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2013 Mission Study Report

(Intended to be a Living, Changing Document)

The Presbyterian Church in Geneva, New York

http://www.presbyterianchurchingenevanewyork.org

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Table of Contents

Mission Statement

History

The Geneva Community

Ministries and Programs

Ten-Year Trends of our Church

Our Present Situation

Our Future

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Mission and Vision Statements

(Approved by Session 9/15/10; ratified by the Congregation 1/23/11)

Vision: With Jesus Christ as our model and the Holy Spirit as inspiration, we boldly live our faith in God as

disciples, serving each other, this church, our community and the world.

Mission:

1. We welcome all, extending the hospitality of Christ by comforting those in need and celebrating

together the joys of life.

2. We worship God through music, prayer and Word, celebrating the gifts of the Spirit, nurturing our

faith, and challenging our complacency.

3. We study and teach the Gospel to prepare for discipleship, enabling each of us – wherever we are in

life’s journey – to grow in faith.

4. We commit to being generous stewards of our gifts: time, talents, resources and, indeed, our lives.

5. We pray and work for peace, equality and well-being of the earth and all its peoples.

The Presbyterian Church in Geneva is known throughout Geneva and surrounding communities as an

affirming, inclusive, warm and welcoming church. It is a wonderful, contagious attitude that we nurture and

share, both within our congregation and with the larger community. Our hospitality extends to the wide

usage of the church building as a regular meeting place for 40 community groups which use our classrooms,

kitchen and fellowship hall every hour of the day and evening. On any given Sunday it is not uncommon to

see three to four generations of a family in the congregation. While family commitments are strong, The

Presbyterian Church in Geneva also is known as somewhat of a “melting pot” because so many members of

the congregation have come from other faiths. A friendly and open atmosphere has always been a part of

our history. At a time when many churches are experiencing declining attendance, The Presbyterian Church

in Geneva has maintained an active and engaged congregation.

We strive to worship in meaningful ways, through beautiful music, wise and challenging sermons, use of

inclusive language and imagery, and participation by people of all ages in our services and programs. While

Sunday services are traditional, we are excited about new possibilities for sharing our faith and are open to

developing alternative styles.

Our educational programs are vibrant, offering something for everyone. We take very seriously our mission

of Christian education for people of all ages -- children, teens and adults. Sunday School classes are held for

preschoolers thru high school. There is an active youth fellowship, and young people serve as Elders and

Deacons as well as Acolytes. Confirmation classes are held every other year for 8th and 9th graders. Adults

meet regularly on Sundays between services to study the Bible, wrestle with social justice issues and explore

what it means to be 21st century Christians.

We are generous stewards of our gifts of time and talent. There is a very high level of participation by PCG

members in all aspects of community life here in Geneva. We strive to live our faith as disciples, extending

the hospitality of Christ to those in need. The PCG is active in ecumenical ministry, hosting and participating

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in community-wide events such as the annual Martin Luther King Day celebration, the annual series of

weekly Lenten breakfasts, an interfaith Thanksgiving service, and Vacation Bible School.

We not only pray for peace and justice; we have a long tradition of active community mission and ministry,

through our SERRV shop, Working Capital for Community Need (micro-loan fund in which part of our

endowment is invested), and Village Links, an outreach program to teach life skills to teen parents that began

with funding from a bequest. The annual Palm Sunday brunch and auction raise funds for One Great Hour of

Sharing – in fact, this church is in the top 100 churches in the country for supporting OGHS! We recently

started a grant-funded program called Baby College, an early literacy program targeted at teen mothers that

encourages them to read, sing and play with their babies in ways to improve language development.

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History

Combining Forces

The history of Presbyterians in Geneva, NY dates back to 1798 but for purposes of this report, we think the

history should begin in 1988 when the former First Presbyterian Church and the former North Presbyterian

Church held their first combined worship service on November 27, 1988. While both churches had strong

congregations and programs, many felt that a combined church would be more beneficial in serving the

community and mission endeavors. A union of the two churches had been suggested repeatedly over many

years, but the effort had never before progressed beyond initial discussions. It was an emotional process,

but ultimately each church was willing to work out the “devil in the details.” The First Presbyterian building

was selected, but the organ and two of the loveliest stained glass windows from North Church were brought

over and incorporated into the new church.

Just as a plant breeder combines the desirable characteristics of the rootstock and the scion to produce a

better plant so our joint church has developed. The name chosen for the new church was The Presbyterian

Church in Geneva. For a more detailed history and accounting of the merger, the reader would be advised to

consult “The Presbyterian Presence in Geneva, New York” compiled by the Rev. Dr. J. Richard Hart.

Pastors

Dr. Hart served as minister of the First Presbyterian Church from 1959 until his retirement in 1988. The Rev.

Charles Peet then served as Interim Pastor until April 1989. The Rev. W. James Gerling served as pastor of

North Church from 1980 until the union of the two churches.

In 1989, the Rev. W. James Gerling was chosen to serve as the first pastor of the new church. The

Presbyterian Church in Geneva was blessed to have 24 years with Pastor Jim Gerling, who retired at the end

of December 2012. Under his compassionate leadership we became a closely united congregation and a

vibrant part of the Geneva community, with a strong emphasis on local mission.

In 1989, the PCG also called its first Associate Pastor, the Rev. Mary G. Ludvigsen. She left in 1992, and was

followed by an Interim Associate Pastor, the Rev. Lynn U. Nelson, who served from 1993 until 1994, when

the Rev. Dr. Nancy Birdsong was called. After nearly 17 years with us, Nancy accepted a call as Pastor and

Head of Staff for the Presbyterian Church at Bound Brook, New Jersey.

The Rev. Suzanne Otterbacher, part-time Parish Associate, joined the staff in 2011. She assists with Sunday

services and acts as staff liaison with the Deacons and the Worship Committee, as well as leading a PW Bible

Study group.

Planning the Transition

Pastor Jim’s retirement announcement in January of 2012 was not unexpected. As early as 2010, we began

planning for the many changes this would bring. The church leadership began to tackle the work that would

need to be done to transition to new leadership. A Retreat Planning Committee was formed to organize and

lead two day-long retreats, one in May 2010 and one in February 2012.

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2010 Retreat

The May 2010 retreat was designed to take the pulse of the congregation, to reassess who we are as a

church, what our mission is, and how best to move forward to carry out that mission in a financially

sustainable way. In preparation for the 2010 retreat, we assembled information on the demographic and

economic profile of our church. The congregation was surveyed about a wide range of topics including the

following broad questions: Why do you attend this church? What keeps you connected? How might the

church better serve your needs? What changes might you suggest for the future? Church committees were

also asked to complete surveys that included questions about the church’s strengths, weaknesses, and the

committee members’ visions for the future. The results offered a useful snapshot of the church, and they

were the starting point for the retreat.

At the retreat, small groups discussed their hopes and fears concerning the future of worship and music,

Christian education, congregational care, congregational life and fellowship, communication, evangelism, and

social justice. They were also asked to consider where we find God as we ponder these questions. Afternoon

sessions were designed to move toward a vision, with small groups addressing the following questions: Who

are we? Where have we been and where are we going? What are our resources? How do we live and

serve? Where is God? In what do we hope? The retreat ended with people committing to work on four

initiatives: (1) new vision and mission statement, starting with the words and phrases generated at the

retreat; (2) resources, including an assessment of current resources and future needs; (3) communication,

including development of a church website; and (4) engaging youth in the visioning process.

The conclusions of the retreat organizers: we were struck by the positive energy generated during the

retreat; there was frank, open discussion; the focus was on broad visioning rather than getting bogged down

in details; we noted an openness to change and growth but some concern about what the future might bring;

and there was a commitment to keep the process moving forward, with next steps identified and individuals

committing to work on those next steps.

The four initiatives have been or are in process of being accomplished. The new vision and mission

statements (see p. 3) were developed and adopted and continue to guide us.

The second initiative led to an intense review of the financial situation with much thoughtful deliberation,

both before and after Associate Pastor Nancy Birdsong’s departure. We were very concerned about the

amount we were drawing from endowment funds to subsidize the operating budget. After her departure,

we made the difficult decision that we could no longer afford two Pastors. The Associate Pastor position was

dissolved and part-time staff were hired to cover some of the responsibilities formerly assigned to that

position. In addition to a Parish Nurse who was hired in 2006, new part-time positions were created and

approved in March 2011: Parish Associate, Adult Ministries Coordinator, Youth Fellowship Coordinator and a

Web Master.

The third initiative is ongoing, but a big change was accomplished when the new church website became

functional in 2011. It offers the option of receiving the monthly newsletters electronically, registering for

events online, and using the site to have a secure and private method of contacting the pastor and other

staff. Recently we added online payment options and soon will have an online member directory.

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The fourth initiative continues to challenge us, but the new Youth Fellowship Coordinator is actively working

with youth to engage them in visioning and into the life of the church.

The retreat facilitator, the Rev. Dr. Stephanie Sauvé, Vice President for Academic Life and Dean of Faculty at

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, wrote the following in her report:

“Health of community: I would characterize The Presbyterian Church In Geneva as a healthy faith

community. Six dynamics became clear in my brief time working on the planning and facilitating the

Leadership Retreat.

1. This is a faith-filled community who worship God with joy, humility, humor and music.

2. This is a community that serves God through mission out-reach to the community and the world.

3. This is a community that serves God by educating womb to tomb.

4. This is a community that serves God by honoring their past, but not getting stuck in the past; but names its

past so that the past informs, but does not restrict the future.

5. This is a community that serves God by being pro-active and balanced; It was clear on the retreat that some

things could wait for more information and for church community awareness and discussion; while other

things needed to happen now – e.g. plan for a church web site were being formulated before we had the

closing prayers on the day of the retreat.

6. This is a community that serves God by honoring the giftedness of each person and inviting healthy risk.

This became clear as roles and responsibilities were negotiated at the meeting table. So genuine, respectful

and playful was the dance of negotiation that it was clear to me: that this was not a new dynamic but a

hallmark of this community. “

2012 Retreat

In January 2012, Pastor Jim announced his plans to retire at the end of the year. Thus began a year of mixed

emotions as we began preparations, planned celebrations and tried not to indulge ourselves in self-pity. The

2012 Retreat, held in early February, was again facilitated by Dr. Sauvé and focused on five transitional tasks:

1. Celebrating Our Past

2. Discovering a New Identity –reviewing the mission statement and what else it can say about not just who

we are but where we are going

3. Allowing Needed Leadership Changes – naming the “blessings” and “woes” of leadership; reviewing

results of past retreat and the survey results. Looking at the current leadership style and considering what

other changes need to be made for continued health spiritually and fiscally in the future

4. Renewing Denominational Linkages information session – “What is the role of the Presbytery and the

PCUSA in this time and season?”

5. Commitment to New Directions in Ministry Brainstorming Session – WHAT’S NEXT? Programs, people,

gifts, skills and graces needed to lead in this next season

This time Dr. Sauvé reported: Often I work with churches in conflict. How good and fun it was to work with such a healthy, playful, committed group of people. Clearly you appreciate each other and respect each other. Thank you for the blessing and honor of serving in your midst.”

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The Transition Itself

In early November we held a wonderful community-wide (even Moses attended!) retirement dinner and

celebration of Pastor Jim’s ministry which raised about $20,000 for local mission projects. It must be noted

that Jane Gerling’s influence in the community was also huge. They each touched many lives through their

long and active engagement in community causes and organizations. People from all parts of Geneva and the

surrounding area attended to share in the festivities. It felt as if the PCG supplied a minister to all of Geneva!

The congregation, understanding this to be a period of growth and grace, was nevertheless in strong

agreement that a long transitional period was not necessary. The goal was to move forward as quickly as

possible to call a permanent pastor. Members of the Retreat Planning Committee were asked to stay on to

become the Transition Steering Committee, and they have been overseeing the process.

A six-member Transitional Pastor Nominating Committee was appointed in March 2012 by Session to begin

the process to search for an interim pastor. The TPNC was delighted to find an outstanding candidate in the

Rev. Dr. Deborah Lind-Schmitz, who was hired to serve for a period of one year, beginning January 15, 2013.

She preached at her first worship service as Transitional Pastor on January 20, 2013.

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The Geneva Community

Population

Geneva is situated at the north end of Seneca Lake, in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region. It is just

south of the NYS Thruway, and about an hour’s drive from each of three cities: Ithaca, Syracuse and

Rochester. We like to think of it as a place to enjoy the ambience and convenience of a small town, and yet

one that is within an easy drive to larger city opportunities and amenities.

Geneva is designated as a “small city” with a 2010 population of 13,261 (2.1% decrease from 2000). The

surrounding Town of Geneva’s population is 3,291, for a total of 16,552. It is a much more diverse

community than most of its size in the Finger Lakes region. It is also politically much more liberal. At least 34

languages are spoken and more than 12 religious faiths practiced. The racial makeup within the city limits is

64% white, 13% Latino, 10% black, 8% other and 5% two or more races. Within the surrounding town, the

makeup is 91% white, 3% black, 2% Latino, 3% other, 1% two or more races. In addition to racial diversity

there is considerable socio-economic diversity, which brings with it many of the challenges that bigger cities

face. Although median household income in the City of Geneva is $37,292, and is $57,067 in the Town of

Geneva, 47% of students are eligible for free lunches, and an additional 9% qualify for reduced price lunches.

The racial mix of school district students mirrors that of the city. Of the total enrollment of 2256 for the

school year ending 2011, 60% of the students were white, 20% black, 18% Latino, 2% other.

Geneva is a community of neighborhoods – eleven distinct neighborhoods, ranging from large lakefront

estates to historic row-houses, cottages and downtown condos. The Geneva Housing Authority offers a

public housing complex and some qualified income housing apartments for senior citizens. The housing

market is a bit unusual, with very affordable single family homes, but it is difficult to find affordable

residential rentals. The compact historic downtown is a mixed-use district of restaurants, bars and taverns,

coffee shops, and retail shops. The 60 acre lakefront park features walking and biking trails, picnic areas and

a boat launch.

Economic Climate

From successful family-owned farms, to world famous wineries, to international corporations, the Geneva

area enjoys a diversified economy. Like much of upstate New York, Geneva is coping with the decline of

major manufacturing and population. There are a number of recent initiatives such as providing low cost

municipal incubator space to attract, develop and nurture new businesses.

The three major employers are the NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Hobart & William Smith Colleges,

and Finger Lakes Health (Geneva General Hospital). Other large employers are largely in service and retail

and include the City School district, Finger Lakes Medical Associates, Ramada Inn, Walmart and Wegmans.

Manufacturers include Guardian Glass, with more than 300 employees producing millions of dollars in

domestic glass products; Zotos International, maker of beauty products, with its environmentally sustainable

factory employs 700 people, and is powered by the City’s first wind turbines; and CCN International which

makes fine quality office furniture.

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For more than 125 years, Cornell’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva has

developed cutting-edge technologies essential to feeding the world and strengthening New York economies.

From developing safe and nutritious foods to pioneering means to preserve the environment, the Experiment

Station has been addressing the concerns and serving millions of consumers, agricultural producers, food

businesses and farm families throughout the state. Over 300 researchers work at “the Station.” The related

Technology Farm offers lab and office space for emerging businesses which do research and development in

the areas of food and agriculture.

Higher Education

Hobart and William Smith Colleges is a small private institution with a long tradition of liberal arts education

and a focus on community service and environmental sustainability. The emphasis on community service has

been strengthened by the current President, Mark Gearan, former director of the Peace Corps as well as

director of communications for the White House during the Clinton administration. Founded as two separate

colleges (Hobart for men and William Smith for women), they are coordinate colleges, sharing the same

campus, faculty, administration and curriculum. Current enrollment is just over 2200, with 207 faculty and

356 staff.

Finger Lakes Community College has an extension site in Geneva, offering a wide variety of classes and

programs. Expanded programming in viticulture and the culinary arts contribute to the development of the

Finger Lakes as a tourist destination.

Finger Lakes Health offers three separate hospital-based nursing education programs. The Marion S. Whelan

School of Nursing offers a Licensed Practical Nurse program. The Finger Lakes Health College of Nursing

offers a full time Associates Degree leading toward a Registered Nurse credential. There is also a Certified

Nursing Assistant training program.

Recreation

Recreational opportunities abound, including:

Geneva Family YMCA

HWS Rec Center and Field House

Geneva City Parks and Recreation sponsor many summer programs for kids and adults

Swimming at American Legion and at Seneca Lake State Park

Seneca Lake State Park offers a Sprayground, beach, and two marinas

Lakefront park walking, biking and disc golf course

Boating and sailing in Seneca Lake

Culture, Art, Music, Lectures

Throughout the academic school year, Hobart & William Smith Colleges invite the public to lectures and

events on campus.

Geneva Concert series brings world-class performers to the Smith Opera House. The Smith hosts hundreds of

other programs ranging from live performances by national acts to showings of locally produced independent

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films. The Smith seats 1,200, and has been heralded as one of the most acoustically phenomenal

performance venues in the U.S.

A new venue in a historic industrial building is The Cracker Factory; a mixed-use facility that houses artisan-

quality production facilities, but also plays host to small scale music, visual art, and dance performances.

The Geneva Historical Society manages a museum and several historic sites in the area, offers lectures,

exhibits and educational programs.

Community Health

Hospitals in the area include Geneva General Hospital, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, Thompson Health in

Canandaigua, Newark Wayne Community Hospital. Most have affiliations with larger hospitals in Rochester:

Strong Memorial and Rochester General.

Wine Industry

There are more than 40 wineries along Seneca Lake, most of which offer wine tastings. The Finger Lakes are a

growing tourist destination, and the over 100 wineries are a big part of the draw.

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Ministries and Programs

Parish Nurse ministry began in 2006 to provide ongoing home and hospital visitations, as well as educational

programs and services for the entire congregation. Our Parish Nurse recently developed a well-attended

series of helpful discussions called Passages, on aging and factors to consider when addressing end of life

decisions.

The Board of Deacons – responsibilities include hospital visitation, arranging transportation to church

services for those in need, ushering at both Sunday services, serving home communion with the Pastors,

overseeing Sunday coffee hours, and coordinating a card ministry. The 21 Deacons also host at least two

special dinners each year and donate the proceeds to the Pastor Discretionary Fund.

Presbyterian Women – includes all women of the church. Some choose to be active in specific ways. Through

their hard work and dedicated commitment, PW supports the church and its ministry in many ways. The

Hospitality Committee hosts receptions for memorial services and keeps the busy church kitchen clean and

well-organized. The whole church comes together to help with the annual June Strawberry Festival -- a

community favorite and major fundraiser. The Friendship Bible Study Group participates in monthly Bible

study developed by PW PC(USA).The nationally renowned SERRV Shop is sponsored by PW. The Self-help

Sewing group meets one day a week to teach people how to sew for themselves or for others. PW also

provides funds to the church budget to support the Sunday morning child care in the church nursery and

supports presbytery, synod, and church-wide mission funds.

Music Ministry -- is led by a dedicated staff of five. We have an adult choir, an adult bell choir, a youth bell

choir, a children’s choir, an Orff ensemble, as well as a sanctuary organist and a chapel organist – all overseen

by our Director of Music. The joyful sound of bells, the Orff ensemble, organs, pianos and voices of various

ages are all part of our worship services throughout the year. Hymns from the new hymnal, which we will

begin using as soon as they become available, were introduced throughout the past year during worship.

Christian Education – The Adult Education program includes regular Sunday meetings, plus a Friday night

soup supper study group, special Lenten studies and a new program of octets, informal groups organized

around common interests. For youth, activities include participating annually in the Heifer Project, collecting

supplies and offerings for various local causes, serving as acolytes, ushers and lay readers during worship,

and assisting in the nursery. Every two years we have a Confirmation Class, and those who are confirmed

become eligible to serve as youth elders (2 positions) and deacons (2 positions). In addition to their activities

in Geneva, youth are encouraged to participate in Mission trips during school breaks, attend or work as

summer counselors at nearby Camp Whitman and serve as representatives at Triennium.

Interpretation & Stewardship Committee -- reaches out to members and helps them interpret the

importance of supporting the work that this church has been called to do as God's people. The committee

has three main functions: organize the Palm Sunday Auction for One Great Hour of Sharing, the per capita

drive and the annual Stewardship Campaign.

The Mission and Social Concerns Committee is charged with putting the words of our Mission Statement into

action. The statement declares, “We pray and work for peace, equality and well-being of the earth and all its

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peoples.” With this in mind, we actively engage in our community as we encourage programs that foster self-

development, self-reliance and self-esteem.

One such program is Village Links. This is a program that encourages at-risk teen moms who lack family

support. Begun in 2006, it provides a supportive educational program to help these teen moms build a

network of support for each other and to make connections with relevant professionals and agencies. It

assists them so that they can provide a healthy life for their babies as well as themselves. The Baby College

program for Early Literacy is a companion piece of this effort.

Local agencies and organizations that receive our support, through time, talent, meeting space and money

include Ontario ARC, AA, Al-Anon, FLACRA (Finger Lakes Addictions Counseling and Referral Agency), Girl

Scouts, Boy Scouts, Geneva Head Start, Interfaith Council, Self-Help Sewing Group, WIC and Bereavement

Support Group, to name a few.

Local agencies and organizations, with our assistance, administrative support and endorsement, can apply for

grants from the Presbytery of Geneva. In 2012, grants were distributed locally to:

Village Links

Boys and Girls Club

Family Counseling Services Hispanic Youth Program

Geneva Community Lunch Program

Geneva Food Pantry

Geneva League of Women Voters – Court Watch Program

House of John (Hospice)

Ontario-Yates Hospice

Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes

These are groups that carry out Christ’s work of feeding the hungry, working for justice, and helping people

find the peace and well-being God wants for each of us.

We also generously provide financial resources to mission projects of the Presbyterian Church USA in our

region, the nation and the world. For example, our donations help support the PCUSA’s Disaster Assistance

Program and the Martin Luther King Scholarship Offering (providing scholarships to local students of color to

pursue education beyond high school). Presbyterian Women also contribute significantly to our mission

efforts.

Other global initiatives include the SERRV Shop that sells handmade goods from around the world. Last year

our SERRV Shop donated over $8000 to local and general mission projects. In addition, we sell Café Justo

Coffee; Members of Café Justo cooperative in Mexico are paid $1.60 for each pound of coffee - higher than

even Fair Trade standards, and roughly three times the 35 to 50 cents that growers are typically paid by

standard commercial operations.

Individually and collectively we have a strong sense of personal ministry and evangelism that is shown in our

community involvement and recruitment of 300 new members over the last 10 years . The Presbyterian

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Church in Geneva provides rich, varied and meaningful mission programs that assist a wide range of

populations locally, nationally and globally.

Fellowship

We strengthen our community by gathering together to share meals throughout the year. Some of these

special events include: the One Great Hour of Sharing brunch and auction, the annual meeting brunch, the

Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, and Ash Wednesday meatless supper, Deacons dinners, and stewardship

brunches. A fun and eagerly awaited intergenerational event is the annual winter weekend at Vanderkamp, a

retreat center north of Syracuse.

Plan of Organization

Currently The Presbyterian Church in Geneva conducts two Sunday services: Chapel service is at 8:15 am and

a second service held in the Sanctuary begins at 10:30 am. Both can be considered traditional worship

services. Between the services an active program of Adult Education is held, as well as Sunday School for

children.

According to church bylaws, there shall be 21 Deacons and 21 Ruling Elders, with 7 elected each year to serve

a three year term.

Staff ( 17 paid staff covering 19 positions, plus an unpaid, elected Treasurer):

Full time:

Pastor/Head of Staff

Church Secretary

Custodian

Part time:

Parish Associate

Parish Nurse

Director of Christian Education

Financial Administrator

Coordinator of Youth Ministries

Coordinator of Adult Ministries

Web Master

Director of Music

Organist (and Bell Choir Director)

Chapel Organist

Director of Children’s Choirs

Director of Youth Bell Choir and ORFF Ensemble

Nursery Care Provider

Assistant Custodian

Church Treasurer (unpaid position, as required by NYS Law)

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Ten Year Trends

(Note: Statistics are taken from PCUSA charts using numbers reported by staff each year. Comparisons are with

other Presbyterian churches across the country.)

Membership, Attendance and CE Enrollment

During the period of 2001-2011, membership in The PC in Geneva ranged from just under 800 in 2001, to a peak of

almost 850 in 2006. Over the past ten years, more than 300 people have joined as new members. In 2011 total

membership stood at 663, but this reflects a thorough update of the membership rolls, with the result that 144

people were moved from active to “other” status. Still, this is considerably larger than the average Presbyterian

church nationwide membership of 187. The PCG is the largest church in the Presbytery of Geneva, which has

considerable diversity in theological perspectives. The PCG is in the progressive and liberal category.

Worship attendance during the same period ranged from a high of 280 in 2001, to a low of 220 in 2011. The

average nationwide is 109. The ratio of worship attendance to membership is 33%, significantly lower than the

national average of 53%. But it is true that low relative worship attendance is fairly typical of congregations with

more than 250 members.

Sunday School enrollment numbers have been steadily declining since 2001. The number reported for 2011, 73

children, is lower than the national average of 106.

Contributions

Interestingly, this congregation’s total contributions of $453,419 in 2011 were considerably higher than the national

Presbyterian average of $245,092. But contributions per member were significantly less than the average: only

$683 per member of the PC in Geneva compared to $1170 national average. For worship attendees, our local total

of $2061 was somewhat less than the average of $2227. The trend over the past 10 years is very encouraging.

During that time we finished a very successful 200th Anniversary campaign, a small roof-replacement project and a

campaign to increase the endowment.

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A Financially Healthy Congregation

The PCG is a financially strong built upon generous giving and prayerful stewardship of our resources. The following

graphs demonstrate our steady financial picture over the last 10 years.

Endowment

This church has been blessed by a tradition of Endowment giving which has supported our programs and mission.

The first decade of the 21st century saw a difficult environment for investment growth but through our

Strengthening our Foundation Campaign (2009-2012) we were able to maintain a strong Endowment, even while

withdrawing funds for operating expenses. We have established a Foundation Committee which has as a goal for

2013 to identify 100 members of the congregation who plan on leaving a bequest to the church to support our

future in Geneva.

709,139

450,000 498,000

48,000169,000

32,000

10 Year Avg Endowment Balances

608,729

425,019 462,797

52,655

206,698

52,651

Endowment Account Balances 2012

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Revenue

Our Endowment provides substantial support for our operating budget. It is a long term goal to reduce our reliance

on using Endowment funds for operating costs. In 2012 for the first time pledges exceeded $300,000, our plate

offering was the highest ever and endowment contributions to the operating budget were the lowest in the last 10

years and. Donations from outside groups for use of our property provide a significant offset towards operation of

the facility.

Expenses

Expenses have been very consistent over the last ten years. Spending on salaries decreased in the last two years

because of the elimination of the Associate Pastor position. The 2012 figures reflect our 17 paid full and part-time

staff members. Budgeted mission giving has consistently been the biggest non-staff expenditure. Our property is in

an excellent state of repair.

283,420

13,926 11,453 2,174 13,968

144,676

46 8,396

10 Year Average Budgeted Revenue

304,808

14,004 14,766 2,000 17,114

125,748

0 8,396

2012 Budgeted Revenue

MISSION SALARIES &BENEFITS

PROGRAMS PROPERTY

104,804

347,476

25,892 43,176

10 Year Avg Budgeted Expenses

MISSION SALARIES &BENEFITS

PROGRAMS PROPERTY

104,895

321,828

23,449 37,382

2012 Budgeted Expenses

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5/28/2013 18

Mission giving

Our consistent giving has allowed the congregation to donate over $1.6 million over the last 10 years to a variety of

local, national and international causes. Budgeted Mission has 3 components: Mandatory per capita assessment to

Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly (32%); Voluntary mission to Presbytery, Synod and GA (58%) and Local

mission (10%). The congregation participates in many special offerings throughout the year such as One Great Hour

of Sharing, Advent offering, Peace, and Martin Luther King Scholarships. Our on-premises SERRV shop sells

"International Handcrafted Fair Trade Items" and donates profits to various mission projects.

Special Capital Campaigns

PCG has a tradition of holding periodic capital campaigns for specific facility needs, special mission projects and to

enhance endowment. We have held three major campaigns and one smaller one since the formation of the church

in 1988, raising a total of $1.77 million.

103,869

28,560

717 5,969 1,286 6,647 5,757

10 Year Average Mission Giving

104,895

29,448

5,837 1,184 7,95017,835

2012 Mission Giving

1989 - 1994 1997 - 2003 2003 - 2005 2009 - 2012

744,305

578,956

67,970

385,662

Capital Campaigns

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5/28/2013 19

Our Present Situation

With the guidance of transitional Pastor Deb, the congregation and leadership are confident that we are moving

forward with confidence and faith. The following comments were made at congregational Table Talks held on Feb.

24 and March 3, 2013. Those marked with * came from senior high students.

Our strengths include:

Warm, friendly, accepting* and welcoming congregation

Strong and dedicated staff

Parish Nurse

Parish Associate – part time assistance with worship

Adult Education program

Worship

o Involvement of children in worship

o Intellectually challenging sermons

Music program of many various choirs

Youth group integrates friendships and faith

Youth pleased with support for mission projects among their peers*

Widespread leadership throughout the church: committees, Deacons and Elders

Strong financial situation

Children of all ages engaged in many aspects of the church community

Well-educated clergy who can stimulate growth in understanding our personal faith journeys and ministries

A solid infrastructure with strong component parts to keep us moving forward

Many hidden saints among us!

Active mission and community outreach: involved members take the church beyond its walls into all

aspects of the larger community

Use of the building by many outside groups

Church members include faculty and staff from HWS and the Experiment Station, who appreciate how

science is integrated with our ministry

Strong ecumenical involvement

Challenges include:

Communication

Trying to keep everyone informed through multiple channels: newsletter, website, Facebook,

announcements on Sundays – what else should we do?

Communication among the young church goers and among the congregation as a whole needs to be

improved, especially about the actual ongoing good works of the church – (comment from Ed Frick’s

meeting with high schoolers)

Need to keep in touch with all of our members, not just those we who come to church on any given Sunday

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5/28/2013 20

Membership

How to get more and different people involved in the life of the church

How to increase attendance at worship services – only 30-40% of members attend

Provide more variety of worship experience, while keeping the traditional option too

Having 2 services can feel like we are 2 separate congregations

Many of us, and our recent pastors, are very liberal in theology – this can be intimidating

We are a fairly intellectual congregation and this can be intimidating too

How to reach and engage former worshippers and participants

How to attract more widely from our diverse community: racially, economically, educationally

Work more with the outside groups who use our building to see if there are opportunities for

them to get involved in the life of our church

How to attract and encourage participation of younger adults (20s and 30s), parents of young children

And related to this, how to get parents of Sunday schoolers move involved in our church

community

Consider new ideas such as a golf ministry, or a cyclers ministry

How to retain current members, esp. given the reality that many retirees move away. They move to be

closer to their children and because Geneva has limited retirement living options.

Find ways to thank and praise our “strong, silent” members whose help is often behind the scenes

Youth

How to get a better turnout of high school age people on a regular basis*. Could we get youth groups of

other churches to meet together with us?

How to attract and nurture an active youth leadership

Supply mentors to our youth elders and deacons ; help them get more involved in committee work and tap

into them as resources for what appeals to children

Reach out to college kids at HWS, ask for volunteers to work on projects with us.

More hands-on activities for children during Sunday School and at church events like Strawberry Festival

New pastor must engage young adults and children; must understand and believe in our mission focus

Financial

Continue to build financial stability for long term

Physical plant: the Sunday School rooms need enhancing and updating

How to cope with per capita when explaining the fee to members and how to display it in budget

Reassure those on fixed incomes that church membership does not depend on paying the per capita

Change and Growth

How do we get new ideas for change and growth?

Our youth who attend Triennium could bring back many new and exciting ideas

PC(USA) offers many workshop opportunities on a variety of topics, more of us should consider

attending

The church library has current issues of Presbyterian Today, a monthly magazine full of new ideas.

We can remind people to borrow it; consider giving Elders and Deacons a subscription.

Let’s have a weekend program/retreat to reinvigorate our faith!

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5/28/2013 21

The Future -- DISCOVERING A NEW IDENTITY

At the 2012 Retreat, we took time to consider who we are and how we want to evolve as we go forward as a church

in the larger community...(“a time to plant and a time to uproot… a time to tear and a time to mend”). Eccl 3: 2,7

The retreat highlighted and confirmed a basic core value: commitment to mission locally and globally. The retreat

participants wanted this commitment to mission to be more boldly articulated to the general worshiping

congregation and be emphasized in word and deed as a fundamental principle of our faith community.

Emphasis on young people should continue to be a vital part of our ministry as we go forward.

The ongoing emphasis on “Fellowship of the Congregation” is of significant importance. Positive ways to expand

and extend this experience, to be ever-inclusive (all people) and inviting, should be sought and creatively revised as

needed. Words like “comforting” and “celebration” should become features of our church life as part of our ongoing

effort to create an environment where those who need us will feel free to come and to participate. We can do this,

in part, by living our “vision and mission.”

Retreat participants emphasized continuing to develop new education and interaction programs that draw people

together for shared experiences, both formally and informally, under the umbrella of the “church community.”

One ongoing theme of concern is that of retention of congregants and members. The desire is to reach out to all

people, attempting to address their needs and to draw them into a loving and sustaining body of faith, where they

can participate in our shared experiences and life together.

Building on the ideas from the retreat and the Table Talks, we confidently move forward with action and faith to

“discover a new identity” in this next chapter and season in the life of The Presbyterian Church in Geneva. We

mourned, we celebrated, and we now embrace our future.