WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Church HOME Project Brief to the Westminster Session by the Church HOME Committee Christine Eustis Dave Aland

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Proposal Establish and resource a Committee to work as liaison and support to all Session Committees in to help integrate members into the services, activities, and volunteer opportunities at their church home. This Committee will design, pilot, and implement a process of coordination, identification, and invitation with the goals of rapid integration of new members and enhanced connection of existing members to church services, activities, and volunteer opportunities.

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Background: Church Membership People join churches for reasons that are both altruistic and self-interested –Altruism: Affirmation of faith, participation in “God’s work” (Worship & Mission) –Self-interest: Support, fellowship, education Some “jump right in”, many “must be asked” WPC has many options for members, but no consistent way to connect services, activities, and volunteer opportunities to the needs and interests of members.

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Background: WPC Resources Services: Things the church offers to members to support their lives and needs –Childcare, Pre-School, Counseling, Support groups… Activities: Things that church members elect to do together (usually Fellowship), which are coordinated by the church –Leadership, Social, Education, Fellowship groups… Volunteer Opportunities: Things internal or external to the church to which members “donate effort” –Sandwich Ministry, ALIVE, Local and International Missions…

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Identify member needs and interests Identify church needs and opportunities Match members to available opportunities Follow-up and monitoring Background: Integration Process Committee and Coordinator inputs Volunteer needs Service and administration Fellowship and Education …this is usually a de-facto or boutique process, driven by one or more person at the church who “knows everyone” and personally makes it happen. Every church, over time, finds a way to connect members to interests and resources to needs, BUT…

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Recommended Solution Create a regular process by which member needs and interests are identified and matched to services, activities, and opportunities Use process to ensure “everyone counts” Initial emphasis on new members, most commonly sought opportunities Expand over time to include all members and all services, activities, and volunteer opportunities Track progress and participation of a selected group of new members

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Communications Direct –Phone calls, personal/form letters, s Broadcast –Postcard mailers, Chronicle, Web Page postings Facilitated –Discussions, interviews, New Member classes Delegated (Candidates identified to Committees and Coordinators who then contact them)

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Identify member needs and interests Expanded Integration Process Identify church needs and opportunities Match members to available opportunities Follow-up and monitoring Visitor New Member Classes New Member Committee and Coordinator inputs Volunteer needs Service and administration Fellowship and Education New Member Interviews Interests and Needs Talents and capabilities

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Strategy 1.Identify pilot set of activities and pilot group (recent new members) 2.Conduct discussions with committees and coordinators 3.Conduct entry interviews with new members 4.Expand integration to wider set of activities 5.Use database to coordinate and track 6.Expand to previous new members (1-3+ yrs) 7.Expand to other members

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Pilot Program (1 year / 2010) 1.Identify pilot set of activities and pilot group (recent new members) 2.Conduct discussions with committees and coordinators 3.Conduct entry interviews with new members 4.Review member/volunteer databases Identify new member needs and interests Pilot set of church needs and opportunities Match members to available opportunities New Member Classes Selected Committees/Coordinators Volunteer needs Fellowship and Education Progress check: Compare 2010 integration with prior year(s)

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee HOME Pilot Program Partners New Members Committee Congregational Life Committee Volunteer Coordinator Communications Committee Local Missions Coordinator

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Phase II (1 year / 2011) Identify past and present new member needs and interests Full set of church needs and opportunities Match members to available opportunities New Member Classes Progress check: Compare 2011 integration with prior year(s) Committee and Coordinator inputs Volunteer needs Service and administration Fellowship and Education 5.Expand integration to wider set of activities 6.Use database to coordinate and track 7.Expand to previous new members (1-3+ yrs) 8.Conduct Focus Groups

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Phase II Partners New Members Committee Congregational Life Committee Volunteer Coordinator Communications Committee Local Missions Coordinator Additional Committees and activities identified by focus groups, Session, and events

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Identify member needs and interests Phase III (1 year / 2012) Identify church needs and opportunities Match members to available opportunities Follow-up and monitoring Visitor New Member Classes New Member Committee and Coordinator inputs Volunteer needs Service and administration Fellowship and Education New Member Interviews Interests and Needs Talents and capabilities 9.Expand to the full range of WPC activities 10.Expand to all WPC members

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Phase III Partners Full Session –All Committees –All activities Full Congregation –All members

WPC Session: Church HOME Committee Requested Session concurrence with HOME recommendation and pilot program. –Work with HOME to establish budget and other resources Support by designated Committees and coordinators for the HOME pilot effort. Oversight by and periodic updates to the Session for the Church HOME Committee