2019 Annual Report

2019

ANNUAL REPORT In 2019, Myers Park Presbyterian Church continued to respond to God’s call upon our congregation and to discern what that call may lead us to in the next decade of ministry.

Table of Contents 4 Administration 4 Communications Committee 5 Endowment Committee 6 Facilities Committee 7 Finance Committee 8 Food Service Committee 9 Personnel Committee 10 Adult Faith Formation 12 Children and Their Families 13 Weekday School 14 Clerk’s Council 14 Discernment Initiatives Task Force 15 Pastoral Residency Program 16 Strategic Planning Committee 17 Wellness Ministry 18 Congregational Care Council 19 Board of Deacons 20 Outreach Council 22 CROSS Missions 24 Stewardship Council 25 Worship Council 26 Youth and Their Families Appendix

2020 Approved Budget

How about love?

Friends, How do you measure a year? That question is posed in “Seasons of Love,” a great song from the musical, “Rent.” “Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six hundred minutes,” begins the song, detailing the number of minutes in a year. “How do you measure – measure a year?” asks the song. “In daylights – in sunsets – in midnights – in cups of coffee — in inches – in miles – in laughter – in strife.” Then the chorus offers an answer, “How about love?”

Ultimately, that’s how we measure the life of the church, living out love. We live out our love for God in worship. We love God with all our minds in education opportunities. We love one another in pastoral care and fellowship. In our outreach ministries we live out our love for all our neighbors. There are a lot of numbers that quantify all that, but in the end, it’s measured by love.

As it is written in 1 John 4: “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God ... since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

See all the ways God is living among us through the love we share at MPPC. In Christ,

Joe Clifford, Pastor

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

The Administration Council seeks to provide a stable, supportive platform from which our various mission and ministry efforts may be delivered. We engage our members and vendors in ways that manifest God’s gifts to us and God’s love for the world. This council is comprised of the following committees:

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Bev Kothe, Chair

The Communications Committee strives to fulfill the mission of MPPC by serving as a liaison between the ministries of the church and the Communications Department, and by supporting the Communications Department through thoughtful feedback and strategic ideation. Our goal is to provide effective communications that inform, educate, and help to engage members in the life and ministry of the church. Highlights of plans for 2020 include: Educational materials and digital information about a potential upcoming Capital Campaign, a refresh of the MPPC website, archiving of all digital recordings, continuation of ongoing congregational communications.

205

52

23

9

4

2

Worship services, funerals, weddings, or special events live streamed.

P.M.

Peak engagement time for MPPC’s 1,650 Instagram followers.

4

Worship bulletins and Serve & Grow issues.

%

Of MPPC’s 1,807 Facebook followers are under 24.

Video productions, accounting for roughly 20 hours of footage and 350 hours of editing.

Issues of our biannual magazine, Journey researched, written, designed, and distributed.

20

Disciples worshiping via live stream at Southminster weekly (average).

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

$10

ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE

MILLION

Jim Miller, Chair

The Endowment funds a wide range of MPPC ministries. This year those include new lighting for the gym, two music interns, and medical staff for the Casa de Salud in Getsemani, El Salvador. Donor designated gifts funded youth ministry’s first pilgrimage to the Camino in Spain, youth interns, Habitat for Humanity, Crisis Assistance, maintenance of our campus, and the Columbarium, among many others.

Total endowment assets at the end of the third quarter, 2019.

108

2

Miles walked by MPPC youth pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, a pilgimage subsidized by the endowment.

Music internships awarded – one in Sanctuary and one in Celebrate.

Working with Charlotte Presbytery and Union Seminary, we created the Louis L. Rose, Jr. Fellowship to help small Charlotte congregations and recent Union graduates clear the financial hurdles of calling and affording a seminary-trained pastor. And we awarded the first Fellowship to Megan Argabrite and Amity Presbyterian. We hope to award 3-5 more Fellowships over the next couple of years.

Total Endowment assets at the end of third quarter exceeded $10 million for the first time. Thanks to ALL our donors over the years and also to Foundation for the Carolinas for a solid investment performance. Please consider joining us in funding ongoing needs at MPPC through the Endowment as you develop legacy and estate plans. To learn more, contact Jim Miller at ylijmiller@comporium.net.

5

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

FACILITIES COMMITTEE Tom O’Bannon, Chair

The Facilities Committee, along with the Operations Director and sexton staff, maintains and improves our facilities to support our various MPPC ministries. 2019 saw the completion of the stained glass and narthex door repairs in the Sanctuary, upgrades to the lighting, projectors and video recorder in the Celebrate worship space, replacement of the first floor carpet in the Outreach Center, and a change to LED lighting in the gym.

Highlights of projects for 2020 include replacement of security cameras, renovation of outdated bathrooms, upgrades to the Bride’s room interior finishes, completion of needed roof repairs, and improvements to the technology in our classrooms.

$237,600

195,000

73

7

Annual utlities cost.

Security cameras.

6

9

Acres of campus.

Square feet of buildings.

Full-time and one part-time facility staff sextons.

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

FINANCE COMMITTEE Henry Fulton, Chair

In 2019, the Finance Committee continued to ensure the safeguarding of the church’s funds as stewards of the financial resources entrusted by God to MPPC. We maintained our focus on strong practices and the transparency of our financial performance and received a clean audit for year-end 2018. In 2019, we introduced a “Text to Give” platform to accept dedicated offering gifts.

As we transition to 2020 we will continue to build upon our foundational focus and enhance our efforts in these areas: financial best practices and benchmarking; financial training for elders, staff, and committee members; and cross-committee synergies with finance, stewardship, endowment, and other areas.

5,144

2,483

Contribution statements distributed.

Checks produced.

51

Payroll tax deposits.

Denominational Support Stewardship

4.18%

6.63%

Adult Faith Formation 5.26%

Outreach 30.76%

Children and Their Families 8.86%

Youth and Their Families 9.97%

Approved budget allocations for 2020. Full approved budget is available in the appendix on page 28.

Worship Congregational Care

18.76%

15.58%

7

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

FOOD SERVICE COMMITTEE Ed Baesel, Chair

This year has been a busy time for the Food Service team. We served over 38,000 guests 18,000 at meals, special events, week day school lunches and CROSS meals, as well as 20,000 for coffee and beverage service.

In 2019 the staff prepared for 119 lunch events for gatherings as small 5 and as large as 250. In addition, we provided approximately 6,500 lunches for the Weekday School. We have provided 20 breakfasts, mostly for larger groups, and served 43 dinners. We have also provided coffee service on 94 different occasions, including our standard Sunday morning coffee rotation. We prepared food for 12 funerals and receptions.

Our busiest month of large events was May, which saw six events each with more than 100 guests, including one with 450 for dinner. In October, Myers Park Presbyterian hosted a national personnel conference for three days. The kitchen provided lunch and two snacks for each day of the conference.

We take our ministry seriously and always seek to provide excellent food quality and service because we know good food and good fellowship go hand in hand. We strive to cultivate community and teamwork for the purpose of God’s message.

38,000 Guests served.

18,000 Total meals served.

6,525

Meals prepared for Weekday School students.

8

636

Events at an average of 53 per month.

ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Greg Smith

Staff Dale Allison

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE Lecil Sullivan, Chair

The Personnel Committee believes that the staff team is a ministry of our church, serving as an extension of every ministry area and department they support.

In total, our current staff team consists of 195 individuals who are both gifted and called to their particular areas of service. Between transition and seasonal hires, approximately 40 percent of our staff team were hired over the past two years. We are excited about each gifted new team member, so much of our time is spent recruiting and onboarding them, as an investment in both their retention and our ministry.

In 2019, we revamped our performance review process to better equip, develop, and communicate with our team members. This was also a year that we conduct our biennial compensation study in order to create benchmarks that fairly represent our positions and provide support for fairly compensating our talented team. As an expression of our values, we have worked to ensure that our staff team is diverse and that each full-time team member is making a living wage.

This coming year our desire is to invest even more in cultivating and supporting a staff culture that provides opportunity for growth, a clear sense of both team and mission, and an engaging and fulfilling work experience.

195

Total current staff.

40

%

Of total staff have been hired in the past two years.

54

%

Of the church budget is personnel.

9

ADULT FAITH FORMATION COUNCIL

Council Chair Randy Newton

Staff John Magnuson

In 2019, the Adult Faith Formation Council welcomed a new Associate Pastor for Discipleship, John Magnuson. We also offered a variety of times, days, styles, and commitment levels for Adult Christian Education. We strive to meet people where they are with their busy lives and schedules so that they can enrich and deepen their faith, living more fully into the calling of being disciples of Christ.

We sought to more deeply link education and outreach by offering opportunities by offering opportunities so that our members may more fully and effectively put their discipleship into practice through mission trips and outreach activities. One example of this is the production of a series of daily devotionals for our ministry teams while they were on their mission trips.

In 2020, we will be taking a long-view approach to bring new and creative ways of engaging the congregation in educational offerings. This will include, among other things, more use of video and emerging technologies.

260

Devotions shared with our church every weekday.

10

97

Attendees for the first Sunday Discipleship class in September.

7

Active Sunday morning adult education opportunities.

2

High-commitment weekly Bible study offerings.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

PROVERBS 16:3

11

CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Council Chair Allyson Anderson

Interim Staff Linda Ibsen

Children and Family Ministries partners with parents to develop young disciples of Jesus Christ. We believe children learn discipleship as they grow in faith and share in ministry from their earliest years. We seek to provide meaningful, age-appropriate ministry opportunities for the whole family.

In 2019, Children and Family Ministries continued to engage the children of this church in opportunities to learn, worship, serve, and share fellowship as our children and parents alike practiced discipleship both within and outside the walls of our church. From welcoming children at birth and baptism, nurturing faith formation in the Weekday School, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and walking alongside families in our milestones workshops and mission projects, we have engaged families in active lives of discipleship. 2019 was also a year of discernment as we researched the needs and opportunities involved in bringing our facilities up to the level of the exceptional programming happening within.

In 2020, we will continue to partner with parents in their children’s faith formation by exploring the stories and traditions of our faith through Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, our Faith Milestones program, the Weekday School, and providing tools to continue nurturing their children’s faith at home.

We will continue to seek additional ways to integrate faith milestones into the life of the church and engage children in worship throughout the year. We will offer opportunities for fellowship through our Young Families Ministry and grade-level gatherings, and we will continue to love our neighbors in hands-on, active ways through Sprout Outreach and Mission Kids. We will remain dedicated to and guided by the belief that you are never too young to worship and serve God.

12

CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Council Chair Allyson Anderson

WEEKDAY SCHOOL Kay Norris, Board Chair

The Weekday School continues to guide the faith formation of our youngest disciples. Daily experiences provide endless opportunities for children to learn about what it truly means to follow Christ. The Weekday School provides a warm and loving environment MondayFriday for the children that it serves. Our children understand God’s love for them in an environment that is safe to explore and ask questions while having the constant support of skilled teachers.

Interim Staff Linda Ibsen

1,732

Cans of food donated to Loaves and Fishes through “Chores for Cans.”

Preschoolers followed up with a trip to the warehouse to sort and shelve cans.

260

Children served Monday-Friday in the B, C, and D buildings.

256

Children enrolled in Vacation Bible School in 2019.

162

People engaged in fellowship, worship, and study in Montreat at our All-Church Retreat.

149

Children and their families served through our elementary milestone ministry events.

89

Adult disciples teaching Sunday School for 214 registered children.

87

Backpacks filled by Weekday School children and families and donated to Second Harvest.

13

CLERK’S COUNCIL

Clerk of Session Kristel White

Staff Joe Clifford, Millie Snyder

The ministry teams that comprise the Clerk’s Council handle a variety of activities on behalf of the Session. Near-term activities include recommending officer assignments (Assignments Committee), facilitating our relationship with the larger church (Denominational Relations Team), supporting the residency program for seminary graduates (Residency/ Internship Program Team), providing for the health and wellbeing of our members and the community (Wellness Ministry Board), and providing strategic direction (Strategic Planning Team). This work currently includes the Discernment Initiatives Task Force, which is tasked with establishing a funding model to move forward with the strategic recommendations of the Discernment Report, which was released in 2018.

DISCERNMENT INITIATIVES TASK FORCE Allen Woodward, Chair

The Discernment Initiatives Task Force (DITF) was organized by the Session to prioritize and prepare funding allocations for major initiatives put forward by the various councils of the Session in preparation for a new capital campaign. The DITF has prioritized the various initiatives and is now working to determine the feasibility of raising sufficient funds to pay for these priorities.

The DITF spent 2019 generating a deep understanding of the breadth, scope, opportunities, and challenges many of our critical ministries face.

Conversations with lay leaders and staff have energized this team to resolutely affirm to God’s call to us to cultivate community, cross divides, and change lives at the church, in our community, and through our global partnerships.

34

Meetings of the DITF in 2019.

14

4

Session presentations and updates in 2019.

CLERK’S COUNCIL

Clerk of Session Kristel White

Staff Joe Clifford, Millie Snyder

PASTORAL RESIDENCY Bill Warren, Chair

The Pastoral Residency Program is designed to help prepare recent Seminary graduates for a lifetime in ministry, ultimately affecting future generations of Christians in furthering their own spiritual development. It utilizes the considerable strengths of our clergy and lay leadership to provide high-quality experience in congregational ministry as newly ordained clergy seek to develop their skills after completing the academic side of their training.

Millie Snyder supervises the Residents and is working with the Residency Team to further develop our program. Ben Brannan, our current Resident, began this past summer and has visited members in the hospital and in senior living centers. He has served as a confirmation guide and has taught several classes and Bible studies.

In 2020, Ben will join our mission team on a trip to Uganda and will have opportunities to officiate at weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

We are receiving applications for our next incoming Resident who will begin in the summer of 2020.

At Myers Park Presbyterian, we are developing a Teaching Church program of excellence as we help launch the careers of future leaders in the Presbyterian Church.

15.2

Miles our Resident Pastor, Ben Brannan, travels to be with his sister church, Bellefonte Presbyterian. Ben often worships with this 114 member, all African-American congregation and will be helping lead worship in 2020.

11

Applicants for the Residency Program in 2019.

6

Interviews conducted, and three subsequent invitations to visit MPPC for final interviews.

15

CLERK’S COUNCIL

Clerk of Session Kristel White

Staff Joe Clifford, Millie Snyder

STRATEGIC PLANNING Averill Harkey, Chair

The Strategic Planning Committee of the Session is engaged to be both proactive and responsive to Council referrals regarding significant church wide issues. In 2019, the Strategic Planning Committee has identified three areas of interest: financial giving, security, and data collection and retention. They are gathering reports and documentation related to each of these issues and have formed working groups to begin to address them.

In 2020, the Strategic Planning Committee will focus on issues related to financial giving and security with a goal of reporting recommendations to the Session by mid-2020.

16

CLERK’S COUNCIL

Clerk of Session Kristel White

Staff Joe Clifford, Millie Snyder

WELLNESS MINISTRY Mitch Brigulio, Chair

At the MPPC Wellness Ministry, we seek to encourage and cultivate a spiritually, physically, and emotionally healthy congregation and community.

Our Wellness Ministry provides a welcoming and supportive environment and offers facilities and programs to assist individuals and families in strengthening these areas of their lives. Offering more than just a fitness facility, we provide services and programming to all ages within the congregation and community – from after school programming for toddlers at the Weekday School, youth basketball, adult pickle ball and basketball, senior health and fitness classes, and more!

Ultimately, we seek to build up our congregation and community by promoting health and wellness, and in turn empowering our members and guests to better serve their families and communities in Jesus’ name.

1,757 128 Youth on 180 teams playing 803 games in our basketball league.

Days of after school program sessions.

40

33

4

3

Weekly classes.

Community participants in our free weekly restorative yoga program.

African-American youth served on a biweekly basis through Sigma Beta Club.

Full-time employees.

17

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COUNCIL

Council Chair Jeannie Fuller

Staff Deborah Conner

Congregational Care encourages fellowship within the congregation by providing opportunities to connect members with one another with the intent of cultivating a loving, caring, and supportive church community.

Congregational Care provides new member classes for individuals interested in becoming members of MPPC and helps them get engaged in the life of the church and its ministries. Members may be surprised to learn how many fellowship and engagement opportunities are available.

Pastoral Care is a ministry that reaches all MPPC members because it is available to the entire congregation through Deacons, Stephen Ministers, a Faith Community Nurse, and clergy. These trained individuals walk beside members in times of need and challenge by listening and by offering support, guidance, and encouragement.

In 2020, Congregational Care and Pastoral Care will: expand Fellowship groups; develop church-wide fellowship opportunities; update the new member class curriculum; develop and offer a Presbyterian 101 class for new members; promote the Care Team Ministry and make them easily accessible to members; and continue to assist members in engaging in various ministry opportunities.

750

970

614

346

122

97

20

17

Members participating in fellowship opportunities.

Flu shots administered at the fall clinic.

18

Reported hospital and home visits by clergy.

New members received. 65 percent are 30-39 years of age.

Faith Community Nurse contacts (formerly Parish Nurse).

Funerals hosted by 70 ‘Heavenly Hosts’ at MPPC.

Condolence notes written by members to members and friends.

Lenten fellowship groups formed.

This was a new initiative in 2019.

CONGREGATIONAL CARE COUNCIL

Council Chair Jeannie Fuller

Staff Deborah Conner

BOARD OF DEACONS Jeff Livingston, Moderator

Deacons will continue to assist the Sunday Hospitality Ministry team at the reception desk by meeting and greeting visitors and members and walking them to locations on campus. This allows the disciple at the reception desk to remain to answer general questions.

In the next year, Deacons plan to be stationed in the Outreach parking lot and the circle drive beside the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings. At the Outreach Center, Deacons will assist guests in any way needed, and at the circle drive they will help older members with mobility issues get safely into the building.

Deacons will continue to meet with home-bound members and members living in assisted living locations on a weekly basis.

Deacons will pray for the entire church membership, church leaders, pastors, and staff during Holy Week. We will work with Room in the Inn to support our guests with both physical and spiritual needs. They also run a blood drive through the American Red Cross and support a flu clinic in the fall.

Deacons will continue to provide a variety of pastoral care within MPPC and in our community through visits to our members and all who are ill or facing challenges.

19

OUTREACH COUNCIL

Council Chair Zelle Dunn

Staff Court Young, John Magnuson

In 2019, MPPC’s Outreach Ministry experienced an abundance of blessings and joy as we heard God’s call to grow in faith, to go and make disciples, and to experience God at work. Through ministry partnerships in Charlotte and around the world, Myers Park Presbyterian Church has responded to Jesus’ invitation to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. Through active discipleship, MPPC’s Outreach Ministry continues to focus on forming and strengthening relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ that transcend economic, racial, and cultural differences.

MPPC continued to live out its deep commitment to neighbors in the Charlotte community, serving alongside 17 ministry partners to share MPPC disciples joined I AM 24/7 for a God’s love throughout the city. Through prayer series of community block parties in and discernment our congregation deepened its Grier Heights. commitment to the preservation and provision of stable, affordable housing for residents in the Grier Heights community. This year marked MPPC’s 32nd Habitat for Humanity home build and the 12th in Grier Heights. Additionally, MPPC partnered with CrossRoads Corporation, Grier Heights Presbyterian Church, and Antioch Baptist Church to loan approximately $900,000 to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Housing Partnership to develop affordable multifamily housing in the Grier Heights neighborhood.

Joining in the work of building up of all God’s children, MPPC lived out its commitment to equip and provide children with educational opportunities to grow and thrive. This year marked the culmination of an extended period of MPPC disciples celebrate with the new homeowner and discernment and partnership Habitat for Humanity Staff at the site of the 12th home in with the Congolese Presbyterian Grier Heights funded by MPPC.

20

OUTREACH COUNCIL

Council Chair Zelle Dunn

Staff Court Young, John Magnuson

Church to create and construct another girls’ school in Mbuji Mayi, Congo, the Magi Girls Pilot School, which welcomed 125 girls at its opening in September.

Additionally, in partnership with Habitat El Salvador, God’s abundant blessings were witnessed with the construction of the “Escuelita,” an early childhood education preschool in Ahuachapan, El Salvador that will serve children in MPPC disciples joined members of the seven communities. Through MPPC’s Ahuachapan community in El Salvador to Outreach Ministry, MPPC has boldly lived celebrate the opening of the “Escuelita.” This early out love that builds up a child, a home, a childhood education center will serve children in seven communities. neighborhood, and a world.

In 2020, MPPC’s Outreach Ministry will deepen its understanding and strengthen our congregation’s commitment to live out our love for God through cultivating community, crossing divides, and changing lives. We will: • Continue to develop and support strategic ministry partnerships on the continuum of housing that provide stable, affordable housing to our neighbors in Grier Heights and the larger Charlotte community.

• Commit resources and discipleship support to the educational journey for all of God’s children beginning with early childhood education so that every child has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

• Build upon the foundation of MPPC’s six global partnerships through active engagement, intentional relationships, faith formation, advocacy, and mission trips.

• Steward and allocate annual budgeted funds consistent with the mission and vision of the church.

255

Youth participants engaged through CrossRoads Corporation’s education programs.

125 73 Students enrolled at the Magi Girls Pilot School in Mbuji Mayi, DRC, which opened in 2019.

MPPC disciples serving as reading mentors for students at Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary.

33

MPPC disciples traveling to serve and build relationships alongside our global partners.

21

OUTREACH COUNCIL

Chair Zelle Dunn

Staff Court Young, John Magnuson

CROSS MISSIONS Peter Kelpin, Board Chair Erika Funk, Staff

In the last year, the CROSS board engaged in a several month-long process of discernment regarding our organization’s WHY. We wanted to answer not “what we do?” or “how we do it?” but “why do we do what we do?” Here is the result of the board’s work: We envision a world where Jesus’ command to love our neighbor is central to the message and work of the church. Christ calls us to break down the divides that separate us and to create encounters that deepen relationships and promote reconciliation. By working with Charlotte ministry partners, young people can lead the way for the church to be the beacon of good news needed by all communities, and in the process gain a scriptural understanding of social justice and be equipped to be change makers.

CROSS celebrated 20 summers this year! What an accomplishment! In September, we brought back many of our former staff and current ministry partners for a celebration that included a message by Liz Classen-Kelly, CEO of the merged Urban Ministry Center and The Men’s Shelter.

Although summers are our busiest time of the year, hosting visiting youth groups to serve in Charlotte is a year-round activity. In 2019, CROSS participants partnered with Migrant Assistance Project and designed bright signs for the uptown Greyhound Bus Station where newly arrived asylum seekers received a warm welcome, hot food, clothing and hygiene kits.

22

OUTREACH COUNCIL

Chair Zelle Dunn

Staff Court Young, John Magnuson

Besides serving at agencies, youth learn about poverty by seeing firsthand how neighbors living with homelessness face discrimination in large cities such as Charlotte.

Each year CROSS hires and trains seven young adults to lead our summer groups.

During the school year we have a team of local college students, called guides, who lead our weekend groups. They are the heart and soul of CROSS! Throughout the year CROSS welcomes college groups from many areas. They serve and learn while staying in Cornerstone, the house situated between the main church and Queens Road. In the Cornerstone, they can make their own meals, process their days together and have their own space to work with CROSS staff in the evenings.

In 2020, CROSS will work to create and brand Alternative Break tracks or concentrations that intentionally address urgent, biblical social justice issues such as interfaith dialogue and understanding, immigration, incarceration, and environmental justice, equipping young people for advocacy.

13,963

Volunteer hours provided to local mission partners in 2019.

42

Partner agencies around Charlotte.

797 Individual CROSS participants in 2019.

150

Alka-Seltzer tablets used for prayer stations.

12

MPPC Members who serve on the CROSS board.

23

STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

Council Chair Chip Cooke

Staff Lauren Mulcahy

The mission of the Stewardship Council, along with its sub-committees which include annual giving, major gifts, and Legacy Partners, is to develop and execute a plan to address the financial needs of the church budget through pledges and other contributions. Because of each of you, the financial needs of MPPC were met in 2019. The council seeks to build on the spirit of generosity to include all so that we can continue to do outstanding work for the glory of God. ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Lewis Norman, Katie Hallaway, Co-chairs

In 2019, led by co-chairs Mary Katherine Stukes and Mac McBryde, the annual stewardship campaign saw an increase over the prior year in the number of households that pledge and total dollars contributed. There was also a focus on collecting accurate data to share with the congregation on giving trends. Research shows that Weekday School families are giving at a 65% rate, correcting years of misconceptions about our young families. We are blessed to have the father/daughter co-chair team of Lewis Norman and Katie Hallaway leading our 2020 stewardship campaign.

$5,383 Average pledge to the 2019 annual operating budget.

1,076

Total pledges made to the 2019 budget.

MAJOR GIFTS AND PLANNED GIVING Wayne Felton, Chair

Our Legacy Partner program recognized 11 new partners who have included Myers Park Presbyterian in their wills and estate plans. This program has a team of ten ambassadors, who encourage our members to consider the MPPC endowment as a beneficiary of their lifelong stewardship.

24

WORSHIP COUNCIL

Council Chair Angie Edwards

Staff Joe Clifford, Millie Snyder

Worship is the core of our identity as a congregation. We seek to honor God in all that we do, coming together in corporate worship to share God’s word, engage in prayer, lift our voices in song, and be reminded of God’s grace in our midst. Worship is essential in maintaining our integrity as people of God. Worship in 2019 has continued to feature sermon series and themes that are theologically grounded and offer new perspectives. We have worked to connect worship more deeply with faith formation efforts. First graders who learn about the sacrament of communion in their milestone workshop are invited to carry the communion bread forward during worship, joining the third graders who are invited to carry the Bible.

Celebrate worship has responded to scheduling challenges by opening up roles for greeters, liturgists, and lay readers to whoever wishes to participate on that day. A Connection table is now set up to give worshipers the opportunity to participate in worship, fill out a Connect card, or grab a cup of coffee. Technical improvements to our AV projection system have improved visibility. This year, the worship staff crafted a beautiful, contemporary Good Friday service.

Our children’s music program has grown by 40 percent over 2018, and attendance at all Wednesday evening children’s and music programming has seen an increase.

65

Chancel Choir rehearsals for the Sanctuary service.

7

New Celebrate captains to help organize and orchestrate day-of worship needs.

2

Music interns, one in the Sanctuary and one in Celebrate, funded through the Endowment.

In 2020, we will continue to evolve our worship services with feedback from leaders while understanding that preservation for preservation’s sake and change for change’s sake are not the goals. Endowment funds will provide for music interns to assist the music program in the Sanctuary and learn how to assemble and lead a contempory worship service in Celebrate.

We are excited to continue to create engaging, welcoming worship experiences for all who join us in person or through the live stream.

25

YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES

Council Chair Mike Lenhart

Staff Michelle Thomas-Bush

Myers Park Presbyterian Church provides a youth ministry program that encourages, blesses, builds resilience, and supports young people in the active, faithful pursuit of real life. Simply stated, the mission of Youth and Family Ministry corresponds to the church’s direct investment in the future of our church, our presbytery, and our communities. And figuratively speaking, much like the healthiest of trees in the church’s garden, the success of our youth program branches out to many different areas for our middle school and high school youth. In response to our growing youth program, we added part time staff in two roles: High School Ministry Coordinator and High School Ministry Assistant.

500

79

85

2

Approximate number of youth served in 2019. This number is expected to exceed 660 by 2023.

Youth and chaperones who participated in the annual middle school ski trip.

26

Pieces of art donated to the Chicken Pickin’ Art Auction, which supports youth trip scholarships.

Mindful retreats and 14 mindful drop-ins to teach faith-based meditation and relieve anxiety.

YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES

Council Chair Mike Lenhart

Staff Michelle Thomas-Bush

In 2020, Youth and Family Ministry will focus on the anticipated growth of youth attending programmed activities over the next five years. Currently, MPPC serves approximately 500 youth, with growth estimated to exceed 660 by 2023! In order to continue to meeting the needs of our youth, the MPPC Youth Council will focus youth activities in three key areas: • Cultivating Communities: How can MPPC youth programming grow from within and maintain sustainable programs?

• Changing Lives: How can MPPC youth participate in programs that strengthen internal baselines of community, service, fellowship, and faith?

• Crossing Boundaries: How can MPPC youth deeper their appreciation of all individuals and communities both around Charlotte and around the world?

27

APPENDIX

2020 APPROVED BUDGET Henry Fulton, Finance Chair

CATEGORIZED BY COST OF MINISTRY SERVICES %

Ministry Service

$

5.26%

Adult Faith Formation

325,742

8.86%

Children & Their Families

548,538

Congregational Care

964,251

Denominational Support

258,351

15.58% 4.19% 30.75% 6.63% 18.76%

Outreach Stewardship Worship

9.97%

Youth & Their Families

100%

Total

$6.19 MILLION

.9

%

Increase from 2019 to 2020.

1,903,067 410,188 1,160,849 617,014 6,188,000

CATEGORIZED BY FUNCTIONAL AREAS %

Administrative Services

1.40%

Communications

$ 329,400 86,850

18.05%

Facilities

1,116,792

53.68%

Personnel

3,321,976

0.08%

Program Management

4.19%

Denominational Support

258,351

Children & Their Families

50,944

1.14%

Youth & Their Families

70,425

0.38%

Adult Faith Formation

23,400

1.38%

Outreach Congregational Care

0.42%

Stewardship

1.64%

Worship

100%

Total

Allocations from service groups – primarily facilities, program support, and personnel – total $4,860,018 of the budget. These categories benefit all ministry activities.

5,000

0.81%

11.50%

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Functional Area

5.33%

711,450 85,967 26,500 100,945 6,188,000

Financial statements are prepared by our professional staff, overseen by the treasurer, and routinely examined by the finance committee.

Audited statements are available upon request. Detailed discussions may be scheduled by appointment. Contact Amy at ahock@myersparkpres.org.

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Mission Statement Claimed by the Love of God in Jesus Christ, we are called into this community of faith living out our Love for God in worship, study, and service, loving and supporting one another as we join God’s transforming work in our city and in the world.

2501 Oxford Place Charlotte, NC 28207 myersparkpres.org

Do you find the Annual Report useful or important? Have ideas to improve the report? Send your feedback to Bev Kothe, Communications Committee Chair, at bev@bevkotheqr.com.

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