Holy Conversation Monday March 14th - 7PM at PCMK
1. What do you think Church means? What do you think is the purpose of our church?
- A spiritual environment – comprised of the people, place or physical space, time of the week
- Family that offers comfort, courage and support. Let you know that you are not alone, there are people to talk to and to offer assistance.
- Community of faith – partnership with the Lord. Imagery that includes the Bride of Christ
- A place where people care for each other and together take care of others – a place where people care or are caring.
- A holy space where we make promises each week, a place where we regroup and re-energize
- A place where we think outside of our daily lives, look at the bigger world around us, gives perspective and ways we can share and help in God’s name. It’s the children in the congregation that brings the enthusiasm, the life blood and the future of the church.
- A place that offers refuge and never fails to provide nourishment and spiritual sustenance
- Sermons that make you think and grow, keeps your faith growing
2. What brought you to this congregation?
- PCMK is not overly fundamentalist, is a welcoming, warm and open church.
- Growing up as a Presbyterian led me to a local Presbyterian church.
- Church location itself was most convenient
- Knew people here that suggested that we join
- Church allows me to bring my music and to participate in sharing it.
What kept you here?
- The people in the congregation and the friends we made.
- “It’s an open and honest place”
- Mission work was a consistent theme throughout the turmoil and served as the glue, the common thread.
- Providence – God has stood by the church through its ups and downs
- Simply, this place speaks to me
- Open to kids and engages them – helpful in time of need with troubled youth battling substance abuse and behavioral issues.
3. What are the important qualities of this church?
- Caring, volunteering, constructive outside of church, a real sense of mission
- Welcoming, open and affirming. No passing judgment
- Governing voice and administration of the Church has hit its stride after the recent tests. Battle tested.
- Willingness to learn and grow, less rigid and more accommodating. Perhaps more tolerant. This flexibility was gained through the hardship.
- Open to change
- Willing to see what youth can bring to the church , offering a change perhaps more contemporary or keeping contemporary.
4. What would you like to find in this Church five years into the future?
- To see the Church pews full every Sunday.
- See younger member bringing their youthful energy
- More single people as members too
- Be financially self sustaining with a larger congregation
- Transparency in the Church operations, a lot of communication
- Strong ministry and outreach programs
- Make more community connections, be in tune with the surrounding community, large Hispanic population nearby
- Encourage the whole Church to take responsibility
- Bridge some of the gaps and welcome back some of those who have left, reach out to those members and have group healing.
5. Now that you have thought about our Church's purpose, what gifts would you see a new pastor
bringing?
- Inspirational
- Thick skin
- Be able to "speak" to everyone. Able to relate to the entire congregation
- Be inclusive not encourage cliques or factions
- Deliver sermons that inspire, challenge and make us think
- A bridge builder and a peacemaker
- Conflict management
- Administrative skills, good leadership and ability to manage staff
- Mobilize the vision , share the passions of the Church with others
- Challenge the Church to walk the walk and do as we say
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