Rev. Petra Malleis-Sternberg & Mr. Michael Barrett Share The Self-Study Task Force Report to Annual Gathering in Claremont, CA
The Self Study Task Force was appointed in the summer of 2008 by our Conference Board of Directors to survey the conference about our priorities and direction, and to listen to a wide variety of voices about our future together.
Our members included: Michael Barrett and Petra Malleis-Sternberg, co-chairs, Michelle Lampert, Paul Tellstrom, Janet Vandevender, Rosario Ibarra, Merideth Wilder, Gethsemane Tagaloa, and Erin Beardemphl.
The self study process began with a major survey of the conference that was conducted in the Fall of 2008 online and on paper. This survey asked about participation in the conference, areas of strength and needs for growth in our conference ministry, about our priorities and our challenges. 522 people responded to the survey, and a report on the survey was shared at the spring 2009 self study presentations. A copy of that report is available.
One of our important findings from the fall survey was: When asked whether our three current conference priorities, (which are Church Development and Renewal, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Building Community in Diversity), are still the most important priorities for us as a conference, 76% of respondents answered with a 4 or 5 on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the highest. Another 16% were neutral (3) and only 8% felt these are not the right priorities for us at this time (ranking them as 2 or 1).
The next step in our Conference Self Study was to hold ten presentations and discussions in the spring of 2009 at each of the four Association meetings, at the Samoan Ministries, Latino Pastors' Table, Pilgrim Place, for local church pastors, at Jr. High Janboree, and at FebCamp.
At each of these spring presentations, a report on the fall survey was shared, we prayed together, and participants were invited to discuss further two questions about our conference life and ministry.
The first question was: In these difficult economic times, the Conference has less money and fewer staff, yet still has an important and exciting vision for ministry and mission together. If you were leading the SCNC UCC, what would your top priority be?
Some of the top themes in your responses to this question about our top priority included:
1) local church assistance and coordinating church clusters, issues related to vitality, covenantal relations, conference assistance;
2) Youth programming;
3) new church starts and development
4) provision of assistance with emerging technologies, provision of a resources center, and training -- all issues clustering around an education function at the conference level
5) clearly presenting and articulating the UCC vision, mission, and identity;
and 6) financial leadership.
The second discussion question was: Where can we find resources (people, talents, money, connections) to grow our conference ministry in new and creative ways?
Some of the top themes in the responses to this question about finding resources for ministry included:
1) better identification and communication of needs from the conference to local churches; 2) establishment of an enhanced system of identifying volunteer needs, communicating the needs for volunteers, processing and training volunteers; 3) better OCWM, or mission giving accountability, or increasing the per capita dues amount; 4) a time/talent survey and development of a time/talent skills list, and 5) greater use of emerging (electronic) technologies.
We also distributed at the spring presentations a followup questionnaire about the skills and characteristics we are seeking in a new conference minister. This information will help to guide the search committee as they look at candidates’ profiles.
The top characteristics desired in a new conference minister are someone who:
-connects local churches to each other and to the conference -is competent in nurturing and building relationships across rich cultural, theological, and other types of diversity -is a solid administrator/manager of staff -has the ability to delegate, train, & empower people to engage in ministry as the Conference -offers support for Church & Ministry work, including Search & Call process
The top skills desired in a new conference minister are that he or she would be:
-effective in building trust and relationships across a wide variety of multicultural diversity -a strong accountable leader -relates well to persons of all ages -is adaptive to change/flexible - nurtures spiritual growth in self and others - offers a bold witness of faith
We know from your responses to our self study and from our staff and leaders how important it will be to have a good way to find and connect people with the ministry of our conference. So, at our spring gatherings, we also asked for participants to share your own gifts and skills with us in a time and talent survey, to support our conference's ministry into the future. If you did NOT yet fill out this time and talent survey at one of the spring gatherings, we have extra copies available and we would strongly encourage you to return them to us today or mail them to the conference office.
A full report from the Conference Self Study was shared with the Board of Directors and Search Committee at a special meeting July 25, 2009. We discussed in depth your responses from our conference self study and their implications for our conference's future ministry. We sincerely thank all of you who participated in the self study. Your thoughtful input will guide the work of the Board and Search Committee on our behalf during the next part of our conference transition.
The Self Study Task Force has undergirded our work together with prayer, and we would invite you, as representatives of the churches of our conference, to join us in prayer for our shared ministry. This prayer lifts up our conference in this time of transition, and also the whole United Church of Christ.
Holy One, we pray today for our United Church of Christ.
As our churches gather to unite and share with one another, we pray for the Southern California-Nevada Conference, including our Associations, our churches, and partner ministries.
We lift up our board of directors and our search committee, and pray for wisdom and discernment in the process of bringing us to a time of new direction, new energy, and forward movement.
We pray that your spirit be upon your church in this time, a time made difficult by the hardships your people are feeling everywhere, yet we are hopeful in the knowledge that in you, all things are made possible.
We remember to appreciate the many gifts around us even now, especially our Conference staff and our interim leaders, Jane and June. We lift up our future by praying for our potential candidates for leadership, and we renew our covenant with each other by pledging to support our Conference so that we can supply our new leadership with the tools needed to strengthen and nourish us. Having been so nourished, equip us for our outward mission in the world as followers of Jesus.
Many of our leaders and churches give of their time, talent and treasure beyond measure, and for that we are grateful. Inspire us today to step up and be better stewards through supporting Our Church’s Wider Mission and giving of our own personal time in leadership so that our beloved United Church of Christ can continue to be the forward thinking and Spirit-led church it has always been.
Finally, we keep our United Church of Christ in prayer as we gather for our General Synod to share in our vision of shalom. We are reminded that we are your hands on earth as we look into God’s future together.
Jesus’ way is our way to follow. Keep us on the path.
