Congregational Listening questions
Thank you for sharing your feedback! The answers submitted over the past 3 weeks are being compiled.
A Word About Our Congregational Listening Process
Over the coming weeks, while Pastor Chris is on his well-deserved sabbatical, our church will be participating in a Congregational Listening and Discernment Process led by Dr. Douglas Anderson. We wanted to share a little more about this opportunity so everyone understands its purpose.
This process is designed to help us better understand who we are as a congregation today and to prayerfully discern where God may be leading us in the future. During his time with us, Dr. Anderson will meet with church leaders, staff, ministry volunteers, and members of the congregation to listen, ask questions, learn about our ministries, and observe the life of our church. The focus will be on our mission, relationships, ministries, leadership, and how we can continue to grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is not an investigation or an evaluation of our pastor. Rather, it is a season of listening, learning, and discernment that is intended to strengthen the ministry of our entire congregation.
Although Pastor Chris is away on sabbatical, this process is intentionally focused on hearing from our lay leaders, ministry leaders, staff, and congregation. Healthy United Methodist churches are strengthened when clergy and laity serve together in ministry. Pastor Chris has consistently encouraged the development of strong lay leadership and has often reminded us that the mission of the church belongs to the whole body of Christ. This process reflects those same values.
It is also important to know that no decisions about future changes will be made during this listening process. The first phase is devoted to hearing from our congregation and identifying areas of strength, opportunities for growth, and ways we can continue to fulfill God's mission. Later, Dr. Anderson will provide coaching, encouragement, and recommendations to our leadership based on what he has learned.
When the process is complete, Dr. Anderson will share his observations and recommendations with our Church Leadership Board and with Pastor Chris so that, together, they can prayerfully discern any future steps. Any decisions about the future of our church will continue to be made through our established leadership and governance processes.
We are grateful for this opportunity to reflect, listen, and grow together. We invite you to pray for Dr. Anderson, our church leaders, our congregation, and Pastor Chris during his sabbatical. May God use this season of listening and discernment to strengthen our ministry and prepare us for the opportunities He has in store for Troy First United Methodist Church.
ABOUT REV DOUG ANDERSON
REV DOUG ANDERSON IS AN ORDAINED UNITED METHODIST PASTOR FROM INDIANA. HE HAS BEEN A LOCAL CHURCH PASTOR, A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, DIRECTOR OF A CHURCH LEADERSHIP CENTER, COACH FOR PASTORS, AND CONSULTANT TO OVER 400 CHURCHES. HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE TRANSITIONAL LEAD PASTOR AT FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN ELKHART, INDIANA. HE HAS BEEN IN MINISTRY FOR 56 YEARS. HE IS MARRIED TO JAN FOR 54 YEARS, THEY HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, NINE GRANDCHILDREN AND FOUR GREAT GRANDCILDREN THEY LOVE. HE LOVES READING, SPORTS, MUSIC, PLAYING GAMES AND MOST OF ALL – JESUS.
Thank you,
Troy First Leadership Board
Chairperson: Jeff Schilling; Vice-Chair: Marilee Lake; Secretary: Nicole Alsobrooks; Finance Rep: Mike Link; SPR Rep: Tom Rogers; Trustees Rep: Warren Bowser; Rev. Chris Heckaman; At-Large: Susan Furlong and Bruce Rhoades.
Over the coming weeks, while Pastor Chris is on his well-deserved sabbatical, our church will be participating in a Congregational Listening and Discernment Process led by Dr. Douglas Anderson. We wanted to share a little more about this opportunity so everyone understands its purpose.
This process is designed to help us better understand who we are as a congregation today and to prayerfully discern where God may be leading us in the future. During his time with us, Dr. Anderson will meet with church leaders, staff, ministry volunteers, and members of the congregation to listen, ask questions, learn about our ministries, and observe the life of our church. The focus will be on our mission, relationships, ministries, leadership, and how we can continue to grow as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
This is not an investigation or an evaluation of our pastor. Rather, it is a season of listening, learning, and discernment that is intended to strengthen the ministry of our entire congregation.
Although Pastor Chris is away on sabbatical, this process is intentionally focused on hearing from our lay leaders, ministry leaders, staff, and congregation. Healthy United Methodist churches are strengthened when clergy and laity serve together in ministry. Pastor Chris has consistently encouraged the development of strong lay leadership and has often reminded us that the mission of the church belongs to the whole body of Christ. This process reflects those same values.
It is also important to know that no decisions about future changes will be made during this listening process. The first phase is devoted to hearing from our congregation and identifying areas of strength, opportunities for growth, and ways we can continue to fulfill God's mission. Later, Dr. Anderson will provide coaching, encouragement, and recommendations to our leadership based on what he has learned.
When the process is complete, Dr. Anderson will share his observations and recommendations with our Church Leadership Board and with Pastor Chris so that, together, they can prayerfully discern any future steps. Any decisions about the future of our church will continue to be made through our established leadership and governance processes.
We are grateful for this opportunity to reflect, listen, and grow together. We invite you to pray for Dr. Anderson, our church leaders, our congregation, and Pastor Chris during his sabbatical. May God use this season of listening and discernment to strengthen our ministry and prepare us for the opportunities He has in store for Troy First United Methodist Church.
ABOUT REV DOUG ANDERSON
REV DOUG ANDERSON IS AN ORDAINED UNITED METHODIST PASTOR FROM INDIANA. HE HAS BEEN A LOCAL CHURCH PASTOR, A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, DIRECTOR OF A CHURCH LEADERSHIP CENTER, COACH FOR PASTORS, AND CONSULTANT TO OVER 400 CHURCHES. HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE TRANSITIONAL LEAD PASTOR AT FAITH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN ELKHART, INDIANA. HE HAS BEEN IN MINISTRY FOR 56 YEARS. HE IS MARRIED TO JAN FOR 54 YEARS, THEY HAVE FOUR CHILDREN, NINE GRANDCHILDREN AND FOUR GREAT GRANDCILDREN THEY LOVE. HE LOVES READING, SPORTS, MUSIC, PLAYING GAMES AND MOST OF ALL – JESUS.
Thank you,
Troy First Leadership Board
Chairperson: Jeff Schilling; Vice-Chair: Marilee Lake; Secretary: Nicole Alsobrooks; Finance Rep: Mike Link; SPR Rep: Tom Rogers; Trustees Rep: Warren Bowser; Rev. Chris Heckaman; At-Large: Susan Furlong and Bruce Rhoades.
