Wildflower Church

Ministerial Task Force Report March 23, 2014

Welcome and Opening

The Ministerial Task Force was charged with considering the options for the near term and making a

recommendation

to the Board.

Options are: Lay led Part time minister Settled minister Interim minister Developmental minister

We ruled out lay led..

Will make growth more difficult Most members want a minister We ruled out part time minister Insufficient to address our problems Quick fix We ruled out settled minister Because we are not ready Would we want anyone who was willing to come?

We ruled out interim minister Interim Ministry is a 2 year appointment intended to help a church transition from one settled minister to the next.

Does not match our situation.

We need a longer period of time to redirect, reform, and energize the congregation before considering a settled minister.

We Investigated Developmental Ministries: .

Development Minister (DM)

: 5 year renewable term 3 years plus two 1 year renewal options Can become a churches settled minister. Congregation sets goals and desired skill sets UUA selects a DM well matched for the congregation and with skill set/experience aligned with the congregations goals.

• • • The Method Identified 7 UU Churches with DMs Interviewed 4 Members of those churches about the experience Obtained results of Greensboro UU’s review of Churches (7) with DMs from 2012

Summary of Results All 10 Churches had positive experiences All experienced growth All felt that the DM provided by UUA was good fit and suited to congregations goals In DM selection all felt that UUA was sensitive to congregations wants and needs

Results of Interviews

Omaha Greensboro Boulder Stamford Membership Increased Increased 100% Increase Increased Youth and RE Young families Money Increased Increased Increased Increased Stable Increased 50% Increase Increased Staff Governance Atmosphere Increased Better Implemented Improved Revised Improved Experience with Keith Kron of UUA was uniformly excellent. Downside – Three churches indicated resistance from older members

Summary of Greensboro Survey

• 7 Churches - Universally positive experiences Goals for Church Increase Membership Grow Financially Discern Church Identity Heal rifts in congregation Increase diversity of members activities Develop Leadership Increase Social Action Developing a Strategic Facilities Plan Reassess organizational structure Address property acquisition issue Skills of Minister Overall Leadership Non-anxious presence, interpersonal skills, healthy boundaries, Experience motivating stakeholders Leadership development Strong pulpit presence and sermons Vision and guidance to lay leaders Strategic planning skills Develop community/resolve conflicts among congregants Organizational skills Pastoral effectiveness You have a handout of a complete summary of goals and skills

Recommendation • We recommend that the Board begin the process of bringing a Developmental Minister to Wildflower Church no sooner that January of 2015.

But what about the money???

We can do this… Assuming that budget for 2015 is more or less level and by making adjustments in expenditures and how we fund various functions, we can come within about 15K of an estimated Total Cost of Ministry of 70K. Grants are possible.

Borrowing from ourselves is possible.

If the 2015 budget falls short of 2014 we can withdraw from the DM process.

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Responses – Feelings and Thoughts (an opportunity for Deep Listening)

Yays or Nays

Do you approve of our recommendation to the board?

Closing

Number of Members 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 ’0 1 ‘1 2/ 31 /0 2 ‘1 2/ 31 03 ‘1 2/ 31 /0 4 ‘1 2/ 31 /0 5 1/ 31 /2 00 7 1/ 31 /2 00 8 1/ 31 /2 00 9 1/ 31 /2 01 0 1/ 31 /2 01 1 1/ 31 /2 01 2 1/ 31 /2 01 3 ‘1 2/ 31 /1 3

Peter called & leaves Lay led 02-03 Doug hired & leaves Lay led 04-07 Eliza arrives WFUU moves to Faith Eliza Leaves Resignation from Final Fellowship announced