Atlanta, Georgia 2014 Annual Report Letter from Our Senior Pastor

Rob Payne

Martin Dunlap
Commitment Ministries

Peter Cobb and Van Jensen, Co-chairs
The 2014 Commitment effort began with in January with a review of the previous year’s campaign and initial plans for the year ahead. Over the year, the team focused on an educational campaign not tied to a specific dollar goal. The team ended 2014 with about $830,000 pledged to Morningside, a significant increase in both dollars and donors from the year before.
Financial Highlights:

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  182 — Total pledges
  
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  $828,133 — Total dollars pledged
  
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  $761,346 — Total dollars pledged last year
  
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  22 — New pledges
  
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  $65,120 — Dollars from new pledges
  

The team planned and executed a multi-pronged outreach campaign, which included both print and electronic communications, personal contact and fundraising events. The team focused largely on young families, a growing presence at Morningside but one that had room for growth in giving to the church. Carrie Branon and Tara Parrish led an effort to engage those families, hosting events and conducting extensive research and outreach efforts. That effort in large part led to an increase of over $75,000 from members who had pledged the year before.

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  A Mar. 22 kickoff dinner meeting at the home of Peter and Carolyn Cobb, during which the entire team held a brainstorming session on giving and engagement.
  
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  In July, the Commitment team provided special funds to outfit the church with an updated Wi-Fi network, which now reaches the entire church. The network is meant to help allow members to connect with the updated church website, which now offers online giving and pledging.
  
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  A representative of each MPC small group made a personal outreach to fellow members of their respective groups to educate them on the Commitment campaign.
  
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  Peter and Van visited Sunday school to help children at Morningside learn about the costs of operating the church.
  
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  Carrie Branon and Tara Parrish held a dinner event and a Sunday morning event to share with young families a vision for adding staff at Morningside to dedicate more resources to Christian education for children.
  
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  All children in the church were invited to march to the front of the church during service, highlighting that MPC has gone from 22 to 163 children in the past decade.
  
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  Members delivered several Minute Messages during service, looking at Commitment from a variety of perspectives.
  
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  Weekly church emails included Commitment messages and updates, all thematically tied to that week’s Minute Message.
  
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  Jeff Peters and Bob Wells produced a Commitment video that invited members to reflect on their reasons for pledging.
  
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  The team sent a package including a brochure, pledge card and letter from Baron to each member/household. The brochure highlighted the growth that MPC has experienced and the growing needs that come along with it.
  
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  Nov. 7 was Commitment Sunday, with an outpouring of pledges from members.
  
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  The team followed up with members throughout November and December, securing dozens of additional pledges, culminating in the highest total ever pledged to the church. The team gathered to celebrate with a season-ending gathering, once again hosted by the Cobbs.
  

The past year was a strong one for Commitment at Morningside, but it also should help to pave the way for even stronger years ahead. Our members are more engaged, and they have a better understanding of the church’s financial needs and the importance of pledging.

Peter Cobb

Van Jensen
Planning Committee

Bobbie McCrackin, Chair
Chair: Bobbie McCrackin; Members: Rob Payne, Duncan Spears, Curt Barrett, Philip Hawkins, Rev. Baron Mullis, Rev. Drew Stockstill, Melinda Sandkam. At the end of the third quarter and after providing dedicated service to the committee for several years, Curt elected to end his tenure, and Robin Hackney, in her role as incoming chair of the Diaconate, agreed to come on board starting in the fourth quarter of 2014. The committee met quarterly, three times in person and once via teleconference.  Progress on Morningside's 2017 Vision and Strategic Plan  imperatives continued as planning committee members worked with existing bodies, such as the Session's Human Resources, Worship, and Facilities Committees and the Diaconate.
1.  Align staffing with size of congregation 

Drew Stockstill's call as associate pastor, a new position with additional responsibilities for Youth Ministry, was a major step toward aligning staff with the church's growing congregation and needs. By retiring some of the church's debt, the capital campaign is expected to enable staff expansion in the future, particularly in the area of children's ministry programs. For other staffing changes including replacements and enhancements of existing positions, see the Human Resources report.

2.  Strengthen infrastructure, technology, and finances

In regard to technology, Wi-Fi was installed throughout the church, office computer security was upgraded, some additional computer equipment needed for staff was acquired, and the remainder is budgeted for 2015. In addition, the Deacons' committee on technology and new members piloted an orientation for members of the congregation regarding use of ACS and plans to do so again in 2015.

The Diaconate's recent organization of its work into three areas that include, among other matters, new members, current members, and homebound members.  Expansion of mission work, see below, also promoted deeper engagement. Two services of healing and wholeness were held in 2014, at the recommendation of the Worship Committee, initiating significant new opportunities for increased spirituality.

4.  Enhance program offerings

Season of Service was introduced in the first quarter of 2014 as a time to focus on outreach by increasing education efforts with the congregation about our outreach partners and encouraging everyone to participate in some way during Season of Service. Starting with fall program offerings, children now have a greater presence in worship service by returning from their classes during the offering.

5.   Develop our Artistic Ministry  

With the arrival of Mason Copeland, Music Director and Organist, in the late second quarter, plans were initiated to increase music outreach through public concerts, tentatively on a quarterly basis, and two are scheduled during the First Quarter 2015.
In addition to fostering these accomplishments via other groups, the Strategic Planning Committee ended the year by deliberating and agreeing on areas of emphasis for 2015. These include under infrastructure, (1) a critical review of the web site's functionality and usage and an analysis of other contemporary communication vehicles and (2) outreach to members who have moved out of the area or do not attend worship regularly In order to ensure our membership rolls truly reflect our current congregation; in regard to engagement, (1) increased attention to new member orientation and (2) spiritual growth opportunities via more small groups; and, under programs, leadership development to support additional small groups.
Respectfully submitted,

Bobbie McCrackin

We changed our practice this year from calling every church member because of the negative feedback we were getting. Members said they didn’t want to be called if they were plugged in to the community. New members and those on the prayer list continued to be monitored and reached out to by phone, email, writing, or in person.

We worked hard on our Christmas card this year and hope it gets only positive feedback from members.

Deacon on Call remained a weekly commitment by deacons.

The board of deacons was 100 percent in commitment pledging for 2015.
At the end of 2014 we thanked the outgoing class of 2014 – Curt Barrett, Ken Sharpe, Faye McKay-Clegg, and Shirley Adair – for their loyal service.
It was a privilege to serve as moderator during 2014.

Sincerely,

Sue Ballay Eleanor Attwood Beth Baer

Peter Cobb Laura Fillyaw Will Barnette

Bonnie Daneker Van Jensen Lisa Jern

Jennye Guy Hillery McNeill Jack Klotz

Leslie Prince Rob Payne Bobbie McCrackin

Caroline Tanner Michael Perez Duncan Spears

Board of Deacons



Moderator: Katherine Johnston
Secretary: Nahan Zook
Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016

Pat Antenucci Ann Bowers Sarah Chatel

Curt Barrett Faye McKay Clegg Robin Hackney

Jeff Peters Katherine Johnston Peter Tuuk