GOD'S PLAN Session #4 - First Presbyterian Church Spartanburg ...

2005 Strategic Plan
MASTER LIST OF PRIORITY OBJECTIVES
Worshiping God
• Call a Pastor who is a strong, dynamic preacher.
David Renwick was called as Senior Pastor in May 2006 and began working in
August 2006.
• Explore offering a contemporary service in addition to our current traditional services.
MorningSong began August 2009 after 18 months of work by a special study
committee.
Caring for Our Congregation
Pastoral Care
• Consider realigning our church by functional ministries.
See the First Presbyterian Organizational Chart provided.
• Identify, reach, and support, unique groups and their needs within our multi-faceted
congregation.
The Life Events Committee, P.A.C.E. and Bereavement Committees contact church
members who experience a death in their family.
• Address congregational visitation.
Through the Diaconate a visitation committee visits shut-ins and nursing homes.
• Establish a system for pastoral counseling.
• Evaluate the P.A.C.E. program.
Proposed changes are being drafted.
• Consider reorganizing the responsibilities of Diaconate and Session as outlined in the Book
of Order.
The Diaconate and Session were restructured per the Book of Order as a result of the
2005 survey. Deacons are focused on Congregational Care and Membership issues.
Sub-Committees are: Life Events, Fellowship, and Member Development
Session’s responsibilities are: Administration, Worship, Music, Education and
Discipleship, Youth, and Mission
The two groups communicate to one another through the monthly Officer’s Council
meetings and information packets.
Fellowship
• Promote intergenerational fellowship.
A church-wide Bible Study, Experiencing God, was held in the fall of 2008.
Wednesday’s at First provides programming each week for all ages.
Weekly Bible Studies are being held at different times during the week.
Bill’s Book Club
MorningSong
Advent Workshop

Growing in Faith & Spirituality
Christian Education & Discipleship
• Call an Associate Pastor for Christian Education.
Craig Foster called as Associate Pastor for Education/Discipleship in August of
2009.
• Restructure all Christian Education.
Christian education is divided into two sub-committees.
Weekly Programs – anything that happens weekly: Sunday School, Bible studies,
WAF.
Special Programs – Programming for those things which take place but not
weekly: Women’s Retreat, Church-wide Retreat, College Ministry.
• Educate the session as to their role in church governance and leadership.
Officer training is conducted for each new group of officer’s, both Session and
Diaconate.
• Conduct classes in Presbyterian governance for members of the congregation.
David provides summaries of General Assembly meetings.
New Member Classes (Welcome Class) are being offered each quarter.
Youth Confirmation has been restructured and revitalized for our youth during their
9th grade year.
• Create an education/training institute to enhance the development and skills of our
congregation, to include:
Sunday School Teachers – Pathway 2 Truth training is held at the beginning of each
new bible story rotation. A training session is also provided prior to Rally Day for all
Sunday school teachers.
Bible Study Leaders, Committee Chairs, Potential Officers – Training is provided
through Officer’s Council and special training sessions.
Youth Leaders – The youth committee provides training sessions and reviews all
youth leaders.
Nursery Volunteers
• Enhance members’ familiarity with Presbyterian theology, traditions, and practice.
New Member Classes (Welcome Class) are available each quarter for potential
members and currents members.
Theology Weekends are held in October.
• Strengthen our members’ understanding of the scriptures and their value for providing
answers for all the basic questions of life.
Weekly Women’s Bible Studies are held in the fall and spring.
Tom and Nan McDaniel hold bible studies each week.
There are two Friday morning Men’s Studies available.
WAF presentations are provided each week for all age groups.

Growing in Faith & Spirituality
(cont’d)
Participation in Church Activities
• Develop procedures and systems for effective communication.
A Communication Committee was formed and began work on:
o A new website which provides forms and allows sign-ups for most church
events on-line.
o Sermons are now available on the web.
o A video broadcast is now provided in the Church Parlor for those who may
need to leave the sanctuary or arrive late.
o The committee is in the process of evaluating signage and facilitation of
getting around the church.
• Increase opportunities for members to serve as officers, i.e. evaluate the terms of service
and the time before renewed eligibility after serving two consecutive terms.
A CNC (Church Nominating Committee) has been established and members are able
to submit names of persons they feel are qualified to hold offices.
The number of first time officers has increased.
• Involve marketing professionals from within the congregation in leading the stewardship
campaign.
Stewardship has moved from the Diaconate to the Session and the knowledge of
members who are professional fundraisers is being utilized.
• Re-evaluate the employment of a volunteer coordinator to invite and help every member
find a meaningful role in the life of this church.
A work in progress.
• Implement a spiritual gifts identification initiative for all members.
This is done for all new members through the Welcome Class (new member class),
however, it has not been done recently for the entire congregation.
Opening Doors at FPC
Sharing in Witness and Service-Outreach
• Define evangelism at FPC.
A pro-active approach has been implemented through worship greeters and a
remembering committee which visits those members who have been away for quite
some time.
The Member Development Committee has developed a plan to follow potential new
members. A prospect is greeted (Worship Greeters), attends worship and signs the
Friendship Pad. They receive a welcome letter and get a call from the Visitor
Follow-Up Committee. Then they are invited to attend the Welcome Class and are
cared for by the New Member Assimilation Committee. These are all Deacon
Committees.
• Develop a comprehensive, perpetuating program to recruit all interested visitors.
Potential new members are identified through Worship Greeters or Friendship Pad
then called by the Visitor Follow-Up Committee and invited to join a Welcome Class.
Visitor follow up also available on the web.
• Improve the recruitment and retention of members at FPC, i.e., conduct a study of inquirer
and new member assimilation programs being used at similar churches.
Through the New Member Assimilation Committee new members are paired up with
church members who call and check up on their involvement and well being.

Sharing in Witness and Service-Outreach
(cont’d)
• Develop a coordinated marketing strategy.
A comprehensive Welcome Packet is given to visitors and all of those attending the
Welcome Class.
Multiple brochures produced in house are given to prospective members.
• Develop a comprehensive program to retain new members by:
o Connecting them to others in the congregation.
The New Member Assimilation Committee was formed to follow up with
new members to check on their involvement and well being.
o Finding a meaningful volunteer role for each member.
A Volunteer Survey was completed in 2007 to try to match members with
volunteer opportunities.
o Starting frequent new classes & programs for groups of new members.
Three Welcome Classes are offered per year, 8 sessions each.
Mission & Outreach
• Give all members, beginning with new members, an orientation of our mission programs
and invite them to volunteer on some level.
A mission presentation is one of the sessions provided to the Welcome Class.
• Expand local mission project opportunities for members.
Some examples of new mission opportunities are: Pine Street tutors, Arcadia
Vacation Bible School, Christmas in Action, Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality
Network, and the Thanksgiving Dinner for Miracle Hill Ministries.
• Find ways to work with other congregations and groups for the betterment of our
community.
See above
Facilitating Christ’s Mission
• Define and publicize the roles of the pastors and support staff to manage expectations of
members.
An Employee Handbook has been updated and implemented.
Scott Neely was called as Pastoral Executive.
• Write, publish and maintain a procedure manual for the operation of the church to include
use of facilities, etc.
A procedure manual was completed by Facilities and a final document was approved
in May 2009.
• Implement a process for the ongoing review of church structure/alignment.
A First Presbyterian Church Organizational Chart was developed and implemented
defining ministry areas (see attached).
• Retire present debt from the building program.
The very low interest rates and recession have caused us to postpone this. It will
possibly be included in a future capital campaign.
• Develop the Evans property as parking.
This project was completed and dedicated on October 28, 2008.

CNC
*Administration
*Worship
*Music
*Mission
*Budget/Finance
Stewardship
*Personnel
Communications
*Facilities
*Education and
Discipleship
*Youth
National
Local
International
First Presbyterian Church Organization Chart
*Moderator
*Clerk
Treasurer
Weekly Programs
Special Programs
Invest.
Congregation
Session
Officer Placmnt
*Chrch Planning
Chrch Relations
Women’s Ministries
Men’s Ministries
Officer
Council
* Indicates Representatives to Officer Council
*Moderator
Deacons
Fellowship
Recreation
Special Events
Wednesdays at First
Transportation
Older Adult
Offering
Health
Member
Development
Worship Greeters
Visitor Follow-up
Welcome Class
Member Assimilation
Remembering
August 3, 2009
* Deacon Representative
(Rotation Basis)
P.A.C.E.
Bereavement
Meal Ministry
Visitation
Prayer
Life Events
Stephen Ministry
Purnell

2010-11 Strategic Planning
Committee Roster
The Strategic Planning Committee leads our congregational process of
discerning a new plan for the future of our church. Please contact any
of the committee members if you have questions or insights to share.
Name
Home
Number Email
Lee Close - Chair 591-1435 lee.close@milliken.com
Vic Bailey 579-3241 vbailey@vicbaileyauto.com
Vicki Woodward 597-0084 vwoodwardcfsa@multistate.com
Emma Harrill 591-2218 emma.harrill@firstcitizensonline.com
Jay Beeson 582-7737 jaybeeson75@yahoo.com
Cathy Bagwell 573-5385 cathybagwell@att.net
Camille Wolfe 582-3781 wolfemc1@bellsouth.net
Mary Helen Wade 583-1858 mhwade@palmettoadvisory.com
Ned Page 582-1765 nedpage@charter.net
Sanders Lee 582-0085 sanders.lee@ch2m.com
David Renwick 285-4659 drenwick@fpcspartanburg.org
Scott Neely 582-5453 sneely@fpcspartanburg.org

2010-11 Strategic Planning
Committee Questionnaire
To help our church launch a new strategic plan, please share your thoughts on what our
church is doing currently. In the space provided, please share:
a. One thing that we as a congregation are doing that you value and want kept or
expanded.
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b. One thing that we as a congregation are not doing or are doing poorly that God
might be calling us to do.
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c. Our present Mission Statement is to “Glorify God and Share Christ Together
through Word and Deed”.
How well does this statement reflect your understanding of Christ’s purpose for
our congregation? What should be added, improved, or changed?
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Please return to Shannon Stewart (208-2132 / sstewart@fpcspartanburg.org) in the Church Office by Sunday, October 10.