Local Church Profile
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Search and Call Tools for Congregations Advancing the Spirit’s guidance into God’s future INTRODUCING THE NEW LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE Who is Who Who ? God are is our calling us we neighbor to become The new Local Church Profile is not just for congregations in search of a Rachel Hackenberg pastor. All congregations are encouraged to engage in its process of Microsoft MINISTERIAL EXCELLENCE, discovery every 3-5 years. The UCC Local Church Profile reflects [Pick the date] SUPPORT & AUTHORIZATION valuable data, assesses ministry, clarifies change, and helps advance the 1 calling of the congregation. Not just to be completed by a search committee – the more participation, the better! UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE Christ United Church Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 Solo pastor EOA WRA Associations Ohio Conference United Church of Christ September 26, 2018 LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE CONTENTS ➢ Position Posting ➢ Who Is God Calling Us To Become? ➢ Who Are We Now? ➢ Who Is Our Neighbor? ➢ References ➢ Consent and Validation “God is able to provide you with every blessing, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8) 2 POSITION POSTING a. LISTING INFORMATION b. SCOPE OF WORK c. COMPENSATION & SUPPORT d. WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US? 1a. LISTING INFORMATION Church name: Christ United Church Street address: 23114 West Road Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 Supplemental web links: ChristUnited.church Additional ecumenical affiliations: Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbytery of the Western Reserve Conference: Ohio Conference United Church of Christ Association: EOA WRA Associations UCC Conference or Association Staff Contact Person: Nayiri Karjian Associations General Minister Office: 330-940-2220 x102 [email protected] 3 Summary Ministry Description: Christ United is a UCC and PCUSA federated congregation. We created our new church in 2016. We are seeking a pastor who will help guide us in our journey to accomplish our vision of being a progressive caring congregation that serves a diverse population and continues to study the word of God. Please note the vision described in our “Provocative Proposals”. Photographs: What we value about living in our area : We value the close proximity of Baldwin Wallace University and the city of Cleveland where we can enjoy all of their events, entertainment, classes, restaurants, museums and various other opportunities. We also have the advantage of having local access to the Cleveland Metroparks and are in close proximity to Cuyahoga National Park. We embrace the small town community involvement along with being close to a major city. 4 Current size of membership: 201 Languages used in ministry (other than English): NA Position Title: Solo Pastor Position Duration: Settled – a called position intended for longer-term ministry in which the minister joins our congregation and moves their ministerial standing to related association Compensation Level: Full Time Does the total support package meet conference compensation guidelines? Yes 1b. SCOPE OF WORK ● Preparation and leadership of Sunday worship: including scripture study, crafting of liturgy, sermon preparation, guiding lay liturgists, coordination with worship committee and musical staff around liturgical theme as appropriate, preaching, offering of prayers, etc. ● Faith formation and vitality: working with the Faith Formation committee through prayer to plan Bible study, adult and youth classes, identifying helpful resources and opportunities and helping lay persons take advantage of them ● Leadership development: by discovering and nurturing the gifts of the people and matching them with the ministries of the church, by working with members of the congregation to create ministry and programs and providing pastoral care (including visiting homebound members and those who are hospitalized) in collaboration with lay people ● Community engagement: by encouraging mission opportunities both locally and globally and leading the way for the church to care for all people. Be open to conducting weddings and funerals for friends, members of the church and surrounding community. ● Strategic planning for current and new directions in ministry: by supporting permission giving ministries within the congregations and encouraging new mission, worship and service opportunities ● Administration: by attending meetings and giving leadership as needed to church programs, in collaboration with lay leadership, participating in the wider church, 5 both UCC and PCUSA, through activities such as conference, presbytery and association meetings, administration responsibilities (unless delegated) such as email, social media and other technologies, responsibility for staff cohesion coordinated with the personnel committee ● Stewardship: in cooperation with the stewardship, financial and funds committees, develop plans for annual and ongoing stewardship program and faithful use of our resources. Core Competencies: Caring, Serving, Learning 1c. COMPENSATION AND SUPPORT Salary Basis: Association guidelines Benefits: Salary plus Benefits What is the expected living situation for your next minister? living nearby with a housing allowance Comment on the residential/commuting expectations for your next minister. Berea, Olmsted Falls, or other neighboring community Describe peer and professional supports available for ministers in your association/conference: pastoral network, mentoring possibilities, opportunities for professional development and support through the association and presbytery If applicable, describe how your church will adopt part-time adjustments in the pastoral schedule to support a minister’s bi-vocational employment: N/A 6 1d. WHO IS GOD CALLING TO MINISTER WITH US? Describe the ministry goals you envision your next minister co-collaborating with the congregation to achieve. We wish to become a permission giving congregations that cares for one another and our neighbors both near and far. We wish to expand our Faith Formation program and explore new worship opportunities and practices. We aspire to reach out to the unchurched through creative and dynamic programs. We are open to reimagining our worship space to meet these goals. Describe how your vision of the minister you are now seeking will assist the congregation in making an impact beyond its walls. The pastor will help us reach our vision and mission goals by using his or her leadership skills and knowledge. We desire a pastoral leader who will work with church leaders and congregation members to discern God’s call for our mission in this place. Our pastor should be able to guide us, to explore what missions and programs might be implemented, and how that process will move forward. Specify language requirements or culturally-specific capacities preferred in a next ministerial leader, and why those matter to the congregation’s sense of calling. Our congregation uses a variety of concepts, male and female to talk about God. We appreciate inclusive language as well as the uniqueness of each person and would like to be sensitive to cultural differences in our communication and dialogue. Based on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church’s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The Marks of Faithful & Effective Authorized Ministry that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation’s ministry in these areas. 1. Exhibiting a spiritual foundation and ongoing spiritual practice 2. Building Transformational leadership skills 3. Working together for justice and mercy 4. Strengthening inter-and intra-personal assets 7 WHO IS GOD CALLING US TO BECOME? “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NRSV) Who is God calling you to become as a congregation? Our Vision is expressed through 7 “Provocative Proposals” that imagine how we can serve. ● Our Shepherding Ministry will maintain our close ties with each other in ways that feel like family. ● Sanctuary redesign will allow for greater flexibility of worship styles, helps us to engage more personally, be more welcoming of each other and foster a deep sense of togetherness. ● We encourage members to come up with ideas that focus on a specific need that meet mission, worship or education goals and apply them through “K-Cell” (or permission giving) Ministries with the help of other members and the board. ● We embrace the need for a dynamic and diverse Faith Formation program. We have a desire to provide a wide variety of classes that range from meditation to retirement, empty nesting to Bible study, self-care to the care of aging parents, spiritual growth to personal growth. ● While maintaining the appeal of traditional liturgy, we plan to incorporate new possibilities that enliven and enhance our worship through music and drama. We see both music and drama ministries offering events to and gathering resources from the surrounding area. ● We see the possibility of growing a second, younger, congregation within Christ United Church. Though this congregation may do a good deal of their own separate programming, multigenerational programming is a possibility. ● Realizing that form follows function, we have postponed any new construction until it becomes clear what kind of facility may be needed. 8 Describe how God is calling you to reach out to address the emerging challenges and opportunities of your community and congregation. We