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Moving Forward:
The Symposium of St. John the Evangelist
November 18-19, 2011
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Participants
Alain Lanoix
Alice Doell
Ann Chaplin
Barbara Brown
Barbara Dransch
Bea Robertson
Beverlee Bewley
Bill Broughton
Bob Green
Brian Cameron
Bruce Marshall
Caitlin Beck
Cathy Hannah
Christina Guest
Connie Snelgrove
Dan Berg
Daphne Strange
David Whitbread
Detlef Dransch
Devon Baxter
Diana Lize
Dora Broughton
Dorothy Howland
Douglas Warnock
Emmy Verdun
Gay Richardson
Gayle Jennings
Glenn Calder
Glen Robinson
Gloria Fox
Gloria Gifford
Hans Stenman
Harvie Cocks
Heather Mallett
Jan Calder
Jane Maxwell
Jo Cassie
Joan Dolphin
Joe Brabant
Joe Jacques
Joel McKnight
John Gallienne
John Zegers
Ken Fisher
Kitty Cocks
Krister Partel
Lannie Mitchell
Liz Baxter
Lynne Green
Marcela Gaxiola
Margaret Capelazo
Margot Cameron
Marietta Stenman
Martha Nixon
Mary Ellen Herbert
Mary Frances Marshall
Michael Hicks
Michael Wolff
Michel Landry
Mitzi Campbell
Monica Patten
Nora Lara
Pat Love
Pat Fisher
Patti Baratta
Peter Oliver
Paul Harvie
Peggy Lister
Rob Heard
Ron Hannah
Rosemary Watkins
Reed Smith
Sally Andrews
Shannon Bagg
Sharon Burrowes
Steve Chaplin
Sue Evans
Talia Johnson
Tony Lovink
Vicki Robinson
Vicki Milnes
Waldo Burrowes
Wendy McCutcheon
Children and Youth
Christopher Oliver
Elinor Yating Whitehead
Eve Bagg-‐Mallen
James Bagg-‐Mallen
Kailash Darjee
Marianne Bagg-‐Mallen
Parkash Darjee
Susmita Darjee
Virginia Bagg-‐Mallen
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Moving Forward: Orienting St. John’s for the Future by Tom Ehrich of Morning Walk Media
Outline
• What is going on right now, current trends and probable outcomes?
• Where are positive trends, new engaging forms of mission, outreach, worship, study and physical organization?
• What are some of the indices of the new urban sociological form of the church to come?
• What are the significant unknowns? Trends and Outcomes
• 45 years of relentless decline in membership, participation and giving even as the overall population keeps growing
• Mainline congregations closing: ½ to 2/3 drifting below level of viability
• Average age keeps rising to unsustainable level • Mainline churches = 60-‐65 years old; yet world
around us = 25 years old • High degree of invisibility • Inward-‐focused • Magical thinking • Stale leadership • Too much conflict • Sunday morning worship not enough, not
connecting with the marketplace • Clinging to inherited facilities, often at the
expense of mission and ministry • Trying to be destination churches, without
resources or production quality or market awareness
New Trends and Forms
• I see signs of hope and new life • Growing awareness that the present malaise
cannot continue; change must occur • Way forward is not about money, but about will
and openness • Leadership is passing to younger folk.
Memories of the 50s and 60s won’t continue to shape expectations
• Young clergy bring skills in modern communications and networking
• Willingness to learn from mega-‐churches • Local mission that addresses troubling issues of
larger community, rather than symbolic and in-‐house gestures that are easy to pursue
• Growing connections with recovery networks, openness to 12-‐Step spirituality
• Getting outside ourselves
The Church to Come
• What’s coming? Get ready for change • Multichannel church: on-‐site, off-‐site, online • Entrepreneurial leadership: taking ownership,
taking risks, feeling excitement, building team • Outcome-‐based decision-‐making. Test and
measure; learn from failure • Best practices: Do the basics well, no magic
bullets • Stop fighting for control. Stop resisting change
Significant Unknowns
• How different must the way forward be? • How much change can we tolerate? • Can we move fast enough? • Can we let leaders lead? • Can we form intentional and intimate
community? • Can we speak truth to power and cast our lot
with the 99%?
Summary
• Hard times, hard work, hard challenges and hard promises
• Onward!
[email protected] 917.573.7259
http://morningwalkmedia.com www.facebook.com/MorningWalkMedia
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What is the Spirit Saying to the Church? Small Group Reflections
What aspects of last night’s presentation and conversation are catching your attention? Group 1
1. Why are the Evangelical churches so successful? (FUN!) 2. Is increasing membership the only goal? 3. Marketing – we are not visible. People don’t know about us. 4. Maintaining the building – is this at the expense of mission? 5. Liturgy is boring. Why only on Sunday? 6. We are losing our role as a voice for social justice. 7. We have a leg up – we have small groups. There are positive signs. 8. “It isn’t about us.” Who is it about? Who is ‘us’? 9. Urgency – 2 to 3 years! 10. Strain on leadership of status quo.
Group 2
1. Letting leaders lead. 2. Working out our passions, individual and collective 3. Moving beyond Sunday – small groups 4. Figuring out how small groups/whole paradox 5. How do we make being more relevant work? 6. Imagine a great vision -‐ without the building? 7. Moving forward -‐ sensitive to pain of change? 8. St. John’s relevance to society as top priority
Group 3
1. Role of priest – expectations – support 2. Transitioning to a new generation – space for our new out leaders. 3. Small group dilemma 4. What is the role for those (oldies) who should step aside? 5. Conflict between priest and laity 6. Concerned for the Young People that we are asking to take over leadership. 7. Why are we Anglican? Why do we continue to be? 8. Entrepreneurial? 9. St. John’s alignment with new reality. 10. Creating space for new leaders. 11. Community/group
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Group 4
1. Breaking out of comfort zone 2. Relinquishing control to younger 3. Diversifying way we do things e.g. additional service during week, morning
prayer 4. Involvement/engagement 5. Increasing our diversity demographic 6. Learn form mega-‐churches 7. Have to give up traditional ways 8. Small groups – alternative activities, times, off-‐site 9. Engaging with wider world – local demographics – younger, visible street
presence, welcoming 10. Clergy -‐ less that 40, entrepreneurial, visionary leader, energetic
Group 5
1. Our church a dark place – make it more visible! 2. Our older generation needs to make room for the younger – but where are
they? 3. We don’t have the energy to do all this. 4. Bishop’s authority – re: selection of new rector 5. The future? If it isn’t broken … we are a destination church – maybe we are
starting already 6. Visible! Sign, entry 7. Witness to God’s love = the way we behave – understanding how we mirror
what Jesus taught 8. How do we live our spirituality? 9. What factors are we missing?
a. Time management – get all this in b. PASSIVE outreach – not taking us out of the building c. Fellowship is currently the smallest group d. A lot going on – but to what level is each effective? e. What holds it all together? Where is the WHY? f. Are we HAPPY?
Group 6
1. Small groups 2. Young versus old (young @ heart) 3. Looking inward – does it apply? (St. John’s looks outward) 4. Service/Liturgy/Litany – we need some variety 5. Half the equation already started – careful (but quickly) analysis of ministries 6. Meeting on Wednesdays (non-‐Sunday service) 7. Openness of clergy 8. Mainstream mega-‐churches – does it apply? Identity? 9. Change in the US churches 10. Young people – do they have the time?
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Group 7
1. Age 2. Change – easy to say, difficult to do 3. Financial difficulties – backs against the wall 4. How do we get going? 5. Allow younger people in and support them 6. Best practices – look to and learn from others 7. Open up small groups 8. St. John’s is “in the dark” – make ourselves known 9. Buildings – opportunity or impediment? 10. Vision – how do we get it and embrace it? Follow through?
Group 8
1. CHANGE – how to do it positively, with faith? 2. SUCCESSFUL CHURCHES – What can we learn from them? How to learn from
them? 3. If we ‘older’ don’t pay the bills, who will? We have a responsibility we can’t
give away 4. PERSONAL RESISTANCE – we have to acknowledge this – ideas – action? 5. Which activities do we fell comfortable inviting people to? Indictor of what
to give up and what to do? 6. What keeps us inward? Our understanding of stewardship and charitable
activity needs to change 7. How can we divorce ourselves from practical pressures to focus on “family”
i.e. We, the people of St. John’s 8. How do we outreach to our neighbourhood? So focused on specific
issues/needs – small % of people reached are spiritually hungry. 9. CHOOSING A NEW PRIEST – willing to work outside the square/box – how?
No one to maintain status -‐ issue of bishop and final say – out of our hands 10. HOW DO WE CARE BETTER FOR EACH OTHER in the midst of change? e.g.
general generational “talk” a gross oversimplification. Group 9
1. Giving up control to those under 40. 2. Letting go of…. worship space. So much energy with so little result. 3. Clergy educators need to move with the times and the future. 4. Not sure about small group approaches. 5. Advertizing and marketing opportunities for engagement. 6. Gay positive church expanding. 7. Needs to be more personal and connecting. 8. We have a rich palette and are a destination church. 9. We need to be ‘out there’, not just a building. How do we fully utilize our
assets? 10. We can’t be afraid. Use the technology.
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What are your emerging preoccupations? Each group chose their ‘top three’, either by using new insights or reiterating points made in the first round. Group 1
1. Building sustainability 2. Spirituality – meeting spiritual needs 3. Relevance – role in the world, etc.
Group 2
1. Welcoming (esp. Sunday) services. How do we live inclusion? 2. Stay on message: God is real 3. Reimaging the church – beyond the box (the building) A welcoming, well-‐
organized church, in community, active and relevant Also…
4. e.g. refugee work, Terrific Tuesday – huge potential. How? 5. Could activities happen with people beyond St. John’s? 6. ‘Bringing people in’ needs great coordinators 7. Local interest in activities precedes interest in church 8. Change is also about governance -‐ as it reflects who we are? Need buy-‐in
from congregation. 9. Make the building the community’s – now!
Group 3
1. Living the faith – truth and consistency 2. God-‐centered, listening and hearing – personal connection with God 3. Love thy neighbour as ourselves – compassion
Also…
4. Exciting worship experiences Group 4
1. Relinquishing control to younger generation including young clergy leadership.
2. Small groups – alternative activities, alternative times, off-‐site, diverse groups.
3. Learning from successful growing churches. Group 5
1. Attract new blood. 2. Deal with and share values 3. We are not intimate with each other – expand trust
Also…
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4. Not maintaining control! territory – 5. People hurting, many have left – healing needed 6. Break down barriers for new comers – people come because they want to
belong – usually in pain 7. Barriers within our community. 8. How much does ‘Sunday morning’ help or hinder? 9. This is what we do – (I can do this in my day-‐job) What do we believe? 10. Small groups
Group 6
1. How do we get a new rector that we want? How do we agree on what we need? Flexibility to change – existing hierarchical system (need authority)
2. How “out” is enough? How do we bring in new people? (different ideas) into the church?
3. Budget – how concerned should we be? Are we too concerned? Also…
4. Parking
Group 7
1. Vision – who are we, what are we called to do – back to basics. 2. Questioning – change – what is sacred? (cows) Small groups 3. Building – opportunities/impediments
Also…
4. “Not about us.” 5. Financial tensions 6. Fellowship, community development 7. Urban/destination church
Group 8
1. CHANGE – how to do it positively, with faith? 2. How can we divorce ourselves from practical pressures to focus on “family”
i.e. We, the people of St. John’s. HOW DO WE CARE BETTER FOR EACH OTHER in the midst of change? e.g. general generational “talk” a gross oversimplification.
3. How do we outreach to our neighbourhood? So focused on specific issues/needs – small % of people reached are spiritually hungry.
Group 9
1. Learning from and exploring the advantages of small group approaches. 2. Public relations – we need this building – and we live and care beyond this
building – use media. 3. We don’t understand our demographics. Is the tipping point now?
Also… 4. Attachment to the building in the face of financial challenges.
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5. Communications – We need and expansion of web pages and social networking.
6. Where can I find ‘tradition’ amidst all the changes? 7. Younger fold are already time-‐committed. 8. How can we be stylistically youthful and youthful in fact?
Ensuing Conversation:
• Barbara Dransch rehearsed the clergy selection process. “A priest is called to join us, not to make us what we want to be.”
• What are the real building costs? Latest figures will be provided. “People give to mission, not bricks and mortar.” Every inch is used now. (e.g. Salsa dancing) [Sue, Talia, Bill, Vicki.]
• How does the neighbouring community see us? What is being asked of us? How do we change?
• There are 24 downtown churches with a ton of property. Most of it is not viable. We all can’t continue independently. [Margot]
• What is our financial future? Almost every year we are ‘down’ until the very end of the year. This year we are short $30-‐$50K. All are savings are now depleted. [Martha, Barbara]
Reactions to Survey Results: What do they mean to us for Moving Forward?
How important are the following elements in keeping you connected to St. John's? Are there any other elements not mentioned in Question 1?
1. The clergy is not the most important -‐ what about us? 2. We need to find out what the people who are not here think 3. We really need to focus on welcoming -‐ have a welcoming committee 4. Glad clergy makes the list – is this the current feeling or the long term one.
Are there ministries or programs not currently offered by the parish that you would like to see supported by St. John's?
1. Need to boost communications -‐ newsletter, social media 2. Word of warning -‐ we need to know why we are pursuing certain media -‐
what is our strategy and therefore what are the tools? 3. Too many programs? We will need to learn to stop doing things -‐ evaluate
current activities and look at the whole 4. First establish our vision, then assess the programs in relation to the vision 5. We need to focus on spiritual growth -‐ emphasize core values, not just feel-‐
good activities 6. Need cohesive volunteer strategy -‐ need to develop volunteers 7. Need to develop a personal relationship to God -‐ how to develop this in small
groups and throughout? 8. We need opportunities to address fundamental spiritual questions
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Describe briefly the most important skills and attributes that you want in our next parish priest.
1. We need a “young” minister – 15 mentions 2. Who has the capacity to engage new members 3. We will need a leader 4. Let’s not use a business model, with terms like CEO. They are not applicable
to a church. 5. We need a leader to pull us together around our vision -‐ but we can do it 6. We need to make the church attractive by finding a language for others who
haven’t shared the same experience Is there anything else you want to communicate about St. John's?
1. We need to understand the importance of the sermons -‐ what it means to be the church in the world and the everyday life
2. We have two goals: one is to retain current parishioners, and the second is to bring in new parishioners, preferably young. How will we halt decline?
3. Source churches that have succeeded, need to attract from places like the condos being built
4. Report from a 22-‐year-‐old: in order to retain members, we need to think about old school services with new school theology, no name tags, lots of incense, liturgy
5. We need to count in the people who participate in our space without participating in our services
6. We need to learn our lessons from the recent experiences -‐ look at the interface between the new priest and the strong congregation
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Plenary Response to the Survey and the Future
In the past five years, what St. John’s accomplishments illustrate strength and capacity to meet the future?
1. Encouraging and offering opportunities for involvement. 2. The church includes people that don’t necessarily show up on Sunday or
confess Christ. 3. Family Christmas Eve service – very open, very easy to participate – no
prerequisites. 4. The community is wide. 5. Involved caring community as evidenced by Parish Symposium. 6. Capacity to have a conversation about difficult issues and come through it.
e.g. moving shop to basement. 7. Focus on values and humanitarian rights is upheld. St. John’s is part of the
vanguard and is engaging in necessary conversations. 8. Continue GBLTQ involvement and structure and gains. 9. Don’t forget pastoral and other work to support older church goers.
What stands out as the positive trends on which the future of St. John’s can be nourished and supported.
1. Social action and social justice. 2. Supporting and liaising with social cause that are already going on outside
the church. 3. Youth and society searching for spirituality – growing involvement in yoga –
Buddhist communities are evidence of this. 4. Need for spiritual connection to tap into the longing.
In the light of this morning’s reflections, where do we already find ourselves ‘in sync’ with the future?
1. Women can get food and clothes – “feeding the hungry”, very in touch with the Gospel.
2. Willingness to engage. 3. Parish Symposium – let’s use this opportunity to hear about ‘in-‐sync’
churches. 4. We do many things in small groups. We need to get these groups more
connected and we need to support these groups.
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“We have a dream” –The Pillars of our Vision Small groups articulate four aspects of each of the eight pillars.
Living the Word
1. Consistently living the faith in truth 2. Being God-‐centered 3. Compassion 4. Exciting worship experience
Leadership
1. Strength rooted in shared values and self-‐awareness 2. Entrepreneurial 3. Adaptable 4. Courageous
Going Outside (compassion circles the whole pillar)
1. Engaged, informed action 2. Outcome based 3. Renowned for social action, speaking with a prophetic voice 4. Transformative / transforming
Greening Sacred Space (This group got stuck between ‘continue to revitalize space’ versus ‘sell’.
1. Building not saying what we want it to say. Can we make it light and bright through renovation?
2. Can we make it financially sustainable? Let’s visit downtown church facilities where they are ‘being the church’ and paying for it.
3. How much are we ready to let go and move into a new future? Think outside the box.
4. Let’s engage young people and use higher-‐tech approaches. All Kinds of People
1. Hospitality • Activities and programs outside the church, broadening beyond the
walls • Being flexible / adaptable to accommodate the needs of young
children and families • Provide predictable fellowship opportunities
2. Innovation • Volunteer opportunities (e.g. high school students’ 40 hours of
service) • Fresh ideas, social media • New programs that appeal to youth and fits their life style and
schedules
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3. Opportunities of for young leadership • Who will be our rector in 10 years?
4. Diversity • Different ages, ethnicities, abilities, GLBT • Access / ramps, loop system for hard of hearing • Being open and hospitable to all
Community Neighbourhood Involvement
1. Spiritual centre in downtown 2. An active community hub 3. Proactive marketing / outreach to targeted groups 4. Collaborative approach
Going Inside
1. Spiritual discussion groups throughout the week 2. Diversity of worship services, in form, timing and location 3. Make other devotional programs and tools widely available 4. Celebrate the strength of our Anglican tradition (e.g. retreats, services)
Sanctuary
1. Physically and psychologically safe and peaceful, intentionally 2. Community and individual rules for honest and respectful compassionate
behaviour and interaction with one another 3. Mechanism of truth and reconciliation, communal method to speak truth to
each other 4. Mechanism to share pains and hurts in a safe manner. Speak truth about
what happened with previous incumbent.
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The Children and Youth Report
As a part of the Symposium, children from the parish participated in a children's programme. The focus of their activities was their own experience of, and involvement in the Church community. The children read stories, made a collage mural as well as mini books that explored this theme. The programme also included games, snack and outdoor activities. At the end of the day, they shared the fruits of their work with the wider community. Their mural included some of the following things which they believed were important about Church: many different people, candles, crosses and other symbols, animals and other parts of creation as well as art and music. All of these things were important parts of the children's experience of Church. The inclusion of their contributions in the Symposium is a recognition of their contribution to the Church community. This acknowledges that children are not simply the Church of tomorrow, but they are the Church of today as well.
-‐Caitlin
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The Symposium Team
Symposium Planning Team:
Monica Patten (Chair), Gay Richardson, Kathryn Aubrey-‐Horvath, Ken Fisher and Peter Oliver
Overall Facilitators:
Ken Fisher and Shannon Bagg Small Group Facilitators:
Gay Richardson, Ken Fisher, Margaret Capelazo, Monica Patten, Patricia Fisher, Patti Baratta, Peggy Lister, Peter Oliver and Sue Evans
The Survey Team:
Margot Cameron, Peggy Lister, Reed Smith and Tony Lovink
Worship & Benediction:
Rob Heard Children's Program:
Caitlin Reilley Beck, Chelsea Templin and Tanya Simoneau
Symposium Logistics Team:
Alain Lanoix, Barbara Dransch, Bea Robertson, Bill Broughton, Bruce Marshall, Caitlin Reilley Beck, Cathy Hannah, Dan Berg, Daphne Strange, Emmy Verdun, Gay Richardson, Glen Robinson, Glenn Calder, Gloria Fox, Jan Calder, Jane Maxwell, Jo Cassie, Ken Fisher, Lannie Mitchell, Lynne Green, Marietta Stenman, Mary Ellen Herbert, Mary Frances Marshall, Michael Dowie, Monica Patten, Pat Fisher, Peggy Lister, Peter Oliver, Sally Andrews, Shannon Bagg, Tony Lovink and Vicki Robinson (Coordinator)
Moving Forward Design:
Heather Mallett Symposium Design and Process:
Ken Fisher
Photographer:
Detlef Dransch https://picasaweb.google.com/116316107362007570894/StJohnSymposium?authkey=Gv1sRgCM37_q2Xldup-‐gE&feat=email
Videographer:
Don Strange
Symposium Reports:
Brian Cameron and Ken Fisher Symposium Intercessors:
Brian Cameron, Christina Guest, Karen Berg, Michael Dowie and Tony Lovink
Prayer Chain:
Bizu Kenea, Catherine Malone, Denise Torunski, John Zegers, Gloria Fox, Karen Berg, Lannie Mitchell, Marcella Gaxiola, Marietta Stenman, Mary Ann Varley, Michael Hicks, Pat Fisher, Pat Love, Pete Torunski, Ross Varley, Tony Lovink and Vicki Milnes
Moving Forward Steering Committee:
Gloria Fox, Jo Cassie, Margaret Capelazo, Mary Ellen Herbert, Mary Frances Marshall, Monica Patten and Tony Lovink
Parish Committee:
Barbara Dransch, Mary Frances Marshall, Monica Patten, Peter Oliver, Shannon Bagg and Tony Lovink
Parish Council:
Alex Bisset, Barbara Dransch, Bea Roberston, Bill Broughton, Caitlin Beck (Ex Officio), Catherine Malone (Secretary), Emmy Verdun, Gloria Fox, Jo Cassie, Joe Jacques, Margaret Capelazo, Mary Ellen Herbert, Mary Frances Marshall, Monica Patten, Peter Oliver, Rob Heard, Shannon Bagg, and Tony Lovink
Wardens:
Monica Patten, Barbara Dransch and Bill Broughton
