CongregationalMeeting,March30,2014 126personsattendedthismeeting.Thatsaysvolumesaboutthedesiretomoveforward.ThereportwasmadebyTerry VarnellfromReferenceCommittee.Aconsensuswastakenifthiswasontargettomoveusforward.Therewere107 personswhoresponded.53(Agree)49(MostlyAgree)and5(OK).Oftheseventhingsidentified,thereference committeesuggestedthatwefocusonthe3CsClarityofGodsdirection,Communication,andCommunity.Byshow ofhandsaconsensuswastaken.106personsshowedapprovalasfollows:101(Agree)4(OK)and1(No).Timedidnot allowustodiscusswhatitwouldtaketomovethe5personsforward. Whatthe5WordsRevealAboutFCC,Stillwater Participantswereaskedtosubmit5wordsthatdescribeFCCnow.Thereareavarietyofthoughtsandfeelings. Wordslikegoodpeople;friendly,caring,lovingandcommunityaresomeofthewordsusedtodescribethe congregation.Othersaremoreofadescriptionofthekindsofthingsmanylikeaboutthecongregationsuchas service/outreachandmusic.Yetitisimportantthatitbenotedthatothersdescribedthecongregationasunfriendly, unwelcomingandmeetingtheneedsofonlysomegroupsofpeoplenoteveryone.47responses Whenthewordsweregroupedtogetherbysimilarityitbecameobviousthatthereisbothhopefulnessaboutthefuture andanxiousnessaboutthepresent.

Manydescribeusasbeingstuck,notmovingoratbestthemovementisinplaceliketreadingwater.Noforward movementisbeingexperiencedbythecongregation.Thereweremanydescriptivewordsabouthowthisstucknessfeels topeople.Indifferingwaystheydescribeaformoffearoranxiousness.Thisanxietymayalsobepresentinapathy, confusion,uncertaintyandalackofenergyorSpiritedness.Therewere48responsesthatencompassthesefeelings. Othersgaveimportancetotheconflictsandfragmentationthattheyseepresent.Wordslikecontroversy,division, polarizationandfragmentationdominate.Alowleveloftrustispresentandneedstobedevelopedinordertodiscuss whatthesedifferencesareabout.40responseswereincluded. Mosthaveagenuineconcernforthefutureofthiscongregation.Someexpressedaconcernthatthecongregationis unfocussed.Someofferedwordsthatexpressedafearofchangeandcompromise,lackofcommunicationandpower playsthatmaycontributetonotonlythestucknessbutalsototheabilitytodiscernnewdirectionsandimplement them.Alookathowleadershipandgovernancestructurescanhelpmoveusforwardisanimportantpartofanew commonvisionandfocuscomingtofruitionandimplementation.59responseswerenoted. Peoplealsoexpressedtheirobservationsaboutthecongregationintermsofwhattheyareobservingasfaras attendanceandinvolvement.Theyusewordslikedeclining,dwindling,smallerandlessvisiblepresenceofchildren, youthandcollegestudents.Wordslikegrievingandbleedingexpressthefeelingsofmany.Anexplorationofthesekinds ofemotionswillgiveusinsightintowheretherearedifferencesinviewsandvaluesthatwhenaffirmedwillhelpyou moveforward.20responses Wordslikelongingandsearchingsurfacedasindicatorsofthedesiretomoveforwardoutofthestuckness.Thereisa longingtomoveontotheplaceofbeingabletocallanewpastorthatcanconnectwithyouasavisionaryleader. Interestinglythenumberonesinglewordusedoverandoveragainwasthewordhopeful22times.Itismost importantbecauseitreflectstheshiftinattitudethatwillallowforwardmovementtooccur.Thispositivewordis accompaniedbywordsthatdescribewhatwillmakeitpossibletodosowilling,committed,determined,encouraged andstrongalongwithopen,inclusiveandresilientshowthereisbothadesireandananticipationthatgoodthingsare comingtothiscongregation.Somementionedtheirwillingnesstobeinvolvedintheprocessesthatwillbringaboutnew lifeintheSpiritinthiscongregation.76responsesdealwithhopefulnessanddeterminationtodowhatittakestomove fromstucktomovingforward.

QuestionsSubmittedMarch30byCongregation ThesedidnotprovidetheinformationthatIhadhopedforduetoalackoftimeandperhapsevenamisunderstanding oftheinformationIwasseeking. However,aftermorethoughtandconsideration,Ithinktheanswersreflectalackoftrustinbeingabletoexpressmore personalconcernsaboutissuesthataredividingthecongregation.Trustcomeswithtimeandbeingsurethatthe processisfairandthatpeoplewillbeheard. Withthatsaid,thesecondthinglearnedwasthatthereisalongingforpeopletobeabletohaveinputintheprocessof movingforward.Thethingsthattheyexpressedwantingmoreinputintoandconversationaboutincluded: Worship22 Obtaininganewpastor17 Whatdividesthecongregationandfeelingsaboutthosethings12 Money,power,governingstructureandleadersandtheconditionofthefacilities9 CongregationalGrowth6 MiscellaneoustopicsOutreach,children/youth,collegeandfocus11 Observations Whatthisrevealsistheneedtopublishmoredetailsthatwillshowhowthecongregationwillbeinvolvedingivinginput intothesethings.Thecoachingwillincludethecongregationalongwiththesmallerleadershipgroupsinthecoaching process.Opportunitiesforinputwillaidthecongregationinowningitsowndiscoveriesandgoals.Beforetalkingabout searchingforanewpastor,theprocessofdiscoveringGodsnewvisionforthiscongregationneedstotakeplace.This willinformwhatisneededinstaffandpastoralskillstoimplementthevision. Wewillbesendingoutamoredetailedoutlineoftheprocessseparatelyfromthisreport.