New Beginnings Introduction Process began with the Assessment report in January 2015 Report included demographic, financial, facility information on our Congregation Community

House Meetings/Small Groups Four Groups met for 6 sessions: Session 1 – Vitality and Discipleship Session 2- Interpreting the New Beginnings Assessment Report Session 3 – Examining our Community Session 4 – Our Church in God’s Mission Session 5 – Discovering our Options Session 6 – Navigating Change Meetings were not meant to solve problems, but engage in conversation

What did we learn in small groups?

Vital congregations Marks of the vital congregations Compelling sense of mission that is driven by the gospel Contextual relevance Passion and energy Resources that are mobilized for a common mission

Resource Engines at Llanerch Presbyterian Church Great things can happen when passion, best-at, and resources align. – Love the mission – Do it well – Have the resources Our Views and the data from the New Beginnings Assessment – Where do we have passion and energy? – At what do we need to be best? – What resources do we have to drive our mission?

Current Trends Membership and Worship Attendance

Current Trends Adult Baptisms and New Members

Current Trends Total Giving

Participant Tenure

Outlook Based on current financial and membership trends, we will only be able to operate for another 3-5 years, if we make no changes to how we think about or act towards church.

Resources Church building Membership Giving/endowments

Building Use

Who uses our resources Boy Scouts Alcoholics Anonymous Nursery School

Financial Outlook

Mission and Discipleship VBS Music Worship Connect By Night Community Meals/Outreach

Our Mission Field Matthew 28: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Our Church in the Community Our Location Most congregation members live in the community (Within a 7 minute drive to the church).

Our Church in the Community Our Neighbors Looking at social, economic, age, and ethic background Differences and similarities across the congregation and the neighborhood.

Mission Directed Churches Luke 13:6-9 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Mission Directed Churches What would it look like for our church to “bear fruit”? God is on a mission and we are to join God in that mission. Score ourselves (Low, Medium, or High) – Passion – Best At – Resource Engine – Relevance to the Community

Our Options and Constraints Status Assessment Positives – We have things at which we are best – We have a great building, which is in good shape. Challenges – We have limited financial and human resources

Our Options and Constraints Options Review Staying the same will lead to further decline, reduced financial and human resources and eventual closure. Closing now was not attractive to any of the small groups. The small groups considered other options. Each of the small groups wanted to attempt redefining our mission.

Redefining Our Mission What Might that Mean? Seeking our gospel mission Matching that mission to us Inspiring our passion and energy Focusing all of our resources for that shared mission

Seeking Our Gospel Mission Starting Today and Continuing Prepare ourselves – Look, Imagine, Study, Plan, and Pray Share with each other – Talk, Listen, and Show Act boldly together Beginning today and in the following weeks Share your ideas after the services Contact the small group leaders, who will work to assemble ideas and individuals as we seek our gospel mission at Llanerch.

Like Being a Disciple of Christ Exciting and daunting Empowered by the Holy Spirit