2023: A year of Discernment, March Report

Last September, as the church was preparing the 2023 operating budget, it became clear that while FUMCSD is blessed with many resources held in our Foundation and with many faithful givers, we do not have the means to sustain the operating budget, and haven’t for years, without significant transfers from the undesignated funds in the Board of Trustees’ purview. To be sure that we are using all of our resources in the most fruitful and faithful way, I’ve proposed that the church take 2023 to assess our ministries, to understand the cultural changes that have occurred over time, to discern where God is moving, and to determine how we can become the church for this time and place. 

The process:

1. The first step in our year of discernment was the January Leadership Training, where we looked over the history of the church in numbers, recognizing a gradual decline over decades in membership, attendance and giving, especially when considering cost of living increases.
2. The second step was a book study about Christian life and connection in digital culture, (“Church As Network” by Jeffrey H. Mahan).
3. The third step is the “Re-WILDING the Church Conference” (April 28-30 @ FUMCSD, deadline for registration is April 15) where we hear from and speak with scholars and authors about Christian history, cultural change, and our present world. This is where our learnings will be reinforced, and conversations will begin about the implications of our study. 
4. The fourth step will occur Thursday, May 11, where we will look at assessments of particular ministries and ministry areas in terms of number of participants, staff hours involved, financial impact, etc. (We’ll also have a potluck to remind ourselves we do this together!)
5. The fifth step occurs from May through August when several task forces will convene for conversation about how FUMCSD’s ministries need to continue, shift, change, or be abandoned to serve effectively. Read all the task force groups recommendations.
6. The sixth step is to present the work of this year’s discernment to the Church Council for their consideration.
7. Finally, the Church Council will determine a path forward, which could be anywhere along the spectrum of doing nothing different from what we are already doing to changing everything.

I’ve spoken about the work of this year of discernment from the pulpit, discussed in committee meetings and open forums, encouraged participation by direct emails and congregational meetings.  Still, I know that not everyone is aware, or perhaps not everyone understands that this work may ask that we change some things, in some ways, in order to become the church of Christ for the world today.

Be aware.  Be involved.  Be the church.

Rev. Trudy

Read the taskforce recommendations in detail

Read TF Recommendations

Watch the taskforce recommendations

Watch TF Recommendations