2/1/2013 MYRTLE BEACH FIRST MISSION STUDY REPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Presented to Session (Feb. 4, 2013) | Mission Study Team 1 MISSION STUDY TEAM John Gandy, Elder Michael Shelton, Elder Co-Chairpersons Stuart Butler Sherrie Gore Jackie Hendrix Al Marrer Claudia McCollough Susan Sparks Jim Ward, Deacon Dr. Lewis Johnson Kathleen Wilder Staff Contact Staff Support Dr. John Wilkerson Consultant/Trainer The Mission Study Team (the ―MST‖) received excellent support from many others in the church who agreed to be interviewed, completed surveys, participated in Congregational Gatherings and encouraged and supported the team in completing its work. We are grateful for every contribution to this study. Soli Deo Gloria 2 Table of Contents PURPOSE OF THE MISSION STUDY ........................................................................................ 4 SUMMARY OF CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN ........................................................................ 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 8 Officer Surveys and Interviews .................................................................................................. 8 Congregational Rating Survey ................................................................................................ 8 Life Cycle Analysis Survey .................................................................................................... 8 Interviews with Certain Individuals ............................................................................................ 9 Congregational Gatherings ......................................................................................................... 9 Church Planning Inventory ....................................................................................................... 10 RECOMMENDED STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE, VISION AND MISSION ......................... 12 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................. 13 DETAILED REPORT OF MBFPC MISSION STUDY LISTENING FOR THE VOICE OF GOD… ............................................................................... 21 …IN SCRIPTURE .................................................................................................................... 21 …IN THE BOOK OF ORDER................................................................................................. 23 …IN PROPHETIC VOICES OF TODAY ............................................................................... 24 A Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ............................................ 24 …IN THE CONGREGATION ................................................................................................. 27 Church History and Timeline ................................................................................................ 27 Congregational Rating Inventory .......................................................................................... 30 Life Cycle and Stages of Congregational Development ....................................................... 30 CONGREGATIONAL GATHERINGS ................................................................................... 34 Thursday, October 4 and Sunday, October 7, 2012 .............................................................. 34 Thursday, October 18 and Sunday, October 21, 2012 .......................................................... 39 Youth Gathering.................................................................................................................... 41 CHURCH PLANNING INVENTORY—SUMMARY ........................................................... 43 APPENDIX A—Welcome Rating ................................................................................................ 49 APPENDIX B—Myths, Norms and Meaning Statements ........................................................... 51 APPENDIX C—Definitions of Life Cycle Terminology ............................................................. 55 APPENDIX D—MBFPC Ministries ............................................................................................ 58 APPENDIX E—Hartford Institute Report on the Church Planning Inventory ............................ 59 APPENDIX F—Demographics of Myrtle Beach and Its Environs .............................................. 90 3 PURPOSE OF THE MISSION STUDY According to a resource of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, there are three basic types of churches: 1) Those churches that focus only upon serving the needs of their current membership; 2) Those churches that express interest in reaching people outside their current membership but do little or nothing about it; and 3) Those churches that focus upon caring for one another while, at the same time, serving as a mission outpost to the larger community. The first two tend to become comfortable with themselves, to stagnate and to show little or no vitality. Over the course of time, their average age increases while their numerical size and average participation decrease. The third type of church, however, is the one in which its members have determined to apply their time and energies to discerning who they are, what their purpose is, and what God is calling them to do that will make a difference in both their congregational life and the community in which they live. These churches are visionary and, because of that, they tend to grow in variety and depth of ministry, financial support, and overall membership participation.1 The clear implication is that, planning, implementing and assessment procedures aside, the churches that really grow are the ones whose participants concentrate on their relationship with God, who allow God to define and redefine who they are and what directions they should take and who focus upon serving each other and the community. They grow because they take to heart Jesus words: ―seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you‖ (Matt. 6:13). This doesn’t mean we should dream without counting the cost. About that, Jesus says, ―don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a tower without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you‖ (Luke 14:28-29). But it does mean that the way to grow is not just to devise a program for growth, but to concentrate on serving God and our fellow man in vital ways with whatever means He may put at our disposal. On April 16, 2012, the Session of MBFPC appointed the Mission Study Team (the ―MST‖) and charged it with conducting this study and reporting back to the Session. The whole study process was designed to engage the congregation in a visioning and discerning process that will help the Session determine who God is calling our congregation to be and what God is calling us to do over the next few years. It would require our congregation to recall and review when it has been at its best in order to discover and focus on values and behavior patterns that will help to shape a positive future. And the congregation responded to this effort, for which the Session and the MST are most grateful. The mission study was designed to provide: an opportunity for all members of our congregation to participate in the process, an overview of our congregation’s life and ministry from a historical perspective, and of enrichment ministry opportunities for the future, 1 This introductory section has been taken from Rev. John D. Wilkerson, D. Min., Director, Church Leadership and Coaching, A Mission Study Process, April, 2012. 4 an opportunity for members to interact with one another around important questions concerning the congregation’s present status, an opportunity for members to discern who God is calling them to be and what God is calling them to do in the future, so that they may be faithful in God’s mission and serve as witnesses to the claims of the Gospel upon our congregational life and ministry, a clarification of values that are most important to our congregation’s life and ministry, a valuable resource of information to church officers and committees, the pastor nominating committee, and serious pastoral candidates. MBFPC is fortunate to have an existing Strategic Plan, including statements of the Church’s Vision and Mission, which was developed in 2009-10 (the ―Strategic Plan‖). The purpose of this study report is not to supplant the existing plan but to re-examine the congregation’s needs, priorities and hopes for the future following the departure of its long-time Senior Minister in December 2011. Had the present study indicated a need to forsake the existing plan and make a significant change in direction, the present MST would have made such a recommendation. However, the MST’s consensus was that the data found here were generally consistent with the needs identified in the Strategic Planning Exercise in 2009 and that the Strategic Plan’s objectives are still relevant in view of our findings. For that reason, the recommendations of the 2009 plan have largely survived in this study and several others have been added. The Hartford Institute’s report has been reproduced in its entirety as Appendix E to this Report. It contains much information that may prove useful beyond the scope of this Report and we encourage the Session and Ministry