Dave Montgomery

Jim Stanford

Andrew Walling

As a family of faith the role of the church in our lives cannot be overstated:

• It is the place that draws us close to God through rich relationships.
• It is a place away. The natural beauty of our campus calls us to breathe deeply and live into God’s Sabbath.
• It is a place that speaks to the challenges of our culture and creates faith-based alternatives to the dominant culture.
• It is place that calls us back into the world. Our faith life is a constant movement of coming home and being on the journey. In Christ we come home to our church. In Christ we go out into the world.

We live in a larger community where many people are:

• Thirsty for a deep spiritual experience of God.
• Looking for a positive influence in the lives of their children.
• Longing for community.
• Seeking meaningful ways to serve.
• Considering church for the first time, or desiring a church experience that honors tradition but speaks to contemporary realities.
• Wanting to celebrate life and love through creative expressions of art and music.

VPC does all of that – that is our Legacy of Grace.  It is a legacy that began with a vision over 50 years ago, and is now a reality through God’s abundant grace.

Who We Are Today.

We are Presbyterian. We are intellectually curious in a highly educated culture. We are not afraid to deal with difficult concerns (Presbyterians are reformed and always in need of being reformed). We are people blessed with many resources and we are good stewards of what we have been given. We put our ultimate trust in God.

We are kid friendly. We love our children and youth. We make commitments to provide love, support, and faith to our children and young people.

We are an arts church. VPC is alive with music, theater, writing, and creative expression.

We are a loving intergenerational family.  We celebrate and honor the diversity of age and life experience in our community of faith. We build transformational relationships across the generations, and provide love and support like a healthy extended family.

We have a spiritual heart. We exist because God loved us into existence. At the heart of our ministry we engage in spiritual practices of prayer, study, fellowship, and lively small groups. Our leadership is committed to making decisions by discernment and consensus whenever possible.

We are not afraid to serve. Our commitment to the larger world through hands on mission partnerships is making a difference, providing clean water, housing, education, medical care, and a gospel message of hope and health to sisters and brothers locally and around the world.

We are blessed with great leadership. Pastoral and ministry staff as well as strong lay leadership brings creativity, faithfulness and energy to their work.

We find life in worshipping the God of life. There is a vitality of spirit that is palpable when we gather on Sunday mornings. God is honored and we are changed.

A Time to Be Intentional about Tomorrow

Now is the time to be intentional about building a legacy of grace for the years to come. There is much to celebrate about our life together today, and there couldn’t be a better time for our older members to “dream dreams” and our young members “see visions.”

Here are the intentions we hold for our future:

• We will be led and transformed by the Spirit.
• We will equip our members for the journey of faith.
• We will develop leadership for the future at VPC, and beyond.
• We will create new mission partnerships.
• We will continue to be a community of creative thought and artist expression.
• We will be good stewards of our church home, our faith family, and our resources – sharing these blessings with hospitality to our visitors.
• Our worship will reflect “the work of the people.” (Translation of the word “liturgy.”)

To make these intentions reality we propose the following projects:

              To continue good stewardship of our VPC family location -

• New Construction/Campus Upgrade. Our most important physical asset is our beautiful sanctuary and campus. The sanctuary is a holy place where people come for worship, important occasions, and for prayer and meditation.
• Narthex and Meditation Chapel. Imagine a new beautiful glassed-in space dedicated to gathering and prayer. The proposal is to enclose the breezeway off the Sanctuary (next to the parking lot). This glass enclosure would create a narthex for gathering in bad weather, for offering hospitality to visitors, and for a dedicated prayer chapel.
• Campus Upgrade. While the campus looks beautiful, it has been our home for 50 years, and it needs some important work done. Upgrades include: re-roof (Sanctuary, Fireside, Lane Hall & Office), new boiler, kitchen and bathroom remodel, landscape work, rebuild playground, addition of audio visual/tech upgrades, and green energy alternatives.

Projected cost: $1,000,000

• Manse Debt Elimination/Manse Maintenance and Remodel. To prepare for a transition to the next generation of pastoral leadership, a debt-free manse could enable more candidates to consider living in this area.  Eliminating current debt on the church manse will free resources to pay for ongoing program and mission.

Projected cost: $650,000 (Note: $610k debt. $40k for manse maintenance and remodel.)

Initiatives: Developing Pilot Programs for Ministry. The leadership of the church challenges the whole congregation with a “big idea” – one that gives the church direction for the future. The big idea is that VPC become a center for developing innovative cutting edge ways of being the church. The most dynamic programs and new events at Valley Presbyterian Church first started as “pilot projects” funded with “initiative” money – RISEN, the musical “Puah’s Midwife Crisis,” the current youth program and volunteer programs, the China Girls Education mission project, are just of few. These initiatives reflect both the call to take risks to make faith real, and the entrepreneurial spirit of our church and larger community. The Initiatives/Pilot Programs include risks with inward and outward focus:

              To “Inwardly, experiencing God’s presence” - 

• Modern Day Monastery Project (MDM). VPC will develop and offer unique resources to equip members to live fully into their faith in Christ through work, reflection, and covenantal living. This project is the logical next step in the work we are doing today through RISEN.

• Spiritual Companions. Imagine having a spiritual friend who accompanies you on your faith journey with careful listening, affirmation, and faithfulness. Imagine a church community that was bound together by those unique intentional friendships. Currently about 20% of VPC members are in group or spiritual direction. Doing the work of discovering: “Who am I?” “What do I want?” “Where is God in my life?” has changed the face and focus of ministry at VPC. This initiative would create training, support, and infrastructure to further develop the spiritual life of the church.

              To “Outwardly living Christ-centered lives” - 

• VPC Lay Seminary. Imagine a church experience that gave the essential tools for a rich faith life – where an individual’s gifts were nurtured to enhance the body of Christ.  Imagine your church community being a cutting edge “field laboratory” where the best and the brightest come to develop resources and curriculum for other churches that face the challenges of faith in the 21st century. The curriculum would include in depth Bible study, prayer resources, ethics, missional living, and practical theology.
• Faith Formation for Kids, Youth, and their Families. With families facing stressful, anxiety producing, fracturing lifestyle options of our culture, VPC needs to develop alternatives. VPC has a strong program for children and youth, but there is much more to be done to support parents and kids. This initiative would take on this challenge, which affects every church family and asks the question: How do I bring faith to my children?
• Faith and the Arts. Imagine an initiative that enhanced the amazing tradition of music, drama, dance, and fine arts interfacing with faith. This initiative would support current artists in their creative endeavors, develop emerging young artists, and give non-artists opportunities for creative expression.

Projected cost for the “Initiatives”: Pilot Projects: $300,000 [$100k per year for three years. Costs are for additional staff compensation, curriculum development, visiting guests (scholars, artists, and faith leaders), support for workshops, retreats, and other special events.]

And To “Extend God’s grace into the world” -

• Mission Partnerships. Our partnerships with Mt. Zion Church in Tekax, Habitat for Humanity, and Network Ministries have been transformational and life giving for VPC members and for the partner communities, not to mention the rich cross-cultural relationships we have established. The primary funding of those partnerships came from previous major gift campaigns. We propose developing new partnerships that will define our work in the world for the next decade. Two potential partnerships are being considered: Zang Tabi, Cameroon and Living Waters for the World, building clean water projects around the world.

Projected cost: $250,000 (approx. 10% of the campaign.)

PROJECTED TOTAL:  $2,200,000

Building a Legacy of Grace: Our Opportunity

A legacy is what we pass onto the next generation – our values, hopes, and faith made visible. Valley Presbyterian Church has made a difference in our lives. In response to what God is doing for you, you are invited to take this opportunity to make a difference by making a generous and sacrificial investment in your church’s future.

Prior to any campaign, we are seeking input from the congregation through either an interview or completion of a survey.  Your feedback will help our leaders to make wise decision regarding our future ministry.  Thank you in advance for your participation.

Updated 6/8/11 – Draft 4

CLICK for Leadership Retreat Details

Executive Summary

Results/Recommendations

The Session of Valley Presbyterian church retained The Goehner Group to conduct a congregational study to determine the feasibility of a capital campaign to fund:

• New construction/campus upgrades
• Manse debt elimination/manse maintenance and remodel
• Develop pilot programs for ministry
• Fund mission partnerships with 10% of the campaign

During the course of the study, nearly 90 people participated representing sixty-three (63) households.  The participants were candid in the responses but not in a critical spirit. 

The congregation has people who have a wide range of involvement, and membership ranging from less than five years to more than thirty years.  The median experience is 11-15 years. 

When asked how the church has impacted their lives the following responses were most frequent:

• Sermons/preaching
• Mark and Cheryl
• Music/worship
• Strengthened my faith
• Sense of family
• Involvement of my children

The study participants indicated the following are the primary strengths of VPC:

• Pastors Mark and Cheryl
• Music/worship
• Sense of community
• Accepting/non-judgmental
• Theater and arts
• Preaching
• Welcoming and warm

The participants have served in a variety of ways primarily consisting of being a committee member, Session member, Deacon, and Christian education.

The study participants indicated the following areas need attention or improvement:

• Potential departure of the pastors, Mark and Cheryl
• Need for more room/upgrades to the facility
• Hospitality/assimilation
• Growth
• Giving and finances
• Infrequent attendance

The participants indicated the following potential issues VPC might face in the next three to five years:

• Departure of Mark and Cheryl
• PCUSA issues
• Growth, attracting young families
• Clear understanding of journey church

The responses of the congregational interviews and the survey respondents indicate a mixed response to the sense of a clear vision for the future.  The survey respondents were more positive than the interviewees. 

Among the interviewees there is a strong sense that the church is well-managed financially. 

The general response to the importance of the projects was positive – especially among the leaders and the survey participants.  Likewise, the respondents were favorable about some of the projects and in particular the campus upgrade, manse project and perhaps one initiative.  The narthex and chapel were not seen as important.  There was a mixed response to the mission component.

When asked about potential “land mines” or “barriers” to a campaign the response was varied from none to the loss of Mark and Cheryl to lack of a sense of urgency to the cost of the projects and the current economy.

The participants are uncertain as to the financial capability of the church giving $2.2 million to a campaign.  They had a mixed reaction to whether the will exists to make this become a reality.

When asked if a campaign should be held, the responses were different for each segment of the study:

• Leaders – the vast majority said yes
• Congregation – quite positive, maybe a year away
• Survey – very mixed with 56% indicating yes or maybe

The participants were asked if they would be willing to participate as volunteers or leaders.  The survey participants and leaders were the most positive with over half to three-fourths expressing their willingness. 

When asked if they would make a financial commitment to a campaign, the most common response was “not certain”.  This did not indicate a negative attitude toward a campaign, but rather the need for more information.

Based on the results of the information received, The Goehner Group concludes that Valley Presbyterian Church is not prepared to begin a campaign, and with careful planning and additional education to the congregation regarding the vision and projects, will be able to conduct a campaign, perhaps in a year.