Pastor transition FAQ
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Listen to “The Transition” podcast here.
Q. What goes into the Mission Study report and will the congregation see it?
A. The Mission Study report is the finalized piece from the Mission Study Team and a culmination of the team’s work. This work includes the online Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT), Session and Congregational debriefings, pastor interviews, a staff survey and staff interviews, twelve focus groups with Session committees, five Congregational Conversations in the month of June and multiple podcasts. The team will compile the themes and findings in a single report, which will be presented to Session and ultimately, the congregation.
Q. What are the topics for the June Congregational Conversations each Sunday?
A. Please join us for at least one of these opportunities for round table discussion and further input from the congregation. These will take place each Sunday in June in Stephenson Hall from 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
June 2 Topic: CAT survey reactions and implications
June 9 Topic: FPC priorities and visitation for spiritual vitality
June 16 Topic: Focus areas that make FPC stronger
June 23 Topic: FPC and its communities
June 30 Topic: FPC vision for pastoral leadership
Q. What can be expected with the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) debriefing? How will the church be engaged to understand the data and to discuss?
A. The Mission Study Team (MST) will host HolyCow! consultant Elizabeth Hamilton on May 19th for a congregational presentation during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday School hour. Prior to that, HolyCow! will visit FPC in early May to debrief the Session, Pastoral Team, and church leadership with three hours of CAT data. Using this information, the MST will be empowered to meet with all Session committees through the month of May to gather committee responses and input; they will also meet with Powerhouse groups of FPC youth.
HolyCow! will also visit with the staff during a specific staff debriefing during that early May visit.
June congregational conversation opportunities will be announced for those wanting to engage verbally and in person around certain focal topics. These sessions will be available every Sunday in June during the 9:30 a.m. Sunday School hour.
Q. When will the results of the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) be shared with the congregation? How will results be used?
A. After allowing the congregation to take the survey through March, results will be compiled and the Mission Study Team will provide debriefings. A representative from HolyCow! Consulting will join the Mission Team for a congregational presentation on Pentecost Sunday during the 9:30 am Sunday School hour on Sunday, May 19. The Mission Study team will use the report from HolyCow! to conduct follow-up conversations with members and gather more congregational feedback as they compile a final mission study report. This report will be a valuable asset for the Pastor Nominating Committee in the next transition step.
Q. The mission study stage of pastor transition seems long. What is the reasoning for the time and process?
A. There are many steps for Session to take as it faithfully and prayerfully discharges the duties and responsibilities of pastor transition. The mission study is only one of these required steps laid out by our Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery (EOP) in the denomination’s process of pastor transition. This study is a time for the congregation of First Church to provide valuable input, meaning adequate time for thorough conversation and study is critical for the most fruitful results.
Q. Since the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) will not fully capture all congregation feedback, how else can a First Church member make their voice heard during the mission study stage of transition?
A. The CAT is a critical component of the mission study, but it is only one part. The survey is not intended to be definitive, but rather will provide the Mission Study Team a panoramic view of First Church that will direct the team to further conversations with focus groups. The Mission Study Team expects that these conversational opportunities will be very impactful as First Church members can prayerfully discern together. The team welcomes further feedback, outside what might be shared in the CAT and the focus groups, via e-mail at fpctransition@firstchurchtulsa.org.
Frequently Asked Questions relating to the Mission Study Survey
Q. How is the Mission Study survey taken? What can be expected?
A. The survey is referred to as a Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT). If you have provided the church with a current e-mail address, you will receive a unique web link to complete the survey assessment online. The survey will be available on March 4, 2024 through the month. The assessment will contain approximately 80 questions. Please set aside enough time to answer all the questions. This will take about 20-30 minutes. All survey responses are strictly anonymous.
Q. Who is qualified to take the Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT) survey?
A. If you consider First Church to be your church home where you have a relationship.
Q. How do I get the link?
A. The CAT survey link is available if we have your email. The link is sent to your individual email address. If you have not received an invitation with the link, contact Kathy Wilson to get your email enrolled so that the link can be provided.
Q. Are family members able to take the survey from the same email address?
A. Yes. You can share the email link to those in your household who consider First Church to be their Church home and are at least in high school. Please only one survey response per qualified individual in the household.
Q. Can congregants take the survey more than once?
A. No. One person, one vote.
Q. How does Holy Cow! ensure there is just one CAT result per person?
A. Holy Cow monitors IP addresses for errors such as multi-submissions. They do not monitor by email addresses, respecting anonymity.
Q. I’m not sure I’m in the church email database. How would I find out?
A. Contact Kathy Wilson at kwilson@firstchurchtulsa.org or email the Mission Study Team at fpctransition@firstchurchtulsa.org.
Q. My spouse got the email but I didn’t. Who should I contact?
A. If you are in the same household and consider First Church as your church home, your spouse can share the link from their email. We would like to be sure the emails of all the church attenders are in the database, so it would be good to contact Kathy Wilson with your updated information.
Q. Will Holy Cow separate the data from members who live in the Tulsa area and are active in the church from members who live out of state?
A. The Survey asks questions about your physical location in relation to the Church, so the information can be analyzed to understand the trends based on locale or proximity.
Q. I was taking the survey when my internet went down. Should I just start the CAT from the beginning?
A. No. Please use the inquiry email at fpctransition@firstchurchtulsa.org to register the issue with the date and time of your failed submission. There is a process that Holy Cow uses in such events. They will provide the MST with a clearance for you to start again.
Q. How long will the survey be live?
A. Through the end of March.
Q. Who should I contact for help?
A. Feel free to contact any member of the Mission Study Team directly, with any question, or send an email to any member of the Mission Study Team at fpctransition@firstchurchtulsa.org.
Q. What if online assistance is needed for the Mission Study survey?
A. If you feel you might need some assistance filling out the survey online, the church will have computers and electronic devices available with help from the Mission Study Team to aid congregants in filling out the survey. This will be offered after church services on Sundays during the three weeks the survey is available to congregants.
Q. Who should take the Mission Study survey (also referred to as the Congregational Assessment Tool)?
A. All First Church members may take the assessment. If there is only one email address for all members of the household, it may be tempting to have one person take the survey on behalf of the family. However, we encourage each adult member and high school aged children living in the household to have an opportunity to complete the survey. Individual input is key to gaining insight into overall perceptions and experiences. First Church Staff will have an additional staff-specific survey opportunity after the initial church-wide member assessment.
Q. Will the results of the Mission Study survey (the Congregational Assessment Tool) be shared with the church?
A. Yes! The Mission Study Team is working with HolyCow! Consulting to implement the CAT and part of the process includes HolyCow! providing a report and findings at the conclusion of the assessment. Hard copies of this report will be made available and there will be a presentation to First Church members to explain results. The Mission Study team will also use the report from HolyCow! to conduct follow-up conversations with members and gather more feedback to compile in a final mission study report.
Q. Who is the Mission Study Team and what is it doing?
A: Session has appointed a Mission Study Team to conduct the required Mission Study, part of the pastor transition process for the Presbyterian Church. The Mission Study Team includes Mark Brown, BJ Dollahon, John Harper, Gary Johnson, Grace Masaku, Anne McCoy, Nicole Pugh, and Porter Shults. When concluded, the Mission Study Team compiles all findings into a single mission study report. The Pastor search can commence once the mission study is concluded.
Q. Who will be serving as the Interim Pastor for First Church?
A: We are pleased that our Senior Associate Pastor of the past eleven years, Rev. Dan Hutchinson, has moved into the role of Interim Head Pastor. Rev. Hutchinson assumed the role as interim on November 1, 2023 and will serve First Church in this capacity until a new head pastor is called to serve.
Q. When does the mission study start? What does a mission study entail?
A: The mission study process began after Dr. Miller’s last day and after Rev. Hutchinson assumed his role as interim head pastor. The Mission Study Team was appointed by Session (Elders) to lead this study; the team comes out of the Session’s Strategic Planning Committee.
The study is a process of discernment and listening to both the Holy Spirit and the congregation. This involves an assessment of where the church is presently and a conversation within the community of faith about the future of our ministry. Community study, congregational survey and conversations are all part of the engagement that will take place within the church. When concluded, the Mission Study Team compiles all findings into a single mission study report. This report seeks to define and project the ministry priorities and goals for the next 3-5 years.
Q. How can members of the congregation honor Jim and Diane?
A: A Pastor's Pilgrimage Fund is being established. Dr. Miller has a strong belief that pilgrimages to holy sites matter, shared through trips he led to Israel, the Footsteps of Paul, the Trail of the Reformation, the Oberammergau Passion Play, and others. Dr. Miller established a high school pilgrimage to Israel and urged the congregation to financially support the participating juniors and seniors. Regularly, Dr. Miller also invited local pastors to join him on trips as special guests (pastors who, for financial reasons, would not otherwise be able to go).
In this spirit of generosity, the Pastor's Pilgrimage Fund will help defray costs on future trips, enabling both students and pastors to experience Israel and pilgrimage opportunities relating to historical holy sites. If you are moved to participate, please send a check to the church’s business office, indicating it be applied to the Pastor's Pilgrimage Fund.
Q: Can personal gifts be sent to the church for Dr. Miller?
A: If you are so inclined, members should give any physical or monetary gifts directly to the Millers. (IRS and Board of Pension rules and regulations do not allow for the church to receive funds and then pass them on to Jim and Diane.) However, if you would like to make a tax-deductible gift in Dr. Miller's honor, Jim and Diane ask that members consider the Pastor's Pilgrimage Fund.
Q: What do the months leading up to Dr. Miller’s October retirement look like?
A: Dr. Miller’s last Sunday will be October 29, 2023. It will be a Festival Sunday that allows everyone to hear Dr. Miller preach in one 11 a.m. service in the Sanctuary with streaming to the Great Hall. Plans are in the works for a farewell reception immediately following the service. Watch the bulletin and First Church E-News for information. The congregation will have an opportunity to make contributions toward a retirement gift as well. There will be ample rejoicing in the gift of the Miller family to this congregation! A Transition Team, appointed by and working closely with the Personnel Committee, will perform the search for an interim senior pastor/head of staff to begin serving after Jim’s retirement.
Q: What will be Dr. Miller’s involvement after he retires on October 29?
A: Jim and Diane will take some much-deserved rest and time off after his long career. There will be opportunities for Jim’s continued involvement with the church in the future. While Jim’s pastoral services will end with his retirement, the Millers’ personal friendships with members of the congregation will, of course, remain.
Q: Who is the Transition Team and what is it doing?
A: Session has formed a Transition Team to prepare for Dr. Miller’s upcoming retirement. If you have questions, concerns or comments, please reach out to the team via e-mail here. The Transition Team includes Allison Biggs, Brett Crane, Jim Diacon, Stephanie Madsen, Urbanus Masaku and Gary Mathews. The team is providing proactive support to the congregation and staff by communicating developments along the way, answering questions and engaging the congregation and staff. They are also working closely with Dr. Miller to fully understand what his duties entail, to create a road map that will help leadership transitions be smooth.
Q. How long does a search for a new senior pastor take? What does this season of change look like?
A: The search for a new senior pastor will take months and it is not uncommon to last for 18-24 months. Be in prayer about who God might already be calling. There are many steps for Session to take as it faithfully and prayerfully discharges the duties and responsibilities that come to us in the weeks and months ahead. This is a time for the congregation of First Church to be strengthened as we sow the seeds of a new pastoral relationship.
Q: Is the staff going to change?
A: Staff changes can and do happen at any time within the church, but neither this transition period nor the eventual hiring of a new senior pastor, result in definite staff changes.