A Word From Our Interim Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Our Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meetings focus on adaptive change. I introduced the following principles at Our Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting, Step 2, on Sunday, May 5. Those principles are making observations, making interpretations, asking questions, and making measured interventions. This process of making observations, making interpretations, asking questions, and making measured interventions is an excellent discernment process as we listen to God and one another for the vision and future of Grace.

Moving from the “Old Mindset” of trying harder to the “New Mindset” of making observations, making interpretations, asking questions, and making measured interventions is challenging. And yes, the process of moving from certainty and comfort to humility and discomfort is difficult.

The question we asked for Step 2 in Our Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting was: How would you describe Grace to someone you wanted to attend with you?

• We used the process of making observations, making interpretations, asking questions, and making measured interventions. The Challenge of Declining Attendance guided the process.
• There are five emerging pillars to support the five emerging emphases in Grace’s ministry: The Triune God, The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, Prayer, and The Bible.
  

The next Our Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting, Step 3, is Sunday, August 11. We have one service in the Great Room at 10:00 am, followed by a covered dish lunch, including dessert, water, iced tea, and coffee. The question for discussion is: What are Grace’s strengths and challenges as we move forward in evaluating the five emerging emphases in ministry of caring, connecting, giving, learning, and worshipping?

Pick up a copy of the unedited and organized comments received from the ninety-two participants in Our Interim Pastor Journey Town Hall Meeting, Step 2, or view it below.
On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

 

Grace Town Hall #2

May 5, 2024

“I see…”

Attendance / Demographics

• Empty pews IIIII IIIII IIIII IIIII IIIII
• Fewer young families attending and/or joining IIIII IIIII IIIII
• Busy lives/schedules impacting families’ abilities to regularly attend church IIIII I
• Fewer children in the nursery IIIII
• Almost no small children (elementary age) at Grace IIIII
• Not enough emphasis on Children’s Ministry
• Fewer kids in youth programs IIIII III
• Fewer young adults in general joining or attending church IIIII IIIII I
• Fewer graduates I
• Fewer new members I
• Limited programs for Young Adult Ministries
• Fewer middle-aged adults attending church
• Our congregation’s growing older IIIII IIIII III
• An increase in elderly attendees
• Members dying (at greater numbers) II
• Members moving to retirement communities and assisted living
• Attendance go up and down
• Irregular attendance
• Fewer cars in the parking lot II
• Less people on Sundays depending on day/time of year
• Attendance isn’t even full-on holy days (Easter and Christmas)
• High average of attendance by membership
• Adequate attendance at all-church meetings
• About ½ of 1100 am attendees sitting in the back 1/3 of the pews I
• The same people sit with the same people and always talk to one another
• The same people at each service II
• Narthex is not crowded at end of service.
• The choir shrinking II
• The people who stayed and the people who left after the pandemic
• People not returning because they don’t see similar people as themselves
• Little diversity (age/race/socioeconomic status)

• Active participation in middle school and high school youth groups (many from Robinson’s WYLDlife program) but WITHOUT parental encouragement
• High school and College students making new connections at Grace. I

• People moving on (jobs, retirement elsewhere, etc)
• Members who travel or winter away not returning to church when they are in Wichita
• People’s lives and schedules change as they age
• People traveling again
  

Welcoming

• Visitors generally well-welcomed
• Lots of new faces
• Increased membership from people attending 0900 service
• New members that recently joined
• People who really enjoy getting invited to groups/events
• People who enjoy visiting before and after worship IIIII
• People who can’t visit after worship because the postlude is so loud (0900)
• People making relationships I
• A welcoming people I
• Friendly faces
• Welcome “feeling” as sometimes unclear

• Reluctance to invite non-members to visit or join THIS church or any church
• Members bringing guests
• People not in the know about when/where events are happening

• A division of opinions on which kind of service anyone person prefers
• Two-part church: ½ at 0900 service and ½ at 1100 service
• Two-part church separates young families from the rest of us
• Less people in attendance with online church option
• 5-10 people online

Volunteering

• Less willingness to become involved
• A lower commitment to participation (Sunday School, VBS, musical ensembles)
• A “core” group of people doing a lot of jobs that the church needs done III
• Absence of people who were formerly regular and involved attendees
• People who used to help out with things at the church no longer active (burnout?)
• People stepping up to help (when asked; dedicated and willing) II
• That those who want to come to church and be members ARE COMING and participating – we can only be responsible for ourselves
• A garden team that makes the church look great

Worship

• The same readers at each service
• Changes in reduction of Sunday School classes and fewer attendees IIII
• Less need for Church School classrooms
• No communicant classes
• The same bulletin at each service
• Fewer bulletins being printed
• An irreverent regard for the offering, wishing the plates would be placed on the sacred table, prayed over, and the ushers return with them silently
• More casual dress
  

Community

• Enjoyment of a church group (ex. Choir) keeps people attending
• People who care greatly about each other
• Decline in social groups, i.e. Windjammers
• Fellowship of the saints
• Feeling needed or knowing I’ll be missed will often prompt my attendance
• FOMO – Fear of Missing Out – ex. When something unusual or exciting may happen – will prompt my attendance

Society

• Fewer families making church a priority I
• Global strife worldwide taking people away from church I
• The world changing and the church needing to change with it (all people having the right to be with whom they want to be with)
• Members who have left over an openness to inclusivity, specifically LGBTQ+
• Nothing surprising – Grace isn’t as big in membership as it once was but this is in step with all traditional, mainstream churches

Misc

• A church that is not open minded even thought they think they are
• People leaving because they are afraid to get involved in changing their own opinion (close minded)
• Hateful speech and behavior cloaked as religion
• Not getting visitors plugged in fast enough
• Traditions that could be changed
• A church that is irrelevant to the world around it
• The church as not being plugged into the community enough
• A church that lacks curiosity
• A church afraid to take risks to make changes
• Few verbalized suggestions about how to proceed
• Other churches thriving by offering non-traditional things like basketball programs for kids
• The same cumbersome rules of the Presbytery sometimes inhibiting creativity
• The church moving towards more progressive thought
• New leadership not evident
• Lack of leadership
• Overworked staff members unable to make connections as well as possible
• Churches closing their doors
• Non-denominational mega churches growing and apparently thriving
• Few people coming to check out our church
• Some older people need to receive, not give at their stage of life.
• Some people don’t want to hear from those who disagree with them.
• Choir are in older age bracket mostly even though “paid” participants are young.
• There are not many things about Grace on Facebook, but many for Life Church.
• That there is a small committee working on the issue of not enough kids in Sunday School, but is small and progress is not very fast.
• Younger generations not joining any organizations (Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs, The Masons, service organizations, etc.)
• There isn’t anyone specifically focused on outreach/marketing of Grace.
• There isn’t anyone specifically focused on children’s ministry.
  

 “I hear…”   

Interest in engagement

• People wanting more events to draw community members into Grace.
• A potential visitor asked what does Grace offer in addition to listening to the preacher.
• Younger people seem more interested in activities, social issues.
• People introducing themselves each week so I remember their names.
• One reason I enjoy this congregation is I hear no negative comments.
• People say “how can we be more relevant”?
• People talk about missing the age related fellowship groups (mariners).
• We should be offering exercise classes to increase attendance.
• Churches gaining attendance are offering multiple events.
• Concerns for marginalized people in our geographical community.
• People don’t feel “seen”; no one notices if they come to service or not.
• People are “distracted” by our own issues to reach out to others or find support from church.
• People who enjoy being invited to participate in activities.
• People who are working to make connections to know people in worship better.
• Members who want to make a difference on service but don’t know how.
• People love to be included/invited/intentionally reached out to (lots of people we’ve met say they started coming because Catherine reached out to them, they were invited to a dinner group, someone followed up).
• People feeling disconnected from their peers/community.
• “We missed you”.
• That small groups are a good way to get people connected to church.

Society is changing

• That church attendance is mainly by older people.
• Youth don’t understand the importance of attending church. I
• Younger people casting aside the religion and faith they grew up with.
• That many people don’t trust organized religion despite having a faith in God.
• Many churches all over the US have fewer people.
• College Hill Methodist, First Presby & 1^st Methodist all thinking/trying to sell their big, old, in need of repair churches.
• That many churches are selling land for affordable housing because their congregations are shrinking.
• More young adults do not see the value of religious fellowship.
• More people are leaving churches because of X political issue.
• More people who simply do not believe. II
• People our age and younger saying church sermons don’t relate to them and the world they live in.
• Mainstream religions are in decline due to Christians hypocrisy I
• People talking about how “judgy” Christians are. II
• All churches are declining – it’s normal. II
• The media talking about a relatively large number of people who still believe in God.

Longing for young people

• That fewer young people attend church.
• A concern about “not enough” children. III
• That there are not many kids in the daycare we provide for Sunday School.
• People saying “how can we attract young people”?
• Children of church members choosing to attend other churches.
• Church doesn’t offer enough programs for families.
  

Interest in personal growth

• How will Grace “feed” the whole me?

About worship / Education

• 11 service extends into children’s nap and lunch time
• The thriving churches are “church lite”, feel good, no talk of sin & repentance or confessions.
• Great comments about the content of the sermons.
• The service is too long.
• Complaints about “praise music” not being “valid” in service.
• People love the band. People love the choir.
• Great comments about the extraordinary quality of our music.
• While in worship I love listening to the music program even though not everyone around me is listening but talking. II
• Good music – our piano player is great – we couldn’t worship nearly as well without her.
• Declining Sunday School attendance.
• “Regular attendance” means coming more than once a month vs. every week.

Changing Congregation / Looking Back

• Lack of attendance.
• Lack of leadership.
• We have members with health issues.
• Because the church would marry same sex and a couple from the steamers left because of this.
• People saying “it’s not like it was”.
• People say “if we could only do what we did, we would be growing”.

Leadership

• Why can’t we elect PNC now?
• Concern about new pastor process.
• Concern over hiring a new pastor?
• Do I like the new pastor?
• Who do you think we’ll get?
• We don’t have to heal… nothing is wrong.
• How are You (Pastor, session) going to fix it.
• It is difficult to get volunteers to work on boards/committees/leadership/work/labor tasks in the church.
• “Older” people tapped over and over again for leadership,
• It is difficult to fill church officer positions.
• We have less money.
• Being an usher, comments on how few donations are in the plate.

Other

• Don’t hear much except about the youngest attendees decline, are we really joyful?
• People talk about “what to do” in groups that I attend – ideas but little follow up.
• Different opinion of possible changes & I don’t agree with any of them. But I’m afraid to get involved because I might be ridiculed and made fun of so I just keep quiet and go with the flow.
• I am not included/valued.
• Where I fit in?
• Feel ostracized by faith communities (not necessarily Grace).
• That the non-denominational churches that I despise are growing much faster than the traditional denominational mainstream churches
• We don’t want to be “evangelistic”.
• People don’t want to “join”.
• People are out of the “habit”.
• We have tried several things but nothing seems to work.

 “I think…” 

Too Busy

• People think they are too busy for church. IIIII III
• People prioritize events – church OR other social activity. IIIII
• People make choices – maybe they were not brought up in church. III
• Many outside activities compete for families’ time on Sunday mornings. IIII
• Church attendance is less of a societal norm and requires more of an active decision to go to church. IIII
• The stress of life forces people to slash one item from their schedule
• People no longer think they need the church/God. II
• People don’t realize how church can benefit their lives. IIII
• People care but aren’t involved
• We need to fully acknowledge societal shifts
• Younger generations don’t see church as relevant (faith is seen as passive, not acting out of faith). IIIII
• Families with children think church activities are boring
• There are simply more people who don’t believe. I
• There is a spiritual war going on in society that influences church life.
• *People don’t visit because they think we are like everywhere else.

We need to understand motivations better

• We need to be more open to exploring how those who aren’t here feel and think. Are they busy? Do they not care? Some say they can worship at home instead of at church.  We need to be open to understand these people better.
• We need to find out what motivates people to attend and become engaged.
• We need to ask people what attracts them to 9 or 11 services.

 

Need more fellowship opportunities

• Church needs to have fellowship activities of some kind for people to connect (share a meal, talent show, go to a baseball game together); connect at a different time and place than the church building. II
• People don’t know how or where to connect in meaningful ways with the body and mission of the church. So they fade away.
• People are fearful of getting involved without an invitation
• Provide opportunities for small groups to build community, do bible study, draw younger people. II
• People who are invited directly to participate will often do so, but may not work to find a place they can fit.
• Some long-standing groups are reaching out to newer members to help them assimilate
• Service projects attract more and different folks. I
• I think choices about service times and program styles helps build a more inclusive congregation
• We need to reach people where they are
• We could change the way things have ‘always been’ to develop programs that are important
• People may be looking for entertaining atmosphere. III
• People are becoming isolated and afraid to interact
• People can watch online. (I can do this even when I’m traveling)
• People are anxious about not knowing where Grace is going.
• People who feel like visitors don’t continue to come. They need to feel like they belong.
• People are leery of being asked to do something if they belong/attend

Need more service in the community

• There has been less involvement in the neighborhood community
• We need to reach out to more people in our community. III
• We are not in the community enough to have people see us and talk about the church.
• We don’t do enough to get people involved in mission projects. Facilitate!
• Young people want to see more young people

Need education /bible study opportunities

• Parents don’t understand/remember the values they learned at church/Sunday school.
• The last several years staff members encouraged one big Sunday School instead of our traditional and well attended smaller classes to choose from
• We need more bible studies and small groups. Emphasize bible literacy. II
• We need to emphasize personal relationships with Christ. Not just church attendance.
• We need to be open to sincere interpretation of scripture (differing opinions)
• We need to evolve but stay true to the scriptures – hard to do.
• I need to be more vocal about how important my faith is and how Grace has helped that faith grow.
• As a church we’ve never been willing to do evangelism.
• Church is essential to our lives
• More education on cultural differences would help.
• Passion and commitment is what we should focus on.

Challenges in society / politics

• We need to love everyone regardless of their beliefs. I
• The politics of religion plays a part in people not feeling needed/valued.
• Organized religion is seen in the light of politics and not in Jesus. I
• Christians are viewed as hypocrites by society. II
• Churches are judgmental of others. They talk about diversity and openness but don’t practice it and are not loving people. II
• Many church practices have been used to hurt or discriminate against the younger generation (in the nation as a whole)
• It can be hard to accept/trust church support.
• People fear being shamed or shunned, don’t think they can make a deep connection.
• People are not willing to listen to others’ ideas
• Churches are mired in practices and beliefs that don’t mirror the real world. I
• Society is creating more divisions which effect religious attendance.
• People leave over LGBTQ issues – they want to worship with like minded people. I
• People are unsure why this church isn’t opening LGBTQ affirming such as others in Wichita.
• People must embrace PCUSA theology or choose somewhere else.

Passions around worship

• People are passionate about spiritual traditions that are familiar to them (whether from growing up with the Gloria Patria or listening to praise music outside of worship)
• Passion for worship is more evident during holidays not in weekly worship services
• Some people want a different church experience, some what it exactly as it has always been.
• People at both ends of the spectrum are saddened by worship becoming more progressive or more traditional.
• People have their own interpretations of what/who is appropriate in church worship
• Our church has great sermon content that relates to our lives.
• People are less attracted to traditional services
• I attend Grace for the programs and traditions that my last church stopped doing
• We should make the church more involved in more areas and not focus on attendance as a problem.
• We can reinvent worship and mission work.
• We need to be realistic on what we can do and want to do.
• We could increase engagement of some of the younger attendees
• Involvement of the total congregation has been lacking in recent years.

People

• The same people are in church every Sunday
• The same people are tapped to be on committees, help in the kitchen, etc.
• Aging members are finding more time to serve in a variety of ways
• Some older people want a younger generation to take over. I

Finances

• Church requires donations and people don’t or can’t find money available.
• People try to make an effort to maintain financial responsibility even when attending irregularly.
• Economic strife leads to many believing church isn’t beneficial.

Change / Competition

• People visit other churches and find them more enjoyable or meaningful. I
• We need creative thinking to address issues
• People have a hard time with change; we are afraid. “We are right and the world is wrong.”
• We are comfortable with how things are
• We expect others to change instead of changing what is being offered by the church.

Misc/Other

• We are a strong congregation. II
• GPC has a number of engaged attendees
• Just because one church does something doesn’t mean we should (don’t necessarily follow the crowd)
• We have very good musical programs that glorify God. I
• Make kids come to church who don’t want to
• We don’t have bible study anymore
• Our members are mostly older and are dying off
• Young people graduate, leave the church, go to college or to their next adventure. I
• Updating our traditional service might be more inviting
  

 “I wonder if …”   

Worship Times / Changes

• A Saturday afternoon service might make a big difference. IIIII
• I wonder if offering non-Sunday morning opportunities for study, worship, etc. would make space for people who don’t show up on Sunday mornings. IIIII
• If young people would be more open to non-literal/traditional ways of worship
• If we had more youth lead and influence worship? Their interpretations, not the older traditional ones?
• If tradition would really die or just look different if we threw “tradition” in the trash can?
• If we offered an evening worship opportunity if new people might attend
• If we had a mid-week service in the evening.
• If the praise band played in the 11:00 service every once in awhile
• If people don’t like the band because it is not what they know
• If Grace combined the 9 and 11 service. I
• I think the times are good. Do not think a time change is the solution.
• If culture is shifting away from a “smoke and mirrors and entertainment” form of worship and teaching that we can promote a more contemplative choice in worship
• Change worship format
• If having a guest Sunday when each member/family would invite others to worship with us would be effective in bringing new faces to Grace
• If you’d lose more people than you’d gain by messing with the service times
• If changing up the order of worship every once in awhile would make people more interested. If it becomes too “stale” if it’s the same every week
• If involving different people in the service would generate interest
• We should care about attendance and focus on “giving” a Christ experience every week if that would impact engagement
• If we could focus on being our best possible church for Jesus and not looking at if we should have a band vs. organ
• How to make others see the importance of walking with God daily

Improve connections / Belonging

• I wonder if making time and space for regular social contact on Sunday morning could help members feel more connected to the church and people who they don’t know.
• If we could change the way we approach membership to make people feel like they belong. I
• If there is a way to have a more diverse church body where all ages/race/socioeconomic statuses/gender identities would feel welcome
• How to replicate the positive experience I’ve had with our inter-generational dinner group. I
• If the church had more greeters people would feel welcome
• If having regular fellowship groups would give people, new people, a place to connect
• How we could integrate new members into our congregation
• If more social gatherings would entice present members and possibly new members to attend
• If it’s easier to invite people into small groups, and then eventually into membership
• How we could reach out to all – but specifically newer people. Phone calls, group events, small group social events
• If we have treats before church and an activity afterwards
• If we could be encouraged to change seats from time to time – not always sit with people we already knows

Connect to young families

• I wonder if our church presented itself as a friendly kids welcome during church service, that the parents would feel welcome.
• How we can do a better job of empowering, including, and supporting young families and young adults.
• If age/young families isn’t as big of a deal as we think it is – lots of young families would love to have surrogate grandparents
• If we promoted family worship opportunities if there would increase involvement
• If more opportunities were offered for young families/children
• If childcare keeps younger adults serving in leadership roles
• If a child rearing course – free to public – would garner enough connections to bring families to services
• If messy church should be tried again
• If Grace youth had a separate service of their making would give them a voice and control of program
• If having a children’s ministry person on staff would attract young families

Learn from others

• I wonder if we went to visit thriving churches if we could learn something from them. Put a research group together to understand what works.
• What if we hired a pastor that has recent successful experience in growing a dying church.
• What if we had a consultant come in and diagnose our church and community and gave us a road map on how we could be successful
• I wonder why churches like New Spring have such high attendance and the “mainline” churches don’t
• I wonder why the Catholic churches have so many young families (schools maybe) attend
• If our youth have ideas on reaching out to others their age and getting them to worship with us
• How we can apply the mega church techniques to GPC

Serving Others

• If more people would come on Sundays if they were asked first to serve in some small capacity outside Sunday mornings
• I wonder if we focused on serving and sheltering our community, helping the people Jesus cared for, the disenfranchised, the outcasts, the “unlovely” if we might then focus on what our individual mission and congregations’ mission is to demonstrate Christ’s love, and become known for what we do, not what we believe.
• If the church could be less rigid about attendance and offer more evening/virtual services to people
• If greater/more visible public service would increase awareness of Grace’s mission and values. III
• If Grace hosted more community events if more people would be curious about Grace III
• If the church was more outward on our beliefs, more people would come
• If we have more neighborhood activities, if this might attract neighborhood families. IIII
• We held a community dinner to invite our neighborhood.
• We had a group of people dedicated to giving new people a place/option for services
• If we ever have another economy corner? I thought it did a great job serving the low-income people and homeless people. II
• What would happen if we did more service less organized?
• What would happen if people see the church in the community not just in a building
• Increasing mission outreach will help people connect
• People could be inspired to be actively involved after they have heard the Word proclaimed
• If offering exercise classes, cooking classes, etc. would broaden our appeal
• If more community service events would attract new people; I love Wichita events, advent evening workshops, Christmas boxes, invite-a-friend, trick or trunk at the childrens home or neighborhood, authors of biblical books speak and advertise

Improve communication / Outreach / Marketing

• If more neighborhood people attend and they knew more about our church
• I wonder if making information about ways to volunteer, to be in fellowship, to be in service, to be in leadership, etc. More available more detailed and more personal would encourage people to be more involved and feel more deeply connected to the church
• How we can counteract the negative, judgementalism that has harmed too many and pushed some people out of the church. How can Grace be a church that Heals? Both individuals and our community.
• If a website with more clear presentation of events and groups would help attendance
• If more people would get involved if they were just invited (I joined Justice Together because Darwin asked, Kevin joined session because Gail asked, joined lawn team because Catherine asked.)
• If we advertised more in the community, people would know us
• If we talked more about current events would it lead to people leaving or staying?
• If we marketed all the good that Grace has, would it help?
• If Grace had more of an online presence. TikTok, IG, X, Mastadon
• If an electronic sign might accomplish 3 things: grab attention, signal that this church is of the 21^st century, bring people through the doors
• If postcards mailed to neighborhood homes would be effective in bringing new faces to grace
• If we could share all good news in church publicly, not just in session
• If being more transparent on monthly financials and session agendas would lead to greater feeling of involvement among all members
• If a booklet outlining all the service opportunities for members could be distributed and available
• I wonder if people want a chance to share opinions and ideas
• If more “town hall meetings” would bring people together, realigning people having different ideas and giving them a place to present them
• If spending money on advertising would increase attendance
• If we were more open about our church’s stance on tough issues if we might attract more people, we’d probably lose some along the way. By anyone driving by or hearing about us would never know if we are like-minded to their beliefs
• Having staff focused on marketing
• Distributing postcards to our zip code
• Having prizes to visitors
• Doing more with Jacobs
• Advertising grace more at community events

Education

• If we have more Sunday school topics/classes if people would be interested
• Changing the name “Sunday school” to “in depth thinking and sharing of the gospel” might interest more people
• If adult Sunday school groups would respond to a multigenerational model

Connect with other faith communities

• How we could connect with other congregations to serve the community
• If forming a relationship with another congregation would be helpful. IIII
• What would happen if we invited other “minor” religions to join us together with use combining their worship ways with ours – like Hindu, Wiccan, Native American, etc. What would happen if we explore how Christ is also actively part of these other religions?

Other

• About church members who say “I’ve done my time” when invited to do something new instead of saying “yes”
• If church attendance is the best way to quantify impact in the modern world.
• Church could be more like camp
• There could be less structure
• If I should make my kids attend church
• If we had a task force to modernize Presbytery, new things/methods would be possible
• Why some of us ladies go to other churches to do quilting when we have 2 rooms dedicated to sewing upstairs
• We have ladies and gentleman who are always working puzzles – a room to exchange would be wonderful
• We change or redefine our expectations and/or definition of what attendance is or means, if our engagement would change
• I love coming to church on Sunday, I wonder how to help other people to feel that way
• What people are looking for or needing in a religious institution
• If we had younger leadership
• Selling the parking lot to build affordable housing

“How might we…” Playful Interventions 

Values

• Discover best practices from other churches
• Be more open/public about our beliefs as a church so the public knows that we are not judgmental like so many other churches are. We are very open-minded, accepting, and welcoming. We need the public to know this.
• How might we make connections FASTER between members, non-members, and strangers so accountability comes naturally? So people want to come to church because: they feel valued, they feel needed (and not just for their offerings), they feel like they have purpose, they feel like they will be missed if not there, they feel supported, they feel a part of something bigger
• How might we offer more opportunities for people to share their talents?
• How might we offer more thanks to those who are serving our church?
• Reach out to people who left and hear why
• How might we make sure each attender is affirmed in some way each Sunday?
• How might Grace be a place of Spiritual Healing for people?
• How do we build connection and purpose for people who want them?
• Make a point of how Grace is different from other churches- Frankly, Grace is accepting of LGBTQ+ folks, welcoming, offers great child care, amazing community service opportunities, etc.
• Demonstrate that all are welcome in our congregation by being involved in direct action (eg Justice Together) and openly LGBTQ+ affirming
• Make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ?
• Set different expectations within the congregation
• How might we attract new members
• Prayer, prayer, prayer
• Relationships among members is so important! Sunday attendance only isn’t enough!
• How might we attract those who have lapsed church
• More opportunities to interact with each other and the community
• Emphasize meeting people where they are at in their relationship with Jesus and make them feel welcomed and not judged
• How might we strengthen the commitment of those that attend our church and participate in our service
• Adapt a plan and get the plan rolling and take action–find a leader to implement–don’t give up before starting ie all talk, but no action–nice exercise but that’s it
• How might we engage people in conversion about what the institution, and Grace in particular, might attract people
• How might we convince non-church attenders that Christ is important enough to get to know?
• How might we each offer one shill for one time so that some tasks at Grace might be completed at least one time?
• I don’t think there is anything we can do to reduce the busy-ness of people’s lives
  

Worship Services

• Introduce a Saturday night service for six months
• Add a non-Sunday service
• Try Saturday evening service
• Have a service at night/evening (once a month?)
• Propose combining the 9 and 11 am service
• Shorter, more frequent services (with virtual services)
• I, for one, would like to switch the services
• Services could have less structure
• Create a different worship experience
• Offer a worship that is made adaptive for people with neurodivergent concerns
• Choir sing every second week
• Use more contemporary/singable songs
• Increase time for Passing of Peace (5 minutes)
• Orchestrate changing seats intentionally
• More “Bible Service” at the risk of less liturgy
• Services could have less dependence on church ritual
• The message should be bolder and a few minutes longer
• Messages in a developed series would create more interest and attendance
• Possibly less form by saying some liturgy on alternating Sundays to allow more time for teaching
• Invite guest pastors/[unclear]
• Make the building more welcoming (turn sanctuary sideways and use chairs instead of pews
• Create a more inviting church service
• Stimulate congregational participation by increasing opportunity in corporate worship
  

Events Outside of Worship Services

• Small groups discuss faith topics
• We might try having small group worship/social time
• We might try enlarging that idea (small groups) to outside church, and make it intergenerational
• Grief, singles’, and widows’ groups
• Host family meal/activity nights
• Offer family game nights for families
• Add a monthly family event
• A midweek gathering for fellowship, Bible study, community service, sports/games
• How might we schedule more “whole church” gatherings- one church service more often (monthly?), potlucks?
• Offer more congregation meals
• Should we have food every week?
• I think the lunches are a good idea but summertimes are baseball games, football practices, and vacations
• Have quarterly neighborhood events (ie food truck, music)
• Invite the neighborhood to join a summer picnic at the church, have games in the parking lot for the kids to play (we have done this for Trunk or Treat)
• Neighborhood kids for game time at the church during the week
• Dance lessons
• Offer more community service programs (smoking cessation classes, Master of Balance class, parenting classes, financial planning classes)
• Form pickleball leagues (or just a pickleball night)

Youth/Children/Families

• VBS should be fun!
• Become a place children want to come to
• New, younger membership and leadership
• More youth leadership
• Connect with JLL better
• How might we reach out to families in the Grace neighborhood and excite them enough about who we are that they want to worship with us?
• Contract/hire part time children’s minister
• Have a full time youth/children’s pastor

Service/Community Outreach

• Begin conversations with other denominations
• Community mission and outreach- fulfills our Christian obligation, gets church members involved, invites others to question our motives and ministry and become involved themselves
• Go to neighborhood meetings
• Educate everyone of what service opportunities are available and encourage them
• Always have a list of all ways people can serve. Then members can suggest to a potential member how they might connect to church on a more personal/social level than Sunday morning (lawn care, window washing, preparing communion elements, helping serve meals to bereaved families, choir, ushering, greeting, kitchen)
• Keep a billboard up on different activities each week
• Re-invest in service opportunities at Hyde/Robinson
• Partner more with Hyde and other local schools
• Unite people- connect people through community-wide service (ex: Love Wichita)
• Attend community events (cleanups, Open Streets)
• Build a Habitat for Humanity Home
• Outreach to the neighborhood
• How might we include non-believers in our activities (all of the events listed in the ‘I Wonder’ page)
• How might we offer more opportunities for service in our church?
• Have community service activities for members to do together
• I’m not going to say something stupid like try to get the Crown Heights neighbors to come. They know we are here, if they wanted to come they would. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. Frankly I don’t think there’s anything going to change the way things are, short of a cataclysmic occurrence that might bring more people back to church- temporarily

Marketing/Advertising/Social Media/Communication

• Increase our exposure to the public and be self-promoting about what we do and what people can receive if they decide to be a part of an organization who is making a decision
• Advertise the church in the neighborhood
• More virtual engagement for the sake of it- shareable posts, memes! (they increase engagement), show off acts of youth group online
• Post core beliefs on social issues on our website
• Publicizing events as [unclear], such as posting in grocery stores, to have special worship center ie Bible study
• Advertise on NPR
• Website that clearly lists groups and events and stays up to date
• Initiate “creative” ways to market the church
• Market the church as a “neighborhood” church not a “mega” church
• Test advertising at community events events that are held at Grace
• Put posters and other marketing to Jacob’s Learning Ladder
• Advertise the Church and good works/strengths/opportunities on social media
• Contract with a part time marketing person with emphasis on social media
• Have a real marketing budget and use it
• Test marketing to surrounding people/zipcode

Other/Miscellaneous

• Offer Jacobs families a discount if they become members of Grace
• Develop a fellowship team to ensure visiting people are greeted and feel welcomed each Sunday that they visited
• Having people in charge of openly, directly inviting people to groups, activities, etc
• Everyone design a card for service people (ie [unclear])
• We could pay people to come!
• Offer $5000 for anyone who attends our church for 30 Sundays in a row and participates in Sunday school and our outreach committees. Maybe we could get a grant from our presbytery.
• Furnish transportation to older members who don’t drive
• How might we reach the unchurched or formerly churched? Transportation to bring more of all ages- elderly, non-driving youth
• Offer prizes to guests

Shifts needed in…

Attitudes towards others / in general

• Personal preferences
• Consideration for others is lost.
• Saying I’ve done my time.
• Changing attitudes (+I)
• Expect change to happen.
• The world is changing; we must as well.
• Leave your culture
• Being open-minded (+7)
• We do not think before speaking.
• We’re too old and comfortable.
• Listening and recognition of different values and people are different. (Strength) (+8)
• Expecting the process to be fast
• You won’t get everything you want.
• Diversity in ethnicity, thought, and people (+3)
• Good attitude when discussing topics.
• Habits must change.
• Enjoying your own group – we should instead focus on being inclusive to all (+3)
• Unwilling to compromise
• Entitlement
• Putting politics before Jesus (+I)
• More faith as a priority over other secular noise.
• Individualism
• Willing to accept new leadership (+I)
• Being forced into progressive changes
• Being positive(+I)
• I like how we’ve always done things.
• Acknowledging my own inflexible attitude(s) allows me to see this in others.
• Change is hard (+I), but w/o it, there is no growth.

Worship / Education

• Value the worship experience(I)
• Changing service times would be difficult for some as this is an individual choice.
• Make the traditional service more lively.
• Reimplement bible classes and invite others around the neighborhood.
• Sunday school for kids during worship.
• Prefer both services in the Sanctuary.
• Stop consuming and preaching anything that divides.
• Sunday routines need to change to accommodate the new
• Styles may have to change: Music (+I), liturgy style, and content.
• Encourage them to attend different services for new perspectives.
• Once per month – one service for all (+2)
• Allow for interactive services.
• No applause for sermons – worship is not a performance.
• More Jesus in sermons
• Children’s time in worship
• More casual dress code / Non-judgmental on dress.
• Focus on entertainment.

Taking Initiative

• We are too low-key – we must be more vocal in our beliefs and who we are.
• Being afraid to invite someone to worship (+2)
• Asking people to be involved(+I)
• What gets people excited?
• Focused on issues – pick one or two.
• More to care for each other – transportation, meals, babysitting.
• Same people doing the same job – not inviting others to help or do.
• Live our faith(+I)
• Attract people through our acts and commitment (+2).
• Recognize a personal relationship with Jesus outside of church.
• More opportunities to learn from others outside of our church.
• Connect with other Presbyterian/Christian churches for mission/worship.
• Willing to meet people where they are…inside and outside the church.

Service to others

• More local mission/activities for people (+I)
• Funding ministry priorities

Orientation toward youth

• Not understanding young people (+I)
• More young people into service.
• Young people want transparency.
• Minorities have a voice and want to be seen and heard.
• Utilize JLL

Other

• Pray about how to increase our attendance and make overall changes for Grace and the neighborhood.
• Many young people feel like giving an offering is paying for social time or being told they are a sinner every week.
• Physical attendance may not be the best goal post.
• Need a parental leader – dress, rules, jobs, etc. but with lots of love.
• The Internet is taking up more time.
• Talk more about attendance/performance.
• Many think they can be believers/spiritual w/o going to church.
• Past should be a starting place and not discounted, and are they effective? (+I)

 

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