2019 mission study bethlehem presbyterian church pittstown ... · mission study april 2019 –...

2019 Mission Study – Bethlehem Presbyterian Church

Pittstown, New Jersey

How We Got Here………………………………………………………p. 2

Mission Study Committee………………………………………....p. 3

Hunterdon County Description/Demographics…………..p. 3-4

Information Gathering Process…………………………………..p. 4

Natural Church Development Surveys……………….p. 5-9

Open Forum Discussion……………………………………..p. 9-11

Staffing Needs & Pastoral Leadership Skills………………..p. 11-12

Financial Summary………………………………………………..…..p. 12-13

Strengths of the BPC………………………………………………....p. 13-14

Challenges for the BPC……………………………………………….p. 14

Conclusions & Recommendations………………………………p. 15-16

Our Mission Statement………………………………………………p. 16-17

Natural Church Development Profile of

Bethlehem Presbyterian Church………………………………..Attachment

Mission Study April 2019 – Bethlehem Presbyterian Church

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How We Got Here

The Bethlehem Presbyterian Church has experienced significant change since the

retirement in 2003 of Reverend Fred Black following 33 years of a very successful

pastorate. The church completed the necessary transition process and called

Interim Minister Reverend Cindy Strickland, who led us in her interim capacity

from February of 2004 to November 2005. At that time, the Pastor Nominating

Committee called the Reverend Michael Burkley, who served the BPC from

November 2005 to February of 2007. Following the departure of Reverend

Burkley, the church was served by Interim Minister Paul Rack from June 2007 until

the Reverend Laurie Sponaugle was called and served the BPC from January 2010

to November 2016. Following Reverend Sponaugle’s departure, the BPC again

conducted an extensive search for an Interim Pastor before calling Reverend

David Widmer, who has led the church since October 2017.

With each change that the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church has experienced,

there has been a degree of attrition of membership that has exceeded the pace of

the addition of new members to the church. In reality, these changes and

transitions bring with them heightened sensitivities and opinion from many

directions, and we feel candidly that the preferences, objections and sensitivities

over pastoral leadership have exacerbated the situation for this church, which we

feel has been a contributing factor to the reduction in membership.

Membership Trends

- The 2018 Annual Statistical Report noted an active membership of

approximately 100

- 2007 active membership was approximately 273 o Source – March 2008 Mission Study of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church

- Age Distribution of Active Members

o 25 and under - 15 26 – 40 - 12

o 41 – 55 - 16 56 – 70 - 22

o over 70 - 35

Source – 2018 Statistical Report of the BPC

Clearly the number and age distribution of our active membership are

significant factors and realities to consider in calling a pastor.


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Mission Study Committee

The committee includes Frank McDonald (Chair), Bruce Harrison, Carrie Matis,

Eileen Kwasnick, Suzanne Landolfi, and Dee Jee Youngs. The committee is a

composition of both members as well as non-member regular attendees. We

have attempted to represent a cross-section of gender, age, and membership

profiles, to the best of our ability.

The committee began its work in the Summer of 2018, through a series of

meetings and discussions leading to a distribution of approximately 30 surveys in

the Fall of 2018. All surveys were completed and analyzed by the Natural Church

Development organization, the same organization utilized in preparation of the

2008 Mission Study document. The analysis of these surveys was discussed in a

follow up meeting (Jan. 20, 2019); the general trends and findings of the analysis

appears in the following pages under the heading Analysis of BPC Membership

Surveys. An informal meeting/gathering was announced and promoted

throughout February 2019. This gathering was intended to offer an additional

venue and opportunity for friends and members of the BPC to discuss the survey

results, welcome input toward answering questions such as who we are as a

church?; where are we going/where do we want to go as a church, and what do

we need to get there?

Hunterdon County – General Description and Demographics

Once a rural community, the area surrounding the Bethlehem Presbyterian

Church has been changing. The area became more suburban in the mid-1980’s

with the completion of further sections of Interstate 78, linking the eastern and

western parts of the state with the metro NY/Newark areas, as well as eastern PA,

where many residents commute significant distances to jobs in central and

eastern New Jersey. Convenient forms of mass transit are limited, and almost

prohibitive in terms of travel within Hunterdon County. We are already seeing the

impact of this limitation as members of the BPC age and are less comfortable

driving and/or driving to evening church activities.


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Some demographic facts about Hunterdon County include:

Population estimate, as of July 1, 2017 - 125,059

Population estimate, as of July 1, 2010 - 127,364

Percent change in population estimates - (-1.8%) **

** (2010 – 2017)

Median Household Income - $110,969

Age Distribution

- Under 5 - 4.1%

- Under 18 - 19.8%

- 19 – 64 *** - 58.3%

- 65+ - 17.8%

*** this age category was not explicitly listed in the age demographic; we have provided the

“estimate” which appears based on the sum of the categories which were provided

Racial Distribution

- White approx. 85.5% - Hispanic/Latino approx. 6.6% - Asian approx. 4.1% - Black/African Am. approx. 2.7% - other approx. 1.1% Source of all the data appearing above: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hunterdoncountynewjersey

Information Gathering Process

As part of the Mission Study process, the Committee considered resources

available through the Natural Church Development organization (NCD). NCD is an

international ministry committed to helping leaders and churches experience

qualitative and quantitative growth.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hunterdoncountynewjersey


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Natural Church Development Survey

NCD offers training, materials, and tools such as information-gathering surveys to

church organizations. Approximately 30 surveys were distributed to both

members and friends (non-member, regular attendees) of the BPC. It was

expected that, to some degree, the surveys would represent a shared opinion of

the two family members completing a given survey. For this reason and as a cost

consideration, the committee decided on the purchase and use of 30 surveys as

one means of gathering information. The committee also decided that an open

forum discussion (held on March 3, 2019) would be conducted to provide for

additional means of gathering opinion, addressing questions, concerns, and

providing members and friends with an opportunity to speak and hear openly the

various thoughts and priorities of the congregation.

Analysis of BPC Membership Surveys

- Based on data gathered and discussed through the surveys, eight

characteristic areas were probed through the survey questions.

- Those characteristic areas included the following, which are presented in a

“ranked” order of priority and expression at our church, followed by an

explanation of each characteristic, as well as any potential suggestions for

further development of that particular aspect of the church.

o Loving Relationships

o Gift-based ministry

o Inspiring Worship Service

o Holistic Small Groups

o Empowering Leadership

o Effective Structures

o Need-oriented Evangelism (p.6)

o Passionate Spirituality (p.7)

- Each characteristic is explained in greater detail below, along with some of

the suggested approaches for further development of the characteristics,


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as presented and suggested by our support text (Color Your World with

Natural Church Development)

- The ranking and expression of these characteristics of our church is also

presented in a graphed (bar graph) depiction as an attachment to this text.

The surveys considered characteristics of our church, based on specific questions,

and helped to create a connection to where we feel our greatest priorities lie,

how our respondents see the respective qualities of our church, and what areas

we might wish to examine further toward a clear understanding of the priority we

place upon that factor, and how we might further develop the particular

characteristic.

The eight characteristics that the survey was intended to examine included the

following, and are listed in the order of how our survey respondents saw their

importance and our relative strengths as well as development needs in those

areas:

Loving Relationships – How loving are the relationships between church

members? How much time do members spend with one another outside of

church-sponsored, official events? Do they invite one another for a meal or a cup

of coffee or to fellowship opportunities not officially a part of the church.

So many of us cherish the fellowship opportunities we seek out with one another.

Post-service fellowship groups have formed, and one can almost close one’s eyes

and picture the arrangement of small-group attendees.

Development area: expansion

Can we work to take greater notice of those who may not quite be part of a

group, and reach out to them to check on their “state”, and seek to bring

others “to our table” to create a greater whole through the sum of our

parts?


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Gift-based Ministries – The idea here is for our leadership to help its members

identify their gifts and create ministries that match them.

Development area: continue building upon a good thing

We have seen our congregation use their organization, culinary, musical,

outreach, messaging and other talents toward the betterment of the

immediate congregation as well as the local and broader community. We

greatly value this characteristic, and must continue to probe, discover, and

encourage our church family to share its collective gifts.

Inspiring Worship Service – People that attend inspiring services often use a word

to describe them that could almost seem disrespectful – “fun” – with ingredients

of liturgy, teaching, and praise. Liturgy can be expanded to be thought of beyond

just words, but the effective choice of readings, the delivery of the word, and

praise, in the form of music, clapping, recognition and other “traits of

engagement”

Development area: continue to probe and experiment with new ideas and

approaches to engaging people in the service. Solicit more input from

attendees as to what they like the most/least about the service.

Holistic Small Groups – think of the “church in microcosm”, where small groups

interact and interact with the eight quality characteristics that we’re describing –

with small variations, at a small-group level. The saying “heads, hands, hearts”

describe the nurturing that these small groups provide to each other in the

context of everyday life.

Development area: expansion, continued building upon an already-highly

regarded and rated characteristic

Empowering Leadership - this characteristic is less about the “guru” or

“superstar” leader than it is about how well we as a church cultivate and

empower others to be leaders of our church and congregation. Criteria within this


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characteristic include the ability of our church leadership to equip, motivate, and

support other individuals within the church.

Development area: Communication

Based on our survey responses, our congregation sees this as a high

priority, and in terms of how we can better develop this quality as a church,

our session realizes its need to continue to try and optimize the fashion in

which it communicates with the congregation, committee leadership,

committee members, etc.

Effective Structures – are the existing structures within our church productive,

counterproductive, demeaning, etc? Are we careful not to want to “maintain the

structures as they’ve always been” for the sake of tradition?

Development area: strive to clearly recognize our focus as being some

combination of “upward, inward, and outward”, where upward is focused

on God, inward is focused on continued self-inspection, reflection, and

“candor at the mirror”, and outward is a focus on external communities, be

they local, intermediate, and possibly global communities – based on the

church’s mission, resources, and capabilities.

Need-oriented Evangelism – How else can we grow without somehow sharing the

Gospel outwardly, yet our mission study team struggled with the term

“evangelism”, equating it perhaps with approaches and techniques seen in the

past as being more “aggressive” and/or “pushy”. The materials we’ve been

reviewing describe a “pray, care, and share” approach to evangelism, and make

clear that it is far less often that a church will tend to have each of these three

dimensions come together.

Development area: identify the priority we place upon “evangelism”

through the potential delivery points of a) stressing prayer b) sharing the

gospel and/or c) caring for people and ministering to their needs.

Evangelism is a “flashpoint” word triggering a reaction in people that can


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conjure in their minds activities and approaches outside peoples’ comfort

areas.

Passionate Spirituality – defined as succinctly as I could find it in our support

materials, passionate spirituality is the degree to which faith is actually lived out

with commitment, passion and enthusiasm.

Development area: this characteristic was the least representative of our

church, perhaps because as a collective group we attributed lower value to

this concept, and/or perhaps we simply don’t see ourselves as passionately

spiritual. Clearly this idea merits greater consideration. Our support text

describes Passionate Spirituality has having critical components of being

based on the Word of God, directed by the Holy Spirit, and outwardly

focused on the world. This was the one characteristic we felt requires the

most additional consideration and self-study as a congregational body.

Raw Survey Data

- The actual analysis that was conducted by the NCD of the submitted

surveys is attached as an appendix to this Study Report.

Open Forum Discussion

A significant number of congregants participated in the Open Forum conducted

on March 3, 2019 in the Fellowship Hall. The meeting began at approximately

11:00 AM and concluded at approximately 12:30 PM.

The following summary notes were recorded during the Open Forum Discussion

and are presented as they were recorded:

Committee Chair Frank McDonald opened the meeting by emphasizing the

importance of the congregation’s input for the Mission Statement, reviewing the

purpose of the Mission Study Committee (help define the direction for hiring the

new minister), describing how “we got here,” and summarizing the results of the

recent survey completed by 30 members. He pointed out that the work of the

Mission Study Committee is mandated by the Presbytery as part of the process of


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our search for a new minister. He summarized the changes in ministers since Rev.

Black’s Retirement in 2003 and discussed membership demographics and the

decrease in our active membership from 273 in 2007 to approximately 100 in

2018 (as noted in the 2018 Statistical report). Frank discussed the top church

characteristics revealed in the survey (ranked 1 through 3): Loving Relationships,

Gift-based Ministry, and Inspiring Worship Service. He also pointed out the two

lowest characteristics identified: Need-oriented Evangelism and Passionate

Spirituality. Frank described the meaning of the various characteristics.

Comments from the audience centered on New Beginnings and Survey Results as

well as a request to share the actual findings of the survey. The participants

acknowledged the importance of Loving relationships, Gift-based ministry, and

Inspiring Worship Service. The discussion of our Gift-based Ministry evoked many

positive comments citing Family Promise, Elizabethport Collections/Donations,

Rhonda’s genealogy research, Country Arch church services and sing-alongs led by

Darla and Helen, Loretta’s Work with our children (Godly Play), First Friday,

Thanksgiving and Easter Food Baskets, Sewing of children’s dresses and knitting

and crocheting prayer shawls, and Cards to those in need as well as other

activities reflecting the gifts of ministry of our members. The characteristic of

Evangelism triggered a lively discussion with the word having varying meanings to

members. One member suggested using Outreach as opposed to Evangelism.

Frank then elicited comments from the participants regarding who are we, where

do we want to go as a church, and what do we need to get there. It seems to me

that a very direct, honest, open, and heart felt discussion addressed these

questions. Recognizing the current issues involving organized religion in our

society and the secular view of faith, the congregation brainstormed the following

ideas, suggestions, and concerns as listed below. Please note that the following

compilation represent and include congregational feedback during our forum

session, presented in unedited fashion to provide the range of perspectives and

opinions offered during the forum.

Who are we ?

• Congregation of givers

• Welcoming

• Graying, Aging Membership/Seasoned Demographics


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• Faithful

• Supportive

• Shrinking

• Sensitive

Where are we going/What do we need to get there ?

• Need to Connect to Youth

• Forward Thinking

• Honest Assessment and Re-assessment

• Change Product so We Can Grow

• Purpose, Mission, Expansion, Giving

• “Tend the Garden”

• “Music, Music, Music”

• Increase Our “Cool”

• Cool Church School

• Compelling Motivational and Guest Speakers

• Ask Youth What They want in Church

• Focus Groups with Youth

• How to Care for the Needs of Our Aging Membership

• Welcome, Encourage, and Develop ideas of the Community

• Share with Other Churches

• Money—Can We Afford a Full Time Minister? o We do feel the church’s financial position can support a full-time minister. Please

review additional details under Financial Summary – pages 12-13

• Merge with other Churches?

Staffing Needs & Pastoral Leadership Skills

Full-time/part-time Pastor – the question that has been raised as to whether the

existing membership profile and trends, coupled with the church’s financial

status, require us to consider whether we can support a full-time pastor, part-

time pastor, or whether we should be considering some model of a shared

pastoral arrangement with another local church. This is a question that warrants


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consideration by the Session as well, but our committee felt it outside the scope

of this study to offer a recommendation regarding this question without the

Session’s collaboration and recommendations.

Music Director – our church currently has a music director who is very much

appreciated by the congregation and choir. We recognize the importance of

music as a critical aspect of the worship service and experience at BPC. Our music

director must continue to cultivate and draw out the musical gifts and talents of

the congregation, and be open to consideration of both traditional and

appropriate non-traditional music as a means of possibly reaching additional

members and attendees.

Financial Summary Annual Operating income for CY 2018 was $173,770

o Total CY 2018 Receipts - $155,478

Includes, Donations, Commitments and Offerings

o Other Income – $18,292

(Building Use, Investments, Insurance, Transfers from

Restricted Reserves)

o Total CY 2018 Disbursements - $212,486

Includes Benevolence, Building/Grounds, Staff Salary/Benefits

and Transfer to Restricted Reserves

Full-time Pastor Salary and Benefits for CY 2018 and CY 2019

Budgeted to be essentially identical at $85,568

Music Director salary and benefits for CY 2018 and CY 2019

Budget are expected to be essentially identical at $26,913

The church operated at a net deficit of $38,716 in 2018, and is budgeted

for 2019 to operate at a net deficit of $38,536. Funding for these

deficits comes from unrestricted church funds.

Bethlehem Church is blessed by an abundance of financial resources

which can be used to support our church and its mission for some time

to come.


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BPC has approximately $650,000 in restricted reserve funds that have

been established by donors or by the Session, and where the use of

those funds is restricted to specified purposes. These funds can be used

to support some regular operating costs and also more significant

expenses, such as major maintenance projects such as the recent church

painting and steeple work.

BPC also has approximately $400,000 in unrestricted operating funds

which can be used to support operating deficits. While these funds are

significant, they would not be able to cover deficits in the range of the

current budget indefinitely. However, we believe they do provide us

with sufficient time to strengthen, develop and sustain BPC for the next

decade.

Strengths of the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church

- Our building is of great pride and joy to the membership. It is beautiful in its

simplicity, located in a picturesque setting.

- A significant addition completed in 2000 created additional classroom

space and has been invaluable in serving as lodging space for families

supported by the Family Promise (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network)

o Clearly our church building is a tremendous asset, but as it ages,

significant repair has been necessary, most notably recent upgrades

to meet expanding safety codes, as well as a current project to repair

the church steeple

- Our church and congregation feel a strong commitment to community

outreach, and express that priority in a number of ways, including Family

Promise, services at Country Arch, Helping Hands, Deacons’ Food Baskets,

benevolence directed to Elizabethport, First Friday music, etc. This is a

vitally important priority we hope to build further upon.

- The Bethlehem Presbyterian Women are an active and supportive group,

which provides activities and opportunities for fellowship, fundraising, and

benevolence activities


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- Our music is a source of pride at the BPC, including and especially our

current music director, as well as former music directors, the Bell Choir,

Chancel Choir, and those lending their various musical contributions to

services and outreach to the local community through our First Friday Open

Mic Night program, services at Country Arch and area developmental

centers, etc.

- Despite a very minimal enrollment, we have a dedicated and wonderful

Christian Education teacher

- This is a caring church family that enjoys, loves, and supports one another,

particularly in times of distress, illness, and need.

Challenges for the BPC

- Our building, which is clearly a strength, also will require ongoing

renovations (current Steeple Campaign), and may in the future require

upgrades to meet changing code requirements.

- Our membership has decreased significantly since the completion of the

2008 Mission Study Document (from 273 in 2007 to 100 members in 2018) o 2018 numbers do reflect the removal of 37 members to provide a more accurate

per capita reporting

- We have an aging membership demographic at our church

- We have to find a way to engage current members and friends to become

more involved in positions of leadership to create a more equitable

distribution of leadership responsibilities

- We face budget challenges in 2019

- We have a very minimal youth presence

- We need to strengthen our external communications and outreach so that

people in the community know what we are doing and feel inspired to

participate in it.


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Conclusions & Recommendations

Who are we, where are we?

- Some descriptors, words and phrases that were discussed to describe the

present state of our church include:

Congregation of givers

Welcoming and supportive

Sensitive, but with a continuing need to be aware of our

demographic makeup and the need to be inclusive

Faithful

At somewhat of a standstill/downslide, net-negative “holding

pattern”

“Aging – with a need to connect to youth”

disappointed at the loss of members and attrition we’ve

experienced over the past several years

Where do we want to go as a church? Clearly we wish to grow our attendance and membership

We need to connect to and create a draw for youth

o The idea of engaging with the area youth through their school-based

community service focus and requirements was discussed during the

forum and very well-received

Engage in impactful community outreach

What do we need to get there?

- A significant need is to connect with youth to expand our demographic to

include younger families, young adults, teens and children.

- A minister that will create an energy that can draw additional new

members, and perhaps bring back members that have been described as

“waiting to see what happens” with regard to a new minister


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- The Sunday Service requires pastoral leadership. The congregation values a

strong biblically based, well delivered sermon that inspires us to be better

Christians and provides a scripture based motivating message.

- The congregation needs strong pastoral care and appreciates a pastor who

will do hospital visits, proactively call members in difficult situations and

counsel those in need.

- We are a church that appreciates a close relationship with our pastor. We

like someone with humility, warmth and a healthy sense of humor. The

church is comprised of energetic and capable volunteers who will gladly

lead our programs and ministries but also have a need for inspiration,

effective and collegial leadership, and guidance from the pastor.

- Come to terms with the past several years, the retirement of our long-term

minister, and the changes that have taken place over the past several years.

o Many churches go through similar experiences and similar

circumstances.

- Continue to focus even more on impactful gifts of ministry and community

outreach

Congregational Commitment

- We have learned much through the experiences of the past and recognized

the need to be more open-minded and flexible. We see the importance of

volunteering and leading church activities and how much more help and

guidance we can give to a new pastor.

- The congregation is open to change, but has struggled with it possibly due

to a long history of no change followed by many quick changes. In that

regard, we have the humility to realize that change is something that needs

to be dealt with delicately.

Our Mission Statement The committee felt that the current mission statement is appropriate and

properly reflects and summarizes our church’s mission:

Be a community of faithful believers who love the Lord Jesus Christ and endeavor

to live our lives as examples of that love.


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Live with Deep commitment to serving those in need in our community and

throughout the world by generously sharing our time, talents, and resources.

Glorify God and grow in our faith through: uplifting worship, generous fellowship,

and enthusiastic learning inspired by scripture. Warmly welcome others to join us

in our faith journey.

2019 mission study bethlehem presbyterian church pittstown ... · mission study april 2019 –...

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