Spring Park United Church Joint Needs Assessment Committee Report ~ November 2014 ~

“We are a church committed to serving God and the people in the world, we will seek to understand God’s Word and to love and to live according to God’s will.” Table of Contents

Community Profile 3 Pastoral Charge Profile 6 Resources Profile 11 Position Description 13 Skills Profile 16 Terms Profile 17 Recommendation 18 Community Profile

Spring Park United Church is located in the Spring Park neighbourhood of , , near the geographical centre of the growing city. The church was built in the mid-1960s as an outreach project in a rapidly growing residential district. Over the years, the city has expanded so that the congregation now also draws from surrounding neighbourhoods and communities. The Spring Park neighbourhood is currently in transition as elderly residents move out and new residents move in.

Charlottetown is the capital city of Prince Edward Island and the largest city in the province, with a population of about 35,000. The Greater Charlottetown Area (including the neighbouring towns of Cornwall and Stratford) has a population of about 60,000 – representing about 40% of the total provincial population of 146,000.

The city of Charlottetown is located on the south shore of the island, about halfway between the eastern and western ends of the island. Charlottetown is bordered on the south by a sheltered harbour, on the west by the North and West rivers, and on the east by the Hillsborough River. To the north is a farming area, typical of the island’s rural setting. The city is a 20 minute drive from the north shore of the island, an area well- known for its beaches and dune landscapes and home to Prince Edward Island National Park.

The population of the city is primarily English-speaking (96%), born in Canada (91%) and born in PEI (71%), but immigration has increased dramatically in the past decade. In addition to hosting the provincial government, Charlottetown has a large federal government presence in the Department of Veterans Affairs which is headquartered here. A large proportion of the city’s labour force is in managerial or administrative positions; the second largest segment of the work force is in the retail and service sectors. Many businesses expand in the summer to serve the transient tourist population.

Historic downtown Charlottetown is dominated by Province House, the provincial legislature, and the Confederation Centre of the Arts which sits beside it. Province House hosted the 1864 , which started a collection of colonies down the road to forming the Dominion of Canada in 1867 – a fact which has led the city to brand itself as the “Cradle of Confederation.” The historic downtown core features many beautiful homes, lively tourist hubs like Peake’s Quay, Founders Hall, and well-kept park spaces. Although Charlottetown is a small city, it possesses many of the amenities of larger urban centres, with educational, recreational, health, and arts institutions.

3 Spring Park United is within walking distance of three elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. The city and its vicinity is further served by another five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There is a French-language school encompassing kindergarten to Grade 12 students. The two English-language high schools offer French Immersion programs and the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. Both high school offer strong music/band programs and there are courses of study which emphasize the trades.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the largest hospital on the island, is a modern facility which serves as a community hospital as well as a referral centre for the province. The city has a number of programs and facilities for the elderly, including seniors’ homes and largely retiree-apartment buildings in the Spring Park neighbourhood.

There are excellent recreational facilities in and near the city. Charlottetown has 83 park areas including the beautiful Victoria Park on the waterfront. Victoria Park offers a waterfront boardwalk, large grassy lawns, a woodlot with trails, splash pad, public pool, tennis courts, ball fields, skate park, and summertime canteen. The former railbed from downtown has been converted to a popular walking and cycling trail which connects with the TransCanada Trail to other parts of the province. The city’s recreation department supports a major pool and arena centre (the CARI complex), and promotes many youth recreation activities including hockey, soccer, baseball, swimming, skating, and skiing. The city also has a number of private fitness facilities and yoga studios. The Charlottetown Yacht Club and Peake’s Marina provide boating facilities, and numerous courses are within an easy drive of the city. Winter recreation includes a small ski hill in central Queen’s County, and many trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Charlottetown hosts the Island’s two major post-secondary institutions: The University of Prince Edward Island and . Located in the north end of the city, UPEI offers undergraduate degree programs in Arts, Sciences, Business, Engineering, Nursing, and Education; as well as graduate programs, including doctoral degrees in Nursing and Education. UPEI is currently ranked in the top ten undergraduate universities in Canada. The Atlantic Veterinary College, which serves the entire Atlantic region, is also part of UPEI. Holland College, located downtown, offers diploma programs in a variety of applied disciplines, including the award-winning culinary institute. Both schools draw students from across Canada and a large number of international students.

Prince Edward Island’s striking natural beauty attracts large numbers of tourists, and the average population effectively doubles in summertime. This has spawned an incredibly rich and varied summer calendar of social and cultural events across the island, a wide array of businesses and accommodations catering to tourists, and a variety of small shopping areas in the city. Cruise ship traffic extends the tourist season into spring and

4 fall. Year-round residents inevitably find themselves hosting visiting friends and family each summer.

In spite of the island’s popularity as a tourist destination, property values for residential homes are inexpensive by national standards. For example, the average house price in Charlottetown and area in 2014 is estimated at $158,000. The city also has an extremely attractive property tax rate of $1.50/$100 assessed. Although the tax rate is low, the city offers a full range of services (fire, police, snow removal, parks and recreation). The island has a comprehensive and compulsory waste management system that incorporates extensive recycling and community composting.

Charlottetown is accessed primarily by air and by road. The is a modern facility served by Air Canada and WestJet, with service to points across Canada and to international destinations. The airport is an easy ten minute drive from downtown by car or taxi. By road, the Confederation Bridge (one-way toll) links PEI to New Brunswick. A car ferry service connects PEI to Nova Scotia from May to December. A public transit system serves Charlottetown, Cornwall and Stratford.

Further information on Charlottetown and PEI can be found at the following links: www.city.charlottetown.pe.ca www.gov.pe.ca www.gov.pe.ca/edu/elsb www.edu.pe.ca/cslf www.upei.ca www.hollandcollege.com www.tourismpei.com www.flypei.com www.ferries.ca www.confederationbridge.com www.triustransit.ca

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Pastoral Charge Profile

Our History

In 2014, Spring Park United celebrated its 50th anniversary. The congregation grew out of historic Trinity United Church as the city expanded after the Second World War. Spring Park began as a church school in 1959 and was housed in a bungalow on Queen Street. Shortly thereafter, the congregation was formed and housed in a portable church but remained under the pastoral charge of Trinity United. On June 30, 1964, Spring Park United became a separate pastoral charge and Reverend C.C. Lewis was inducted as the congregation’s first Minister. The existing building was completed in the spring of 1965. Many older members of the congregation have been with Spring Park since its early years, and are very proud of their building and attached to the congregation.

The following Ministers have served the congregation: Rev. C.C. Lewis (1964-1967) Rev. Bruce Roberts (1967-1968) Rev. Robert Hussey (1968-1972) Rev. Donald Sinclair (Jan.-June 1972) Rev. David Hamilton (1972-1979) Rev. Gary Clark (1979-2005) Rev. Greg Davis (2006-2008) Rev. Bill MacLeod (2008-2011) – A period of intentional interim ministry Rev. Gayle MacDonald (2011-June 2015)

A detailed early history of our congregation and church are available (printed in 1984; 200 pages). Our 2011 Transition Report, the result of our deliberate engagement with who we had been and who we wanted to become, is available in digital form on the website. The Spring Park congregation remains devoted to discerning and refining its place and purpose in the community.

Our Vision We are a church committed to serving God and the people in the world, we will seek to understand God’s Word and to love and to live according to God’s will. -Adopted by the congregation, June 2010

6 Who We Are: Demographics Our congregation membership tends to be quite stable, aging but still possessing a mixture of various age groups. Members and adherents work in a wide array of professions and trades, providing the congregation with a pool of skills, talents, and expertise which is both wide and deep. At present, families who are considered to be under pastoral care of Spring Park number 292.

2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 Baptisms 4 5 10 8 12 Confirmations 1 5 0 4 11 Members Received 2 5 10 2 4

Members Removed 2 3 6 7 2 Marriages 3 4 3 1 7 Funerals 12 3 14 6 6 Children enrolled in Sunday School 28 25 48 39 94 UCW Members 45 53 53 57 58

Living Our Vision

United Church Women The UCW works to unite all women of the congregation to support the mission of the church and express devotion to Jesus Christ through witness, study, fellowship, and service. 47 women meet in four active units for monthly meetings, as does an Executive Committee. The UCW supports congregational fundraising efforts through two annual events (Valentine Tea; Christmas Bake Sale) and maintains the supplies and cleanliness of the church kitchen. The UCW also hosts congregational luncheons, funerals, and other catered events. Like many congregations, Spring Park UCW has an aging and decreasing membership and current members would love to see new members bringing new energy.

Choir We have a very talented Senior Choir (averaging 20 men and women), which provides music, celebration, and interpretation each Sunday, as well as at special points during the year (notably, the Christmas and Easter cantatas), led by our Music Director, Susan Duncan. Special groups and soloists from within the choir and from talented youth in the congregation add to our worship at various times. We are a congregation that loves music, and members often mention how much the choir and other musical offerings add to their weekly worship experience. Two community choirs (Akkord, directed by Lori Linkletter, and Amabile, directed by Ruth Ann Read Clay) use our church as a rehearsal and concert venue, are often special guests for our services. The Senior Choir has shared 7 some wonderful concerts with Akkord and Amabile in the past and looks forward to many more in the years to come.

Youth Group Spring Park Youth Group was created in 2013 and grew to 14 regular participants. It meets regularly on Fridays after school, with a missional focus. Our youth group regularly gives time to support Habitat for Humanity, the Upper Room soup kitchen, and the Food Bank, as well as raising money for an M&S project from the Gifts with Vision Catalogue.

Messy Church Messy Church recognizes that Sunday worship may not work for everyone. As an alternative, Messy Church offers a relaxed mid-week evening as a way to gather in community to worship, eat, play games and do crafts, while engaging with a story from our scriptural tradition. This ministry has been focussed within the congregation and has had an average attendance of 12-15 people. In the coming year we look to expand this ministry outward into the community.

Sunday School Our Sunday School has seen changes over the last few years. We follow the “Whole People of God” curriculum, and rely on parent volunteers to act as teachers. Regular attendance is down this autumn, but overall our unique number of participants is about the same as previous years, and since some of our children have become pre-teens and teens this means we have some new families participating in this ministry.

Vacation Bible School We have a small but lively week-long summertime Vacation Bible School, with 10-13 children attending each year (about half from our congregation). We are working to expand this program in summer 2015.

Pastoral Visitation This small team, coordinated by Session, pays Christmas visits to approximately 50 members of the congregation who are considered shut-ins. Some members of the team also make visits during the year, respond to requests for visits, and bring the church bulletin to some shut-ins. Our Administrative Assistant is very good at alerting the minister and others to those in need. We consider ourselves a caring church family, and would like to organize a larger team paying more regular visits to a larger group of people.

Bible Studies Throughout the year we intermittently run small study groups developed in consultation with the Minister. Within the past few years Spring Park study groups have explored topics including “Angels and Demons” (from the heavenly choirs to ideas around heaven and hell), Lectio Divina (a member-led group), “60 Essential Bible Stories,” “Prophets,” “Empire,” and a Lenten self-study. We have also held spiritual exploration and practice groups. 8 Transportation for Church Members We want everyone to be able to worship with us! For this reason, the church has an account with a local taxi firm, which is available for members of the congregation without their own transportation.

Thursday Morning Coffee Group Every Thursday, a regular group of 5-8 congregants (plus a larger group that visit off and on) meet for coffee and fellowship at the church. The coffee group allows the ministry team to hear what is going on in people's lives and learn what is going on in our own community in an informal fashion.

Labyrinth Spring Park United is fortunate to have inherited a large, portable, painted-canvas labyrinth from the Sisters of St. Martha in Charlottetown, which it uses for meditative purposes and has occasionally loaned out for ecumenical community use. The labyrinth has been set up in our gym at various points over the past several years, allowing for drop-in reflection walks before/after Sunday worship, during summer weekday mornings, or at special seasons like Easter. The labyrinth and some of its most frequent users in the congregation were featured in a local CBC TV piece in spring 2014.

Prayer Shawl Ministry In June 2010, the congregation launched its Prayer Shawl Ministry – a ministry of caring to those (for instance) with serious medical problems, dealing with bereavement, or in a season of celebration. The creation and presentation of a prayer shawl enriches the giver as well as the recipient, and the knitters take pride in their contributions. The congregation shares in the dedication of the shawls during Sunday worship, and considers it a way to connect with congregation members and friends in need. 134 shawls have been given, along with a special message, since 2010.

Grow to Give Garden Since 2009, this award-winning “ministry of food” has annually planted, tended, and harvested a variety of vegetables in a 32’ x 50’ garden on a corner of our property. The garden truly links our congregation to the community, as virtually all materials (fencing, some tools, seeds) have been donated by local companies, the City of Charlottetown waters it during the summer, and volunteers from the church and neighbourhood come together to provide labour and share in fellowship. All produce is donated to the Charlottetown Food Bank, which gets up to 80% of its soft produce from the garden during the summer and fall.

Community Outreach Initiatives Through congregational donations we support a series of community outreach programs on a rotating seasonal basis: Anderson House (an emergency shelter for women and

9 children), Colonel Gray High School’s Christmas gift programme, and the Charlottetown Food Bank and Upper Room soup kitchen.

Events and Activities Spring Park holds a variety of activities each year: some are annual events, while others are added each year depending on wishes and needs at the time. Congregation members’ gifts of time and talent offer a vibrant testimony of the church’s commitment to living our vision.

Fundraising events held 2012-2014 included: “Spring Park of the Seas” dinner and silent auction; Variety Show in aid of organ refurbishment and cleaning; Christmas floral arrangement sale; Green Christmas sale; benefit concerts (by both congregation members and professional musicians); Yard Sale.

Fellowship events held 2012-2014 included: Coffee and conversation (winter) or lemonade in the narthex (summer); Bible Studies; Breakfast in Bethlehem; Welcome Back Sunday and neighbourhood barbecue; congregational lunches; Grad Breakfast.

For a more detailed overview of our church membership and activities, please refer to our annual report.

Building Use by Other Groups The church building is also used by various community groups not affiliated with the congregation, including Sparks, Brownies, Scouts, Alcoholics Anonymous. We are in the process of ending a 20 year lease arrangement with a Christian School. The Committee of Stewards and Board of Trustees are engaged in a formal process which will define the use of this regained space, in ways that will enable us to follow our mission and serve our community.

Governance Structure Spring Park United Church is governed by the Session/Stewards/Official Board Model. The Executive of the Official Board meets monthly. Spring Park also has an active Ministry & Personnel Committee, reporting to the Official Board.

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Resources Profile

Spring Park United Church Pastoral Charge encompasses the City of Charlottetown and the surrounding communities of the greater Charlottetown area. There are several other United Churches serving this geographical area: Trinity United, Park Royal United, Winsloe United, York/Covehead Pastoral Charge, and Cornwall United.

Spring Park United’s building and property consists of a modern complex at the corner of Kirkwood and Trafalgar Streets, constructed in 1964 and presently in good repair. The structure consists of: sanctuary with balcony (seats 550); Christian education classrooms (two reserved for church use, and the rest rented out); gymnasium with stage and adjoining kitchen; administration offices for staff; Minister’s study; meeting rooms including board room and parlour; choir practice room; large parking lot. The building is wheelchair accessible with two level entrances and an interior elevator between floors. The sanctuary has a pipe organ and a sound system. The church property is well maintained, with manicured lawns, mature trees, shrub and flower gardens, and our award winning Grow to Give garden, with garden shed.

The congregation has a history of successful capital campaigns. The most recent, in 1998, provided for a new sanctuary room, new windows and entry doors, parking lot repaving, and exterior landscaping upgrade, among other things. Further work in 2005 upgraded the gymnasium, redesigned the Chancel, and added a new washroom in the Narthex. In 2013 we raised $40,000 to complete the much-needed organ restoration and cleaning.

The capable, experienced staff at Spring Park consists of a Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator (20 hours per week), Treasurer (part-time), Administrative Assistant (35 hours per week), Organist/Music Director (15 hours per week), and contracted cleaners. All are an asset to Spring Park United, and they look forward to a collaborative working relationship with Ministry Personnel in which all staff support and respect each other’s expertise in the service of God and of the congregation.

Children and youth are engaged in vibrant ways through the ministry of Spring Park’s Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator who brings energy, enthusiasm, and creativity to the role of administering our Sunday School program, engaging our youth in mission work, and fostering intergenerational fellowship throughout the year.

The Trustees administer several endowment and trust funds held in memory of late church members.

The proposed budget of the church for the year 2014 is $245,275. Like many churches, Spring Park faces some financial challenges and has planned for a deficit budget in 2014. However, through diligent fundraising efforts and cost-cutting measures we are actively 11 working toward achieving a balanced budget. We are blessed to have no mortgage on our church property.

The Mission and Service Fund revenue for 2013 was $22,611. We are striving to expand our contributor base.

The annual report for 2013 is available on our website. Within this report is the financial statement for the year, lists of committee members, a report of activities of all groups, an outline of church officers, and all the statistical information for the year 2013.

Further information on Spring Park United Church is available on our website, at: www.springparkunitedchurch.ca

12 Position Description

Position Title

Minister of Word, Sacrament & Pastoral Care – Spring Park United Church

Summary

The Minister performs the basic duties of a full-time Ordained Minister. These duties include working with a dedicated team (Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator, Choir Director/Organist, Administrative Assistant, cleaners, and church committees) at Spring Park United Church. These duties include delivering worship, Christian education, visitation, counselling, and training to a multi-generational congregation. The Minister will be responsible for the daily management of church operations and will oversee church administration with assistance from the Official Board and Committee of Stewards, and input from the Session as needed.

Description of Duties and Estimated Percentage of Time Allotted

The Minister will:

Worship (30%)

·Prepare and conduct one service each Sunday, following the approved lectionary of the United Church of Canada, and in consultation with the Session, Choir Director/Organist, Faith Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator, and Christian Education Committee. The congregation of Spring Park United Church places emphasis on conveying the Christian message in engaging, relevant and thought-provoking sermons that tie Biblical concepts to everyday life. ·In consultation with the ministry team and the Session, celebrate the sacraments and conduct other special services such as confirmations, dedications, etc.

Pastoral Care (30%)

·Enhance the spiritual health of all members of the congregation. ·Provide initial counselling to individuals and families experiencing problems, referring them to professional resources as required. ·Meet with and provide guidance to individuals contemplating marriage. ·Meet with and provide Christian instruction to family members about the significance of baptism, prior to the Service of Baptism.

13 ·Meet with those seeking confirmation and provide Christian instruction about the significance of confirmation prior to the Service of Confirmation. ·Counsel bereaved parishioners. ·Visit members of the congregation who cannot regularly attend worship or take communion, in conjunction with pastoral visiting team. ·Visit those families which request a home visit. ·Foster a caring and welcoming congregational community.

Christian Development (10%)

·Support the Family Formation and Congregational Life Coordinator’s work with children and youth (through Sunday School, Youth Group and other programs), and engaging families in non-traditional worship and community activities. ·Support our very strong church music program through collaborative and timely worship planning with the Choir Director/Organist. ·Support and encourage adult programming in the congregation.

Administration (15%)

·Share oversight of church administration in collaboration with the Official Board, Committee of Stewards, Trustees, and appropriate committees of the church. ·These duties include (but are not limited to): oResponding to written correspondence, email, and telephone calls; oProviding empowering leadership and guidance at meetings, as required by the Manual or requested by the Chair or members of a committee; oCoordinating the work of the church boards and committees, and serve as Chair in the absence of designated Chairs; oSupporting the Official Board in keeping church operations within the annual budget; oAttending and providing input into the work of the PEI Presbytery, Maritime Conference, and (if delegated) General Council; oContributing to the upkeep of family lists; oPreparing worship content for the weekly church bulletin.

Outreach (5%)

·Represent Spring Park United Church in activities with other United Church congregations and churches of other denominations, as well as civic events (for example, Remembrance Day services). ·Administer the benevolent funds provided by Session. 14 ·Support congregational outreach projects.

Professional Development (5%)

·Participate in reading, study, and seminar or workshop opportunities, in consultation with the Ministry & Personnel Committee.

Other Duties (5%)

·Assume any duties necessary based upon the changing needs of the congregation. The M&P committee, in consultation with the Minister, is charged with making recommendations in duty changes for approval by the Official Board.

15 Skills Profile

“We are a church committed to serving God and the people in the world, we will seek to understand God’s Word and to love and to live according to God’s will.”

Spring Park United Church is seeking an enthusiastic, personable Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care who will help us to live out our vision, leading us in vibrant and meaningful worship and bringing us into closer relationship with God, one another, and the wider community.

Our Ideal Candidate Will: ·Possess a clear sense of calling to the Ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care; ·Convey the Christian message in an inspirational way relevant to 21st century life; ·Work effectively as a collaborative team player with staff and volunteers; ·Develop positive relationships with members of the congregation, through visits, counselling, informal fellowship, and working interactions; ·Counsel and refer individuals to professional resources; ·Support and encourage our music ministry and youth programming; ·Support the congregation in social action and outreach; ·Possess strong organizational skills; ·Be an effective communicator; ·Be committed to personal wellness and professional development; ·Balance a respect for the past with a vision for the future.

Information Technology Skills Required: ·We use up-to-date computer software (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) and make regular use of email and the church website, so proficiency and experience in their use would be an asset.

Ministerial Qualities That Would Enrich Our Congregational Life and Help Us Live Our Vision: ·Strong leadership ability combined with the desire to work collaboratively; ·Creative ideas for encouraging intergenerational involvement in church activities and governance; ·Encouragement of congregational diversity and inclusiveness; ·Personal warmth, caring, and sense of humour; ·Ability to engage the congregation; ·Ability to help the congregation to develop a fuller understanding of all aspects of stewardship (time, talents, treasure); ·Ability to empower volunteers to fully and effectively share their talents and skills. 16

Terms Profile

Spring Park United Church follows the standards for remuneration for Ministry personnel as found in the Church Manual and the Salary and Allowance Schedule. This is a full-time position of forty (40) hours per week.

Salary: Negotiable; based on United Church Salary and Allowances Schedule and Increment Category

Housing: Housing allowance as per United Church of Canada Guidelines, under the new structure

Travel: As per United Church of Canada Guidelines, paid upon submission of travel log

Sick, Bereavement, and Special Leave: As per United Church of Canada Guidelines

Vacation: At least one (1) month per year, to include five (5) Sundays

Pension Plan and Health Insurance United Church pension plan and group benefits plan

Continuing Education and Learning Resources: Three (3) weeks per year; $1332 annually In consultation with the Ministry & Personnel Committee, this allowance is granted towards the cost of attending courses, workshops, or/and conferences; purchasing books; and obtaining electronic and other resources relevant to providing ministry leadership.

17 JNAC Recommendation

The Spring Park United Church Joint Needs Assessment Committee offers the following recommendation:

That PEI Presbytery approve a vacancy in Spring Park United Church Pastoral Charge, effective June 30, 2015, to be filled through call of a full-time Minister of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care.

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