FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH On the

MAURICE RIVERMILLVILLE, NJ

MISSION STUDY

September 2019Prepared by the Session

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Mission Study

Table of Contents

I. VISION, MISSION AND PURPOSE 3

II. INTRODUCTION 4

III. CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY 5

IV. CONGREGATIONAL TRENDS 6

V. FINANCES 12

VI. BUILDING 13

VII. THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD 13

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I. SUMMARY – OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE

MISSION STATEMENT

First Presbyterian Church on the Maurice River improves the spiritual vitality and wellness of our congregation and community throughout the greater Millville and southern New Jersey

communities through its worship, activities, events, and other ministries

Since 1820, First Presbyterian Church on the Maurice River has provided a welcoming place for spiritual refreshment as it respects, loves, and serves its neighbors. We invite you to join us in

our mission to deliver hope and put God’s amazing love into action.

VISION STATEMENT

First Presbyterian Church on Maurice River believes that God loves everyone and that God has established us to improve the wellness of the community by proclaiming, inviting, and serving

people of all ages to experience the abundant life in Christ Jesus, as revealed in God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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II. INTRODUCTION

First Presbyterian Church on the Maurice River is an historic church located in the physical and functional center of the City of Millville. Just two blocks from the beautiful Maurice River which influenced the founding of the city, First Church is surrounded by the city’s central business district and one of its’ oldest working class neighborhoods. It is this city’s only Presbyterian congregation, organized and approved by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1820.

The City of Millville is the second largest city in Cumberland County, NJ. It is a microcosm of county itself- diverse in geography and people; pockets of distress and affluence—a blue collar, working-class community once known as a glass manufacturing town. Like communities across the nation, manufacturing jobs have declined and the glass industry has declined, forcing the city to seek to diversity its economic base from such a strong reliance on glass. Recent efforts have included the establishment of the Glasstown Arts District in the downtown, waterfront improvements along the Maurice River, and the development of an executive airport at a former historic site- the nation’s first defense airport during WW II.

Because of its reliance on manufacturing jobs, the city’s economy has always been cyclical. Recent national economic downturns did not bypass Millville and the city and particularly the neighborhoods surrounding the church, continue to struggle. Housing and property deterioration, crime and the opioid crisis are challenges that must be addressed to stabilize this area.

First Church has also seen a decline in membership and prosperity. As an aging congregation, some of the decline is a result of natural forces. And with an historic building of some years, many of the largest expenses are due to efforts to maintain our structure and its systems. As we approach our 200th anniversary, membership is not growing or replacing dying members and in recent years Sunday School and most Christian Education classes have been eliminated. Opportunities for the congregation to grow their faith are now limited to weekly worship.

The church is now at a critical point, when serious reflection on our mission and purpose (past and future) is needed as we move forward. As part of the process of finding a new pastor, First Presbyterian Church on the Maurice River has the challenge and responsibility of completing a mission study, providing time to consider our heritage and identify as a congregation and how that might match God’s calling for the future. Through this study which has included a congregational survey and much analysis, we are determined use our assets to increase our faith as we secure our unique purpose in advancing the Kingdom and finding, serving and loving our neighbor.

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Our Journey to Date:

Our church is part of the Presbyterian Church USA, West Jersey Presbytery, Synod of the Northeast. As such, our congregation is governed in accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church. Within the Presbyterian form of government there are standards and policies for calling a new pastor, and the Session has followed those prescribed rules. Presbytery has the responsibility of oversight of the call process in partnership with the congregation, with the intent of making the transition period one of spiritual renewal.

Initially the Session met with Rev. Dr. Debbie Brincivalli, Executive Presbyter to understand the process and level of leadership necessary during this interim period. Rev. Brincivalli challenged the session to increase its level of leadership and determine the promise for our ministry going forward. She also explained the Session would have a representative from the Commission on Ministry to help guide us through the process. One of the requirements of that process is a Mission Study

Rev. Dr. Kevin Yoho of Ocean City was appointed as the moderator of the Session and also was placed under contract to lead the Session through a process of transformation, which included this focus on future mission. This was a spiritual discernment process with a thoughtful look at our congregation and community.

In commencing the work leading up to the Mission Study which included a congregational survey, the Session was open to exploring all possibilities and expressed regret that Presbytery had not been more involved in the life of the church during the past pastorate in order to provide guidance around financial and sustainability concerns. Of particular interest was the declining membership of all of the Presbyterian churches in the county and consideration of how these congregations, as well as ours, could continue to have ministries with low membership. Therefore, the Session was open to the idea of joining in some fashion with one or more of these churches.

As part of his leadership, Rev. Yoho had the session divide into three groups (People, Finances, Community). These groups completed various assignments to develop data on our congregation, our community and our finances. During the summer of 2019 a survey of the congregation was completed, an assessment of financial capacity was completed, and the collection and analysis of community data was completed. The survey results are discussed later in this report.

III. CONGREGATIONAL HISTORY

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On the twelfth day of August, 1820, the Reverends Ethan Osborne and Jonathan Freeman, appointed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, met at the home of James Park in Port Elizabeth, and organized a church. The new church was established under the name of the First Presbyterian Church on Maurice River in the county of Cumberland, New Jersey. Rev. Osborne was the beloved pastor of the Old Stone Church in Fairfield Township, NJ having been installed there on December 3, 1789.

Owing to the fact that most of the influential members resided in Millville, the interests of the church gradually centered there until it came to be commonly, though erroneously called the “Millville Presbyterian Church.”

On July 5, 1836, half of the block bounded by Sassafras, Pine, Second, and Third Streets in Millville was donated to the church by the Millville School Board. The congregation could not see their way clear to erect a house of worship right away. However, monies for the building of a second Presbyterian Church in Bridgeton were turned over to them in 1837 and a simple wooden structure was completed in 1838. This building could seat approximately 150 people. A parsonage was built in 1843 on Second Street, north of the church.

The sanctuary was enlarged in 1855 and a reed organ introduced; the first musical instrument used in any of the churches in Millville. In 1868, it was further enlarged and modernized with a tower erected in front, in which was placed a large bell. This bell was the gift of Mrs. Amanda Mulford, wife of Lewis Mulford.

Under the pastorate of Reverend Clearfield Park, on March 1, 1888, the trustees were authorized to sell a large portion of their land with the proceeds going towards a new building. This building, the present gray stone church, was started in 1891 and dedicated in March of 1893. It has large stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and also given as a memorial by the Mulford family. The bell for some reason having been recast, was hung in the new tower, where it is heard today. In 1963 an eight year plan to expand and renovate the interior of the sanctuary was completed. An electronic organ was installed at this time.

During the 1980’s three handicap ramps were added to make access to the church easier. In 1986 a new pipe organ was installed in the choir loft. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Laur Don Wheaton in memory of Frank H. Wheaton, Sr. Recently, a chair lift to the choir loft was added.

It would not be fitting in a history of this church to not mention the Reverend Dr. David Walker Berry, Pastor Emeritus, who served First Presbyterian Church as its minister from 1918 to 1945. Berry Hall, the church’s social center, is named for him.

In the 1990s the interior of the church was redecorated through a building fund, and a new slate roof installed. Exterior protection was also added to the stained glass windows. Rev. Steve Clark lead the congregation for 6 years during the 1990’s. Rev. Clark was succeeded by Rev. John Nurnburger whose tenure extended 21 years.

IV. CONGREGATIONAL TRENDS

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The statistics in Figure One come from the Presbyterian Church, USA and provide a look into five year trends, beginning in 2013 (most recent data available). This data helps to explain the dynamics of change in the church

FIGURE ONE:

In terms of membership, the trend is a decline from a high of 71 members in 2013. In 2018, the church reported a membership of 62, further indicating a decline. Importantly, the congregation is an aging one. The majority of our congregation is decidedly in the “boomer” generation, with 79% of members over the age of 65. In contrast, in the City, only 15.3% of the

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population is in this category (American Community Survey, Five Year Estimates, 2017). In looking at this category over the past five years, the congregation has been an older one for some time. In general, vital congregations will normally experience a 50-50 split between the younger and older groups.

The church membership is not diverse, with only a few Asian and African-American members. Again this is in contrast to the city where one quarter of the population is non-white (American Community Survey, Five Year Estimates, 2017). In the surrounding neighborhood, diversity is even higher- only 31% white. Our racial and ethnic diversity has not changed over the last five years. There are significant racial/ethnic gaps between the congregation related to the community in which it is a part.

The members that we do have are supporting a budget that is increasing incrementally to cover expenses. The most recent 2019 budget totals approx. $133,000. Despite an aging congregational base, our members of faithful stewards with the average giving per member over $2,000 and increasing each of the last five years. With congregational giving is also an indicator of member engagement because as participants deepen their level of engagement with the church their giving usually follows. Our membership is faithfully supporting the church

Figure two provides a further breakdown of the congregation membership. Note the decline in average attendance. In 2019 the average attendance is between 30 and 35 regular attendees. While this is concerning, data collected from MissionInsite, based on US Census data, indicates that within the City of Millville people in general are becoming less involved in churches. Over a 5 year period of 2012-2017, the percentage of people involved in a church went from 34.5% to 28.5%, a decline of 6%. In another measure, percent likely to become active, another 2.1% decline was noted.

Congregational Survey Results

Seventeen members submitted responses to the congregational survey distributed during the summer of 2019. There is some helpful data that can be mined from the survey to help direct the search for a new pastor.

Who we are as a congregation: We are a congregation of long time members. Nearly 71% of our membership has been attending First Presbyterian Church for more than 20 years! People have been faithful in the life of the church over the long term.

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LENGTH OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

Based on the survey, most of our members only drive 6-10 minutes to attend worship. Another 35% of members are only 5 minutes or less away. We are serving people within a small radius of the church property.

In terms of what attracted people and what keeps them attending and involved in the church, those responding to the survey overwhelmingly mentioned the friendliness and genuine caring of the congregation. The members were often described as “welcoming”, “friendly” “compassionate,” creating a feeling of family. The church members have a strong feeling of being connected to each other, particularly during times of great joy and great sorrow.

In terms of people’s spirituality, 59% felt their spiritual energy has remained the same as a year ago while nearly a third felt their sense of the spirit had increased. Without consistent pastoral leadership, the congregation is finding ways to remain positive and nurture their faith.

SPIRITUALITY

Similarly, most people felt their sense of God’s presence and purpose for their life had remained the same of increased.

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SENSE OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND PURPOSE

Members were asked to consider what they felt were strengths of the church- the factors mentioned most often included:

Music, choir, organist Congregation members- caring, family, compassionate, connected Presbyterian traditions

Conversely, some of the areas for improvement and activities people desire included:

Community outreach Dynamic, outgoing pastor; strong leader Youth, young families, Bible studies, prayer groups More lay leadership Use of social media

It was clear that the current members would like to have more opportunities outside of worship to study the Word and learn about the Lord. Community involvement came up quite often as people felt we should have open doors and find ways to not only be welcoming, but actively engaged in outreach and revitalization efforts. Members want the church mission to be outwardly focused.

In conclusion, the respondents provided a picture of the type of pastor they felt would be best suited to lead First Presbyterian Church on the Maurice River into the future: a man or woman of faith, Christ-centered and an engaging preacher, outgoing and uplifting personality, and open-minded. Many want a focus on youth and young families and pastoral care.

The long- term commitment of the congregation, the sense of family and connection, a great love for the music program in worship, and the spiritual status of members provides a great deal of hope and positivism going forward with the search for a new pastor.

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FIGURE TWO:

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V. CHURCH FINANCES

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The Balance Sheet, showing the accounts of the church, demonstrates the current financial status of the church. Income for the year is derived from congregational pledges and loose offering ( 62 %), investment income ( 6%), and rental income ( 15 %). Expenses for operating the church relate to maintaining the building and personnel. Maintaining the church property and building constitute an ongoing challenge as the building ages and new regulations, such as fire code and health department policies, require ongoing expenses.

The most recent budget for 2019 totaled $85,310.68

The church has several investment accounts- some restricted and some unrestricted.

Presbyterian Trust Fund: investment account with the Presbyterian Foundation. Only the income from this account can be used for general expenses. The principal is restricted similarly to an endowment account.

Scanlan funds/Millville Savings: this savings account comes from money donated to the church by the Scanlan family. These funds are generally used for three purposes: emergencies, mission activities, an capital projects. This account is used for unexpected expenses or funds when the church is in a deficit condition.

TD Ameritrade Stock Funds: An unrestricted investment account which is considered our surplus account for deficit situations.

Balance Sheet -Sept. 2019

General Checking $ 3,915.90

Scanlan $ 16,395.12

Presbyterian Trust Fund $113,925.85

TD Ameritrade $ 53,455.60

TOTAL ASSETS: $187,692.47

Current Liabilities: $ 11,974.09

VI. CHURCH BUILDING

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The Church property includes 1.26 acres located at 125 N. Second Street (Block 414 lot 3), the corner of Second St. (Rt. 47) and Pine Street. The building is centrally located in the heart of Millville, NJ. The main stone building includes the sanctuary, choir loft, meeting/Sunday School rooms, office and apartment, bell tower, and library. Adjoining the main building is Berry Hall, a community room that can safely seat 100 people, along with a commercial kitchen.

The sanctuary has gas heat and has central air conditioning. The interior was updated with new carpet and seat cushions as well as replacement of the slate roof in the late 1990’s. At this time protective coverings were added to the stain glass windows.

According to City tax records, the property is assessed at $1,025,900. The property, belonging to a religious organization, is tax-exempt. One of the unique and valuable features of the property is the stain glass windows that adorn both the east and west sides of the sanctuary. The window on the east is a “Tiffany” window, designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and donated to the church by the Mumford family.

The church is handicapped accessible, with a ramp into the sanctuary and a chair lift to the choir loft.

VII. THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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The City of Millville

Millville’s name represents its founding as a mill town along the Maurice River and what is today Union Lake. Joseph Buck established a mill at the head of the Maurice River, powered by a dam along the waterway. First as a center for iron and ore production and then as a textile mill, the city’s economic legacy is one of blue collar shift work in factories powered by the river and fueled by natural resources.

After organizing as a township in 1801 from plans by Captain Joseph Buck, abundant silica sand deposits lead to the development of the glass manufacturing sector. The City became incorporated in 1866, with the Maurice River always a central feature of the city.

Today, the city is located in Cumberland County in southern New Jersey approximately 45 miles from Philadelphia, 120 miles from New York City, and 140 miles from Washington, D.C. It lies between the southern termini of the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway, State Highway 55 (which runs through the northeastern portion of the city), and the Atlantic City Expressway. The Millville Municipal Airport, the first US defense airport created during WW II, is an air freight depot and an executive airplane maintenance field. The Millville High School nickname, the “Thunderbolts”, comes from the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft on which pilots trained beginning in 1941.

Comprising an area of about 44.3 square miles, approximately 8% of the area is devoted to agriculture; 8% to commercial and industrial; 10% to residential; 13% to municipal, school,

recreational, water, sewer, streets, and the municipal airport; and the remaining 61% is vacant land and woodlands.

Through the 1950s Millville was a prosperous and thriving community. Jobs in various glass manufacturing, textile, and food processing firms were plentiful. As these good began to be imported at lower prices many of Millville’s

traditional jobs began to disappear. By themed-1980s the City had fallen on difficult times. Unemployment reached double digits

With a current population of just under 28,000 residents, the city is diverse with 69% white, 20% African American, and 15% Hispanic population. Millville is the second largest city in Cumberland County which has a population of just under 160,000. Approx. 15% of the population is over the age of 65, with an average age of 37.

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Unlike the nation as a whole, Millville continues to have over 14% of the population employed in the manufacturing sector. Glass manufacturing has been the city’s traditional economic base, at one point being home to the longest continuously operating glass plant in the United States (Ball-Foster plant). As these jobs decline with the expansion of plastic containers, foreign ownership, and declining plant efficiencies and new technology, Millville must diversity its economic base and up-skill its population to remain competitive in a global economy. Jobs with family sustaining wages are needed to lower the high level of poverty and low median household income, which in 2017 was $49,950 compared to the state’s median of $80,088. The city’s median household income is only 62% of the states.

Redevelopment and revitalization initiatives were begun in the early 2000’s with the establishment of the Glasstown Arts District in the central business district and public space along the Maurice Riverfront in the heart of the downtown. While possessing many assets

and much promise, Millville, like much of South Jersey, still struggles to recover from the effects of the Great Recession of 2008.

Maurice River, Millville, NJ

Center City Neighborhood

Bounded by the Maurice River, East Main, North 6 th and East Broad Streets, Center City has a mix of residential, commercial and mixed-use properties. As demonstrated by the map, the Center City neighborhood is a 38 block area.

Center City is home to the city’s central business district, Maurice River waterfront, and many of the city’s civic and public buildings. Two state highways intersect the neighborhood and an active rail line bisects this oldest section of the city. Most of the buildings are from the early 20th century, although the downtown has seen both restoration of older buildings and construction of new ones.

Much of the housing was once factory worker’s housing, known as “half-doubles” or duplexes. The larger, Victorian homes on Second, Pine, and Mulberry Streets were those belonging to management of the mills.

FIGURE THREE: MAP

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First Presbyterian Church on Maurice River is located within the Center City Neighborhood, along a well recognized row of churches on Second Street. The church is easily accessible and centrally located within the neighborhood. Its grassy square is often used by neighborhood residents as a playground and is one of the most popular and well-liked areas of the neighborhood. The property is adjacent to a

former school which has been converted to the offices of the Millville Board of Education.

During the summer months a number of community-based organizations provide a program known as “Playstreets” on Pine Street between the church and the neighboring Methodist Church. In this way the church has a lot of visibility with residents in the surrounding neighborhood. Each year the church has granted use of the property for games and gatherings and it is not unusual to see a touch football game on the grass.

There are not many congregants who live in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the church, although a congregational survey administered in 2019 indicated many are within a five minute drive. The bulk of our membership lives in neighborhoods just outside of central Millville- less than 10 minute drive.

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FIGURE FOUR: AERIAL VIEW OF CENTER CITY

Center City Neighborhood Characteristics

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This surrounding neighborhood, one of the city’s oldest and most diverse, is an area in need of redevelopment and investment. Many of the historic homes found throughout these blocks have been converted to rental units, resulting in a majority of residents who are renters rather than homeowners. The Great Recession of 2008 had a strong impact in the neighborhood resulting in high foreclosure rate and many vacant lots and abandoned structures. Residents have a low educational attainment rate, matched by low incomes making homeownership difficult.

The music ministry of the church is highly valued by the congregation, and has had a wide impact on the community. The organ is one of a kind in the area and contributes to the uniqueness of the church. The annual choir festival held during the Christmas season is widely anticipated in the community and yields support for Hope and Help Ministries through a free-will offering.

Center City offers many opportunities for community outreach. A neighborhood redevelopment plan was recently (2019) completed by Holly City Development Corporation (HCDC), a local nonprofit organization. The plan has six goals with multiple strategies in which the congregation could engage as collaborators with the partners trying to make a difference in this historical neighborhood. Holly City Development is pursuing several major grant opportunities that would lead to long term investment. The plight of the neighborhood has become a priority for the City with new housing rehabilitation funding received.

The church has partnered with HCDC in the past, hosting youth activities and neighborhood meetings. HCDC was instrumental in obtaining and installing the security cameras outside the church. One of the biggest neighborhood assets is the grassy yard on the east side of the church. There are not a lot of safe, cleared lots where children can play and this may be one asset that could be instrumental in our outreach efforts.

This Mission Study was prepared by members of the Session of First Presbyterian Church in fulfillment of the requirements of the Presbyterian Church USA and West Jersey Presbytery.

It was submitted to the Presbytery Commission on Ministry in October 2019 after review and approval by the Session.

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