Fairview Presbyterian Church Vancouver
Congregational Profile 2015
Vision Statement
To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love
Table of Contents
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General Information The vacancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Letter from Search Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Position Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
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Congregational Histor y Metro Vancouver and the Community around Fairview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Congregational Demographics and Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Worship, Leadership, Groups and Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Church Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Financial Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The vacancy Fairview Presbyterian Church is seeking a new Minister of Word and Sacraments who can help make and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ who seek to reflect his light and share his love in their daily lives. To apply, please review the profile and the application material on our website then direct all inquiries and your application to the Interim Moderator: Church contact information: Fairview Presbyterian Church 2725 Fir Street Vancouver, BC V6J 3C2 604-736-0510 www.fairviewchurch.ca Interim Moderator contact information: Rev. Martin Baxter pastormbaxter@gmail.com St. Andrew’s & St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church 2641 Chesterfield Ave
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Letter from Search Committee Dear Candidate, On behalf of the Search Committee at Fairview Presbyterian Church in Vancouver, we are grateful to God that you are discerning a call to use your ministry gifts and that you are considering Fairview. We are at an important time in our congregation’s history and our ministry, a time when we are looking forward with renewed vision. When we became vacant in 2014 the Church Session acknowledged that we have a strong history and a healthy past. We had a vision statement that was generally held to be an accurate description of our church community. It would have been easy to keep going. Yet, the Church Session was aware that there were indications that we needed renewal, including leaders’ fatigue as well as conventional measures like slipping attendance and budget. So with the encouragement and leadership of our Interim Moderator, the Session committed to an extensive period of discernment to revisit our assumptions and understanding of our vision, meeting many times over a nine-month period to pray, discuss and discern God’s call for our congregation. We are now at a turning point, and have begun the process of working actively and together to seek a renewed and meaningful sense of discipleship for our church family. After much prayer and consultation, we have a new more focussed vision, encapsulated in a new statement that reflects our desire to be ever-growing as disciples of Jesus, continually reflecting his light and sharing his love. Our vision is: To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love In seeking a new minister we are asking God to inspire a leader to join us and to lead us on our journey toward our new 20/20 Vision to enable our entire congregation to become those disciples and to live out our faith, always. If this is consistent with your vision for the Christian life and if you have the gifts to lead us toward that vision in the heart of Vancouver in the twenty-first century, we pray you will share your interest with us.
Brian Mills Convenor
On behalf of the Search Committee: Pablo Angulo Jennifer Araujo Charles Boname Derek Chapman Colleen Dennehy
Karen Dylla Margaret Hume Richard Knowler Hallie Marshall Dal Schindell Nancy Woo
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Position Profile We have provided this profile as a guide to the impossible task of defining the minister’s role as our leader in order to achieve Fairview’s 20/20 Vision. There is much in the role of minister that is defined and more that is implied. This is a guide to capture our more specific expectations to help us to determine how well aligned we are and will be with each other.
Leadership skills
Personal Characteristics
By ensuring our God-given gifts are identified and encouraging us to serve using them
As a minister ordained (or eligible) in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, you are: Personally committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and grounded in prayer
You will lead us to achieve our vision to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ: By fulfilling with diligence your duties in your pastoral care, offices, administrative roles and denominational responsibilities, and in your oversight of staff in your care and occasional students
By engaging with the broader community, including theological colleges, neighbour churches and the life of the neighbourhood
Living as a disciple and influencing others to live likewise
By taking time to pray, reflect, study and develop, and taking time to rejuvenate, and thus setting an example for us to follow
Engaging, personable, sincere, perceptive and responsive, and humble
Stipend and Housing Allowance
Ministerial skills As the minister called to Fairview, you are especially: •
Committed to enable this congregation to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, reflect his light, and share his love, and live, always, for our Lord
•
Equipped with gifts of preaching God’s word of salvation, teaching, and leadership development with clarity, conviction and love
•
Drawn to serve in the context of a major city and today’s culture
Vision Statement
Fairview will establish a stipend in the range of $45 000-$60 000 that recognizes both the experience of the minister and the cost of living in the Vancouver area, plus a housing allowance based on the market rental value of the accommodation.
To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love
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History of Fairview Church Fairview was established in 1899, growing quite rapidly until the Church Union in the 1920s, at which point a large number of those who wished to retain their Presbyterian heritage relocated to the corner of 11th Avenue and Fir Street where the church has been since. The present building was constructed in the late 1950s and expanded in the early 1970s.
our 100th anniversary in 1999, the congregation opted to raise funds to build an orphanage in Cambodia rather than a church steeple for Fairview. This has been followed by congregational support of further building projects in that country in 2008 and 2010, in association with Ratanak International, focussed particularly on addressing the scourge of child sex-trafficking.
Over the years the congregation has been characterized by a strong, conservative, evangelical proclamation of the faith and stability. It has drawn people from all walks of life and of all age groups into its fellowship. Located as it is in a high and lowrise apartment community, it has never had a large number of infants and children. Yet presently there are quite a number of infants and children (by Fairview standards) indicating that the energy and challenges generated by children will ensure the future of the congregation.
Rev. Grant Wilson was inducted as minister in 1998. He brought new incentives, new ways to worship, and new ideas to us all. Part-time positions in Pastoral Visitation and Children & Youth were begun in 2005. Many student interns from Vancouver School of Theology and, especially, Regent College have worked in the church as part of pastoral internships. An evening service was begun in 2004, lasting until 2012, which included contemporary music aimed at young people, students, shift workers and people less familiar with the relative formality of the morning service. Grant left in August of 2014 for a lead minister position at St. Paul’s, Ottawa and the pulpit was preached vacant in August by the Interim Moderator, the Rev. Martin Baxter.
Fairview has had a strong missionary focus that has adapted to a changing world. The church has historically supported outreach and missions through an congregational tithe including support for specific missionaries and organizations. For
Vancouver and the community around Fairview Vancouver is a coastal seaport city located on the southwest coast of British Columbia. The City of Vancouver is the largest municipality in Canada’s third-largest metropolitan region which has 2.4 million inhabitants. Fairview
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Presbyterian Church is centrally located adjacent to the dense urban core. Fairview Presbyterian Church is 10 minutes by car and 15 minutes by frequent bus from downtown Vancouver, a major centre for business in Western Canada. The University of British Columbia is 20 minutes by car and 30 minutes by frequent express bus. This campus is also home to Vancouver School of Theology, St Andrew’s Hall, and Regent College. Also nearby is Vancouver International Airport; 25 minutes by car and 45 minutes by bus and rapid transit. Consistently rated as one of the top cities in the world to live, the combination of economic opportunity and the beautiful, natural environment draws people from around the world for immigration, investment and tourism, driving the economy and growth. Although historically the city has been populated by immigrants from elsewhere in Canada and from Europe, it is immigration from East Asia which has increasingly characterized Vancouver from the late 1990s and into the 21st century. The population of the area around the church is relatively young, with 20 to 49 year-olds accounting for 55% of the total population, and a median age of 40. Those over 60 account for 20% of the population, and those under 20 account for 12%. Of note, the two census areas closest to the church have the highest proportion of rental apartment accommodation. Census data from the most recent Statistics Canada survey (2011) indicate a predominantly English-speaking population in the Vision Statement
same area. The demographic data from the 2011 census is similar to the 1991 census data, suggesting relative consistency in the demographics of the neighborhood over the past twenty-five years. Despite these advantages the cost of housing is a consideration for anyone moving to the region. The housing market has become a hot spot in the Canadian real estate market, with prices increasing substantially in recent years. These rapid and significant increases in property values in recent years, coupled with a diversified multicultural population, have given rise to a number of social challenges. Beneath the veneer of abundance and affluence, a 2012 Vital Signs study commissioned by the Vancouver Foundation notes social inequities in leisure, learning and health, and a substantial portion of the population who suffer a lack of sense of community and belonging. Despite the challenge of the increase in prices, we believe there are still a variety of housing types available in the city that are accessible to those interested in becoming the minister of Fairview Presbyterian Church, influenced by the area one might choose to live in and personal budgets. The cost of accommodation in Vancouver needs to consider a range of factors, including: • The type of accommodation (i.e. single family housing, townhouse, apartment) • Ownership or rental • Location amenities • Transportation cost and travel time (which can make a significant difference in housing affordability). To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love
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To provide some context we surveyed rental and purchase options in several neighbourhoods and have provided them for reference.
Approximately a quarter of households are over 10 km from the church, though it is also notable that 40% are within two km of the church.
Congregational Survey Results & Demographics
Relationships
We conducted a congregational survey in April 2015, with all members, adherents, and visitors to the church over the age of 11 years invited to complete it. 105 responses were received.
A quarter have indicated that some of their best friends attend Fairview. For the strong majority (80%) their friends or coworkers know they attend church, and nearly as many (70%) would be comfortable bringing a friend to church with them (over third in the past 6 months).
Demographics and the Neighbourhood Fairview’s congregation gender balance (approximately 60% female) is consistent with the neighbourhood’s, but in a number of other demographics the neighbourhood and church are different: Fairview is older (40% over 60; neighbourhood 20%) in a neighbourhood with many younger adults between 21 and 50 (FPC 33%, neighbourhood 43%). In Fairview the majority are married (55%), whereas in the neighbourhood the majority are “not married and not living with a common law partner” (52%). Those that are married amount to 36% of the neighbourhood population, while those single (never legally married) is 37%. Only 5% of Fairview are divorced compared with 25% of the local population. 39% of the congregation consider themselves retired. The remainder classify themselves as professional, students, service technical or clerical. Fairview’s members and adherents come from a variety of Asian, European and Latin American origins as well as British Isles ancestry. Notably, Fairview’s catchment is region-wide, with many of the congregation travelling from other parts of Vancouver and surrounding municipalities. Vision Statement
Coming and Staying A third of respondents came to Fairview in the past decade, though responses ranged from 1928(!!) to 2015. Most people (41%) first came to Fairview because of family (including being raised here) or friendships. Just under one third came for denominational reasons and only 5% say they came because it is the closest church to their home. People stay for different reasons. More than half (56%) stay because Fairview is instrumental in their spiritual growth, or because of the content of the services and the preaching. Many stay because it feels warm and welcoming. Smaller numbers cite family and friends or stay because it is the closest Presbyterian church to their home.
Sermons Most respondents agreed the sermons should be spiritually uplifting (88%), challenging (83% strongly agree), and should apply biblical principles to their lives (85% agree or strongly agree). The overwhelming majority (84% agree or agree strongly) indicated that they find sermons relevant to their lives. Just over half say that the length of sermons is not important to them and only 5% would like sermons to be no longer than 15 minutes. To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love
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Participation Most people (79%) reported participating in at least one activity other than worship on Sunday. A large percentage (31%) had served whether on a board or committee or in some capacity in Christian education.
Comments Many people took the opportunity to add comments to the survey, which have all been passed on to the Session, including many expressions of appreciation of the music ministry. An inventory of pastoral skills was ranked by the congregation in the survey conducted in spring 2015 (before discernment of the new 20/20 Vision was complete) and can be found here.
Worship Service, Leadership, Groups & Activities Fairview currently has one worship service per week on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am with Sunday School. In recent years, however, we have also had a contemporary evening service. The church has a number of active groups for prayer, worship, fellowship and other purposes. Among the groups active at present are: the choir, a Women’s Bible Study Group, Wednesday morning coffee & conversation group, a writers’ group, the Women’s Missionary Society, and the Fairview Youth Group. There are also a number of activities which are held on an annual basis, including an annual library talk and potluck lunch, a spring music concert, an easter egg hunt, a communal
Vision Statement
birthday celebration, a summer barbecue for the community, and a carol service. We actively maintain a church lending library. As indicated in the summary of the results of the congregational survey, a large percentage of the congregation offer their time and skills in various ways to support the church. Yet despite this active involvement in the governance and activities of Fairview, in the course of discerning what we are looking for in a new minister, it has become clear that there is a need to create a more vibrant church life. In order to renew and increase the sense of discipleship among the members of our church family, there is a desire to bring the congregation together in various groups outside of Sunday morning services; to foster a Christian life which extends beyond Sunday, facilitating our vision of discipleship which allows our daily lives to reflect the light of Jesus Christ and to share his love. Fairview Presbyterian has a part-time director of children and youth ministries (Gavin Marshall) and director of music ministry (Chang Hwa Kim, M Mus ARCT). In recent years there has also been a part-time director of pastoral visitation, but the position has become vacant with the recent retirement of Rev Dr Tony Plomp.
Church Facilities Fairview’s building was constructed in 1956 consisting of a sanctuary, offices, entrance, narthex and basement hall with adjacent classrooms. In the late 1960s the building was expanded greatly with the addition of a lounge, offices and kitch-
To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love
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enette adjacent to the sanctuary. In the basement below this expansion is a set of classrooms and nursery facilities. Equipment to aid worship includes a digital organ, baby grand piano, digital projector a system for amplification and recording and Wi-Fi throughout the church.
chair accessible washroom adjacent to the lounge. A large portion of the basement is dedicated to the classrooms including nursery and various rooms for Sunday school classes. There is also a large central space which can be set up with tables and chairs to accommodate meetings, gatherings of the congregation or recreation.
The lounge, adjacent to the sanctuary is the focal point for much of the church’s life including Sunday morning coffee hour, prayer meetings, Bible studies, Session, Board and committee meetings. This room contains comfortable furniture, a piano, and a gas fireplace and has an adjacent kitchenette suitable for preparing refreshments.
For people arriving by automobile limited on-site parking is available with 10 stalls including accessible, while all other parking is on local streets. Parking meters and parking bans limit the availability of this supply at many times of the week.
Also on the main floor are the minister’s office, the secretary’s office, and a library. The office is equipped with the appropriate office equipment including computer and photocopier.
Financial Profile
The main floor is generally accessible to the mobility impaired with level access to the street and a wheel-
Account
2013
Fairview has had an excellent history of strong and consistent financial stewardship. The congregation has recognized the need for financial resources to meet the goals and objectives of our ministry. Below is a summary of the history of financial performance for 2013 and 2014.
2014*
* Pulpit vacant from August 2014
285,000
Financial Management
302,000 Revenues Expenditures 208,000 Fairview Ministries Congregational Ministries 17,000 39,000 Outreach Ministries 21,000 Maintenance & Utilities 11,000 Church Office 4,000 Other 300,000 TOTAL
186,000 11,000 43,000 22,000 9,000 1,000 272,000
2,000
13,000
Surplus/(Deficit)
Fairview does not have a manse.
Monthly statements are prepared by the Treasurer and reviewed by the Board in detail. A summary report of the month’s performance is presented to the Session after review by the Board. To ensure appropriate stewardship the Board uses standard management practices including internal accounts for expenses. Each group or committee’s convenor is responsible for the budget’s performance. The Board spends judicially and may hold back or defer discretionary expenditures if the cash flow
Vision Statement
To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ
So that in our daily lives
We reflect his light
And share his love
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is not favourable. As well, two signing officers are required to authorize any expenditure.
Budget Process A budget committee made up of members from Session and the Board of Managers, including the Treasurer, develops a draft budget considering relevant budget issues and direction from Board and Session, as well as the previous year’s performance. The Board and Session review and endorse a version at the Annual General Meeting where it is considered and a final budget is adopted. Fairview’s recent budgets have been designed to achieve the following objectives: • to support the goals set out in the Vision Statement • to recognize the importance of supporting our national Church • to ensure that the budget is a realistic assessment of the congregational support.
The budget has the following components: Fairview Ministries • Minister stipend, staff salaries allowances, benefits and honoraria Congregational Ministries • Materials used in worship, Christian education Children and Youth Ministries, library, pastoral, community outreach & evangelism events, fellowship and social events Maintenance of Sanctuary • Operating costs, repairs and maintenance, capital improvements Church Office • Administration costs including telecommunications, computers, financial and banking services, office supplies, printing Outreach Ministries • Combines Presbyterian Ministries and Outreach Ministries. Includes Fairview’s obligations and a congregational tithe, currently to 6 Christian organizations, local, national, international. The 2013 and 2014 Annual Reports are available for review.
Vision Statement
To grow as disciples of Jesus Christ So that in our daily lives We reflect his light And share his love