Friends, we have entered into an amazing season in the life of First Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana. Hang on, pay attention, and keep showing up. Watch for the ways God is at work in us and through us!
You may have noticed new folks joining us in both services with many returning again and again. You may have noticed folks that have been mostly online (or on a break) back with us again and again. If you are these folks – Welcome! – we see you and we are glad you are here! If you have been considering moving from regular attendance to membership, watch for opportunities for talking about that (or contact Rev. MB!)
So how are we imagining the future? More than fifty people attended one of seven Imagining the Future sessions (to discuss plans for the restoration/renovation of the historic sanctuary) that were offered in August. Thank you to those who took the time to participate. There will be more opportunities for your input as we move forward.
Here are some things I learned as I prepared for this work and things we’ve discerned through this process:
- About this congregation: The past five and a half years have been challenging for all organizations but particularly for this congregation.
- The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020 and every part of life felt the impact. (This is its own book!)
- This congregation experienced the sudden, unexpected death of a beloved pastor in February of 2022. (And this loss was not this congregation’s only loss during this time.)
- This congregation survived the difficult transition to the present (through griefwork with bridge pastors, through an intentional transitional minister, through the Pastor Nominating Committee process, to the weekend this congregation met me and voted unanimously to call me to this work, to my first Sunday in October of 2024, to today).
- The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020 and every part of life felt the impact. (This is its own book!)
- This congregation experienced the sudden, unexpected death of a beloved pastor in February of 2022. (And this loss was not this congregation’s only loss during this time.)
- This congregation survived the difficult transition to the present (through griefwork with bridge pastors, through an intentional transitional minister, through the Pastor Nominating Committee process, to the weekend this congregation met me and voted unanimously to call me to this work, to my first Sunday in October of 2024, to today).
- About this congregation’s commitment to quality and vision for the future. Every time this congregation decided to build something, this congregation chose to do it with very nearly top-of-the-line plans and materials.
- From unseen foundations to carefully selected finishes and furnishings – both craftspersons and materials were selected with care.
- Every decision for expansion or rethinking a use of space was framed for the future.
- People gave of their resources with passion and purpose – not simple decisions to give from their abundance but intentional investments for an unknown future.
- From unseen foundations to carefully selected finishes and furnishings – both craftspersons and materials were selected with care.
- Every decision for expansion or rethinking a use of space was framed for the future.
- People gave of their resources with passion and purpose – not simple decisions to give from their abundance but intentional investments for an unknown future.
- From unseen foundations to carefully selected finishes and furnishings – both craftspersons and materials were selected with care.
- Every decision for expansion or rethinking a use of space was framed for the future.
- People gave of their resources with passion and purpose – not simple decisions to give from their abundance but intentional investments for an unknown future.
- From unseen foundations to carefully selected finishes and furnishings – both craftspersons and materials were selected with care.
- Every decision for expansion or rethinking a use of space was framed for the future.
- People gave of their resources with passion and purpose – not simple decisions to give from their abundance but intentional investments for an unknown future.
- From unseen foundations to carefully selected finishes and furnishings – both craftspersons and materials were selected with care.
- Every decision for expansion or rethinking a use of space was framed for the future.
- People gave of their resources with passion and purpose – not simple decisions to give from their abundance but intentional investments for an unknown future.
- About the congregation’s rich history of transformation. This church and this property have historically been in a state of transformation:
- from adding the rose window to the historic sanctuary (no, it wasn’t always there)
- to adding a kitchen and balcony to the Mulberry side of the fellowship hall (what were they thinking?!)
- to moving the organ and choir from the chancel to the balcony (yes, the choir used to be in the chancel)
- to hiring a decorator from New York City to transform the historic sanctuary with stenciling and red carpet and more (in the late 1930s and early 1940s)
- to adding a gym to the other side of the parlor (yes, there was a gym)
- to moving the kitchen and balcony out of the fellowship hall and putting this kitchen where it currently resides (brilliant!)
- to creating a second floor with classrooms and offices in the upper level of the gym (glad to give you a tour)
- to adding the education wing and chapel to the property where the manse used to be (yes, there used to be a historic home about where the Bible Bunch room is now)
- to adding the Fisk Organ to the sanctuary (yay!)
- to refreshing the fellowship hall and rethinking the use of the parlor (also yay!)
- to adding the courtyard, courtyard entry, rethinking the office suite and space where Little Lambs currently is along with adding updated restrooms (and probably many other small things that seem like they’ve always been that way!)
- About our leaders’ commitment to transparency and clarity in this work. No decisions about the historic sanctuary (or the rest of the property) will be entered into lightly – we will literally count the cost before we make decisions about what is next (that’s biblical!) and all decisions about the future will be made with the long view (50 to 100 years) in mind (not just the next 5 to 10 years).
- As we work toward figuring out how to best care for this space so that First Presbyterian Church can use this space as a tool for ministry well into the next century, know that the leadership of this congregation commits to being transparent in our process and in the ways we seek resources to do this work.
- A team of folks to steward the work with the building is being formed. (Watch for more about them in the next publication of First Reports.) Some who are already on board are Paul Blaylock (chair of Building and Grounds), Bill Nix, Boo Shields, and Dick and Jane Bernhardt. Others will be added.
- A team of folks to steward the development of a comprehensive campaign to raise resources to support ongoing ministry (our annual pledged giving), to support future ministry (through endowed and legacy giving), and to support capital needs (for restoration of the historic sanctuary, the repair of the flat roofs, the possible addition of handicap accessible family restrooms and an elevator) is in place and working with Rob Henson, the coach the session has hired to work with us through this process. The chairs of the FutureHope Comprehensive Campaign Team are Scott Wylie, Sarah Cross, and Tony Aiken. Other members include Sue Schriber, Jill Griffin, John Strange, and Carrie Aiken (our clerk/scribe). I (MB) am also part of this process.
- The Session of First Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana has been elected by this congregation to serve as the spiritual leaders of the congregation. They are the ultimate deciders. The Session will be given recommendations upon which to act and advice and information from working groups, teams and committees with which to make decisions.
Again, I continue to live with gratitude for the call to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.
Rev. MB
