Newcomers & Evangelism Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Thursday, May 19, 2005 ~ 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A group of four SMAA members joined three committee members in the Parlor to discuss Evangelism and Newcomers.

Participants

Name                                                        

Glen Garber 

Richard & Maria D’Antoni 

Glenn Anderson 

What is Evangelism?

·     Christianity is spread by one person touching another.

·     Sharing the Love of Christ

·     Witnessing – Showing that Christ is there in your own life

·     The sharing and spreading of the Word of God

·     Reaching out to those who are broken to build a foundation

·     Inspiring others to Christianity with standards

·     There was a debate over whether Evangelism (ministering the word of god) included general outreach (Jubilee Center)

Why do People Choose SMAA?

·     Because they connect with the community of SMAA

·     They are invited or referred by a trusted friend

·     Breadth of options in worship (the number of services), involvement (the number of committees), and clergy (the diversity of age and gender of the clergy)

·     The availability of the school

·     People get a feeling of comfort and warmth when they attend

What Works – Evangelism?

·     Outreach

o  The Jubilee Center

o  Mission Trips

·     Witnessing/Ministry

o  None

What Works – Newcomers?

·     Inquirers Class

·     Greeters at Doors

·     Pre-Marital Class

·     Pew Cards

·     Web Site

·     Childcare makes it easy

·     Breadth of Programs & Display of Options (throughout the church)

What is not Working – Evangelism?

·     Alpha Course has fizzled – Leaders are burnt out, not fully supported by clergy

·     Curcio has fizzled some but not as much as Alpha

·     Our understanding of Evangelism – The clergy is not teaching us to be comfortable with Evangelism. It is not set as a priority.

What is not Working – Newcomers?

·     Nametags – The nametags are great, but the program does not work because people do not wear them and they don’t know how to get them.

·     Pew Card Awareness – Potential members are not filling out the cards

·     Newcomers are intimidated by the breadth of options for the Sunday Services (need a service guide)

·     Web site is confusing to find information and is out of date.

·     Newcomers are confused in the service – Clergy need to make a concerted effort to identify the page number in the Prayer Book when new sections are used.

·     Newcomers are confused matching the service to the Order of Service in the Sunday News because changes have been made since it was printed.

What are Other Churches doing that Works – Evangelism?

·     LLM – Alpha (I am not sure what this is referring to. Any idea)

·     Radio Show with Don Fisher for St. Joe’s

What are Other Churches doing that Works – Newcomers?

·     Web site – Park Cities Baptist Church

·     Praise Worship & Evangelism Service – St. Johns in Houston

·     Stickers provided in Pews for Newcomers to wear so they may be identified – Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration

·     Printed Service Bulletins

What are the top three things to make SMAA Better – Evangelism?

·     Teaching Evangelism to increase awareness of it to SMAA members. It needs to be a higher priority for the clergy, lay persons, and vestry.

·     Consistent message in all our communications

·     Focus on one program. Make it really work.

What are the top three things to make SMAA Better – Newcomers?

·     One central, organized place for programs and calendar (in addition to website) – Have when, where, what and updated constantly.

·     Get more data to understand the decision that a newcomers comes up with – Talk to the newcomers and talk to those who don’t come.

·     Web Site must be organized well, provide all programs, and updated.

·     Provide a gateway class that follows the Inquirers Class – this would take them into the next step.