DECEMBER MINISTER'S REPORT

We’re four months into this new ministry now, with six months left to go until the end of the program year. We’ve identified our on-going priorities for the year as Stewardship, Membership, and Outreach, and are working to make meaningful advances in each of these three areas. Energy and enthusiasm are high, Sunday attendance is good, and although money is always an issue in churches so far we seem to be paying our bills.

Now, here’s an evolving checklist of things I would like for us to try to address before the end of the program year in June. If it all seems a little overwhelming, DON’T PANIC! The job of the Governing Board is simply to help define the desirable outcomes and necessary tasks, to identify and recruit the appropriate people to carry them out, and to make certain they have the training and the resources they need to be able to get the job done. Obviously, we won’t accomplish everything we hope to right away. But at least we can get things moving in the right direction


Wrap-up the Stewardship Campaign [Stephanie, Carl, Stewardship Team]

* Follow-up with the last of the folks we have not heard from yet.
* Add up the total number of pledges and the amount pledged
* Calculate the average & median pledges
* Do the analysis
* Thank the donors and volunteers
* Begin planning and recruiting for next year.

Special Fundraising Events [Bill, Carl, Linda, others?]

* The silent auction for handicapped accessibility is off to a great start!
* Now we need to start thinking about scheduling other events for later this spring (Jim Scott concert? Linda’s Spring Festival idea?)
* First steps toward a more formalized planned giving program.

“Next Step” – Trustees: especially Paula, Steve, Ted]

* We should know in another month or so whether or not this is going to fly.
* If it DOES fly, we will be entering into a whole new era of space utilization, program development, community footprint, etc. Be Prepared!
* If it doesn’t fly, we will need to move on to Plan B – what will we have to do in order to be able to accommodate all the things we want to do here in the space available?

Develop More Explicit Administrative Policies and Standard Operation Procedures [Tim, Barbara, Sue, others?]

* Identify more realistic deadlines for routine office work
* Predictable meeting schedules!
* Policies/Procedures in place: simplify, simplify

Articulate a Clear Vision and Long Range Plan for the Future of First Parish [Tim, COM, entire leadership team]

* “Becoming the Church People Think We Are.”
* “Roles, not Goals” – what part should First Parish play in the larger Portland community? How do we step up and fill those shoes?

Keep Enhancing the Pathway to Membership [Tim, Val, Sylvia, Membership Committee]

* (See Previous Handout – “The Path to Membership”)
* Benchmarking Measurements – what percentage of 1st time visitors
visit again? become formal members?
* Keep tweaking the materials and practices
* Hire a paid, part-time Membership Coordinator (?)

Volunteer Ministry Opportunities at First Parish [Tim and Nominating Committee, Governing Board]

* (See Previous Handout – “Volunteer Ministry Opportunities at First Parish”)
* Work with the Nominating Committee: “a ministry for every person”
* Develop better job descriptions
* Refine recruitment procedures.

Children’s RE program [RE Committee, new DRE, Tim]

* get the new DRE up to speed ASAP
* on-going Training and Team-building, program development

Worship & Music Program [Tim, Music Committee, Personnel Committee, Worship Council]

* Chip’s decision to resign actually puts us in a position to rethink (and expand) our entire music program: Organist, Accompanist(s), Choir Director, “Artist(s) in Residence,” guest performers
* Work with the Worship Council to better define the kind of worship experience we hope to create -- Order of Service Changes, Sept 2008?

Public Relations/Identity and “Branding” (walking briskly while chewing gum….)

* (See Previous Handout – “Thinking About Outreach”)
* Two new slogans: “Portland’s Original Faith Community (gathered in 1674)” and “A Warm & Welcoming Place in the Heart of the City”
* Some upcoming events we may wish to publicize:

January
Arrival of the new DRE
“New UU” Explorer Classes

February
10 Jim Scott Service (and Concert?)
Rev Tim’s Semi-Vegetarian Potluck and Lenten Study Series

March
16 New Members Reception on Palm Sunday
23 Easter Sunday
29 First "Greater Portland Community Forum @ 1st Parish" (?)
30 UUA Social Justice Sunday

April
16 Music Sunday
20 Earth Day

May
5 Installation Service
11 Mother’s Day/Spring Child Dedications
18 Spring Festival (?)

Small Group Ministry program [Tim, Bill, existing SGM participants]

* Identify existing groups – support and coach
* Spring facilitator training
* Open enrollment: form new Covenant Groups

Chaplains/Pastoral Care Ring [Tim, Membership Committee, Chaplains]

* Sally Madore, Bob Greenlaw, Johanna Spencer, more?
* Identify, Recruit and Train additional Pastoral Visitors, Care Ring Volunteers
* BTS Field Education Student?