Church Development

Officers & Staff | Congregations | Presbytery | History

Directory of the officers and staff at the PTCA, with phone numbers and email addresses.

A listing of the congregations served by the PTCA, with contact names, addresses, and phone numbers.

This link provides information about services provided to the congregations served by the PTCA.

History of the PTCA will be found at this link, as well as links out of the site for additional history of the Presbyterian Church.

Congregational | Presbytery | Synod | PCUSA | Mission Statement

Congregational Mission information from PTCA.

Excerpts from the Mission Design Statement of the Presbytery.

Synod of Lakes and Prairies

Mission Information about the Presbyterian Church (USA) can be found through this link.

Information about some of the mission projects of the PTCA.

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Information from our congregations about their personalities.

Personalities of PTCA churches
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Policies | Spiritual Formation | Org. Chart | Featured Links

Presbytery Policies

Guide to Spiritual Formation with many links to on-line resources for guidance and inspiration.

A linked Organization Chart to help you find the information or person you need for the question you have.

Links to other Presbyterian Organizations as well as other groups that you may find of interest.

Work Groups | Committees | Task Forces

Congregational Min WG | Connectional Min WG | Leadership Development WG

Task Forces in the PTCA

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Church Development Team Chair through 5/2007: Sandy Hawley churchdevelopment@ ptcaweb.org Other members: Gary Elg Florence Moxham Tom Snyder Jean Rausch Bill Young John Ivers Stan Martin Herbert Wardlaw, Jr. Contracted Staff: Newell Krogmann cdtstaff@ptcaweb.org Support Staff: Katie Houge To find out about serving on a committee or work group, visit our Nominating page.

Presbytery's Vision Plan for New Church Developments

What is Transformation? Redevelopment?

Policies on grant applications, reports

Mission Program Grants from GA | Percept's Link2Lead database

What is Transformation? Redevelopment?

Scroll down to learn more about transformation, how the PTCA and GA can help, who is eligible and if you're ready for change. Follow the steps. Visit Link2Lead.

See which churches have gone through redevelopment and view other resources.

Vision Plan for New Church Development
What makes churches grow?

PTCA churches registered at Link2Lead.com

Percept's Link2Lead database updated with 2007 Data and Projections to 2012

Each church in the PTCA is allotted up to 20 persons to immediately register for free at link2lead.com. There you can get the latest information on your community and hands-tools to develop your understanding of your community, which people are drawn to it, and your congregational growth. The Church Development Team purchased the basic services for all PTCA churches. Link2Lead is service of Percept (a demographics-collecting business) and offers additional services and consultations that churches can purchase directly from Percept for additional fees. If you have questions about how to access and use Percept data, please contact the Rev. Newell Krogmann, Contract Staff for Church Development at cdtstaff@ptcaweb.org or call him at 507-665-2587.

Administrators registered by the Executive Presbyter may log in to VISTA2000.

Vision Plan for New Church Development

Approved at the September 14, 2004, Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area, the first part of the Vision Plan for New Church Development covers Foundational Principles for New Church Development within this Presbytery. The Planning Group, under the auspices of the Church Development Team, developed this document and is working on the second part of the Vision Plan, a strategic plan for establishing new churches.

There will be a pre-Presbytery event in November 2004 to share the planning group's progress on stage two and to collect input from interested persons.

If you don't have Acrobat Reader to view and/or print the Vision Plan, you can download Reader for FREE from the Adobe website or ask the PTCA office (website@ptcaweb.org) to mail you a FREE installer CD.

Transformation

Transformation is a profoundly spiritual process that engenders hope, gives a new mission and provides concrete resources to congregations who are willing to recognize changing circumstances and to congregations who are willing to commit to fundamental, proactive change in the ways they organize their common life, mission, and ministry.

Transformation is a process where a congregation intentionally decides to change its ministry direction. Transformation can involve five different dynamics:

	1.	Creating Spiritual Energy
	2.	Congregational Identity: Coming to terms with the past, present and future
	3.	Congregational Leadership: Building a ministry team
	4.	Re-entering the Community
	5.	Developing a Ministry Plan

How can the Presbytery Help?

The Presbytery forms relationships with churches interested in Transformation through the Church Development Team (CDT). The CDT can help churches interested in Redevelopment in a number of different ways. Some ways include:

--Providing a consultant to help a church go through a Transformation probe

--Connecting to churches to resources, technical and financial, in the Presbytery and wider church

--Helping a church develop a Transformation/Redevelopment grant

--Providing scholarships for training. In the past such training has happened at the National Redevelopment Conference and regional Synod trainings. Connecting the church to people who have gone through the Redevelopment process.

How can the General Assembly help?

The General Assembly supports Redevelopment efforts through its Redevelopment Office. They offer an annual Redevelopment Conference that has been held in January. They also offer financial grants to congregations who have developed a Redevelopment/Transformation plan. These grants must include financial support from the Presbytery and Synod.

Are you a candidate for Redevelopment?

Transformation is for any size congregation who realizes that they need to significantly change their model and focus of ministry. Contact the Church Development Team at churchdevelopment@ptcaweb.org or 612-871-7281, ext. 21, and ask about Indicators of need for Redevelopment/Revitalization.

Are we ready to change the course of our ministry?

Contact the Church Development Team at churchdevelopment@ptcaweb.org or 612-871-7281, ext. 21, and ask about taking a redevelopment Quiz.

What are some first steps toward Transformation?

Some possible first steps:

--Establish a relationship with the Church Development Team

--Appoint a committee to assess whether the congregation needs to go through a Transformation process

--Contact other churches in the Presbytery who have gone through
Transformation/Redevelopment

--Attend national or regional Redevelopment trainings

Which PTCA Churches have gone through Redevelopment/Transformation?

	Shepherd of the Hill, Chaska, Minnesota
		Pastor: Rev. Deb Lind-Schmitz

	Kwanzaa Community Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
		Co-Pastors: Rev. Alika and Rev. Ralph Galloway

	Andrew-Riverside Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
		Stated Supply: Rev. Harry Maghakian

	Community Presbyterian Church, Plainview, Minnesota
		Pastor: Rev. Paul Moore

	Shiloh-Bethany, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
		Moderator: Mr. Gregory Ritter

For churches' contact information, visit our congregations page.

Other helpful resources:

The following items are available through Presbyterian Distribution Services (PDS) in Louisville, Ky. Phone: 1-800-524-2612.

A Resources Book for Leaders Doing Training in Congregational Redevelopment
	A large book that explains in-depth the different parts of Redevelopment - PDS #72320-95-003

Congregational Transformation Office Brochure
	A pamphlet that describes the Congregational Redevelopment office, staff, purpose, and services - PDS #72-301-99-001

Living the Vision: Congregational Transformation
	A 16-page how-to booklet by Steven Boots - PDS #72-300-00-001

Congregational Mission Studies Notebook
	A resource to assist congregations in the task of intentional self-study. - PDS #72-380-96-002

Polices on grant applications, annual reports

Here in PDF format is a DRAFT of policies on grant applications and annual reports.

Questions? E-mail churchdevelopment@ptcaweb.org.

What makes churches grow

from October 15, 2004, Synod e-newsletter

Growing Presbyterian churches report that their success requires attracting and retaining new people, according to research featured at the U.S. Congregational Life Survey website. Research shows that growing congregations explore a variety of ways to connect with non-members. They tend to give new worshipers opportunities to become actively involved. Worshipers in these congregations report that they regularly experience God's presence, joy, inspiration and spontaneity in worship. Growing congregations also strive to create worship experiences in which people connect with God.

According to the research, growth strategies implemented by growing churches include: sending letters to recent visitors; distributing newsletters; placing ads in the newspaper; phoning recent visitors; establishing a Web site; placing an ad in the phone book; holding an event to bring people in; and starting a "seeker service."

Strategies for keeping people coming back include: courses or groups for new members; invitations to join a group; invitations to serve church and community; and people extending hospitality.

*Adapted from a report by Deborah A. Bruce, associate research manager, Research Services, Presbyterian Church (USA). For more information, visit the U.S. Congregational Life Survey website.