Introducing the New LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Team, September 2016

In the Context of a Search Process “A Play”

Introducing the New LOCAL CHURCH PROFILE Conversations and Context for Intentional Interim Ministers

Three Questions to Advance the Calling of the Church WHO Are we Is our neighbor Is God calling us to become Compare to Alice Mann and Gil Rendle: Holy Conversations

Benefits of New Local Church Profile Questions selected by prayer and research, volunteer MESA Working Group 2015 Churches experiences dynamic discernment Questions from the past and present lead to future Both narrative and data Thorough, honest, and distinctive Pastors sense direction and permission Leadership for a purpose Partnership together toward God’s future

Table of Contents

THREE DIFFERENCES: The New Church Profile

1. Do It Anytime With current leadership Over time learn from changes Discover/assess direction Over time learn from changes Recommended every 3-5 years Not just in times of search and call Yes, it’s an option to start the main section ahead of ministerial transition Draw on a retiring minister’s energy within appropriate boundaries During an interim Often the whole Local Church Profile will be completed during an interim time

2. Do the Profile In the Best Order Church Answers: WHO Are We? WHO Is Our Neighbor? WHO is God Calling Us to Become? Final Document Reads: WHO God is Calling Us to Become WHO We Are Now WHO Our Neighbor Is

3. Maximum Participation!! Governing Body or standing vision group OK Search Committee OK Transition Team can be strategic, to lead a season of involvement by the entire community! Transition Team Use discoveries already made in the above process Add Position Posting, References for new minister Begin confidential small-group process of discernment around candidates Search Committee 6-12 months 6-12 months

Transition/Advance Team Does not have to be the Search Committee Involve the whole community in preparing the Local Church Profile Use: Diversity exercises, neighbor engagement, ministry assessment, demographic study, wider church connections Use: Story-telling, worship, history, Appreciative Inquiry, church survey

Search Committee Finish references, consent Position posting including Scope of Work Establish group consensus and criteria Prepare interview questions using church profile Based on what you have learned about who your church is, who your church’s neighbor is, and who God is calling the church to become, describe four areas of excellence from The Marks that your next minister will display to further equip the congregation’s ministry in these areas

Timeline Designed to be done in a year 6-12 month process to prepare 6-12 month process for the search Kairos time Discernment and holy surprises “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” 2 Peter 2:8 “For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90:4

Conference Support for Search Process Types of pastorate Settled / Supply / Designated-Term / Intentional Interim Compensation and costs See Call Agreement Workbook Timeline Customized Clarify covenantal expectations Church Profile validation Posting on UCC Ministry Opportunities Use of Ministerial Profiles and Snapshot

Conference Support for Church Profile UCC Data Hub 11-Year Report MissionInsite Demographics Welcoming Diversity Inventory IS the LCP appropriate for every church? Local Church Profile adds value for most churches Local Church Profile is critical for the discernment of any pastor considering a Designated-Term or Settled commitment If the Local Church Profile is not a valuable experience for the church, and if that church is not seeking a Designated-Term or Settled minister: Proceed with Position Posting only for supply or interim LCP can be done during an intentional interim or after the supply minister arrives

Samples: 11-Year Report IS the LCP appropriate for every church? Local Church Profile adds value for most churches Local Church Profile is critical for the discernment of any pastor considering a Designated-Term or Settled commitment If the Local Church Profile is not a valuable experience for the church, and if that church is not seeking a Designated-Term or Settled minister: Proceed with Position Posting only for supply or interim LCP can be done during an intentional interim or after the supply minister arrives

Samples: MissionInsite IS the LCP appropriate for every church? Local Church Profile adds value for most churches Local Church Profile is critical for the discernment of any pastor considering a Designated-Term or Settled commitment If the Local Church Profile is not a valuable experience for the church, and if that church is not seeking a Designated-Term or Settled minister: Proceed with Position Posting only for supply or interim LCP can be done during an intentional interim or after the supply minister arrives

Samples: Welcoming Diversity Inventory IS the LCP appropriate for every church? Local Church Profile adds value for most churches Local Church Profile is critical for the discernment of any pastor considering a Designated-Term or Settled commitment If the Local Church Profile is not a valuable experience for the church, and if that church is not seeking a Designated-Term or Settled minister: Proceed with Position Posting only for supply or interim LCP can be done during an intentional interim or after the supply minister arrives

Interim Minister Toolkit Local Church Profile Link 5 focus points to 3 sections of the Profile 11-Year Report MissionInsite Report Ministerial history and Financial information Narrative/AI/worship activities throughout Profile Welcoming Diversity Inventory PDF Call Agreement Workbook 4 types of pastorate Congregational life cycle adaptations Preparation for the next pastor

Role of the Intentional Interim Pastor Discussion Hello / goodbye / loss / change / transition / anxiety / creativity / humor / health / adaptation John Keydel (2015) “The focus points – Heritage, Mission, Connections, Leadership, and Future – offer a way for congregations to reflect on those [3] questions and prepare for a meaningful and productive future.” The work of the interim: “The real work of the intentional interim minister is to facilitate and coach, guide and support the members and leaders of the congregation as they engage the focus points.” Scenarios After trauma or misconduct After no-change-for-a-long-time After cyclical conflict Congregations want to know ‘why interim?’ and ‘when are we done?’ Grief work v. Adaptive work… Health v. Preparedness

DEFINITIONS AND MODELS OF MINISTRY IN CHANGING TIMES

Models and Contexts Settled Minister Search: When a congregation is prepared to make an open-ended commitment to a minister for partnership over time, both continuity and change Intentional Interim: When a congregation wishes to prepare for the next settled pastor relationship Learnings during the interim sometimes mean the next minister will be a designated-term minister instead Designated-Term: When a congregation chooses a particular purpose and # of years E.g., new ministry, redevelopment, relocation, merger, closer/legacy Supply: When none of the above is sought

Interim v. Designated-Term Both might work with a Transition Team to accomplish important work Both may be selected by a Governing Body Intentional Interim candidate is not voted by the congregation Designated-Term candidate is voted by the congregation, for maximum buy-in to purpose and clarity of the term Interim = TRANSITION (leadership is changing) Designated-Term = METAMORPHOSIS (more than just leadership is changing) With assessment, Designated-Term may be renewed or become settled Interim prepares for the next pastor; may not stay A given minister could serve in either role – but not BOTH

Illustrations Church positioned for full-time sustainability = Settled Church positioned for half-time sustainability = Settled Church preparing for settled = Intentional Interim Church finding out during interim or New Beginnings or during unsuccessful search that it is not positioned for settled = Designated-Term

Illustrations Two churches considering yoke or merger = Designated-Term Congregation helping create a new ministry = Designated-Term Congregation expecting transformation longer than 18 months = Designated-Term Congregation considering closure = Designated-Term Congregation not interested in transition but committing to a minister for 3 years instead = Designated-Term

Illustrations Church asking conference for the profile of anybody available = Supply Conference locating a 1-yr student pastor = Supply Short-term coverage = Supply Emergency coverage = Supply Bridge coverage = Supply “Interim” that is not asked to do anything transitional = Supply

Adaptations in the United Church of Christ Needs Assessment – Search and Call Survey 2011 Shared Pastors Part-Time Pastors Merger Closure Revitalization Redevelopment New Ministries

Theological Practice What questions did Jesus teach people to ask? Does transition always lead to transformation? Which spiritual disciplines on our part will help the Spirit lead us?