Report
Review of Gilmerton NCD
9 – 11 November 2007
Executive summary
Gilmerton is still in the early stages of its development, having had a strategic focus on work with young people in the first five years.
For the bulk of this time, Paul Beautyman has been, effectively, on his own. However, with a number of staff now in place, a supportive Sunday evening group and the refurbished church building available early next year, there is a growing sense of moving into a new phase of the work.
The church is at a crucial stage in its development. There is a need to clarify the vision and strategy for the next phase, setting clear goals for the next few years, and to secure the financial resources for this. The input of an Advisor or Consultant would be helpful in this.
Staff Team : Rev Paul Beautyman (Organising minister); Christina & Paul Enever (Arts & Dram Workers); Tom Cramb (sessional worker - sports ministry), Mimi Mackenzie (sessional worker - dance), Ross Watters(ICC Student placed at Gilmerton)
Review Team: Rev Graham Duffin (convener), Jamie MacDonald (NCD Appointee), Rev Mark Johnston (NCD minister), Rev Scott McKenna (Presbytery Rep)
Return to top
Content
1 Recommendations
2 Timetable
3 Background
4 Conclusions
1 Benchmark Expectations
2 Theology & Mission Design
3 Discipleship & Leadership development
4 Effective leadership
5 Structures Geared for growth
6 Administration
7 Finances
8 Links with Presbytery and the Parish Grouping
Return to top
1. Recommendations
Recommendations:
For the Staff Team:
1. That work with young people remain a priority.
2. That the current groups for young people be supplemented with groups for young people interested in exploring the Christian faith more deeply.
3. That a regular Worship Event for young people be started as soon as is practicable.
4. That regular monthly staff meetings be set up to provide ongoing support and fellowship, but also as a forum where discussion about strategy can take place.
For the Commission
1. That the Commission take time to discuss with Paul and others locally the long-term vision being developed for the work at Gilmerton, and the short-term goals and objectives for getting there.
2. That the Commission support and offer input to strategic planning for the next phase of development.
3. That the Commission share with Paul and others the responsibility for securing the necessary finances to secure the next phase of development
4. That the Commission ensure that good communication is built between Gilmerton NCD, the local Parish Grouping and Presbytery
5. That the Commission members, as far as this is possible, find opportunities to share in the activities of Gilmerton NCD
6. That the Commission explore the possibility of securing Secretarial/Admin assistance.
7. That the Commission receive a report from the Readers attached to the congregation every six months, and ensure that pastoral work within the parish is provided for.
For the Reef Group
1. That the group maintain opportunities to meet for worship, fellowship, bible study and prayer.
2. That the group discuss and agree the future shape of the Reef Group.
3. That, where possible, members of the Reef Group get involved in the work with young people.
4. That the group discuss and agree together one new area of work for which the group (or members of the group) will take responsibility
5. That a leadership team of five members be set up to assist in the Strategic planning for the church, with an ex-officio place for the Convener of the Commission.
6. That the group explore together what it means for them to become a church planting team in Gilmerton, and how the gifts of each member might be used in the building of the church in Gilmerton
7. That individual member of the group be encouraged to review their financial giving to the work of Gilmerton NCD
For the Task Group
1. That the task group provide the input of a consultant (or consultants) to work with the Commission, Staff Team and Reef Group to assist in:
- the clarifying of the long term vision
- the setting of short term goals
- making decisions about future staffing needs
- obtaining the finances to support the ongoing development of the work
2. That the Task Group clarify the financial resources that can be made available for the work at Gilmerton from central church funds and provides support for them in securing funds for future work
3. That the Task Group ensure that agreement is reached on the long term vision for Gilmerton NCD (see section 4.2) and that this is communicated to all interested parties.
4. That the Task group ensure that the sign at the church reads “Gilmerton New Church” and not “Gilmerton Parish Church”
5. That the Task Group consider how local NCD’s can be more deeply involved in the planning and furnishing of buildings.
6. That the Task Group send a letter to Liberton Kirk Session thanking them for the considerable support they have given to the work of Gilmerton NCD
For the Parish Grouping
1. That the Parish Grouping meet, facilitated by a nominee of Presbytery, to discuss how mission can be effectively carried out across the parishes, drawing on the strengths of the individual congregations.
Return to top
2. Timetable
Friday Lunch time Meeting with Youth Reef Group
Evening: Attendance at Cross Sports
Saturday Morning: Meeting with Paul Beautyman
Meetings with other staff members
Meeting with full staff team
Lunch: With Commission
Afternoon: Meeting with Commission
Sunday Evening Worship and meeting with Reef Group
Thur 29th Nov Afternoon Follow up meeting with Paul Beautyman (Organising Minister), Stephen Manners (Reef), Tom Cramb (Staff), Ian Macdonald (Commission)
Return to top
3 Background information
1. Brief historical Background
Gilmerton NCD was formed in October 2002 from the previous Gilmerton Parish Church, which was dissolved. It is part of a Parish Grouping comprising five South East Edinburgh churches, namely: Gimerton NCD, Kaimes lockhart Memorial, Liberton, Liberton Northfield and Tron Kirk Moredun.
Rev Paul Beatyman was appointed as organising minister in 2002. In 2005 Paul and Christine Enever joined the team as Arts and Drama Workers (job share) and over 2006/07 two volunteers from Youth for Christ were placed with the congregation. One of those volunteers (Ross Watters) continues to work with the congregation three days a week as part of his course of study at ICC. Two sessional staff are employed as Dance and Sports Outreach Workers, and two readers have offered support in conducting parish funerals.
2. Significant local factors
Gilmerton is part of South Edinburgh, an ex-village swallowed by the city's post war spread but still holding residual identity as an old mining village. Housing is mixed, from a small heritage preservation area, post war low rise housing (being demolished) to 1980/ 1990 first time homes where prices are rising. South Edinburgh is a Social Inclusion Partnership, one of 44 areas designated by the Scottish executive as areas of deprivation requiring assistance for development and regeneration.
Since the 2005 review, old flats have been knocked down and new housing built, Edinburgh citywide schools’ re-organisation and Gracemount High School has been designated as a school of excellence. It could be argued that the same problems affect Gilmerton and South Edinburgh with one high profile murder and several stabbings. Behind this stark picture lies a deeper truth of satisfied residents with an increased community pride. Calls to the police are down thanks to a new police initiative called the Youth Action Team but there is still a significant number of troubled and troublesome families in the area. Volunteering is increasing as is contribution to the community forum and ERI has affected house prices. Deprivation indices for Edinburgh wards placed Gilmerton at 17 in 2001 against 12 in 1991(1 being the worst) but it is unclear if this is due to widespread economic improvement or the arrival of wealthier residents in new late 1990's housing. A positive or negative view of the community depends on who you talk with.
Return to top
4 Conclusions
Much good work has been done amongst young people. Excellent relationships exist with the local schools (both primary and secondary), and ongoing contact is maintained with literally hundreds of young people each week through the different groups and activities organised by Gilmerton NCD. This is due in no small measure to the vision and hard work of Paul Beautyman. He has had to work hard to put in place the necessary resources, and for a considerable period of time was the only paid staff member at Gilmerton, with very limited input from volunteers.
As stated in the executive summary, Gilmerton NCD now stand at a crucial point in their development. It is important that these firm foundations are built upon in the coming months and years, and the necessary resources put in place to allow this to happen. All need to share the responsibility for ensuring the resources are there – Emerging Ministries Task Group, Presbytery, Commission, Staff Team and Reef Group.
Alongside this, it is important that the long term vision for the work of Gilmerton NCD is clarified (see 4.2 below) and that short term goals are set for the next 12/18 months.
It is the view of the Review Team that the input of a Consultant would be of benefit at this stage – someone to journey with them at this key time. For this to be effective, such a person would need to have a knowledge of the pressures and possibilities presented in a church planting environment.
1. Benchmark Expectations
Gilmerton is the only NCD with an initial focus on work with young people and their families. As a result our expectations are that this work would take longer to develop. In addition, the fluid nature of the Sunday evening group over the first four years, the lack of additional staff in the first three years and the fact that the church has had no building, has held back development.
It is, therefore, no surprise that Gilmerton NCD is closer to the 3 year bench marks than the 5 year benchmarks.
Return to top
2. Theology & Mission Design
The theology which underpins the development of Gilmerton NCD is incarnational in nature. A desire to share with people in every day life, drawing alongside them where they are, journeying with them and seeking to point them to Jesus.
This theology has undoubtedly shaped the work that has been developed in fundamental ways. Thus the work with young people has not just involved setting up groups and inviting young people to come along, but has been rooted in the daily life of the local schools.
Most of the groups which have been set up have a focus on sports or drama, but involvement is also maintained in RE work and Assemblies.
An e-circle strategy is being developed, seeing the work with people developing in stages
Step 1: Engage : How do we engage with people?
Step 2: Experience: How do we offer, discover or share experiences of God?
Step 3: Explore: How do we explore these experiences?
Step 4: Explain: How do we explain the gospel?
Step 5: Experiment: How do we help people experiment with their faith?
Step 6: Express: How do we help them express this faith to their peers?
Having used this strategy in their work with young people, work is continuing at the engage level with parents of youngsters involved in the work, some contact has already been made with them.
Alongside this work with young people, the Reef Group on Sunday evening has developed. This is a group of adults - with the addition, more recently, of three teenagers. The group includes the staff involved in the work, a few local people and others who enjoy the opportunity for worship and fellowship which the group provides. In many ways the group has a life of its own, quite apart from the youth ministry, and its function within the development of Gilmerton New Church is not yet clear. It would be helpful for those in the Reef Group if this was clarified.
Worship takes place within the time the Reef Group share together. It has also been part of the experience of young people when they have attended camps or events outwith Gilmerton.
However, no public worship has yet been developed. The opening of the building clearly provides an opportunity for this to develop.
Two possibilities exist for public worship. One is the development of a youth worship event. The second the development of a worship event arising out of the worship shared by the Reef Group, but open to all. Given the depth of work with young people, the Review Team’s view is that
developing worship accessible to young people should be given the priority.
This would leave open the question of how the Reef group should develop. The future for this group needs to be driven by what is right at this stage of the development of Gilmerton NCD rather than a desire to see the building used. It may be advantageous for this group to continue to meet as at present and explore how they might, in time, become a “church planting team” in the Gilmerton area.
In all of this, though, clarity is required for the long term vision for the work.
According to the three year review document “the original remit was to develop a cross parish ministry for young people and their families.” However Paul has always understood “families” to be all embracing term, whilst others understood it to refer solely to the immediate families of young people. This has led to a measure of misunderstanding which has not been helpful.
What has now evolved within Gilmerton NCD is a more specific parish mission focus of planting a church founded on young people and their immediate families, extending from there to embrace all ages.
It is crucial that this long term vision is clarified and agreed by all. (Minister, Staff, Reef Group, Commission, Parish Grouping, Presbytery, Emerging Ministries Task Group.) Without this clarity and agreement it is likely that misunderstandings will continue to arise, and the work of Gilmerton NCD will suffer as a consequence. It also has direct implications for the short term goals set.
Having said this, the Review Team are aware that the achieving of this vision will take time, and that the focus for most of the work over the next few years should remain on young people and their immediate families. But the developing of one other “strand” to complement the existing work is something the Team would encourage the Reef Group to consider taking on.
Return to top
3. Discipleship & Leadership development
Three young people in sixth year have attended groups and activities over the last few years which have led to them growing in their faith, and taking their part in the Sunday Reef Group. An encouraging sign of “first fruits” – although they hate being called that!
A group of young people in fourth year have also been involved in groups and activities over a number of years, and are involved as leaders in the Friday Cross-sports event. This group (Red tops) meet at lunch time during the week, but time is limited for their meeting. There is undoubtedly real potential in this group, and opportunity to help the young people involved think more deeply about their faith and commitment. The Review team view it as important that further opportunities are given for this, perhaps by organising times outwith the midweek lunch time meetings.
Leadership for the work is largely provided by paid staff, which is not surprising given the focus of the work on the local schools. However a number of people in the Reef Group appear to be willing to be involved in the work with young people, and this would be a positive development.
Members of the Reef Group may provide leadership for developing new areas of work or ministry within Gilmerton NCD, and should be encouraged to explore how their gifts can be used in building the church.
4. Effective leadership
Paul provides positive leadership for Gilmerton NCD, and there is no doubt that all in the church appreciate his leadership. Given this fresh stage of development it is important that others now share the responsibility for leadership and planning. There is a culture of expecting Paul to provide all the leadership and direction, but this is not sustainable in the long term.
The Review team recommend that a small leadership team be set up, drawn from the Reef group but including the Convener of the Commission.
In addition, it is important that the Commission, Staff Team and Reef Group engage in the planning process, helping to draw up and agree short term goals for the next 12/18 months.
The Commission members tend to hear of what is going on from Paul, rather than experience it first hand. It would be helpful if members of the Commission were able to engage with some aspects of the work, at least occasionally if not in an ongoing way. It would also be helpful for the Reef Group to be represented on the Commission.
Return to top
5. Structures Geared for growth
On looking with the staff team at how the current activities fitted into the e-cycle, it was clear that most of the activities were at the “engage” level. There is a real need for groups which will explicitly encourage young people to explore how God is touching their lives, and for those in leadership to explain the gospel. Although the summer activities provide opportunities for this, there is limited time to do this within the current structure of weekly groups and activities.
There is also the need (as noted above) for worship opportunities where young people can experience God’s presence in a different way.
The opening of the church building early in 2008 opens up new opportunities for developments. However, it is likely that this will also bring expectations from the community, not all of which can be realised.
In regard to the building, there was a feeling that the local church did not have the degree of input that they would like. For example, the seating which is planned is that which is placed in most NCD churches, but is not entirely appropriate for Gilmerton with the focus on young people and families.
Initial promises for funding from the NCD Committee for a second team member were not fulfilled. This has undoubtedly slowed the potential development in the early years, and left Paul Beautyman in a difficult position as the only team member in a new situation. Paul has worked hard to secure funding for the team members now in place, and it is important that funding is in place for suitable staff for future developments. This is a key element in ensuring the structures are “geared for growth.”
Once clear goals are set for the future it would be useful to implement a staffing review to assess what the needs are in terms of staffing to achieve the goals.
6. Administration
Much of the administration for the congregation is left in the hands of the minister. Secretarial assistance is available through Liberton Kirk, but Paul has rarely used this. It would be helpful if secretarial assistance were available locally, particularly when the building is opened. This is something the Commission could usefully look at.
Return to top
7. Finances
The work relies heavily on finances from outside. Liberton Kirk has been hugely supportive in this regard, gifting money to secure the support for an ICC Student to be involved for three years with the congregation.
Money to support the employment of the Arts Workers is secured from Ministries Council and Parish Development Fund until the end of 2008
The income of the congregation is low – under £1,500 in donations for the first eight months of 2007. This is a decrease on the income for 2006. This does need to be addressed – outside funders have an expectation that those involved locally will be making a financial commitment to the work. This is something that the Reef Group might consider.
However, due to the nature of the work, it is likely that the congregation will continue to need considerable financial support for the foreseeable future. The Review Team has encouraged the Commission to take major responsibility for this, but all partners need to be involved in this.
In addition, it would be helpful to all concerned to have the input of a Consultant with skills in securing funds for creative church work.
8.
Links within the Parish Grouping and Presbytery
Some tensions have arisen over the way the work at Gilmerton has given priority to youth work. In particular over the provision of pastoral support to those in the Gilmerton parish, and the covering of parish funerals. More recently this has been resolved by appointing two Readers with specific responsibility for funerals. In addition, the Pastoral Assistant from Liberton Kirk is available to cover pastoral work within the Gilmerton Parish.
It is the view of the Review Team that the work of Gilmerton should continue to have a focus on work with young people for the next few years. It is hoped that the new arrangements put in place will resolve the difficulties of the past, and that the pastoral needs of all in the community are met (as far as this is ever possible!) The Review team recommend that the Commission regularly review the work of the Readers, and make other arrangements to meet the pastoral needs of those in the parish should this prove necessary.
There is also a need for better communication with Presbytery and the Parish Grouping. Once there is clarity about future goals it is important that these are communicated clearly with the other partners in the Grouping and with Presbytery, and important that responsibility for this lies with the Commission, not solely with Paul.
Return to top
|
