“We All Drank from the
Same Tea Pot”
Summary of Conversation
Facilitated Conversation March
10, 2014
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| Nan Corrigan D.M., Ian MacKinnon, Chair of Board St. David's, Janice MacLean, Facilitator, David Chapman, Chair of Board St. Mark's |
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| The Facilitated Conversation began with a shared meal--and "we all drank from the same teapot!" |
Port Hastings, NS / St. David’s United Church
– 11 participants
Port Hawkesbury, NS / St. Mark’s United
Church – 12 participants
Purpose: To share conversation
among the two boards about present realities and future
possibilities;
Grounding in Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11.
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness… for forty
days and nights. As we consider future directions we are led into
this process by a desire to be faithful. We are led by the Spirit.
Spirit invites us to discern who we are, what our mission is, and who
are neighbours are. Sorting out future possibilities take a
significant period of discernment. Forty days is religious code for
“taking the time it takes.”
Check in: What’s most in your heart
about your congregation’s life? Or what challenge are you noticing
in your congregation?
- Dwindling numbers; not as many young families (several responded similarly)
- Challenging for young families to get there (several responded similarly)
- Finances; challenging (several responded similarly)
- Need to start thinking “outside the box”; status quo not working; try new things rather than wait to be forced
- Not enough people to do the jobs that need doing (several responded similarly)
- Getting older, getting tired; serve on many committees; diminishing energy
- Too many think D of T is going to take our site and this isn’t an issue!
- Family concept no longer here; competing with hockey; not prioritizing our needs; Sundays put aside for sports – not church; hit & miss faith
- Grey hair and no hair – aging congregation; gap of attenders (several responded similarly)
- Church used to be full (St. Mark’s); now so many empty pews – employment impact on area
- Fundamental change in society; age of technology; the way people communicate now may take away from community – not needed for a social need to be filled (& agree with others)
- Declining population in area; demographics
- Finances too much of a focus; tired of this and doing the best we can; appreciate the problem but need to focus on our community
- Community is important part of church; family time is so hard for families to claim; so how can church respond to families when they only have the weekend!; can we help them be part of church when they aren’t always attending
- Need for leadership when we are so tired
- Appreciate how hard for families to attend when working so hard – expenses for families are high – not enough for church too
- See St. David’s as resilient; people come through when things are needed – always survived even if a small group – we lose our church and it will be awful
- Carried so long by volunteer effort (St. Mark’s) but can’t ignore shortage of money to pay bills – this might be the time to look at joining together – broader vision than just amalgamation
- After 40 calls, got 3 people willing to fill 5 vacancies on Board (St. Mark’s) – is there another structure that would serve us better now – technology possibilities
Feedback:
Listening carefully to your responses I offer this feedback. There is a financial “pinch” that has made you alert to the need for considering change. I haven’t seen your books and the bottom line but it sounds like there is still time to consider options, discern possibilities and sort out how to do what you feel is helpful.
Listening carefully to your responses I offer this feedback. There is a financial “pinch” that has made you alert to the need for considering change. I haven’t seen your books and the bottom line but it sounds like there is still time to consider options, discern possibilities and sort out how to do what you feel is helpful.
Though you are naming volunteer shortage and
fatigue, the excellent turnout this evening suggests there is still
energy to have these hard conversations.
Though you name aging congregations, among you
this evening at least 2-3 generations are present.
This is important. The best decisions are made when wisdom is shared among generations and you come to hear differing perspectives and needs.
This is important. The best decisions are made when wisdom is shared among generations and you come to hear differing perspectives and needs.
We made a decision to take half the time to
discuss what “joining together” means. Time will also be held for
looking at various options for new ministries.
CONVERSATION: What does “joining
together” look like? Imagining possibilities in table groups
One option:
- Pooling energy and finances and resources
- One service on Sunday; change terms of Call; (spread financial base) – offer percentage of minister’s time to another charge (Presently 1/3 St. David’s; 2/3 St. Mark’s) – Possibly share with a nearby charge
- Benefits. None were named except possible sharing of expenses with another part-time pastoral charge.
- Cost of this proposal:
- Spread minister thinner
- More travelling
- Unattractive situation when trying to Call
- Rural area – so would not be a solution to long term
- We are very different congregations!! Coming together won’t be easy
Resulting conversation included the importance
of considering the Spirituality of Church Buildings. There are some
for whom the building does nurture and sustain faith. They would be
affected by its loss. Yet, most say closing a building, while
affecting them emotionally, would not affect their faith. It
is important to take time, make space for lament, and deeply listen
to the sense of loss when conversations turns to closing buildings.
Another model?? What does join together
mean?
- Are there other experiments that we can try that would attract younger people; more people; and increase revenue as well??
- Visit those not coming.
Feedback:
- Young families may not = more revenue. Patterns of giving have shifted through the generations.
- There is no one solution that can “fix” our situations. A “quick fix” won’t sustain. We need adaptive change and that means another way of being or multiples layers of change.
- Minister’s work and time alone can’t grow the church.
What would it look like to close/sell one of
our church buildings?
- Get rid of both – build something new together
- Move St. David’s closer to town!
- Disadvantage with parking and driving to St. David’s
- St. Mark’s is well used – lots of lived attachments to I even if it is only 50 years old
Feedback:
- No one solution will fix things for you
- Need to keep talking to open heart and imagination to where you may be being called
- We began this evening to name the elephants in the room or at least the shadow of elephants passed through the circle!
- Conflict is a friend in times of change so don’t avoid it; it IS there. It is necessary in making faithful decisions
CONVERSATION: Options for New Ministry
Sheet
Table groups discussed: Are there any of these
options that offer possibilities for you?
- The “grow” one – attracted by outreach work – how can we use “our space” in other ways
- Freed from the building holds appeal
- Cooperative ecumenical ministry possibilities (history of positive relationship when shared worship space after a fire)
CLOSING: Of All You Heard This Evening,
What is Most Important to You?
- We are here, discussing thoughts – good to end with a positive note
- All here with common bond (faith in the church)
- Named ourselves as very different congregations – yet it makes us unique and doesn’t mean we can’t be mixed together
- United Church accepts differences – need to keep that in mind.
- Sense a desire to move toward common goal
- Wherever you go to worship and faith stays same
- Glad we have started discussing this; and take the time to get it right
- Glad ice has been broken the way it has – opened up lots of avenues
- Church is one foundation; Centre in Christ
- Lots of us here are “transplants”, doesn’t matter which church I’m in but conscious of those who have been here so long, losing the church would be a blow to them but I’d go to either church
- We all drank from the same teapot
- Obviously people here really care about this; sense of commitment to solve this; good feeling
- Good beginning meeting for us; go with a bit more energy to continue
- Opened the door and it is scary; but we are all looking in with our different perspectives; it is exciting too moving towards one goal
- On path all together and will end up in a good place
- Came to same conclusion
- Good we listened to what we’re thinking, there is a will here
- Glad I came
- Still thinking about finding our mission don’t know how to start that; need direction for that
- Positive energy here; accept changes; early into these discussions
- You did a good job Janice; great we got started, accept the reality we can’t stand alone, we’d be better together
Feedback:
- There is energy for more conversation. It is important to involve others in the congregation in the conversations. Leaders always precede congregations as realities come to Boards first. Leaders have time to process thoughts and feelings. If congregations get left behind they are surprised and often don’t react well. Where do you want to go faithfully together?
Closed with Prayer
Janice MacLean
Minister for Christian Nurture & Enrichment, Maritime Conference The United Church of Canada
Minister for Christian Nurture & Enrichment, Maritime Conference The United Church of Canada
