State of the Church 2013

How are we doing at making disciples of Jesus Christ who transform the world?

In assessing the state of Salem, there are some benchmark statistics to which we want to pay attention. Salem’s membership includes 231 people. This is significantly less than previous years as our Charge Conference in November removed 79 members who had become inactive. This past year 7 members died and 5 were transferred to other congregations. We received 24 new members the previous year, and in 2012 we received another 19 new members (15 by transfer from other congregations and 4 by profession of faith). We continue to grow!

Our worship attendance decreased a little. We now average 175. With our membership at 231, however, we are getting healthier. Whereas many congregations see about 30% of their members in attendance, Salem has 75%! The healthiest congregations, though, have greater attendance than membership. Not only are all the members present but several new people are visiting, too. That is our goal.

Other key indicators are baptisms and professions of faith. Since the earliest times, the vows of Christian baptism have consisted first of the renunciation of all that is evil and then the profession of faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Last year we celebrated 2 baptisms, both adults. Of our 19 new members, 4 were by profession of faith. Baptisms and professions of faith show us how many new Christians we are reaching. We reached six new Christians this past year.

Our giving continues to increase. This past year we also began offering electronic giving through our website. We are ending the year with over $10,000. We decided earlier in the year not to pay our apportionments in full so that we could hire staff first. We did pay 40%, including 100% of our General Church apportionments. We continue paying 40% so that when we begin paying our apportionments in full we will be eligible to seek forgiveness for our unpaid apportionments after the flood in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Besides these statistical benchmarks, some pivotal things happened this past year. We hired a new staff person. In November Marcus “Mac” Cain began serving as our Director of Youth Ministries. In the fall of 2011, our Study Committee named youth as one of our major priorities. That led to a decision to not pay apportionments in full and rather hire staff to help us grow and meet our mission. Additionally, Deb Black, Director of Care Ministries, will transition from an unpaid to a paid staff position.

Close to 50 people in four small groups began meeting together around The Truth Project. We want to cultivate small groups as they are essential in the life of discipleship.

We took a big step by electing a Building Committee. This group will select a DesignBuild firm during the first part of 2013 and prepare us for a capital campaign later in the year. With a building project, in addition to having more and better space, it is likely that Salem will grow. We need to prepare for that growth, however, so that we will make disciples of Jesus Christ intentionally who participate in God’s mission to renew Creation.

Our leaders have determined we need a comprehensive plan of outreach for 2013. Outreach begins with the act of going. We want to train our members as missionaries who are sent into the world, especially to the neighborhoods surrounding our location, to the Westdale area businesses, and to all the places we go and people we know.

We are God’s embassy in southwest Cedar Rapids, a mission outpost, an island of one culture in the midst of another. What an adventure! Thanks be to God.