Final Report

Episcopal Church of the Nativity

Long-Range Planning Steering Committee

January 5, 2005

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Current Events

B. Index of Report

1.  A_Brief Summary

2.  Methodology

3.  Rank_Order_of_Answers

4.  Recommendation_(Ministry and Programs)

5.  Summary of Recommendations (Dollars)

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Resolution of the 2005 Vestry of the Church of the Nativity

Regarding the Recommendations of the Long Range Planning Committee

Whereas the Long Range Planning Committee was created by the Vestry to “initiate a process through which a comprehensive long range plan was developed by soliciting input from as broad a base of Nativity members as possible to be used by the Vestry to direct our parish ministry, especially concerning capital needs for the next five to fifteen years”[1] and

Whereas the Final Report of the Long Range Planning Steering Committee was presented to the Vestry on January 5, 2005, and

Whereas the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity received, reviewed and discussed the recommendations of the Long Range Planning Steering Committee at the Vestry retreat on January 13, 2005 , and

Whereas the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity reaffirmed the Core Purpose defined by the 2004 Vestry, to wit:

            To provide a nurturing community in which we re-connect to (know) God’s love ourselves and share God’s love with others in the world, and

Whereas the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity reaffirmed the Core Values defined by the 2004 Vestry, to wit:

1.      A commitment to serve Huntsville and the world

2.      A commitment to excellence in worship in the Anglican tradition

3.      A commitment to be guided by, but not bound by, a reverence for the past, our history

4.      A commitment to provide an accepting, open, diverse community (Grace rules)

5.      A commitment to provide intellectual and vibrant opportunities for spiritual growth for all ages (including children)

and,

Whereas the Vestry, guided by the Core Purpose and Values, has defined the Vision of the Church of the Nativity for the next five to fifteen years to:

1.      Provide a warm, loving, accessible and safe environment for worship and ministry to persons of all ages and abilities;

2.      Improve hospitality and programs in a family friendly environment with inclusion of non-traditional family units;

3.      Provide programs and physical facilities to allow growth in membership;

4.      Enhance communication to the parish membership about Ministry opportunities; and

5.      Maintain/preserve our historical buildings.

Therefore be it resolved that:

1. The Vestry accepts the report of the Long Range Planning Committee to be used as a framework for our short and long range plans.  The Vestry profoundly thanks the Committee for the hard work and time spent in developing this document.
2. The Vestry recommends the Facilities Committee oversees the selection of an Architect to develop a phased Master Plan (see Appendix A.) based on these recommendations. The Vestry directs the Facilities Committee to interview a sufficient number of Architects whom have adequate experience in renovation/remodeling historic churches and select 2 or 3 candidates to be interviewed by the Vestry for final selection.
3. The Vestry directs the Finance Committee to present proposals for financing the development of the Master Plan.
4. The Vestry directs the Finance Committee to investigate and make recommendations for a Capital Campaign to be initiated when the phased Master Plan has been presented to the Vestry.
5. The Vestry directs the Finance Committee to investigate and present a plan for financing the purchase of the Health Department property and continue financing of the 333 Franklin St. property until the Master Plan is completed and a Capital Funds campaign can be initiated.
6. The Vestry directs a Safety Review Committee be established to review the current physical plant and make recommendations about current safety and emergency procedures to be implemented as soon as possible.
7. The Vestry directs the establishment of a team to investigate the feasibility of establishing an Episcopal Book store at Nativity.
8. The Vestry directs the Outreach Committee to study use of the empty space at the 333 Franklin St. building recognizing the need to maintain a current income stream for the property until the Master Plan is completed.
9. The Vestry requests the Rector appoint a team to study the feasibility of a new church van.
10. The Vestry requests the Christian Formation Committees (Adult and Youth) investigate establishment of a Wednesday Night Series similar to the Lenten series to be offered monthly and include age appropriate Bible study for children.  The Vestry also recommends establishment of an outreach component to the confirmation class and include younger children in the project.
11. The Vestry requests the Deacon to develop a Seniors’ Ministry including a day program with transportation.
12. The Vestry requests the Pastoral Care Committee to develop a Grief Ministry.
13. The Vestry requests the Rector to appoint teams to investigate the formation of a Men’s Ministry and a Single’s Ministry.
14. The Vestry directs the Communication Committee to investigate the establishment/purchase of a kiosk to include information about the multiple ministries offered at Nativity to be place in a high traffic area of the church. The Vestry also directs the Communication Committee to present a plan for other ways of disseminating information about these ministries to the parish (telephone directory, Steeple, etc.).
15. The Vestry directs the Finance Committee to continue to investigate availability of funds from the operating budget to hire an assistant organist.
16. The Vestry directs the Worship Committee to investigate the possibility of additional services (Sunday or Thursday night, contemporary, etc.)

The Vestry further resolves that it will begin a campaign to promote the Core Purpose and Values of the Church of the Nativity and communicate the Vision we have established for the future of Nativity.

Approved by the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity,  February 15, 2005.

____________________________________

Rev. Elenor Lucius (Andy) Anderson, Rector

____________________________________

Robert A. Serio, Sr. Warden

Current Events

A Brief Summary

Based on the Ministry (Program) and physical needs of the Church of the Nativity the Long-Range Planning Steering Committee considers these STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS as being of critical importance to the Vestry in its planning:

  1.  Children’s Formation classes up through age 6 should be relocated to the ground level for safety reasons.

  2.  All church facilities should be studied and improved for accessibility for all.  This includes the basement level of Joffrion Hall and all second floor classrooms.

  3.  An outdoor playground space should be developed, possibly in one of our two current staff/volunteer parking areas.

  4.  Additional parking space must be acquired to replace the area lost to a playground and for future growth needs.

  5.  The 333 Franklin property should be developed as an on-site outreach center and should contain an Episcopal Bookstore.

  6.  A Mother’s Morning Out program should be considered.

  7.  Fellowship programs for special groups such as Singles and Seniors should be expanded and improved and new ministries should be developed that are directed toward specific groups such as men’s Prayer Breakfasts, etc.

  8.  The Grief Ministry should include broader programs of support of members of the

parish;  a process to bring knowledge of parishioner’s needs to the clergy; and a

means for laity to participate in the ministry to affected people.

  9.   The Wednesday Evening Christian Formation program should be expanded and meet at least once a month.

10.  More storage in every facet of parish life.

The Index

Current Events

METHODOLOGY

The Long Range Planning Steering Committee was created by the Vestry to initiate a process through which a comprehensive long range plan would be developed soliciting input from as broad a base of Nativity members as possible to be used by the Vestry to direct our parish ministry , especially concerning capital needs for the next five to fifteen years.

Members of the Committee are:

Andy Anderson (Rector), Lynne Berry, Adalene Bledsoe, Virginia Caruso, Phil Dotts, Holly Ellis, Don Evans, Steve Hettinger (co-chair, for the Vestry), Barbara Phillips (Secretary), Emily Rogers, Bob Serio (Junior Warden), Mickey Sharp, Ed Starnes (co-chair), Helen Vaughn (Senior Warden), and Bland Warren.

The Committee first met on April 24, 2004 and adopted a basic premise that every member of our church would have multiple opportunities to add their voice to the process.

The Committee accepted a charge from the Rector that MINISTRY (PROGRAM) should define SPACE needs which would ultimately define DOLLAR requirements. It was also told that the VESTRY needed RECOMMENDATIONS and OPTIONS.

A questionnaire (Appendix A) was developed and distributed to every member of the Parish in which information was sought on current participation in 29 activities at Nativity, interest level in the initiation / expansion of 22 new programs, and a space for the parishioner to add ideas the Committee hadn’t considered.

200 questionnaires were returned to the Committee.

A 17-page compilation of every answer on every questionnaire was created and distributed to each Committee member (Appendix B) which became the basis of the development of this report.

Two-member teams from the Committee met with every current ministry, program and activity at Nativity to get input from the small groups.  Written reports from these small group meetings were considered in the development of this report and, while not included as Appendices, are available in the church office.

The data developed by this process can be reasonably accepted as the “voice of the Church”!

After each committee member read the 17-page compilation the committee was divided into  seven two-member writing teams.  A team was given responsibility for one of seven categories - Christian Formation, Evangelism, Outreach, Pastoral Care, Fellowship, Worship and Operations and Maintenance - and charged with considering all the data as it related to that writing team’s particular area of interest.

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Rank Order of Answers On Individual Survey Forms

The questionnaire offered the parishioner a “Yes / No” answer to the question of whether you would be interested in an activity.  Not every respondent utilized this section but of those who did the number of “Yes”  answers in each catagory were as follows

Episcopal bookstore - 97

Grief ministries - 87

Men’s activities - 75

Parking - 73

Seniors ministries - 72

Singles ministries - 69

Playground - 67

Mother’s Morning Out - 66

Small Group ministries - 64

Expanded Wednesday evening series - 63

Parish retreat - 61

Sunday breakfast - 59

Music open to the public - 58

Ecumenical services - 50

On-site outreach - 45

The Final Report takes all the data developed by the committee and presents it to the Vestry as action items based on MINISTRY  DEFINES SPACE  DEFINES DOLLARS in each of the seven catagories in the questionnaire.  Action is expressed as

STRONGLY RECOMMENDS - matters that should be addressed by the Vestry as soon as  possible and, in some instances, immediately.  These should be considered as a top priority.

RECOMMENDS - matters that should be addressed by the Vestry in its planning process but don’t rise to the level of “Strongly Recommends”

SUGGESTIONS - matters the Vestry would want to consider in planning but at an even lower level of priority.

The Index

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RECOMMENDATIONS (MINISTRY AND PROGRAMS)

CHRISTIAN FORMATION - The Committee

strongly recommends the relocating of children’s Formation classes.  Children up to age 6 should  be on the ground level for safety reasons.

strongly recommends the creation of a playground space in one of our two current  on site parking areas.

strongly recommends consideration of a Mother's Morning Out program at Nativity (also Evangelism).

recommends a dedicated Children’s Chapel area designed and decorated for the children.

recommends a resource center shared between children and adult formation programs.

suggests more children’s Bible teaching programs.

suggests a children’s outreach program (also Outreach).

EVANGELISM - The Committee

finds that evangelism happens through many church programs that have major emphasis elsewhere; for example, the music program, outreach, Mother’s Morning Out, etc.  Therefore it

recommends focusing on those programs and ministries.

OUTREACH - The Committee

strongly recommends the redirection of the 333 Franklin property to become Nativity’s “Outreach Window” to the world, including

suggestions such as an  Outreach Opportunity center; Thrift Store, Hospitality Day Center for client services, incubator office space for startup missions and services; and long-term plans for support for unwed mothers, overflow support to current shelters, etc.

strongly recommends the establishment of an Episcopal Bookstore in the property.

The Index

Current Events

PASTORAL CARE  This includes In-House Care, Lay Ministry, Stephens Ministry,

Reconciliation and Pilgrimage Center, Mission Guild, Hospital Visitation group and Feed My Sheep.

The Committee

strongly recommends an expanded/improved Grief Ministry to include broader programs

of support for of grieving parishioner,  a process to bring knowledge of needy fellow parishioner to the clergy, and to participate in the ministry to affected fellow parishioner.

strongly recommends an expanded/improved Singles Ministry (also Fellowship).

strongly recommends a dedicated newsletter for all Pastoral/Outreach groups to educate

the parish as to what these groups do (also Outreach, Pastoral Care).

recommends creation of a part-time (volunteer?) position to coordinate creation /expansion of senior ministry activities and other new initiatives.

recommends additional meeting space providing dedicated office and counseling space

with a “family setting”.

recommends a transportation system for our seniors to assist with attending church,

phyician visits, shopping, etc.

suggests a full time professional counselor.

suggests divorce support groups.

suggests an outdoor Labyrinth (also, see if it could be combined with the playground).

FELLOWSHIP - The Committee

strongly recommends an expanded Wednesday Evening Series program

to meet at least once a month.(also Christian Formation).

strongly recommends development of specific men’s activities such as a

Saturday Morning Prayer Breakfast.

strongly recommends programs for special groups such as Singles and Seniors.

recommends a “Sunday Breakfast” (coffee and muffins) for those wanting to stay within the Church environment but not interested in a Christian Formation class.

The Index

Current Events

WORSHIP - This includes the Choir, Acolytes, Altar Guild, Flower Guild and, by extension, literally everything that goes on at Nativity

The Committee

suggests (Church, generally) a study of a means to improve traffic flow at the altar during communion.

strongly recommends (Choir) an improved rehearsal space with an elevator to the current space or a move to a ground level space.

strongly recommends expansion of the Music For The Nativity program.

recommends an Assistant Choirmaster or Organist for Jason.

suggests childcare for Thursday practices.

suggests more Contemporary Services in addition to the current program.

suggests Monthly Evensongs, Taize services, more community programs,  professional recordings of choir services for distribution to the homebound and nursing home (also Outreach).

suggests stronger marketing of all programs.

suggests permanent but removable tiered choir stalls to allow for more room and better visibility.

recommends (Altar Guild) a larger, better configured Sacristy.

suggests consistent hot water and a hand rail for the Sacristy.

recommends (Acolytes) a new vesting area for acolytes and LEMs.

recommends an Acolyte bulletin board.

suggests new white albs and cords.

suggests (Flower Guild) enlarged space for more storage.

The Index

Current Events

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE  - The Committee

strongly recommends that all church facilities be made handicap accessible.

strongly  recommends that the church meet city code requirements   (also Christian Formation)

strongly recommends additional parking for weekday activities including

volunteers, visitors, etc.

strongly recommends a detached outdoor facility for storage of volatile and dangerous liquids.

strongly recommends more storage generally.

recommends a new mini-bus or van for use in many programs and ministries

A SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION (SPACE)

To accomplish all the ministry and program recommendations the Nativity church family  wants to be accomplished over the next decade the Committee

strongly recommends the thorough evaluation of all current facilities to assure

the best use of existing space

and

strongly recommends that the Vestry proceed with the purchase of our portion of the Health Department property and leave it as a replacement parking space for the current parking space that will become a playground

and

strongly recommends any Capital Needs Fund Drive include funds to retire the debt on the 333 Franklin property so that it might be used for our Bookstore / Outreach Center.

 A SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION (DOLLARS)

The Committee recommends the Vestry proceed with the planning of a Capital Needs Campaign concurrently with its planning to implement the ministry recommendations in the report.

The Index