Listening Sessions Summary

October 10, 2018

To: Pastor Katheryn and the CPC Session
From: The CPC Personnel Team
Re: Sept. 9, 16, 23, 2018—Listening Sessions led by the CPC Personnel Team

The goal of the sessions was to gather feedback from members regarding areas of ministry and how their dreams for the future might inform decisions about staffing.

At each session, we posed two questions:

Wouldn’t it be great if …?
How can we make that happen?

Participants responded by making their comments on Post-it Notes and placing them on posters under five categories: Fellowship, Worship, Spiritual Formation, Mission, and Other Comments. We then led discussions based on those statements and any other comments participants wished to add.

This is a detailed summary of the comments from those sessions. A major emphasis from participants at each session was to look forward, not backward

FELLOWSHIP

Future staffing—focus on developing relationships and expectations of members. What does it mean to be a member? Understand fellowship as the glue that holds us together.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a better way to engage new members.

A desire for small groups was a major topic of discussion at each session. The wish to have such groups was nearly universal, although the suggestions as to ways in which we might accomplish this were varied.

Regular small groups of all kinds. We need an overall small group coordinator—someone with a passion for the spiritual benefits of CPC being a caring community. This needs a lively name.
Each small group needs someone to function as a leader to make it work, to keep everyone informed, etc., and perhaps overall, a staff person who coordinates and supports this.
Focus on small groups as a way to introduce new and old members to each other.
The intent is to just keep having ways to form groups, accept that some will jell, some will not, some will be good for a time. In the whole scheme it’s worth it to keep trying and forming new groups. Short spurts are fine because they can be meaningful for the time they last—need not be forever.
Would love to see small groups be created that could meet monthly over a meal. May or may not be tied to a Sunday School class.
Great if we could have small social/dinner groups.
Individuals willing to host a meal. Monthly? In homes? Members invite others to attend.
Small groups by geographic area (Discussion: some said yes, some said no).
Look at all possibilities for small groups meeting regularly as the women’s groups do.
Koinonia groups would be great—it takes lots of leaders to make this happen, as well as staff time.
The small groups described in the brochure that was distributed on rally day have not been adequately described or publicized—it’s unclear how they will work. Not enough information to entice people to join.

Some mentioned that cancellation of the Wednesday evening program has left a void in many areas including fellowship and spiritual formation.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had more options than Sunday after service for food and fellowship.
Break bread together regularly. We do it, but let’s do it more often.
Part of the problem of not having the regular fellowship feeling is the inability to get here and park on other days/times. Transportation is hard for people who don’t drive, so if we scatter things to other locations we need to think about how to get there.
What can we learn from St. David’s success with having meetings during weekday evenings? (Discussion: Regarding the former Wednesday evening programs and what St. David’s/First Baptist/University Presbyterian have been able to do, keep in mind that they are larger and have been larger for many years.)
Variety of times/occasions to gather based on interests, service, interfaith activities.
Fellowship in homes/dinner with no agenda other than getting to know each other.

Several mentioned a wish to have intergenerational fellowship.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were more opportunities for children and youth to have fellowship with older generations of church members.
Have events that are age appropriate, but also some intergenerational events—frequently with food included.
More fellowship for families and youth with older generations within the church.
Coordinated family fun time.
Become more of a church family by having ways to get to know each other, support each other, have mixing of ages, backgrounds, etc.
Fellowship opportunities for young adults and young parent groups
Have events that reach cohorts of the congregation, e.g., parents of children and youth.
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a church picnic with a bake sale or cake walk or other fun activities.

Create more spaces for gathering for fellowship.

It would be great if we had space during all events to sit (e.g., space during Sunday School). If a class is meeting in Smoot Hall, then stepping in to get coffee or water interrupts the class, and there is no place to go to talk if you are not attending the class.
Maybe not have classes in Smoot Hall, so that it can be more of a place for casual gathering and conversation.
Use appropriate signage.

There is some concern that providing after-church snacks is sometimes a challenge.

We need a more reliable way to provide snacks during after-church fellowship. Could the church possibly fund some of the snacks and have a volunteer buy them?
Set aside funds to have snacks available in the pantry for when no one signs up. Publicize it. What does it mean to provide snacks? Give more description.
If people don’t want to sign up for after-church snacks, do we need to keep it going? (Note: When this comment was read, it was clear from the discussion that people want to continue after-church fellowship and find more ways to supply snacks rather than discontinuing it.)

Wouldn’t it be good if we had a way to measure how connected people feel (maybe a survey).

Outreach to other diverse groups, Muslims, etc. What about a group that would covenant say for six months to visit with people from a mosque.

WORSHIP

Music and preaching continue to be real strengths of CPC—continue!
More choir members.
In traditional worship service explain why we are doing what we do. Educate us. Not all are familiar with order of worship or all terminology.
When introducing hymns, say the name of the hymn as well as the page number.
Encourage people to turn to the Bible during the readings. In addition to saying the name of the book and the chapter and verses, say the page number in the pew Bible.
After/before the benediction, be sure to invite everyone to refreshments in Smoot Hall.
Greater youth and children participation in the service.
Expand our commitment to diversity in worship to include those with disabilities.
We need a better sound system.
Offer training for liturgists as Rev. George Holland once did. This might also be extended for those giving a minute for mission—encouraging them to keep the announcements short.
Wouldn’t it be great if we would regularly invite a seminary professor(s) to preach or ask General Assembly moderator to come to preach.
Have a contemplative service during the week.
I like the sermons that are centered on how to live a Christian life.
Sermons could be spoken more slowly so we can absorb ideas and understand them.
Worship is a strength of the church, consider new forms as well as what we are already doing.

More use of arts in addition to music—poetry, visual, choral, drama.
Wouldn’t it be great if we made all of the arts a part of our worship.
Wouldn’t it be great if we explore other forms/cultures in our worship service.
Sometimes a dramatic or theatrical presentation in worship can draw attention to an “old” truth or provide a new understanding.
Build on the great music and preaching that are CPC strengths with varied additions that include family and have more interactive worship.
Make all of the arts a regular part of worship. If there is emphasis on visual, which is great, there needs to be a way to describe those. (Gary Gibbs has done descriptive services for the blind for theater and opera and could do that for worship.)

Hymns could be played a little faster.
When you see people you don’t know, introduce yourself and then introduce them to others.
Maybe have fellowship in the courtyard so people stop on their way out.
Get more people involved in worship — lay readers, leading children’s sermon.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a full house. It’s important to keep getting the word out about Central. Find ways to invite others and plug people in to participate in the life of the church.
CPC has been a place the unchurched have felt at home. This is something I love and value and think might help us set an even bigger table. Suggestions. A service that feels even more open. How would that happen? Continue our music, open our God language to include more terms such as “great spirit,” “spirit that make us one,” “Yahweh,” etc.
Recognize visitors during worship. (In the ensuing discussion, most thought this would be more awkward than helpful during worship, but some suggested that perhaps it would be nice if we introduced visitors at potluck as we used to do.)
Have a contemplative service during the week of music and a short sermon on social justice.
On one Sunday have worship service be out in the community doing service project.
We have a nursery with paid staff, why do we tell parents it’s OK if there are crying babies? Encourage people to use the nursery.
Rearrange sanctuary to be semi-circular seating as much as possible. Bring pulpit and table and font to the sanctuary floor level, bring choir pews around to face the sanctuary. Have the “stage” available for performances. (Discussion: This would create logistical and physical problems/challenges.)

SPIRITUAL FORMATION

This is an area that needs focus from future hire/hires as associate pastor or other staff.

Youth

It’s critical that we invest in the youth ministry—all ages. Strong youth leadership in numbers sufficient to not burn out the strong leaders we already have.
Revisit when youth meet for church school. When they meet, number in the group.

Children

Leaders who have a heart for children and their education. Also a heart for providing education for our children’s families.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had more consistency and community in the children’s program.

Adults

Have publicity for adult classes announced in minute for mission as well as the e-blast and bulletin—build interest and excitement. Publicize room numbers for adult CE. Provide signage on Sunday morning.

Perhaps follow the large church model of permanent Sunday school classes by age or other category that meet the whole year.
One of the ways that we made lifelong friends in previous churches was Sunday school classes that met regularly.
Bible study in adult CE.
It would be great if people came to Bible study. Have a champion(s) for the course.
Have a Kerygma class again.
I love having a lectionary study.
A class on prayer would be helpful for me and maybe for others.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had more new members/younger members in spiritual formation activities? How can we appeal to those who don’t participate?
Have a young adult Sunday School and Bible study group.
Would like to see a long-term Bible study for small group (e.g., Disciples).
Have a class that describes a path to explore where we need to grow—a self-help guide
Once more have a social issues class.
A class for young adults—Bible study CE class/group. This is a missed opportunity. A way to grow our young adult ministry. It fills a need.

Wouldn’t it be great if we introduced traditional spiritual practices to all for personal use and in worship. Do not assume all are familiar with what it means to practice faith. Explain what some terms mean that may not be familiar to all, somewhat like Cindy does when introducing a new hymn or choir piece.

Wouldn’t it be great if CPC were understood as a place where courageous conversations take place on an ongoing basis—with our own members and consciously reaching out to others. For example, race discussions, how do we care for our frail parents, how do we do our own family discussions to navigate what we want if dementia takes our minds. Discuss things that are happening in our own lives.

Wouldn’t it be great if our growth plans targeted people/families in their 20s to 40s so that we grow a new generation of CPC. I don’t know how but certainly engaging with them individually to really hear what is important to them.

There is interest in spiritual growth opportunities at locations other than the church and at times other than Sunday.

Have other opportunities for growth not on Sunday morning—small groups.
More activities outside of Sundays. Bring back Wednesday evening?
Hold learning opportunities in homes on week nights
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a class that met at night for people who can’t/won’t come on Sunday morning.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could have an evening book study, perhaps a book or books on current religious or political topics or novels.

Let’s have prayer partners.

Wouldn’t it be great if Spiritual Formation was called Christian Education again.

MISSION

Thoroughly evaluate our efforts to be sure we are meeting needs.

Grow mission activities as volunteer and budget support enable us to do so.

Continue The Central Mission

Continue to look for creative ways to grow this ministry by seeking potential new partners in Austin.
Continue The Central Mission and even grow it as volunteer and budget supports allow with special skills staff.
We did a thorough evaluation of The Central Mission and women’s groups to be sure we are meeting needs in the best way. Do this for other mission activities—What is our benevolent giving outside CPC doing?
Look for creative ways to grow, seeking new partners.
Can we keep The Central Mission going?
Wouldn’t it be great if we had a full-time staff person to work with homeless.
Are there city agencies we could work with for referrals, etc.? Other help from the city?
Let’s have another project in addition to The Central Mission.
Wouldn’t it be great if a social worker is always available for The Central Mission during breakfast and other times. We need money for this and supervision.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had enough money to hire a full-time mission/social worker to help with homeless issues.

More mission activities in which we go out, not always expecting others to come to our building.

Encourage people to be willing to share talents.

Staffing for mission support

Wouldn’t it be great if we could have one staff member for education and mission. (This was mentioned many times.)
We could have an associate pastor for mission and education.
If we have a staff member in charge of mission and education, we could bring these two together in meaningful ways.
If we had a staff person for mission, that person could help us be more involved in planning how individual members could participate. We’re not a neighborhood church.
Many want to participate in mission activities, but there are not a lot of ways to plug in/be informed. Find ways for our members to easily participate in mission activities. Someone to get the forms out to people interested in mission. A staff member could coordinate this/keep us informed.

More opportunities for members to participate

Mission opportunities for families to participate.
On one Sunday, have our worship service be out in the community doing one or more mission projects.
Make it easier for us as members to know about the opportunities we have to participate.
Maybe every week we send people out of this church to work on mission.
Have regular opportunities for mission engagement for families.
Describe ways our members can connect with various mission opportunities.
Wouldn’t it be great if there could be an adult mission trip.
Have an adult local mission week.

Communicate about mission

Keep us informed. There needs to be a point person or point people to keep us informed and guide us.
If we want more involvement, we need to communicate effectively to keep members informed.
Communicate to the general congregation what happens with The Central Mission and our other mission work. Those who volunteer are well aware of what we do. We could make a video or place photos around so that the members in general understand what we are doing, and keep them informed and perhaps inspired to volunteer.
Inform us of ways to volunteer with service organizations.
Advertise to the congregation and the public what we are doing (e.g., KUT ad).

I’m glad we open the church to community activities

Participate in Texas Impact to help learn how to address the bigger picture/issues. This could be part of a social issues class. How do we address the larger issues in addition to the immediate results?

Be involved in all downtown issues.

Connection with change agent groups—mission exchange board.

Interfaith service connections for bridging problems, not charity but change.

Review past Texas Impact connection—social issues.

Have some ownership of the organizations we support outside of our church. For example, with the Share the Love Mission Fair–give feedback of how it went/goes, not just the dollars raised.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could feel like what we do/give makes a difference.

OTHER COMMENTS

Communication

We need improved communication in all aspects of church life.

We need improved communication in all areas about all of our programs.

Communication is important in all areas. We need to be informed and have information repeated in more than one format—announcement, e-blast, bulletin, etc.

Have a minute for mission every Sunday—sometimes for Adult CE, sometimes for other activities, events, keeping the congregation educated. It’s a way to enthusiastically encourage participation in the life of the church. (There were many, many comments supporting this idea.)

Wouldn’t it be great if we could define what deliberately diverse and fully inclusive means to us now.

Contact members when they haven’t come for a few weeks. Maybe this could be done by the Membership Team, Deacons, other volunteers.

It would be great if we hired a communications person to do the website, help run online faith formation classes, and run an updated e-blast, so we can present our church as the lively, engaging community that it is. Think about how we present ourselves to people who look at the CPC website to learn about us. Keep it up-to-date with new ideas and more spark.

I strongly believe a primary focus should be to foster better communication and relationships among members. Also, I would like to see the church more involved with our surrounding communities and the social issues that exist.

Encourage our pastors to write for the religion column in the Saturday Austin American Statesman.

Wouldn’t it be great if we still had a printed monthly newsletter (and someone willing to be editor). Maybe have a quarterly hard copy newsletter. Highlight the new members, stewardship, schedules, events.

Could we try to always have someone available at each entrance to answer questions, and also perhaps a kind of “pastor of the day” (a volunteer) to help those who come looking for help on Sundays.

The annual report is important. Could it be expanded to include numbers of: weddings, Book People events, SXSW events, Thursday concerts, number of youth on the mission trips, number of refugee families assisted, community events in which CPC had a presence (e.g., Cropwalk), and other numbers.

Staffing

We do need an associate pastor.

It may not be appropriate to have an associate pastor—we may need a different staffing pattern.

Perhaps some staff functions could be fulfilled by non-ordained, part-time people, which would be less expensive.

Have staff with background in visual arts.

Building

Create/reclaim spaces within the church for people to have fellowship, small groups, make the spaces inviting. Upgrade rooms for purposes for those organizations/guests who use it during the week and also for our members. If we want to have good meeting places, we need to care for them.

Do we wish to remain a downtown church? The answer to that question should help us prioritize projects, building, etc. How do we pay for this in terms of building? Let’s be proactive, not reactive. Plan for our building.

Would like to see the front garden finished, kept up, and used often.

Remodel bathrooms, renovate alley entrance, do better with grounds upkeep.

Improve upkeep of building. For example, the kitchen needs to be thoroughly cleaned regularly. Building upkeep is challenging even for our hardworking janitor and custodian. Having either of them work on food preparation means less time for cleaning, upkeep. They should not be asked to do this.

Focus on accessibility for all members—try a small project first.

A gazebo for the courtyard.

New pew cushions

Stewardship

We need funds to make things happen—pledges given and honored.

We need to be able to pay for the staff people we have. So if we are thinking of all of these things we need and would like to do, then we need to get the message out that we need to have pledges to support these programs.

Year-round stewardship.

Include time and talents in pledges, not just finance.

Our finances don’t allow us to do everything we would want to do if we had the funds. How do we address this?

Team participation and volunteering

Create a list of things on the website that people can do to support a team.

Have someone whose job it is to create and publicize team tasks, so people know how to help.

Have a minute for mission every Sunday to keep people informed and encouraged about the work we have to do.

Think about ways to have members join a team as a way to more actively connect with the church. If you serve on a team, invite others to join—possibly for one event if not to join permanently and attend team meetings.

Provide greater opportunities for volunteers and Deacons—varied and broad.

In some churches Deacons are ordained to a function, not to a board. This designates volunteers as this is their calling, this is how they serve.

Find ways to include those with disabilities—how to work for inclusion of children who have trouble sitting still, for example.

Parking

Wouldn’t it be great if we had parking. Maybe it’s time to revisit our parking challenges. (Garage on north side of 9th, Vaughn parking lot, garage on east side of church, St. David’s)

We are a Sunday church because you can park here on Sunday. If we want to grow as a church, parking is a big deal. Explore options nearby.

Can we make a deal for parking next door? Are there options for other parking places?

Other ideas

Look forward. Engage young people. “This is a suggestion by an old guy.”

If an Elder or a Deacon is unable to finish their term, then the Churchwide Nominating Committee should propose someone else to be ordained to fill the remainder of their term.

Have more folks than just Deacons involved in kitchen/food duties of gatherings

It is important that we set a baseline of current membership as we look to grow the congregation. It’s important that a team and the Session act on this so that the membership roll is an accurate number.

Stronger connection with Book People for events. Could we develop a little flyer/card to go in the pew that gives a brief overview of CPC and encourages visitors to these events to come back. If guests are here for events, maybe we can encourage them to come back for church.

Explore reaching out to the Seminary more.

Attend the downtown alliance and report

Wouldn’t it be great if we could find a way to return civility to conversations between people with differing ideas inside and outside these walls.

Have bi-lingual Spanish as a capability.

Explore the idea of Mommy and Me daycare here during the week.