Jubilee Committee

     At the Annual Parish meeting Susan+ presented the following material, which was also presented to Vestry at our November, 2011 Vestry planning meeting.

     As you read the following pages, please remember that your Vestry concluded that COS is in the “stability” phase of the Parish lifecycle, and that the time to move forward is NOW!

     At the Vestry meeting on January 25, 2012, your Vestry approved the Jubilee Committee Proposal for COS to continue to move forward.

     Even though your Vestry have approved the Jubilee Committee Proposal, WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!

     The next step will be a Capital Campaign to raise the necessary funds to continue our outreach and growth, and to better meet the needs of our own parish.

     Your participation is vital to the success of the Jubilee Committee Proposal.

     Church Growth Factors and Congregational Lifecycles The Rationale for Moving Forward “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

     Churches are not static entities. They are living and dynamic organisms. All things have life cycles, people, animals, plants, as well as groups like vestry, Bible study groups and so on. Churches also have life cycles that follow this similar pattern of birth, growth, stability, decline and death.  Here’s a description of each phase and the leadership style during each phase:

• Birth: A new congregation emerges. Birth is the culmination of the planning and dreaming stages. Resources are brought together and a new entity emerges. Vision caster and catalyst.

• Development: As the church grows, new people come. New ideas, new programs, and an air of expectancy are part of this stage. Organizer.

• Stability: Things are running smoothly and comfortably. The sense is “Let’s just keep on doing what we’re doing.” Operator & innovator.

• Decline: Members realize that things are getting “long in the tooth”. People may be reminiscing about the way things used to be. Healer & innovator.

• Death: Decline is the point where the congregation is focused on surviving for its own preservation. It loses its sense of mission. Chaplain.

The S-Curve

     Before the eventuality of death (yes, it can and does happen), churches can renew or prolong their life by giving birth before the active dying phase sets in. It is called intervening at the S-Curve. 

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

     The challenge is knowing when to catch the next S-curve. When things are going well there seems to be no reason to change. The prevailing attitude is that “life is comfortable and stable”, and “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. However, this is the paradox of success: the best time to start the new S-curve is when things are still on their way up. Why? The reason is found in the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and can be summed up like this:

“Matter and energy in a system always deteriorate.”

     Discerning the Opportunity!

      Unless we pour new energy into the church’s system, eventually the system will naturally deteriorate.

      Pouring new energy is equivalent to starting a new S-curve and keeping the momentum going.

      The best time to pour energy in is before the period of stability and decline sets in.

      The challenge is to develop a new growth stream, while maintaining the current stream.

      Complacency and “comfortableness” are signs that decline is just around the corner!

     The Jubilee Committee Proposal is that we move forward with professionally managed adult respite care (in the newly remodeled Polycarp Hall, as and when we are ready to proceed); and that we initiate a capital fundraising campaign to raise $165,000 to purchase a facility to accommodate a professionally managed nursery (baby care).

Proposed Respite Care

     The proposed respite care will likely offer professionally managed relief for anyone who is a home caregiver. For example,

      Those who are caring for adult spouse who has some early stage memory issues.

      Those who have suffered a mild stroke.

      Those who need some assistance in moving around safely.

      Those who need periodic respite care for elderly parents at home.

      Those who would benefit from the opportunity for some social interaction with other adults.

      Those who may be at risk of a fall if left alone at home.

      Those who may need some physical assistance in getting around safely.

      Those who are caring for an elderly parent who has some early stage memory issues, and may be at risk if left alone for any period of time.

     The respite care will likely include enrichment activities, entertainment, and opportunities for social interaction. Volunteers are welcome, however, it is proposed that the primary care will be offered by a medically trained manager (RN or CNA), and one assistant.

     In the meantime, our Polycarp Hall facility is ready to go, as and when we are ready to proceed.

Proposed Nursery Care

     In our research to date, we did not find any Christian, high quality, affordable baby care available in and for our community. Most childcare operations accept only toilet-trained children. Our research also tells us that nursery care is desperately needed in this community, and that this demographic age group (0-4 years) will be growing in the next four years. Our facility is in an excellent “central” location in which to provide nursery care for working parents in several of the major employers in Lakeside-Pinetop and Show Low, such as Summit Healthcare, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, Home Depot and Lowes, for example. We are also within 10-15 miles of many independent retail and hospitality (hotel/motel) services in the Lakeside-Pinetop and Show Low area. However, we do not have a suitable space/facility to accommodate this proposed community outreach at this time.

     If our members approve the Jubilee Proposal we will begin a capital fundraising campaign in May of 2012. It is anticipated that we could be ready to open a professionally staffed and managed nursery care facility by the spring of 2014.

What Will the New Facility Look Like?

     On this web page you will find a short video of the proposed modular building addition, ( video to be adder asap) which will be physically joined to the east end of Polycarp Hall, with the added benefit of storage rooms between Polycarp Hall and the new facility. You will also find a drawing of how the new facility would look, blending with the color scheme of our current buildings and the Stotera garden.

Comments and questions are welcome – please speak with any member of the Jubilee Committee, or send your comments to Susan+ at cos5147rector@frontiernet.net