Pr. Joe Crowther, our Kairos consultant, met with our pastors, staff, church council, building committee members, and key volunteers to interpret our response to the Missional Assessment Profile (MAP) survey. He commended our 186 completed surveys—72 percent of First’s average weekly attendance—saying it demonstrates our members ready and willing to engage.
“First Lutheran has an impressively dynamic missional DNA,” said Pr. Joe. “You are mission motivated.” Eighty percent agreed/strongly agreed with the statement, “Our sense of mission is an important component for decision-making.”
Pr. Joe said First shows strength in “excitement” and “belonging”—primary congregational-health markers—and it can and should build on that strength. We have “notably strong trust in leadership,” and our “communication systems are unusually respected and appreciated.”
“First obviously worships well,” he said, noting 78 percent answered, “The worship experience in this congregation plays an important role in nurturing my faith,” with agree/strongly agree.
Our top-three ranked mission priorities are “entrepreneurial,” demonstrating a congregational commitment to be “outward- and future-focused, a church of possibilities, a church of reformation.”
The MAP survey is the first of a two-part listening process Kairos uses to understand the possibilities, willingness, capacity and excitement for moving our ministry forward. Pr. Joe returns to Decorah January 7-9 to complete the process. He’ll lead focused and confidential 30-minute individual and 60-minute group conversations. Email building@firstlutherandecorah.org or call 563-382-2638 if you are interested in participating in one of the listening sessions.
