"Year of Decision": Results of First Focus Discussion

On Thursday, November 9th, members and friends of Channing filled the Parish Hall for a potluck supper and focus discussion to begin the process of defining a consensus-based vision of what Channing Memorial Church will be in the future. This was the first such Congregation-wide discussion and its focus was on what we value about our Church and what each of us holds as our vision of our shared ministry within the Church. Over 60 people, representing long-time members as well as many new people, sat down in seven discussion groups, each of which answered four questions that had been previously mailed to the Congregation. Following the discussion, the facilitators (Rev. Amy Freedman, Bill Peresta, Marsha Francis, Maryellen Doherty, Dorothy Vissman, Mary Alice Smith, Barbara Nowicki, Holly Grosvenor, and John Burnham) reviewed all responses and developed a list of common themes found in the answers to each question. These are summarized below:

Question #1: Why do you come to Channing Memorial Church?

  1. Spirituality / Inspiration
  2. Community / Caring / Fellowship
  3. Action / Outreach
  4. Sacred Space / Music
  5. Diversity of Beliefs / Shared Values

Question #2: Property and Ministry are inter-related and integral parts of who we are as a Church. In your opinion, what percentage of our time and resources (energy and money) would you like to see invested in these two areas?

  1. We (the Congregation) need more information. The leadership needs to educate the Congregation about property and program costs.
  2. There is diversity of opinion in our Congregation on the proportion of time and resources that need to be invested in our property and ministry. There was a recognition that the proportion changes over time.
  3. There was not a broad consensus on whether or why people value our Sanctuary or other property. Common opinions expressed include:
    1. "We have a responsibility to maintain the property."
    2. "What goes on in buildings is much more important than buildings, and that minimal resources should be spent on buildings."
    3. "Our buildings are historic and iconic."
    4. "Our Sanctuary is a magic place - a place of sanctuary for us."

Question #3: If Channing Memorial Church suddenly found itself with all the money it needed, what would you like to see us do?

  1. Expand programs / provide the resources (including staff) to support and sustain them
  2. Repair, maintain, and sustain our Sanctuary
  3. Expand local and world community outreach
  4. Increase our visibility in and communication with the community (spreading the good word)
  5. Improve and add useable space with adequate parking

Question #4: In areas other than property, do you believe Channing Memorial Church needs to make some changes? If so, in what areas and why? What is most important? How important is it that we make each of these changes?

  1. Expand our human resource (staff, volunteer participation, membership) base and make better use of it
  2. Improve the functioning of our shared ministry, including leadership development, to attract new members and make the best use of all individual talents
  3. Improve lifespan religious education
  4. Improve our connection with the local and wider world

These themes as well as other "Year of Decision" information can be found on our website.

These common themes will guide us as we embark on the next steps in crafting a common vision statement that will empower the Congregation and its leadership to move in specific directions. Our next step will be a month-long process of providing education and information on the resources necessary to realize the "dreams" expressed above. We will then have three more focus discussions (one each in February, March, and May) to evaluate our current resources and assess our future needs. With this information, we will craft our vision statement, which will be presented to the Congregation at the Annual Meeting in May and formally voted on in June. Our Transition Team looks forward to continuing our Congregation-wide discussion on the important issues facing our Church.

Tom Beall, President