Transition Team Listening Session Responses

We were charged to address 3 questions in an examination of our Heritage -- the first of 5 themes the Transition Team will explore over the next several weeks.

To reiterate, the 5 themes are:
Heritage 
Mission 
Leadership 
Connections 
Future 

The 3 questions we addressed on June 22, 2025, were:
What brought you here in the past and what keeps you here at MPBC?
What in our past is most significant?
Looking back at MPBC, I'm most concerned about....

Congregants sat at round tables and discussed these questions. A scribe captured comments, and these were collected by the Transition Team.

We have categorized the hundreds of comments into 6 themes, all covered and informed by the organizing theology of our Congregational Covenant -- our identity of openness.

The 6 themes follow, along with comments under each that were widely shared.

COMMUNITY
Caring for friends and families/Congregational Care
Stephen Ministry
Easter flowers delivered to shut ins
Open to all
Need to rebuild children/youth programs to bring in young families
Opportunities to contribute
Prayer requests
Hang out with the Pastor

SOCIAL/ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Women leaders
LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Affirmation
Separation from SBC and NCBC.
RAIN, Pride
MOJO Outreach
Social Gospel
History of political and social stands
EarthKeepers/God's Garden
Refugees
Pinewood/Freedom School
RITI
(Mission) Roundtable

WORSHIP
Liturgy
Preaching/thought leaders
Beauty
Alternative worship
Tradition of Free Pulpit
Women leaders
Change v familiar

MUSIC
Choir, need for more members
Our own Hymnal!
Outstanding music ministers
Beautiful music selections

INTELLECTUAL FOCUS
We're people on a journey w/o all the answers
Church Covenant
Education on all levels (rebuild)
Talkback
Theology Pub
J26 and similar experiences
Strong Sunday Schools -- Life Class, 5th Dimension
Need to rebuild children/youth program

INSTITUTION/SUSTAINABILITY
Finances (fewer big donors)
Staffing (right sizing, realistic expectations)
By laws, Strategic plan
Board of Deacons -- strong leadership
Facilities (we are facing significant upkeep needs)
Architecture (let's not forget how intentional our design elements are)
Legacy/Reputation