JNAC Report

JNAC REPORT

The following Congregational representatives were appointed to the JNAC:

Lisa Adams, Don Ludlow, Karen Pugh, Adam White, Mike Wyatt, Vyrt Sisson and Bev Osborn.

In addition, the Presbytery of the United Church of Canada appointed Nora Fueten and Ross Blundell as Presbytery representatives.

Following the announcement of our Minister’s resignation, the Board created a JNAC at the start of the summer to assess St. Andrew's United Church's ministerial needs and to review our current resources.

In the months of July and August, following the guidelines provided in the JNAC handbook, the JNAC met, reviewed the past ministry, consulted the congregation, and discussed the needs of the church to determine St. Andrew's United Church's key ministerial requirements.

We reviewed previous small group workshops such as the one in which St. Andrew's United Church determined its congregational priorities and conducted a survey with our congregation.

These reviews resulted in the development of the following three profiles, which are detailed in this report as Community, Ministry, and Resources.

As a result of the JNAC's mandate to review the ministry and mission of St. Andrew's United Church, and to provide recommendations to the congregation and Presbytery regarding our needs, our committee has determined the following:

That the Lay Leadership Council and congregation of St. Andrew's United Church ask Erie Presbytery to declare a vacancy for 1.5 Ministers.

That the JNAC be disbanded and a search committee be struck to assess candidates for ministry at St. Andrew's United Church.

Community Profile

Centrally positioned in southern Ontario, Brantford is located on highway 403 about an hour’s drive to Toronto, Niagara Falls and London and less time to Cambridge and Hamilton. According to our city Economic Development Office, "In the last decade, the City of Brantford has emerged as one of the province’s top places for investment. Companies from all over the world continue to realize that locating in Brantford means locating for success."

St. Andrew’s United Church is located in the downtown University District, served by Laurier University, Brantford Campus, Nipissing University, Brantford Campus and the Brantford branch of Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Sciences. A combined student body of 2,500 students, (soon to grow to 4,000) attends in our neighbourhood and many live in new student housing. Other new buildings are under construction.

When a fire destroyed our church building, our congregation quickly agreed that we identify ourselves as a downtown church and that we would remain as such. In addition to the large student and faculty population, this district is home to many residents who contend with issues of poverty, mental health, addiction or loneliness. St. Andrew’s United Church is a vibrant beacon of social outreach serving the downtown population.

Our city and the surrounding Brant County serve over 120,000 people with attractively priced homes, great recreational and cultural facilities and over 60 kilometres of walking/biking trails near and along the Grand River.

Brantford enjoys many cultural features such as the Brantford Symphony Orchestra, the Grand River Chorus, several community bands and a vibrant annual Kiwanis Music Festival. Glenhyrst Gardens and Art Gallery provides a feature park and visual arts presentation. The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts is a beautiful restored and comfortable eleven hundred seat theatre presenting full program of theatre, music and dance competition.

Sport is the well known feature of Brantford, 2008 Allan Cup winner in hockey and champion of the Inter County Baseball league. Officially designated in 1998 by the Ontario Legislature as the Tournament Capital of Ontario, Brantford hosts many sport activities in its ever expanding Parks and Recreation facilities.

St Andrew’s United Church is located in the heart of the city of Brantford and has a long history, dating back to 1852.

It is a church, which was combined from two churches, both located in the city’s centre. Our members come from a large geographic area. The current estimate of membership at St. Andrew’s is 300 families with a regular service attendance of 140 people and special events attracting up to 150 people. The number of children under the age of twelve attending is growing and can often reach up to 20 in the Children’s Church and Nursery. Our Church has been rebuilt from its complete destruction by fire in January of 2006. Although it retains the look of its original exterior, the interior has been beautifully designed to be spiritually uplifting and welcoming.

At St. Andrew’s, not only have we recovered our building from the fire but also have recovered an enthusiasm and optimism to build and strengthen the congregation. In January of 2009 a "Cluster System" was formed to encourage members in the congregation to get to know each other better, to take care of each other and to be involved by participating in Sunday Services. It is a new way of organizing ourselves and shows great promise.The Church Board consists of a Chairperson, Past Chair, Vice Chair, Board Secretary, Treasurer and Member at Large.

Church committees are:

Worship and Music, Property, Community Support, Finance, Trustees, U.C.W., Ministry and Personnel, Memorial, Social, Erie Presbytery Rep, Nominating, Membership Fellowship and Pastoral Care, African Mission.The UCW is active in the life of the Church and has approximately 25 members who meet monthly and provide lunches for special events including funeral receptions. St. Andrew’s is a place for weekly worship, learning, spiritual growth and the offering of sacraments for children and adults. It is also a place in service to the community.Soup for the Soul is a meal program offered twice a week to those who have difficulty in getting enough food to eat. It began in November of 1999 with 25-40 adults who were offered soup and bread. Over 120 people are now served a full nutritious supper on Monday and Thursday evenings without charge. Children are included in the meal program and also in a program of crafts, games, personal care, summer camp, and special event meals.

We are connected to the new Brantford Health Clinic which provides a new outreach to our downtown.

Share the Warmth offers assistance with heating bills and Benevolent Care helps with emergency food vouchers, transportation and clothing. Literacy services and training have been provided and also advocacy care to help those unable to manage the paperwork involved in obtaining additional supports.The new Grand River Community Health Care Centre opening in Brantford will be sending a nurse practioner to the meal program. The Centre would also like to offer nutrition, budgeting and cooking classes to those who attend.A Methadone Clinic, independently operated, is located on the second floor of the community building and treats approximately 600 patients. It is the first of its kind in Canada.Wilfrid Laurier University uses office and classroom space in the community building of the Church. The campus of the University is actually growing around us!We have a number of shut-ins in various locations with whom the Church keeps in contact. A Bible Study group has been meeting at one of our Retirement Homes.Our Church helps to support an orphanage in Malawi Africa called "The Home of Hope". One of our members, Jane Glaves was instrumental in establishing this home.At St. Andrew’s our religious journey had been one of understanding our Christianity and how it relates to present times. We have been making the bridge between thought and action and realizing the importance of our Christian Community.

Visioning Statement

"To invite the Spirit of God to move among the people of our congregation, to free us to trust one another and to develop worship and education that will enable us to go out into the community as visible witnesses for Christ."

Other neighbouring places of worship:

*Central Presbyterian Church

*Community Church

*First Baptist Church

*Grace Anglican Church

*Muslims on Greenwich Mosque

*Pleasant Valley Church

The staff of St. Andrew’s currently consists of a full-time Secretary/Office Manager, a full-time Steward/Custodian, a Music Director, paid soloists/section leads, a devoted choir of 18 singers, Christian Education Director, administrator/cook for our community meal programme, Soup for the Soul Children’s director and after-hours security. Since the retirement of our paid part-time pastoral care minister, volunteers have continued this vital service to our congregation.

Our historic church building was established 125 years ago in the centre of our downtown, across from Victoria Park, as Zion Presbyterian Church. After Church Union it became Zion United Church. In 1995, Brant Avenue United Church and Zion United Church joined to form St. Andrew’s United Church.

A disastrous fire destroyed our Sanctuary and heavily damaged our Community Centre in January 2006. With sound insurance, faithful giving and the use of reserves, the church has been rebuilt. The new St. Andrew’s is a marvel of modern architecture, with amazing acoustics and completely accessible. The congregation enjoys comfortable seating and up to date Audio Visual Aids while being charmed by a three manual Casavant pipe organ and the bell tower’s carillon.

Our newly constructed Sanctuary can seat 300 on the main floor and 80 in the balcony, with risers. The seating consists of upholstered individual chairs which allows for a variety of seating configurations.

The Sanctuary includes an audio-visual system with a large screen for use during services or other presentations. Our Casavant organ was purchased, completely rebuilt in 2008, and installed by the Doddington Company. A new grand piano is also situated in the Sanctuary.

There is a side meeting room that can accommodate an additional 50 people. This space can also be reconfigured to become a Chapel whenever the need arises. The rear meeting room/choir room has a capacity of 60 people. The adjoining Community Centre building has a complete commercial kitchen and in the cafeteria area there is seating for 300 people.

The side meeting room, the rear meeting room and the cafeteria area are all connected to the audio-visual system in the Sanctuary.

Two Sunday School rooms to be completed this summer (2009) will each have room for 30 children.

The Sanctuary and Community Centre building are air conditioned, wheelchair accessible, have a full security system, and sprinkler system.

The three (3) storey Community Centre building is serviced by a full-sized elevator.

Adjacent to the Sanctuary there is a general office area, minister’s study, steward’s office, Creche, a fully equipped kitchen and four (4) accessible washrooms. Limited on-site parking is available.

Website: www.standrewsbrantford.ca

A new website is currently being developed.

Annual Report of 2008

Please find enclosed our annual report of 2008, which provides complete financial information and reports from the various church committees at that time. Obviously, the financial information referred to in that report is somewhat outdated as the rebuild of St. Andrew’s has now been completed.

To assist in determining our priorities and the wishes of the members of St. Andrew’s, a congregational survey was sent out to all members. Analysis of the results by JNAC revealed that St. Andrew’s is looking for a full-time ordained Minister and a half-time ordained or diaconal Minister to fulfill its current needs. This increased staff level also reflects the renewed enthusiasm to build and strengthen the congregational community.

We foresee the following areas taking priority for the new Ministers:

Preparing the sermon and worship service – 10 hours

Pastoral care (visiting, crisis counselling, baptismal preparation, potentially training lay people to assist) -- 20 hours

Youth ministry – (support for children’s programming and outreach, liaising with young families, linking with the local universities and college, confirmation classes) – 20 hours

Administrative (phone calls, meetings) – 10 hours

Of utmost importance to our congregation is finding Ministers who are skilled orators (preferably with great senses of humour!). We seek those who can make the Bible currently relevant and provide socially-based sermons. The Ministers must be comfortable with a combination of both traditional and contemporary elements in a service. An awareness of current social justice issues is an asset.

We are in need of compassionate pastoral care leadership, which would involve visiting shut-ins, those in hospital, and anyone who requests a visit. Being a sympathetic listener is essential. The Minister should also be able to discern when referrals to appropriate community resources are needed. Reaching out to inactive members would also be expected.

We require a Minister who can support and direct child and youth programming. In particular, we would like someone who can pursue and forge links with the students of Mohawk College, and Laurier and Nippissing Universities.

To date we have not done this and we feel there is enormous opportunity for these students to see St. Andrew’s as their church home in Brantford.

Our congregational survey strongly showed that the membership is proud of and happy with our current outreach activities, so we need individuals who will be supportive of these. The Minister(s) need the ability, willingness and experience to liaise with community organizations to advocate for our programs.

The candidate(s) should have experience enabling others to learn through study and group discussion. Currently there is a weekly Bible study at a local retirement home and it is hoped that this will continue. The congregation is also open to other forms of study, perhaps at different times of day.

A full-time position is described below, and the part-time position will be appropriately prorated. A team ministry involving two 0.75 positions is a possibility and would also be prorated.

The base salary, pension, group insurance, and disability, maternity, parental, bereavement and sabbatical leaves are in keeping with the mandatory guidelines in the United Church Manual. A housing allowance in the amount of $12 000 per annum is provided.

It is expected that a regular work week will average 40 hours. Four weeks of vacation and three weeks of study leave will be provided. Sick leave will be in keeping with the mandatory guidelines in the United Church Manual.

Work-related travel expenses will be reimbursed at a rate of $.40 per kilometer (plus parking fees). Moving expenses will be reimbursed as per the United Church guidelines. A basic phone allowance is provided. $1200 is offered for continuing education.

St. Andrew’s has an up-to-date office with fax, email, telephone, copier and wireless internet, as well as a full-time office administrator.