The Three Greatest

I'm often critical of lists that claim someone or something is the "best" or the "worst" in the whole wide world. Just as I am uneasy when someone uses the words "always" and "never." How can you say Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, and John Elway are the three greatest pro quarterbacks of all time? Look at the people you've left off the list!

So "the best" of all time lists or "Top Ten" lists or the "Top Three of All Time" lists often miss the mark. And still... lists can help us glimpse a bit of reality. 

Monday evening more than 50 leaders of our church met together as Church Council and VIM (Vision-Inspiration-Mission) leaders. Led by Catherine Elliott and Tom Bunger, people broke up multiple groups and did their best to identify:

• What are the three greatest strengths of our church? 
• What are the three greatest weaknesses of our church?
• What are the three greatest opportunities of our church?
• What are the three greatest threats facing our chuch?

There were all sorts of responses. Strengths mentioned included lay leadership, outreach, music, staff and preaching, location, and the former post office property. 

The weaknesses list included a tendency to be a collection of siloed groups rather than a congregation focused around a common vision/mission, a building in need of repair and a facility that isn't as functional as it might be, a lack of unity, and inadequate stewardship. 

Opportunities included location, the student population, serving ministries to the neighborhood, and many more. 

Threats included the facilities, financial limitations, the position of the UMC (denomination) on homosexuality, lack of a common vision, a culture that is increasingly hostile towards faith and the church, other non-denominational churches, and the pastoral appointment system. 

After times of prayer and much conversation, everyone in the group voted and we identified: 

Our three greatest strengths are:

• Music
• Lay leaders' talent
• Downtown Location (including ownership of the former post office property)

Our three greatest weaknesses are: 

• Lack of a shared vision
• Age and layout of the building
• Budget constraints (limited funding which means we struggle to respond to opportunities to serve and grow)

That if they could make three changes in our church, they would:

• like our church to obtain a shared vision of who we are, what we have, and what we do. Most critically we would put our shared vision into action. We would like a shared vision that is actionable.
• like our church to have an intentional education plan for helping people learn faithful/joyful giving to God. 
• like our church to utilize our location and our space better in order to serve our diverse population.

What would you have said? How would you have answered those questions about strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and possible changes?

The shared conclusions from Monday night will be forwarded to the FCJ Consultation Team for their consideration, along with the nearly 30-page Self Study document that has been pulled together by lay leaders and staff. 

Sometimes "top three" lists miss the mark. When it comes to quarterbacks, what about Jim Kelly, Bart Starr, Dan Marino, Sid Luckman, Y.A. Title, and Drew Brees?

Sometimes "top three" lists are right. "And now," Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 13, "faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love."

What are the top three changes you believe God wants made here in this mission outpost we call First United Methodist Church/The Open Door?

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark Fenstermacher