Church-Wide TCI Survey
TAG SURVEY / FOCUS GROUP ASSESSMENT
The first two stages of our TAG assessment process have been completed. The purpose in gathering the survey and focus-group information from our church family was to provide the Church Council and Staff with an understanding of Oakdale Emory’s current realities and help identify the key strategic issues for future planning processes. It will help the leadership in developing several of the major components of our church-wide strategic plan: core values, mission, strategy and future initiatives.
As Church Council and Staff work through the findings during the next several months, we will continue to keep the congregation apprised of the joys and challenges that we are experiencing. Below you will find short summaries of our church’s primary strengths and key issues that emerged from our survey and focus groups.
KEY STRENGTHS
Strong Commitment to the Church: Many noted that church was their “second family” and the success and impact of specific ministries and ministry by members of the church have caused people to stay committed even through difficult times.
Caring Community: A strong sense of commitment toward one another exists at OEUMC. Many lifted up that we share our joys and concerns, pray for each other, support each other and socialize together. The two components of social connections and caring relationships are critical to a church’s health and its ability to become a transformational community.
Desire for Spiritual Transformation: Many have had experiences at Oakdale that have led them to faith in Christ, nourished their spiritual growth and given them the support and encouragement they feel they need to live their faith out in their daily lives. There were many comments about the Biblically-based sermons, life application and the pastor’s ability to preach from Scripture and connect truth to daily living.
Meeting Needs: Survey respondents noted that needs are being met for a number of demographic groups within the church: namely, single adults, children and teenage youth.
Staff: OEUMC enjoys the services of a well-qualified, dedicated staff and reaps many benefits as a result. Staff was viewed as very dedicated and capable ministers within their specific scope of ministry/service.
Facility and Location: OEUMC not only has a historical legacy in the Olney community but also has a tremendous presence in the community with its location and buildings.
KEY ISSUES
Consumer Culture: By focusing primarily on meeting the needs of its members (often manifested in our worship and programmatic preferences), OEUMC risks getting caught up in the “production mode,” striving endlessly to create the best programs and events that it can. This only serves to reinforce the notion that the church’s focus is all about “feeding me” instead of building a community of “us.” Many members are very satisfied with the services that they receive, yet struggle to connect with the church’s mission in a personal way that will compel them into action as true disciples.
Developing a Clear and Compelling Call: The survey and focus groups voiced a need for OEUMC to (re)discover a unifying vision for the future. The consultant sensed an inherent desire for a deeper sense of mission and renewed shared vision.
Navigating Change: The key to navigating change is the pace. Many within the congregation feel that the pace of change is too radical, and they feel disconnected and unable to keep up with why “many changes we simply don’t understand” are being made. Successful change process involves communication, training and development, performance and emotional support.
Organizational Structure and Staff/Lay Leadership Development: OEUMC is struggling with navigating change and developing leadership. This is due, in part, to the lack of a shared vision. But it also is related to the organizational systems of the church.
Creating a “Third
Questions can be directed to Leslie Myers at lmyers@oeumc.org.
If you would like to read the first chapter of the book Transforming Church by Kevin G. Ford (TAG president and the nephew of Billy Graham), click on this link: http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-0893-7.pdf