Help us achieve Strategy 1 of The Vision Project by completing The Discipleship Baseline Survey

Strategy 1 that your Session adopted to realize our Vision is to grow all members and friends of Erin into mature disciples. To effectively aid all of us on our spiritual journeys and to know if we are making progress, we need to know where we are now. This anonymous survey is designed to give Session and our Ministry Teams this information.

A survey is only as valid as the number who take it, and your participation is pivotal in helping us realize our vision.

Click the button below to complete the survey online. Thank you!

Erin members and friends,

In previous communications about The Vision Project: Beyond, Become, Beyond, we’ve talked about what we’re doing and why. We’ve explained the changes Erin church needs to make in order to implement our two strategies and make our Vision a reality. We hope you’re intrigued, and even excited, about our new direction and our focus on renewal and transformation. But transformation isn’t easy. Identifying the issues, and even developing and documenting solutions, only gets us so far. If we’re going to make this happen, it means considerable work.

That’s where you come in! Erin’s Session and staff can only do so much. Achieving our Vision will take all of us working together. As the old saying goes, many hands make light work. If everyone who wants to see our wee church succeed commits to supporting these efforts, we can, with God’s help, accomplish our goal: to be a place where all of us can truly belong, become strong disciples who understand and model the love of Jesus as we live each day, and venture beyond the walls of the church to bring that love to the people around us.

How do you fit in? Join us on Rally Day, which is Sunday, August 11, to hear more about two commitments we’re asking you to make.

• First, Rally Day will kick off the new Sunday school year. At 9:30 we’ll gather for breakfast and hear about classes for children, youth, and adults. You’ll also learn about other opportunities to grow as Christ’s disciple by studying His life and His teaching, talking about what that means in your life, and building relationships with other Christians at Erin. We challenge you to join one of these groups and focus on your own spiritual growth. We also ask that you prioritize attending Sunday worship services. God calls us to represent the body of Christ, and that’s hard when we don’t spend time together in worship.
• Second, on Rally Day you’ll have a chance to sign up for one of Erin’s ministry or ministry support teams. You know about some of them because they’ve been around for years. But as we examined our structure in light of our mission and vision, we realized critical pieces were missing. Most of these tasks are getting done, but only by one or two people and not to the level we need if we’re going to grow. We’re setting up new teams to address those. The list below includes all of the old teams, plus the new ones (indicated by an asterisk). Responsibilities for each team are listed in the latest presentation and printed copies will be available on Rally Day.

We’re also establishing teams that represent age level groups and families to make sure our ministry teams address ALL members of our church and our community.

We’re encouraged by the positive comments we’ve heard and the enthusiasm we’ve seen for making Erin a vital, vibrant congregation of disciples who understand and demonstrate God’s love in practical ways. We sincerely hope you will pray about your part in what God is doing at Erin. We realize it will require greater commitment by more people to make it happen. If we all prioritize worship and spiritual growth and find a place to serve on a team that speaks to our gifts, talents, and interests, we can all support the mission God has for Erin. What’s more, we will celebrate together what God can accomplish through us as His body, the church.

Want to know more? Join us for the second live presentation, to be held on July 21 and again on August 4 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Join us for coffee, tea, and muffins and bring your questions!

In His love,

Erin’s Session, Pastor, and Staff

Erin members and friends,

Our previous communication introduced the new strategies adopted as part of The Vision Project: Belong, Become, Beyond. We explained how we researched barriers to Erin’s growth and effectiveness and, with God’s guidance, identified ways to overcome them. We discussed what the strategies mean, and why taking action now is crucial. We’ve talked about the big picture, but now we need to focus on specifics: implementing our new strategies and achieving our Vision will require changes in how we operate and in how we think about ourselves and our purpose.

CHANGES TO SESSION

Erin’s Session will shrink from 18 members to 12. In the past few years we’ve had several classes of four or five elders because the nominating team couldn’t find six members who agreed to serve. A 12-member Session is more realistic for the size of our current active membership.

Session will also refocus on Erin’s current and future well-being. In the past our elders were assigned to a ministry team, and led that team in the third year of their term. Over the years, though, this meant focusing solely on operational details rather than long-term goals, and each elder’s narrowed focus on one team made it harder for us to see what was happening in the church as a whole. Going forward, elders will not be assigned to a team. Instead, team members themselves will choose a leader.

CHANGES TO OUR TEAM STRUCTURE

For the last 15+ years Erin has had six ministry teams, plus a few that report to one of the six teams. But crucial functions are carried out informally by a few members and staff who’ve stepped in unofficially to fill a gap. We’re reorganizing our teams to reflect the actual needs of the church, as shown in this graphic.

Ministry teams (Worship, Outreach, Fellowship, Discipleship, and Creative Expressions) will be responsible for the ministry and mission of the church. A new Ministry Integration Team, with one representative from each ministry team, will meet quarterly to coordinate schedules and resources. The ministry teams will be augmented by support teams; some, like Stewardship and Property, already exist. We’ve added others for critical tasks, such as Visitor Follow-up and Marketing and Communication, that have been handled by one or two people, but not in any formal way.

Establishing teams to reflect ALL of the necessary tasks will highlight what it really takes to carry out Erin’s purpose, and will encourage every member to get involved and use their skills and gifts to support the church. We’re also setting up teams that represent various groups within the church—youth, families, seniors, and so forth—to make sure the ministry teams meet all of our needs.

We strongly believe the changes outlined above, and covered in more detail in Presentation 3, What Changes Are Needed? at erinpres.org, will make Erin more vibrant, more engaged, and more effective in deepening relationships, fostering spiritual growth, and expanding our impact in the community. All of this will enable us to Belong, Become, and go Beyond, and help us realize our Vision.

Look for information soon on how YOU fit in—your engagement and support are vital! And join us for two live presentations on Sunday mornings, where you can get more information and ask questions. The first was on June 9 and was offered again on June 30; the second will be offered July 21 and August 4. Presentations will begin at 9:30 in the fellowship hall, and child care will be provided.

In His Spirit,

Your Pastor, Staff, and Session

In this third communication about The Vision Project: Belong, Become, Beyond, we answer another important question: What do our two new strategies mean?

The first focuses on the people of Erin and our relationship with God and one another:

What is a disciple? Jesus himself answers this question. Over and over, after teaching the crowds who followed Him, he tells them that if they really want to be His disciples, they will do what he says. Knowing and believing the right things are not enough; the test of a disciple is in living as Jesus lived, loving people as He loved them, and obeying what He taught.

How can we do that? First, it takes commitment. If someone asks whether you’re learning to play the flute, you either are or you aren’t. If you are, you own a flute and you’ve signed up for lessons. You’ve made a commitment. It takes action, too. You can’t learn to play if you don’t attend the lessons or pick up the instrument. Becoming a disciple is the same. You have to decide you want to, and then you take steps that lead you in discipleship. Beginning in August you’ll have opportunities to learn more about becoming Christ’s disciple, no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, and you’ll hear more on that in the coming weeks. But the goal is to shape your life around Jesus’s teachings, learn to hear God’s calling, and act on what He says.

The second strategy focuses on our role in the community and how we relate to people around us:

For years American churches could count on people showing up on Sunday mornings, and even on Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights. Most people went to church. But that’s no longer the case. To reach the people around us who need to know that there is a God and that He loves them, we have to go where they are. Catchier ads, flashier programs, and jazzier music won’t attract people who see no need for church.

Surveys show two things will get their attention:

• getting to know people whose faith makes a real difference in how they think, feel, and act, and realizing these people are different in positive ways precisely because of their faith
• expressing God’s love by serving them. Do they have basic needs such as food or shelter, or do they just need to know someone cares?

Finding out what people need, then finding ways to meet their needs in God’s name shows them that they matter to God, and that God matters to us. This is how Erin can grow and carry out God’s purpose.

To learn more, check out the newest presentation: What do our strategies mean? If you haven’t taken a look at the first two presentations, we encourage you to do so. We also invite you to join us on a couple of Sunday mornings before church to find out more and ask questions. If you missed the first discussion on June 9, we’ll offer it again on June 30. The second session will be offered Sunday, July 21 and again on August 4. We hope you’ll join us from 9:30 to 10:45 in the fellowship hall for coffee and tea, muffins, and conversation about what we’re doing and why, and how you fit in.

In Christ’s love,

Your Pastor, Staff, and Session

Our last communication talked about The Vision Project: Belong, Become, Beyond and explained how, over the past year and with God’s guidance, Erin’s pastor, session, and staff developed strategies to help us fulfill our vision. This second message answers the question: Why do we need to do this right now?

Why is it urgent that we take action now? The world around us has changed significantly in the last two decades. Fewer people believe in God, and even fewer have faith in Jesus as God’s son. This is true for Generation X—people between ages 40 and 54—and even more so for millennials who are currently 25 to 39. Even among believers, fewer feel it’s necessary to support a local church. We’re busier than ever, and with so many activities and events clamoring for attention, church has a hard time competing.

Erin has also seen changes. Because people today are involved in so many other activities and don’t see church as a priority, fewer members are willing to work on ministry teams, help with children’s programs, join a Bible study or Sunday school class, or take on a leadership role. As a result, those who are actively involved often wear multiple hats and face increasing stress and burnout. We can bemoan the fact that churches, and Christians, don’t enjoy the high regard they once did, but the old days aren’t coming back. If we want to be a strong, vital congregation, we have to figure out how we can be a compelling influence for God in the world as it is today.

Churches, just like businesses, social clubs, and other organizations, must respond to their ever-changing environment if they want to remain relevant. But churches aren’t used to thinking this way. We are rightfully proud of our heritage, and we celebrate Erin’s presence in this community for 142 years. But maintaining the status quo is not a viable option. All organizations go through developmental stages, from birth to death, just like people. However, unlike people, organizations can reinvent themselves and live for hundreds of years.

Throughout its history Erin has experienced this rebirth multiple times, or it wouldn’t still be here. Recently, though, we’ve had to expend most of our effort and resources just to keep things going. As a result, we’ve spent less time seeking new ways to encourage spiritual growth and share God’s good news with those around us. Without realizing it, we’ve focused more and more on ourselves, and our impact in the community has become more limited.

At this stage, we must either transition to a revitalized congregation … or continue to decline. As our pastor, session, and staff prayerfully considered where we are and where God is leading us, we chose to move forward. We’re seeing evidence already that members welcome this new direction; the overwhelming response to our “church outside the walls” at Sunset Gap in March is a great example. We believe the strategies God has led us to adopt will, with His help, keep us on the path to renewal and revival.

To learn more, check out the latest presentation on the Vision Project section of our website at erinpres.com: Why is all this necessary? We also invite you to join us on a couple of Sunday mornings before church to find out more and ask questions. The first discussion is this Sunday, June 9, and it will be offered again on June 30. Join us on either day from 9:30 to 10:45 for coffee and tea, muffins, and conversation. We look forward to talking more about what we’re doing and why, and how you fit in.

In Christ’s love,

Your Pastor, Staff, and Session

NEXT: What do our strategies mean?

WHAT ARE OUR STRATEGIES?

With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Session developed two strategies to respond to the critical external and internal issues facing Erin church over the next 3 to 5 years:

WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

Why is developing strategies necessary? Why can’t we just continue doing what we have always done?

With mainline Protestant churches rapidly losing members and the percentage of people attending most churches declining yearly, especially among Gen Xers and Millennials, change is necessary for our church to maintain relevancy, growth, and long-term sustainability. What used to work to attract, retain and grow members into mature Christians, engaged in service in the church and the community, no longer works. Long time members of Erin need just look around on a Sunday morning to realize we, too, are being impacted by the current trends.

Changing in positive ways as the environment changes is a common characteristic of all healthy, living things. Churches, like all organizations, are living entities, made up of the people who nourish and give them life. Positive change comes from challenging the status quo and tradition, from men and women having the courage to examine how well the organization is adapting and to make the necessary changes for it to thrive. Though not always comfortable, your Session and Staff demonstrated such courage in our work to develop strategies. We ask that all Erin members demonstrate this same courage and join us in implementing these strategies by committing to Belong, Become, and go Beyond.

Coming in June: We’ll share the exciting changes scheduled to launch in August that will enable us to implement our strategies and realize our vision!!

Check out this presentation about the process Session used to arrive at our two strategies for taking Erin into the future as a vital, growing church.  We will be posting four more presentations with details about the Vision Project. Don’t miss even one!!

Over the last year, your Session has devoted a significant amount of time examining who we are as a congregation. We’ve assessed the big questions facing us, both externally and internally and how we need to respond to these questions if we are to transform, grow and thrive. The goal of this work was to develop strategies, consistent with who we are as a congregation, that will enable us to respond to these big questions and achieve our current Vision, transforming our congregation and moving us in the direction we feel God is leading us.

The result of this work is The Vision Project: Belong, Become, Beyond. This is the name we’ve given the strategies we’ve developed and will be working to implement as a congregation. Over the next several months you will be receiving information from Session about this important and exciting project. We will share why it is not only important but critical for our congregation, the changes that will be required to implement these strategies, how you as members and friends of the church fit into this effort, and the timeline we plan to follow. We hope you will be as excited and encouraged as we are as you learn more about The Vision Project: Belong, Become, Beyond!

Please stay tuned as we are just getting started and will be providing more information every step of the way!

Sincerely,

Session (2019, 2020, 2021): John House, Cynthia House, Kim Jaynes, Apryl Quinn, Anna McKay, Keith Stump, Betty Gibbs, Cathy Van Ostrand, Erin McCallum, Dusty Pennington, Tammy Murphy, Craig Strand, Kelli Canan, Ian Bone, Kelcey Levering, Andy Sarles, Nicole Waters.

Staff: Pastor John Stuart, Joy Bornhoeft, Joe Jaynes, Nancy Berry, Farrah Linkous, Lynne Jones.

Strategy Communication Team: Cynthia House, Kim Jaynes, Joy Bornhoeft, John Stuart, Pat Wallin, Kelly Schueler, Kelsey Sarles, Kevin Griffin