dick's Jamboree, with varied musical performances, held every Wednesday evening in Burgess Hall, all year and is very popular. All money raised is donated within community and to our church
  • approx. 40 volunteers work on a rotating basis at the (AFANA) Food Bank, every Monday in February, April, June, August, October and December. Also provide workers/drivers for the Spring and Fall town- wide Food Drive, organized by the Cumberland Y Service Club
  • Parents 'n Tots, every Friday, 10 AM - 11:30 AM, from September to end of May, hosted by regular volunteers and caters to (up to 35) toddlers and infants, parents, grandparents and caregivers, from whole community
  • active volunteering at the Salvation Army Thrift Store and IODE Thrift Store
  • active leadership in Cumberland County Museum and Archives
  • active volunteering at Amherst Curling Club

Our Pastoral Charge's Faith Connections

Members of our congregation offer their services in numerous ways:

  • inviting other churches (Christ Church, First Baptist and Holy Family) to a May Muffin and Music morning
  • our traditional connection with First Baptist Church during the months of July and August: Shared services, with five in their church and five in our church - both congregations together at the same time
  • setting up our Godly Play program through assistance by Sackville United Church participation of representatives on Presbytery and Maritime Conference
  • host church for Biennial Rally for the United Church Men (Maritimes). 130 attended one day event in 2016. (Planning is underway for the next Rally in 2018).
  • active involvement in Amherst Ministerial Association
  • participation in several Ecumenical services a year. These include; World Day of Prayer, The Remembrance Day Service and Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Visioning & Goal Setting

The congregation of Trinity-St. Stephen’s United Church will continue to address the goals of the Intentional Interim Ministry Final Report May 2017, attached as Appendix “A”.

PART B: THE FAITH COMMUNITY

Statistics

A Table of Ministry Data: Trinity-St. Stephen’s United Church
Item / Year
2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016
Resident Members / 380 / 376 / 370 / 352
Resident Adherents / n/a / n/a / 115 / 106
Age Distribution of Active Members / 60+ / 60+ / 60+ / 60+
Households under Pastoral Care / 378 / 362 / 349 / 310
Average Sunday Attendance at Regular Worship / 130 / 120 / 110 / 80
Envelopes and PAR Donors / 230 / 230 / 195 / 188
Baptisms / 1 / 2 / 2 / 1
Marriages / 0 / 2 / 2 / 2
Funerals / 14 / 12 / 12 / 15
Attendance at Sunday School / 8 / 22 / 7 / 7
Adult Study Group / 16 / 16 / 16 / 16
Confirmation Candidates / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Nursing Home Worship Services / 8 / 8 / 4 / 4
Additional Special Services / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2

PART B: Prevailing Theology and Expressions of Theology

We envision ministry that pursues the official doctrine of the United Church as it is outlined in the founding Twenty Articles of Faith and in the three new faith statements of Doctrine approved by General Council "41" in August 2012. We have a Marriage Policy that is all inclusive.

Setting and Style of Worship:

  • Sunday worship is at 10:30 am. Services are lectionary based (Traditional and or Contemporary).
  • Traditional bulletins are available. Service and hymns may be projected on screen.
  • Worship Committee presents dramas on occasion
  • Sunday servicesare video recorded and broadcast on the local television station and posted to YouTube

Ministry of Music:

  • Senior Choir: Led by our Music Director.
  • Trinity Youth Singers: An Ecumenical Choir led by our Music Director.
  • Hymn Books: Voices United and More Voices
  • Guest musicians perform at various times throughout the year.
  • Grand Piano and Pipe Organ

Hospitality and Fellowship:

  • Fellowship ( coffee, tea and juice ) time after every Sunday service.
  • Open Circle: Thursday afternoon. Social and games.
  • Friends Unlimited: Once a month on Sat. night. Social, potluck and games.
  • Men's Group: Once a month. Dinner at a local restaurant, followed by social activities.
  • Souper Sunday: monthly, September - June. Soup, rolls, sweets, tea, coffee provided after the church service. Donations accepted for the lunch.

Church School Program:

  • Curriculum: Godly Play, 2 Sundays a month.
  • Size : 8 children registered, 1 multi age group.
  • Volunteers: 2 teachers, 1 spare, 1 treasurer.
  • Nursery: 3 children, 2 volunteers.

Adult Study:

  • Monday morning, discussions led by Minister.
  • 16 regular participants.

Congregational Survey

Members / Adherents of Trinity St.-Stephen's United Church were asked to participate in a survey, between February 13/17 and March 8/17, to define the future ministry in our Pastoral Charge. 72 Surveys were completed.

Common threads named in that survey:

  • A strong willingness to share our building, and spiritual resources with neighbouring pastoral charges of the United Church of Canada.
  • The importance of the minister to provide hospital and long-term care home visits to the congregation members in need(in conjunction with our Pastoral Visitation team).
  • A traditional lecture was preferred with traditional hymns and music. A variety of musical instruments was shown to be of high interest.
  • Continuing with the following in our worship services received high approval: fellowship time, food, mission work ( local/worldwide), themes based on the liturgical calendar and themes based on social issues.
  • Those areas receiving most interest in participating in faith activities beyond Sunday worship included: special community work such as collecting food for the Food Bank, and fundraising to contribute to operating costs.
  • Supporting the needs of the wider church was considered important, but many were unable to volunteer on Presbytery, or offer assistance in programs for children ( church school or Youth Group).
  • Overwhelming support for an inclusive community.
  • Concerns that we do not have adequate parking and access to the basement of the church.

These comments were taken from the survey:

  • Be a caring community family by actively supporting outreach in various forms. The Benevolent Fund and the Food Bank are two examples.
  • Importance of our Senior/Junior Choirs and desire to keep current mix of old and new hymns.
  • Access to the basement and second floor via stairs is problematic. "An elevator" was given as a solution.
  • A request that announcements be in the weekly bulletin, not just given verbally or projected on the screen.
  • Long Term Care Facility and home visitations are important and the Pastoral Visitation teams should be supported by the minister.

PART C: RESOURCES - HUMAN

GOVERNANCE

Our officially sanctioned governance model is the Council System. This system was not working, and with reduced congregational numbers and an aging demographic, was no longer realistic.

The Church Council system was to consist of forty elected members, clergy, the Chair of Trustees, the President of the UCW, and representatives to Chignecto Presbytery. Each elected person served a three year term and was eligible to be re-elected for a second one, followed by a one year sabbatical. The chair was to be a layperson. The committees were: Worship, Ministry & Personnel, Christian Education, Property, Outreach and Stewardship. The committees and Council were to meet monthly, except for June, July and August.

Two congregational meetings were held each year following Sunday worship; the Financial meeting in February and the Church Activity meeting in June.

Restructured Council

At a congregational meeting held in June 2016, all Council & Trustee members were continued in their positions for, at least, another year. Commencing in September 2016 a reduced, restructured Council was instituted on a one year trial basis. This model called for six elected elders and the Minister to function as the Church Executive or “Leadership Group”. Five of the positions are filled at present. The elders work collaboratively, with the Minister providing oversight. The Council meets every two weeks, with meetings alternating between administrative issues touching on the various Ministry and Service Areas and reflecting on the spiritual and temporal direction of the Church. The Trustees and M&P Committee will continue as before. The UCW has waived the right to representation on Council for the time being. Other committees will, where possible, continue informally, taking on such tasks as they voluntarily assume or are asked to assume. Three of the elders will each assume responsibility for particular ministry areas or “Ministry Service Clusters” which are: (1) Faith Formation, Worship and Stewardship (broadly defined), (2) Fellowship, Visitation, Welcome & Inclusion and Communication (3) Outreach and Social Justice; the other two are Church Treasurer and Group Secretary. The sixth position, when filled, would be the group chair.

The new communications tool is the “Inspiration Board” in Burgess Hall, upon which any congregant can post ideas, requests for volunteers, suggestions for action, etc., with the overall aim of supporting and maintaining the ministry of the Church. Congregational meetings will be increased from two to four to ensure that congregants are both kept informed on governance issues, and asked to make decisions on significant matters placed before them. Essentially, a smaller congregation allows for much more direct congregational input than was previously practical.

We are in a transition phase; therefore it is not possible to perfectly describe our ultimate form of Church government as it remains a work in progress. We will learn by doing and adjust our model accordingly.

Restructured Council Model

Paid Staff

  • Clergy - full time, 40 hours per week
  • Music Director / Organist ≈18 hours per week
  • Office Administrator - full time, 35 hours per week
  • Custodian - full time, 35 hours per week

Volunteering Program

Our congregation is very active as volunteers who contribute within our church and community, as listed below:

  • Singing for the Fling - an annual fundraiser for the Highland Fling (which supports the local hospital auxiliary), done collaboratively with Dick's Jamboree, Trinity St.-Stephen's and the hospital auxiliary.
  • United Church Women (UCW), meet monthly and organize events, such as the Rummage Sale, Funeral receptions, knitting Prayer shawls, Bethlehem Market, Souper Sunday and Turkey Dinner. The UCW is celebrating their 55th. Anniversary (National) in 2017.
  • Benevolent Fund: Three volunteers take turns monthly to interview and distribute to those requiring emergency funds for heating oil, food, rent, etc.
  • Fund Raising Committee: Lead various fund raising activities, such as Yard Sale & Bazaar, Bethlehem Market, Silent Auctions, October Yard Sale and numerous catering events throughout the year.
  • Open Circle Drop-in meets on site and is open to seniors from the community for fellowship, but also financially support AFANA (Food Bank), Habitat for Humanity and SCAW (Sleeping Children Around the World).
  • Friends Unlimited: Group of people (couples and singles) meet the last Saturday of each month (except during the summer months) at 6 PM for a time of food, fellowship and fun. This group of 30+, has supported the Food Bank and the purchase of the new AED.
  • Pastoral Visitation Team: Trinity-St. Stephen’s United Church has over 50 congregants in various long-term care facilities in Amherst and area plus those at home who find it difficult to get out. From time to time some of these folks—and others from the general congregation will spend time at the hospital, or the rehabilitation centre, sometimes for an extended period. Visiting ministry to these folks is, of course, extremely important. At present there is a core group with overall responsibility for visiting, but this group is supplemented by a team of others who assume specific responsibilities, such as bulletin delivery, palliative care, and other visitation.
  • Music at Trinity: a small committee that researches and procures the musical services of exceptional local, national and international performers that present concerts in our sanctuary. This is both a community outreach and raises funds for church operations.
  • Recording of Sunday Service: every Sunday, our church service is recorded by a dedicated volunteer and then shown the following Sunday, on the local Cable TV network (much appreciated by shut-ins).

PART C:RESOURCES - MATERIAL

The Church was constructed in 1907 of local red sandstone and brick veneers.

Sanctuary

  • Will seat 800 people (main and balcony)
  • Soundboard for microphones and speakers
  • 3 manual Casavant Frères organ upgraded in 1995
  • Yamaha concert grand piano (2013)
  • Many fine stained glass windows
  • Belltron digital carillon system
  • Pulpit platform can be expanded to accommodate large groups

Burgess Hall

  • Stage area with storage underneath
  • Adjoining the hall a Nursery and Custodian room
  • Tables and chairs for meetings
  • Second storey has 1 meeting room and a storage room
  • AED (defibrillator )

Sanctuary & Burgess Hall Basement

  • Games room (bowling alley, shuffleboard, ping pong table and pool table)
  • Two storage rooms
  • Natural gas furnace room
  • Washrooms

Adjoining Heartz Hall (was constructed in 1961 of brick veneer) - Main Floor

  • Minister’s Office
  • Administration Office (walk-in vault, file cabinets, 2014 photocopier)
  • Large kitchen
  • Pre-school room
  • Kimball Lounge
  • Washrooms
  • Each room is suitably furnished

Second Floor

  • Library
  • Music Director’s office
  • Washrooms
  • 3 meeting rooms
  • Sunday school room
  • Tables and chairs for each room

Basement

  • Large yard sale area
  • Tables for displays

Burgess Hall is available for rental by outside community agencies.

Main floor is wheelchair accessible

The capital materials of T-SS include the sanctuary, Burgess Hall, and Heartz Hall; a parking lot on the south side of the building; and the Fort Lawrence Cemetery.