Q: Where did New Beginnings come from?

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Phase One: The On-Site Assessment Phase Two: “Cluster Event” Leadership Retreat Phase Three: Small Group Meetings Phase Four: Making a Decision about your New Beginning

5. “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.” Acts 1:8

6. In groups, select one underlined phrase. Answer: 1. What do you think Jesus is saying here? 2. What does this mean for our congregation? “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.” Acts 1:8

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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?

11. Birth Church development follows a fairly predictable pattern Growth Decline

12. Vision/Energy Relationship Programs Administration A church develops different elements at certain points

13. Programs Intimacy Energy Relationship Loss Program Loss Energy/Vision Loss ? ? ? ? ? Administration And a church loses different elements at certain points

14. Dividing the lifecycle into Quadrants Growth Decline

15. Dividing the lifecycle into Quadrants Sustainable 2 3 1 4 Not Sustainable

16. You are not alone 15% 45% 2 3 1 4 5% 35%

17. Common Characteristics of Congregations in the“4th Quadrant” • Declining either slowly or quickly • Often struggling financially • Sense of hopelessness • Nervous about changes • Tentative toward outward mission • Vulnerable

18. When congregations realize they are struggling, they sometimes make bad choices… • 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.

19. Closure Without an intervention, the average congregation lives 60 yrs

20. When a church begins to decline, anxiety goes up!

21. We used to think “trying harder” would move us ahead

22. That would get us some incremental change…but not enough

23. Stand back and look But a completely new thing is required

24. New Beginnings helps you see a new thing that could emerge The birth of something new requires innovation, prayer & courage

26. The New Beginnings Assessment Service helps churches make good decisions about their future

27. 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.

28. New Beginnings helps churches choose their future. Instead of letting it get chosen for them.

29. 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

30. New Beginnings Measures: • 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

31. The Process

32. Phase One: The On-Site Assessment

33. Gaps Between Congregation & Community Analysis of Campus:“The Sacred Walk”

34. Up-to-DateCensus Data about your neighborhood • Overall Growth • Generational info • - Racial/Ethnic info • Faith preferences • Household income • Major needs

35. 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

36. 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

37. Phase Four: Making a Decision about your New Beginning What is God calling us to be and do?

38. Throughout All Phases: Ongoing Support and Coaching Your partners from the Presbytery will be alongside your church as it makes a decision.

39. 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

40. 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

42. Details Presbytery 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

43. Proposed Timeline for this Presbytery 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

44. Ann Philbrick Philip Lotspeich Congregational Consultant for New Beginnings ann.philbrick@pcusa.org philip.lotspeich@pcusa.org 888-728-7228 ext.5244