SALEM CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

FRUITFUL CONGREGATION JOURNEY CONSULTATION REPORT

October 21, 2014

Introduction

We, the Fruitful Congregation Journey (FCJ) consultation team, would like to thank Rev. Bob Raschka, lay leadership and the congregation of Salem Chapel United Methodist Church for the invitation to consult with this Body of Christ. The following observations and ministry action plans are the result of this team studying the following information: a) Salem Chapel’ self-study document provided by its leaders, b) completion of the FCJ on-line survey by your members, c) Interviews with the pastor and ministry team leaders, d) a focus group with members of the congregation, e) a meeting with the Leadership Team, f) a MissionInsite demographic report of the area’s population, g) input from the Faith Perceptions Mystery Guest Worshipper Report, and h) input from the Monday evening workshop.

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

Strengths

Salem Chapel’s greatest areas of strength are as follows:

1.FACILITY AND PROPERTY

The facility, built in 1976, is attractive and appears well maintained. It is apparent that updates have taken place and plans are in place for the future upgrades to the facility. The location has within a five-mile radius 20,000 people.

2.AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY

Overwhelmingly, the mystery guest worshipers all felt warmly and genuinely greeted. It was the singular characteristic identified as a strength by those who visited. Several of those interviewed mentioned the reason they are members is because of the care they or their family received at crucial times of their lives by this church.

3.CAPABLE, DIVERSE LEADERSHIP

The leadership of the church is comprised of people of various age groups and various tenures in the church. Many of the leaders are willing to try new ideas and approaches.

Concerns

Salem Chapel’s greatest areas of concern are as follows:

1.NO CLEAR IDENTITY

The consultation team feels that the people of Salem Chapel have lost their sense of identity. Without a clear understanding of who you are it is difficult to discern what your ministry emphasis should and could be. The church is not clear on who it is to reach and hence reaches very few people.

2.UNCLEAR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

While leadership diversity is a strength, the environment in which decisions are made is cloudy. In one of the focus groups it was stated that decision-making is “chaotic.” There does not appear to be a clear, consistent, and accountable leadership structure that allows for fruitful goal setting, teamwork, and good communication. Many times this results in frustration and bad communication.

3.LACK OF CLEAR, SHARED VALUES AND VISION

While many could articulate the mission for the church, it is obvious that a clear, shared vision has not been realized for Salem Chapel. The result of this has been multiple ministries that individuals are passionate about but don’t include strategies and fruitful goal setting in order to “make disciples of Jesus Christ.” This results in a lot of activity but not necessarily productivity or transformation.

IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE CONCERNS, SALEM CHAPEL UMC MUST IMPLEMENT THE FOLLOWING:

Worship Service

The congregation will have a Sunday worship 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 Catherine Turcotte or someone she provides, in consultation with Pastor Bob, by February 1, 2015.

Ministry Action Plans:

1.CREATE A PARISH PROFILE

This congregation needs to realize how God has uniquely shaped this congregation and positioned it for ministry that impacts persons inside and outside its walls. In order for this profile to be accomplished, the coach will walk the congregation through each of the following:

  • a workshop where the entire congregation can participate in realizing Salem Chapel’ core values. Discovering and naming these will allow members to understand the boundaries and expectations that hold deep conviction for this church. Furthermore, knowing core values is essential as you seek God’s vision for Salem Chapel.
  • a training will be done for the congregation that will allow individuals to realize their SHAPE:

S=Spiritual Gifts

H=Heart (Passions)

A=Aptitude/Abilities

P=Personality

E=Experience

  • an understanding of the demographics of the community that surrounds Salem Chapel by studying the MissionInsite report.
  • complete an individual discipleship/spiritual growth assessment.

This entire profile is to be complete by April 1, 2015.

2. COMMITMENT TO THE MISSION AND STRATEGIC VISIONAL MINISTRIES

The consultation team heard that the process for decision-making is not as effective as is necessary especially when a church needs to be in a revitalization mode. While we applaud the efforts to streamline the leadership model that is currently in place, it still is cumbersome and ineffective for accountable leadership to occur. In order to free leaders to be involved in ministry instead of meetings, the coach will hold an Accountability Leadership workshop by April 1, 2015, with all leaders for the purpose of exploring simplified organizational structures. Following this workshop, the pastor, in conjunction with the coach, will assemble a Leadership Structure task force of 3-5 leaders by May 15, 2015. This task force will bring the recommended structural changes to Leadership Team by June1, 2015 for acceptance.

Additionally, it is vital that all paid staff positions have updated job descriptions that include

expectations of the positions and goals to be achieved on an annual basis. These goals will be a critical aspect of the evaluation process. It is recommended that goals be reviewed on a quarterly basis.

Leadership descriptions must also be available for all ministry leaders with appropriate training and mentoring an expectation.

3. DISCERN THE VISION FOR THE CHURCH AND ESTABLISH MINISTRIES IN

ALIGNMENT WITH THE MISSION, VISION AND VALUES OF THE CHURCH

  • The coach will conduct a vision workshop for the congregation by March 1, 2016. The purpose of this workshop is to help the congregation discern the vision that will guide future decisions and ministries of the church.
  • Following the visioning workshop, the pastor, in consultation with the coach, will establish a team of three to five persons who will lead the process to discern the vision. The vision will be presented to the Leadership Team for discussion and adoption by May 1, 2016, and then present it to the congregation.
  • Upon adopting the vision, the ministry leaders will demonstrate how each ministry will

accomplish the mission and vision. To that end, the Leadership Team, through the pastor, will conduct a ministry review to evaluate all ministries for their faithfulness and fruitfulness to the values, mission and vision. Any ministries that are misaligned will be modified or discontinued. All continuing ministries will learn how to set goals and objectives in alignment with the mission, vision, and values. This review must be completed by November 1, 2016. All future ministries must demonstrate how they will be aligned to the mission, vision and values and have a plan for fruitful ministry.

  • Once the strategic fruitful goal-setting process and accountability leadership model is established, the coach will work with ministry leaders to create two new bridge events that will connect the congregation with the community. These events should be held away from the church as a way to begin to build relationships that in turn will allow for discussions of faith to occur. These 2 events should be held no later than August 1, 2016.

Conclusion

We, the consultation team, 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. May God give you courage and strength as you move forward.

- Ann Handschu, Lead Consultant

- Dean Fager, Coach

- Mark Eutsler, Consultant

Town Hall Meeting Dates

Tuesday, October 28 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday, October 28 6:30 p.m.

Church Conference Date:

- To be announced