Presbytery of Western New York
Congregational Transformation Ministry Team
St. Columban Center
Paul Nixon, Consultant
March 5-7, 2009

Summary of Nixon’s Comments during Coaching at Orchard Park Presbyterian Church for Fall Retreat Participants, March 5, 2009

Reporting on Areas of Success and Progress by West Seneca, Orchard Park, Randolph, Lafayette, and Bacon:

• Greater openness and inclusiveness
• People are encouraged to “do” theology.
• Sense of togetherness; feeling of community and joy
• Greater and evolving positive attitude
• Small groups still fragmented – but trying
• More witnessing is going on.  Many want to share stories of spirituality.
• Increased community outreach (including as ongoing goals)
• Reassessing committee structures
• Reconfiguring some worship structures
• Starting to develop an identity as a neighborhood church
• Developing a “sweet spirit”
• Renew vows of membership (and other)

Challenges:

• How do you bring the whole congregation along?
• Searching for the right questions to ask
• How do we reach out and invite people in?
• How do we manage to serve different populations/congregations within the same church?

Big questions:

• Where do you sense you are going now?
• Where do you sense that God is leading?

Some Advice from Paul Nixon:

• Wait to write mission statements until your thinking/planning is less fuzzy.  Do not impose a too-early commitment on the future.
• Identify the most pressing needs in the community that you can meet.
• To develop skills in telling faith stories, see The Artist’s Way.  Also, use journal writing.  Answer:  What are we giving back to God.
• Be intentional about which pockets of people you target.  (Most churches serve only 3 of Percept’s 49 types.)
• Your congregation may already have the networks in place to reach people.  Identify who’s falling through the cracks of church service/membership.
• Use focus groups for planning/creating different types of worship services and for ascertaining the needs of your community.
• Make space for spiritual kin from other faith traditions in shared life and work.
• Don’t cheapen the Holy.
• Remember that people will make time for that which they value.
• New residents look for jobs first, then for friends.  (Therefore, be a friend.  Engage them quickly when they move in.)
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How can worship be more invitational for your community?

• Take spirit walks around your neighborhood.
• “Think” neighborhood. 
• Every neighborhood is a changing neighborhood.
• Acknowledge that the young adults you hope to reach believe that your church members believe that they know it all.
• Find ways to make worship more interactive and new each week.
• Use media, including flat screens.  Use Google for images and resources.
• Remember that people have a deep hunger for the ancient (traditional, liturgical,  mystical, mysterious, or blended).
• Make it relevant.  (But:  relevance is relative.)  “Help me with my life.”
• Provide a place/time for the congregation to ask questions.
• Pay attention to the power of the tribe – link “like with like.”  If bringing in new “types,” create a critical mass first.
• Have fun.  Celebrate.  Be joyful.

Respectfully submitted,
Janita K. Byars