Greetings!

Many of you will remember in 2014 we addressed MCC NoVA's financial challenges primarily through the establishment and implementation of a Financial Contingency Plan (FCP). This plan was shared locally with our congregants, as well as with everyone on our e-mail list. I'm happy to report that the implementation of the FCP resulted in approximately a $13,000 reduction in operating expenses from 2013 to 2014. We also had a successful pledge campaign and approved a budget that we expect to cover our anticipated 2015 operating needs.

Now it is time to address another piece of the same community puzzle: our attendance trend. The fact that our attendance is trending downward is already obvious to regular attenders. What may surprise you is this trend started slowly in 2010, and it has steadily increased most every year since then. Not only does this trend impact income, it also impacts participation in all areas of our community life.

So what happened?

That is one of the questions we will address at our "Pow Wow with the Pastor" meetings. Following services on February 15th, February 22nd, March 1st and 8th, I will present not only the "hard data," but also what we know about the reasons for our attendance trend. Some of these reasons are specific to MCC NoVA, while others are more theoretical and based on cultural shifts regarding attitudes toward institutional church life and religion at large.

I want to be clear: these are not brainstorming sessions. It is important for us to first know where we are and how we got here. The next step is for us as a community (and not just the board and a few other dedicated souls) to decide if we want to commit our time, energy and other resources to addressing this challenge. If we decide to commit to addressing this challenge, then we begin discussing how to accomplish that goal. These meetings are simply meant to establish a baseline of interest and commitment in addressing our current situation.

I believe it is vital that we as a congregation and the broader community that we minister within take a critical look at who we are and what our work should be as we serve God and the community around us. So I am asking everyone-members and interested friends alike-to sign up for one of these sessions (they are identical) so I will know if we should plan for 1,2,3 or 4 meetings. There will be signup sheets available in the social hall at church, or you may contact the church office at 703-691-0930 to register.

Thank you for your continued interest in the life and ministry of MCC NoVA, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Peace,

Pastor Danny

Rev. Dr. Danny Spears, Senior Pastor