July 23, 2007

URGENT!

Dear Members and Friends,

Twenty-three members of the Session, Deacons, Investment Committee, and Worship
Team met on July 17 with Executive Presbyter Dana Lindsley and Reverend Carol North, a
member of the Southern New England Presbytery’s Church Development Committee (CDC)
and a part time minister with First United Church of Christ in New Britain. The outcome of
the evening was that First's officers unanimously voted to enter into an agreement with the
Southern New England Presbytery's CDC to enroll in a pilot program which aims to assess
the church's strengths and weaknesses and explore the ongoing life and vitality of the church
in this place.

The Presbytery's program is a reaction to a national trend that has seen church
membership dwindle and congregational energies ebb. The outcome sought by the
partnership is to create spiritual vitality, a coming to terms with the church's past, present,
and future, a reconnection to the Hartford community, the construction of a laity based
ministry team, as well as a ministerial plan for worship that creates an attractive and
irresistible service enticing to many people.

Why was FPC chosen for the program? We were selected due to our location as the
Presbytery wishes to have a thriving presence in Connecticut's capital as well as our
successful orientation toward and execution of mission activities. We also exhibit an
increase in per capita financial support for the church; we’re one of the highest in our
Presbytery and we’re above the national average. Further drawing attention was the
exhausting of our endowment as well as Pastor Terry's imminent retirement (early 2009).
With respect to our endowment, since 2000, to fulfill our mission in supporting
benevolences as well as the general church operations, we have not been able to maintain a
balanced budget without resorting to depleting our Unrestricted Foundation. At the start of
2000, our Unrestricted Foundation had a total market value of $1,127,000; by October 2006,
the market value had dropped to $598,000. If we keep this up, our Unrestricted Foundation
will be fully depleted in 7 – 8 years. In the 2007 budget year alone, we are pulling $106,804
from all of our Foundations with approximately $51,000 eroding principal in our
Unrestricted Foundation – that’s almost 50%.

What is expected of us? How will we as members and friends help influence the future of
First Presbyterian Church (FPC) during the 18-month time frame of the partnership?

• • FPC will appoint and commission a small group of people who will imagine and
  implement the partnership. CDC will provide Rev Carol North to work with the
  committee as well as the church at large.
  • CDC will provide an extensive survey instrument to gauge member sentiment and
  interests.
  • Session members will participate in two daylong consultations.
  • FPC members will participate in a support and sharing group uniting members from
  different churches to review strategies, successes, and shortcomings.
  • FPC will commit to send three people to a church conference dealing with church
  transformation or similar event aided by generous financial aid from the CDC.
  • The church will co-author an analysis of the reinvigoration process with the
  Presbytery that may lead to funding for specialized ministry or a grant for further
  church redevelopment / transformation.
  • The Pastor will be provided a coach/mentor.
  Many of you may be asking what the cost might be to FPC. The Presbytery is requiring
  either a $1,800 payment or contributions of at least 10% to general mission. We more than
  meet the general mission requirement by our continued support of Center City Churches,
  PCUSA Missions, etc.

More information on this new direction will continue to come out during the summer and
early fall as FPC and CDC look to a September launch date to continue intensively exploring
our church's future.

Respectfully and prayerfully,

The Session

First Presbyterian Church