Denville Community Church, UM

“Affirmation of Interest”Church Conference

Presentation of findings from Needs Assessment and Expansion Realization Teams

May 23, 2004

Agenda Brief History Initial and DISCOVERY findings DISCOVERY communication Translating Ministry to Facility United Methodist Discipline “Affirmation of Interest” Resolution

Needs Assessment /Expansion RealizationTeam Members (Past and Present)

Alan AckermanChris AckermanSteve BondGlenn BuchananArnold CardJoe GribbonStephen Smith

* Past Member

Kari GribbonRev. George

ImhoffFrank LeoneJean NightingaleCarl PauliSandie SebastianIra Clemens

Rev. Elaine WingRick YobsDouglas GabelNeil KielyGus HollsteinJohn HammettMatthew

Ballentine

*

*

*

*

*

Special Contributors – Kent LaRue, Peter Rand, Pat O’Dell

Brief History Team Chartered – February 2002 Team’s Mission - To proactively address

the expanding facility needs of the Denville Community Church, United Methodist Christian Education program, enabling it to effectively meet the growing spiritual needs of the congregation

(Goals – see Appendix A)

Brief History Team’s Strategies

Through DISCOVERY, seek a clear understanding of the current need for additional facilities

Effectively COMMUNICATE to the congregation the importance of Christian Education to Christian discipleship and the spacial requirements for this vital ministry

Develop a PLAN, including space requirements, time-table, funding, and communications to provide the additional facility needs

OBTAIN or DESIGN, if necessary, facility plans to address the current and future needs of the Sunday School program

CONSTRUCT, if necessary, the facilities needed to meet the current and future needs of the Sunday School program

WE AREHERE

Initial and DISCOVERY findings Initial Assessment

There is insufficient space at the church to offer Sunday School classes for students in grade 9 and older

Classroom space is woefully inadequate for effective teaching experiences

Transmission of sound between meeting area facilities is a real issue

As of the fall of 2002, our enrollment is above 100 on Sunday and it could easily rise to 150 if space were provided

The nursery room below the sanctuary has reached the point of being a “negative” to visiting parents due to overcrowding

Storage space is in very short supply

Initial and DISCOVERY findings

DISCOVERY findings Facility limits our ability to provide for a growing need

for effective Christian Education (see Appendix B) Trend since 1990 – congregation growing at 3%

annually Existing building services 30+ Pastoral/Church and

Community based activities/groups /week Nursery School is serving only a small percentage of

community based on limited facilities Extreme shortage of storage space Youth need open space for activities Glad Tidings newsletter is well established to

communicate to congregation

Initial and DISCOVERY findings

DISCOVERY findings (cont.) Church Staff Office space very limited hampering the

execution of day to day needs and services Individuals avoid Coffee Hour due to overcrowded

facilities Nursery facilities are a negative to many parents Library is constrained Large group social activities are very difficult to hold

and manage Revenue generating Thrift Store needs home Congregation has successfully met financial

obligations year over year Congregation has embraced and supported

numerous special projects, 2nd parsonage, sanctuary refurbishing, organ fund

Initial and DISCOVERY findings

Band-Aid activities A Sunday School class in the choir room during

morning worship services Cubicle partitions in Driesbach room to define

Sunday School classrooms Relocated/Swapped Nursery and Youth Room Sunday School class at church member’s home Discussed with St. Peter’s Orphanage usage of

space on Sunday mornings Investigate leasing of modular units for

classrooms

Initial and DISCOVERY findings

Church-wide PERCEPT Survey 193 participants in Church-wide Survey Community growing at a 4% rate Continued growth in number of families joining

our church Congregation desires:

Family-based activities More adult Christian Education Worship opportunities other than Sunday morning Opportunities to be involved in outreach ministries A variety of active ministries for children and

youth Ongoing “welcoming” environment

Initial and DISCOVERY findings

Church-wide PERCEPT Survey (cont.) Faith involvement extremely high Preference of our faith extremely high Likely contribution behavior extremely

high Strong support for “programs” e.g.

music, food pantry, art, clothing resources, sports,outreach, spiritual retreats…

Congregation is “open to change”

Initial and DISCOVERY findings Bible Study Gatherings

Congregation-wide mailing of DISCOVERY findings

Gatherings focused on defining ministries that God is calling us to “continue”, “expand”, and/or “adopt”

Listen for God’s voice and direction upon current & future ministries offered through DCC to God’s people

DISCOVERY communication

Bible Study Gatherings Are we “duct tape” or “WD-40” people? WD-40 keeps things moving in many

directions – addressing the many needs We need to be open and understanding

of what God is calling us as a congregation to do in his name – what ministries should we be offering? supporting? – who should we be reaching out to? – how should we serve?

Translating Ministry to Facility – “Moving to Higher Ground”

Garage Chapel ClassroomsRecreational / Multipurpose Room Room Choir Room

van for transporting youth, shut-ins private worship computers youth activities counseling larger roomevangelism contemporary worship services "room to call their own" drama mental health counsel teaching musicvisitation / homebound healing services teaching athletics instrument tutoringstorage personal worship Vacation Bible School traveling groups better accousticspick up elderly memorial services adult studies sleepovers bell storage

evening worship (Sat) language training traveling groupsformal / informal worship teach kids life-skills showers

audio/video resources after school programscommunity programs church league sportsnew member small auditoriummeeting rooms ASP skills trainingSummer programs "Great Room"quilters room dancesearly morning bible study music concerts

Scoutingblood drivesstage

Supply Room Kitchen Church Office Worship Library / Study Room Thrift Shop AreaASP supplies larger facilities duplicating copies large screen (words / pictures) quiet study help needyBridges storage feed homeless duplicating tapes audio is very important small group meetings serve communitystorage! emergencies in community storage videotaping of service clothingfood pantry / storage lighting & sound appliances

footwearNursery Assistant Pastors Office Outside Facilitiesmore appealing facilities counseling Skateboard Parkwelcoming area sermon prep basketballeasily accessable telephoning

3 Key Areas

Christian Education – Jean Nightingale

Nursery School – Sandie Sebastian

Youth, Recreation, & Ministry Administration - Matt Ballentine

United Methodist Discipline Requirements United Methodist Discipline ¶2543

Planning and Financing Requirements for Local Church Building

Establish a Building Committee Develop statement of need Develop Preliminary

Architectural/Engineering drawings Develop Site Plan Develop Preliminary cost estimate Develop Building Financial Plan

“Affirmation of Interest” With what has been presented here

tonight, before any further planning can continue, we need you to…

“Affirm your interest” in this endeavor and begin supporting the a Building Committee with further planning

…and to return again to hear and act on plans that will be developed to realize our ministry expansion

Affirmation “Resolution”W HEREAS the Needs Assessment and Expansion Realization Teams of the Denville Community

Church have been charged to proactively address the expanding facility needs of its Christian Education program and its various other ministries in order to effectively meet the growing spiritual needs of the congregation;

 

and W HEREAS the Teams have spent the past two years researching, listening, and surveying the congregation to understand what exists today, what the congregation would like to see for the future and what it would support;

 

and W HEREAS the church has embarked on a “Moving to Higher Ground” commitment as our Lord calls us;

 

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Expansion Realization Team be highly commended for their careful and detailed work to date; that the direction of planning they envision be hereby affirmed; that they be encouraged to pursue continued development of facility expansion plans under the direction of a Building Committee; that such a Building Committee by duly elected by the Church Council at its next regular meeting; that the church’s Finance Committee be charged with engaging in a financial feasibility study; and that at a future Special Church Conference on a date to be announced, the Building Committee and the Finance Committee present plans for a possible building expansion and ways to finance such expansion.

Appendix A Team’s Goals

Increase congregational awareness of the importance of Christian Education to Christian discipleship and the spacial requirements of an effective ministry

Develop a building plan that is designed for the future of the entire church, not just the immediate needs of Sunday School

Outline a capital campaign and establish a task force to address that particular component of the overall plan

Involve the entire congregation in the project so that greater ownership of the facility and its ministries will be achieved

Appendix B

SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY TRIMESTER

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

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1st Trimester Average2nd Trimester Average3rd Trimester AverageSummer Average