Parish Assessment

Nativity’s Strengths

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity has stood on the southwest corner of Howard and Church Streets for 110 years, a substantial Episcopal presence amid Greenwood’s historic downtown through decades of change and progress. In the last ten years, Nativity undertook a significant campaign for capital improvements, completed those improvements, and retired all associated debt. During the previous three years, Nativity established its permanent endowment, as discussed above, and continues to grow the endowment to preserve and protect its facilities and missions. As discussed above, Nativity

has a strong history of Stewardship and effective management of finan-

cial resources.

Within the last ten years, Nativity established its day school in furtherance of the Church’s missions. Through Parish leadership and support, Nativity has effectively grown and regularly sustains NDS at near or maximum capacity. NDS supports families and the Greenwood community with quality, affordable child care in a Christian environment. Within the last three years, Nativity established its Godly Play program to grow and nourish our children.

Nativity is home to multi-generational families. It is very common to see three generations of families sharing a pew on Sundays. The liturgical traditions of this Church have shaped and guided their long lives.

Nativity has also grown through young families and new members with no prior affiliation to our church.

Nativity possesses a generation of active, involved young adults taking

leadership positions and introducing their children to this Parish’s traditions while creating new ones.

Numerous avenues are available for service within the Church, including educational programs, music, Altar Guild, EYC, Outreach, and ECW. Parishioners have historically served and currently serve in leadership positions within the Diocese. Nativity’s strength is in its members, whose leadership has established robust systems to maintain and grow its missions. Within our membership are community leaders in business, politics, education, agriculture, and a wide variety of civic organizations.

Nativity is a warm and welcoming

environment where we challenge each other to grow in our service to our friends and neighbors.

Nativity’s Challenges

Nativity is a church with a strong tradition of cherishing our priests until they pass into retirement, take on significant leadership positions, or move on to the Bishop’s chair. We revere our spiritual leaders and still pass along tales of Duncan Gray, Sr., Jones Hamilton, Michael Engle, Craig Gates, and Larry Maze. While we miss Peter, we understand the significance of his Chaplaincy at Sewanee.

The loss of its stalwarts due to age and infirmity has reduced some of the historical and institutional knowledge of Nativity. The loss of this great generation is felt in all areas of society. Yet, in recent years, the number of young families and children has grown. Specifically, sustaining attendance and

membership growth for Nativity is

always on our minds, as we are a Mississippi Delta parish. With that comes even more challenges because we are a region that does not enjoy the growth and prosperity that many other areas of our nation do. We recognize that our town and county have diminished in some ways over the past few decades. The influx of new families is slow, but we also know that Greenwood remains one of the brighter communities in the Delta. Those who grow up here, and choose to return after their education is complete, tend to stay with the Church in which they were raised. While Nativity has attracted new members and confirmed many of our youth, it is challenging to envision outgrowing our current facility.

The issues of growth and retention have been greatly exacerbated

by the COVID-19 crisis, which has cruelly forced isolation among Nativity’s members and significantly reduced worship opportunities. Despite Herculean and creative efforts at virtual worship and programming, and, when permitted, reduced attendance, there is no mistake: it is not the same, and Nativity is hurting. While leadership remains steadfast, hope remains strong, and the faithfulness of the Parish has not waned, it is of great concern how Nativity is going to move forward to re-establish itself.

Nativity currently has a relatively strong financial position compared to other parishes in our region. We must continue to grow the number of pledging units to compensate for the loss of generous stewards whose financial contributions have sustained Nativity’s growth. Likewise, Nativity must continue to grow its permanent endowment for its continued success. While Nativity has fared considerably well financially during the crisis, as discussed above,

we must figure out a way to make worship sustainable so that giving

will increase in relevance to its membership.

We are a deeply bonded community of Christians who are committed to loving and serving our Lord, each other, and our city. We look forward to welcoming a priest who shares those same priorities.