First Congregational Church

630 Ohio, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807

(812) 232-8880

Reverend Donald C. Mullen

Report of the Outcome

Share your Dreams / Craft the Vision

July 26 and (added session on) September 6, 2008

Some fifty members – and a few friends – of First Congregational Church participated in a remarkably productive effort to craft a vision for our future. The process during our initial session included a clear-eyed assessment of our strengths and weaknesses, and issues known as “underlying contradictions” – impediments – to achieving that vision.  In the weeks between the July and September gatherings, committees were formed to flesh out needs/identify strategies in the areas of congregational care and ministry, youth, outreach, technology, finance, and facility assessment. Each group identified short- and long-term goals.  Participants are being urged to remain active committee members to ensure the objectives they identified continue to move forward.  The September wrap-up gathering pulled together goals for the next year and recommended strategic actions in each area for the church to consider.

The members of Official Board, at their October meeting, were presented with the recommendations that emanated from the planning process, including committee goals identified as “first year accomplishments.” (See the enclosed materials for details.)  Further, the Board is considering an approach to reactivate existing standing committees to assure ongoing communication and coordination among and between the areas of church life that are the focus of these committees. 

There are two important changes already in place: 1.) weekly Sunday morning gatherings for junior- and senior-high age students, and 2.) the capacity by those unable to attend church to hear each Sunday’s service via the Internet. The podcast, an MP3 format file, can be accessed and listened to at any time.  A listener can download the file, listen to it streaming online or upload it to their MP3 player and listen to it anywhere.  Sermons can be accessed by visiting the church’s website (www.FirstChurchTH.org) and clicking on the “sermons” page.  There a link is available that will redirect the listener to the appropriate site on www.posterous.com where sermons are stored by title and date.

Over the weeks and months to come, information will become available on events celebrating the 175^th anniversary of the church.

NOTE: All documents are available on the church website (www.FirstChurchTH.org)) including a summary of

 the church’s first (approximately)125 years.

First Year Accomplishments

First Congregational Church

July 26 – September 6, 2008

Strategic Actions for Consideration and Development

Congregational Care & Ministry

• Restructure Church Board. 
• Formalize Committees, Chair attend Official Board meetings to Facilitate Communication/Coordination, Assure progress and broad awareness of Scope of Activities. 
• Board Receives Reports and Responds to Needs/Concerns
• Apathy - Ask Different People to be Involved
• Need - What is the Church Board Doing?  Let Congregation Know Actions Taken
• More Leadership From Church Office with Church Members Primary Interest Rather Than so Much Time Spent With City Organizations
• Step UP, Accept Personal Responsibility
• Missions/Service – Coordinate Care Team
• Complacency – Get More Active
• Volunteer & organize a Commitment to Facilitate a Group, Communicate-between Ministry Teams and Congregations through email/phone
• Identify people with need- Assign A Church Member to Visit/Help
• Provide Detailed Information to the Congregation: 1)Church Table of Organization; 2) Tours/ & briefings re:  Church Structured Problems
• Communicating – Tell People How to Use The Internet Site
• Membership – Directors From Missions we help Explaining What They Do With Donations Support  Community Through Participation
• Keep in Touch - Know Absentees Concerns
• Divide Central Committee into Areas of Town and Use Members in Each Area to Minister When Needed
• Central Calling Committee to Contact People Who Can Be of Assistance
• Before We Can Accomplish Our Goals on Membership, We Need a Roster of Who is a members & When People Act Interested, Follow up With a Call 
• Contact People When They Are Not Here
• Photo Membership Booklet

 Community and Prospective Member Relations

• The Workgroup Reports Need to Be Shared so Groups Can See How They Interface
• Every “Issue” Needs a Team That Meets Regularly 
• Info Packet “Who We Are”
• Photo Membership Booklet

Christian Education & Youth Ministry

• Music Involvement 
• Hand Instruments 
• Video 
• Quarterly Service Projects 
• Communicate, Build  Relationships 
• Monthly Fellowship Outings/Activities (based on assessment)
• Reassign Classrooms + Curriculum (modernize) (variety) 

• Promote History and Beauty of the Church  Through “Open House” Music Events,  Talks of Interest 
• Recruit to task  Create A Slogan That is Self Descriptive 
• Create A Slogan That is Self Descriptive Advertise Utilize Membership, Friends with Expertise
• Consult with a Marketing Professional - Design A Marketing Plan
• Invite UCC, Unitarians – Pilgrim descendents for Thanksgiving
• Interview People who Left the Church
• Contact a National Strawberry Group
• Strawberry Tea in April or May –  Fund Raiser? 
• Family Night Once A Month for Members & Families.  Carry in Dinner or a Party, Bring a Friend 
• Ask Friends & Associates to Come 
• Set Up @ Saturday Farmer’s Market, Blues Fest, etc.
• TV, newspaper and Radio Ads 
• Assign Small Tasks With Deadlines, Follow Up to See That It is Done 
• Coordinate Outreach & Tech to Create Media Campaign
• Outreach Ministry-Select Team To Create “One Voice”

Technology-Expanding Our Outreach

• Have Rose or ISU Analyze/Create A Tech Plan Like They Did On Accessibility
•  Plan Place Links To Church Podcasts on ISU Website
• Add Speakers to the Choir Loft 
• Discuss How Technology Can Achieve Our Goals
• Find Options Costing Little or Northing
• Cultivate Existing Talent
• Buy a Tape Making Machine 
• Pass Out Written Sermons When Available
• Make Tech a Chapter on Plan on “Technology-Expanding Our Outreach” 
• Use Tech to Produce Typical Media-Print Out
• People Who Do Understand: Step Up

Facility Assessment and Management

• Use and update Existing Document on Church Structure
• RHIT Handicapped Study
• Engage in a Process to Realistically Commit
• Determine a Long-term Funding Plan for Facility
• Look into grants for Restoring Historic Bldg.
• Conduct a Feasibility Study
• Update Facility Improvement Studies
• Make Fixing the Roof our #1 Priority
• Acknowledge the values/Strengths of an “old building.”
• Set Priority for Facility Remodeling 
• Education Committee RE:  Heating/AC
• A Concentrated Effort to “neaten” the church interior.  It Has An Abandoned Forlorn Appearance
• Organize a Capital Campaign