q: where did new beginnings come from?
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Q: Where did New Beginnings come from? A: New Beginnings was developed to help congregations that have been struggling with sustainability, make a bold decision about their future. Fast Facts:. Designed to lead “stuck” congregations to make a DECISION about their future - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Q: Where did New Beginnings come from?
A: New Beginnings was developed to help congregations that have been struggling with sustainability, make a bold decision about their future.
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Fast Facts:
• Designed to lead “stuck” congregations to make a DECISION about their future
• Entire process takes about 6-8 months• Cost is $2800 for churches in a cluster
setting ($1,000 more if solo)• This may be your only chance in this
Presbytery this decade
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Phase One:The On-Site Assessment
Phase Four:Making a Decision about your
New Beginning
Phase Three:Small Group Meetings
Phase Two:“Cluster Event”
Leadership Retreat
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Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
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Acts 1:8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In groups, select one underlined phrase. Answer:1. What do you think Jesus is saying here?2. What does this mean for our congregation?
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The Spirit gives the Church power for mission in the world
• Power to change lives• Power to restore
relationships• Power change towns
and cities• Power to dismantle
systems• Power to heal the
world
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These efforts can and do happen through vibrant, local congregations
• Passionate people with a God-sized vision
• People who learn to love each other
• Congregations that are outward-focused
• Congregations who know their identity as followers of Christ
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We meet all kinds of congregations
• Churches that have debt• Churches with serious
maintenance issues• Those considering
turning over their property to another group
• Churches with large facilities, and only a few worshippers.
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At times, congregations become “stuck”…
• They still read their bibles & listen for God
• They still love & pray for each other
• They have a good pastor
• Many have nice, well-kept facilities
• They try to reach out
So why are these churches declining?
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Church development follows a fairly predictable pattern
Birth
Gro
wth
Decline
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A church develops different elements at certain points
Vision/Energy
Relationship
Administration
Programs
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Energy
Intimacy
Administration
Programs
Energy/Vision Loss
Relationship Loss
Program Loss
? ? ? ? ?
And a church loses different elements at certain points
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Dividing the lifecycle into QuadrantsG
row
thD
ecline
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Dividing the lifecycle into Quadrants
Sustainable
Not Sustainable
1 4
32
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You are not alone
5%1 4
32
35%
45%15%
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• Declining either slowly or quickly• Often struggling financially• Sense of hopelessness• Nervous about changes• Tentative toward outward mission• Vulnerable
Common Characteristics of Congregations in the“4th Quadrant”
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• A declining church may rent facilities to various groups who take over the facility. Church’s mission becomes that of “landlord.”
• Power conflicts, personal agendas and members behaving badly
Pastors don’t stay long.• Churches get short-sighted. They may sell off
pieces of property (or cash in investments) to pay operating expenses, salaries, etc.
When congregations realize they are struggling, they sometimes make bad choices…
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Without an intervention, the average congregation lives 60 yrs
Closure
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When a church begins to decline, anxiety goes up!
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We used to think “trying harder” would move us ahead
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That would get us some incremental change…but not enough
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But a completely new thing is required
Stand back and look
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New Beginnings helpsyou see a new thingthat could emerge
The birth of something new requires innovation, prayer & courage
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The New Beginnings Assessment Service helps churches make good decisions about
their future
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The New Beginnings is helpful because:
• It begins with an analytical assessment of your congregation’s situation. It demonstrates “Where we are right now.”
• It helps leaders make a compelling case for change.
• It does not impose change, but it helps create an atmosphere for change to be discussed and adopted by the church.
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New Beginnings helps churches choose their future.
Instead of letting it get chosen for them.
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The New Beginnings Service Provides:
• A wealth of data about your congregation and community
• A model for analyzing the data and drawing conclusions about your ministry
• Leadership training for your congregation• A small group discussion process for
reaching a decision about your church’s future• Support and guidance along the way
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New BeginningsMeasures:
• Cong. Demographics• Community Demographics• Gaps between Cong./Comm.• Participant tenure• Historical trends in attendance• Historical trends in giving• Financial data & comparisons
• Building condition• Visitor
attractiveness• Energy level• Community needs• Strengths of Cong.• Online Presence
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The Process
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Phase One:The On-Site Assessment
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Analysis of Campus:
“The Sacred Walk”
Gaps Between Congregation &
Community
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Up-to-DateCensus Data about your
neighborhood- Overall Growth- Generational info- Racial/Ethnic info- Faith preferences- Household income- Major needs
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Phase Two:Cluster Event / Leader Retreat- 7%
• Weekend Retreat with other congregations in Presbytery
• For 8-10 of your leaders• Leadership training• Review of Assessment• Small group training• Network with other church
leaders
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Phase Three:Small Group Meetings
• Involves 50% of your congregation in the analysis and decision-making
• Led by Cluster Event attendees
• 6 week process• Leads your church to a
decision
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Phase Four:Making a Decision about
your New Beginning
What is Godcalling us to be
and do?
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Throughout All Phases:Ongoing Support and
Coaching
Your partners from the Presbytery will be
alongside your church as it makes a decision.
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New Beginnings is an Assessment
Service
• Does not “come in and tell you what to do.”• Best followed in churches where there is not a high
degree of conflict.• Gives leaders confidence in charting a new course• Teaches skills for navigating change• Helps avoid chasing the wrong strategy• Builds congregation-wide excitement for something
new
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New Beginnings is an Assessment
Service
• Can give your church confidence in charting a new course
• Can help your church avoid chasing the wrong strategy
• Engages a large proportion of your congregation in life-giving discussion
• Can build congregational excitement for change
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DetailsPresbytery of
Susquehanna Valley
• Minimum of two congregations must apply• Fee for service: $2800 per church* ($3800 if solo)• Includes:– Three days of consultants’ travel– Ten copies of the Assessment Report– Cluster Event training for 8-10 leaders– Ten copies of Home Meeting Leader Guide– PDF versions of final Report, Leader Guide
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September 26 -- Deadline for applications
October 29, 30, 31 or November 1, 2013 -- Assessments Performed
January 18-19, 2013 -- Cluster Event
Local choice 2013 – Small Group Meetings
Proposed Timeline for this Presbytery
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Ann PhilbrickPhilip Lotspeich
Congregational Consultant for New Beginnings
[email protected] [email protected] ext.5244