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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF TUCKERTON
210 E MAIN STREET
TUCKERTON, NJ 08087
609-296-8894
MISSION STUDY TASK FORCE REPORT
February 1, 2016
First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton is a small church with a very big heart and a strong moral commitment, placing a high value on worship and fellowship. As a family of believers directed by the Holy Spirit, we are growing together, strengthening our relationship with God, with our community and with all of God’s creation.
The First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton (FPCT) Mission Study Task Force was formed in May 2015 made up of the following faithful committee members:
Robin Burr
Robert Cook
Amy Genberg
Gail Hruby
Rowena Magid
And Interim Pastor, Rev. Kathleen Jamhoury
With prayerful consideration we submit the following:
Vision Statement
Through God’s grace, we are a nurturing family of faith serving Jesus Christ with diverse gifts, responding in gratitude, guided by the Holy Spirit, demonstrating and reflecting Christ’s love and light to our community and beyond.
History
The First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton was organized on January 30, 1859, by the Reverend Samuel Miller, D.D., and the Reverend Allen H. Brown. The congregation first met in the Temperance Beneficial Hall. The founding members of the church were Mr. Joseph B. Sapp, Mr. George A. Sawyer, Mrs. Sarah Darby, Mrs. Mary Adams and Mrs. Ann Mapps. It is unprecedented that Mrs. Mapps was a member, as she was African American and this was just before and during the time of the Civil War. First Presbyterian’s commitments to ethnic diversity are enduring as reflected in our annual Christian song fest each autumn with the Victory First Presbyterian Deliverance Church of Atlantic City, a gospel choir connected to Sister Jean’s Kitchen, one of our mission programs. Pictures of this moving common worship in Christian song are found on our website ().
The present church building was constructed in 1861. It is believed that the church and the manse, built in 1836, are situated on the original site of the Joseph Sapp Farm. The interior of the church was divided into three parts; the Sanctuary, the Lecture of Sabbath School Room and the Balcony. There has only been one major renovation of the interior in 1909 when the Balcony was closed off and the present embossed tin ceiling was installed. The stained glass windows were given in memory of former Pastors and Elders.
The first manual organ for the sanctuary was played by Mrs. Julia Steelman for 30 years. This instrument was in use until 1909. Soon after, a pipe organ was purchased and stood in the sanctuary until 1958. In 1959, it was replaced by a Hammond Organ. In 2005, the current Allen Organ was purchased and dedicated to teachers and mentors, thanks to many generous donations from our congregation. The character and strength of the members of the First Presbyterian Church are seen in the fact that this new organ was installed and purchased under the leadership of the interim pastor, Rev. Springsted, following the schism of 2002 in which half our church membership was lost.
In 1923, the church and manse were wired for electricity. In 1937, a $1,400 gift from the Women’s Civic club allowed for the construction of a kitchen situated where the Reed Room presently stands. During 1939, the church was painted and the original steeple was removed. A new steeple was erected over the bell tower, which is essentially in the same design, though a bit less ornate. In 1962, the Sunday school rooms were added underneath the sanctuary. It is believed they were dug out by hand. The Celtic Cross, which hangs above the pulpit, was constructed by Elder William Kausch and was installed in 1967.
In 1900, the Library Board was allowed to move their building to FPCT property on Marine Street at the corner of what is now the church parking lot, “providing they guaranteed no damage would be done to anything”. It rested there until 1970, finding its permanent home as the children’s room in the Tuckerton Library.
The current pews were purchased in 1973, replacing the former theater seats. They were dedicated in 1974. Vinyl siding was installed on the church in 1979. The building was enlarged by the addition of Fellowship hall and an office in 1979 – 1980. The old church kitchen was renovated in 1989 as a room used by the church secretary, and for committee meetings. Elder Howard Berry provided the beautiful oak woodwork. In 1991, this room was dedicated as the Reed Room in honor of Reverend Ralph Reed and his wife, Judy Reed.
A project for the sanctuary was undertaken from June through August of 1996, which included a new choir platform and a new roof over some sections of the church. In 2005, a beautification project was completed in Fellowship Hall, in a seashore theme.
In 2009, we joyfully celebrated our 150th anniversary. We enjoyed several special events, dinners, and worship services, as well as a church picnic on church grounds. Church membership was rising. Membership has ranged from a low of 10 in the year of the church’s creation, 1861, to a high of 300 under Rev. Reed and Rev. Gilchrist.
Our first Pastor was Reverend K. P. Ketchum in 1863. The longest pastorate was that of Reverend Elias M. Gehr, covering 25 years from 1923 – 1948. On October 16, 2005, we warmly welcomed our called Pastor Merideth Susan Mueller. It is notable that Reverend Mueller was the first female pastor of our church, serving as our pastor for nine years. She led our church’s large helping ministry to our members and to thousands of residents in the communities of Little Egg Harbor and Tuckerton who were devastated by the harmful impact of Super Storm Sandy, a massive hurricane. Rev. Mueller left our church in June of 2014.
It should be noted that during Mueller’s ministry the mortgage secured to purchase the land on the Marine Street side of our property and used as our parking lot was discharged. Not even hurricanes can deter the members of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton from discharging mortgages! The character and strength of our church are also reflected in the fact that in the period after Rev. Mueller joined the Presbytery and before an Interim Minister was found, restoration of our stained glass windows costing $56,000.00 has been completely accomplished. A $16,000.00 repair of our shutters has been completed, and the balance is to be paid in the spring of 2016.
In March of 2015, we welcomed Rev. Kathleen Jamhoury as our Interim Pastor. (Go to the Appendix for a more detailed history of the Church.)
First Presbyterian Church of Today Membership
At the end of 2015, our membership stands at 137. During the year 2015, we had 13 additions to our membership rolls and 7 losses. Two of those losses were Maggie Hart, who went home to be with her Lord in January of 2015, and Richard Theuret whom the Lord called home on October of 2015.
Our membership is composed of 83 females and 54 men, with a wide range of ages, with the highest concentration of members being in the over 65 group. This is no doubt partially attributable to the many Senior developments that have been established in the local area. Our average attendance for the year 2015 was 77.
Summary of Two Surveys and One Question & Answer Session
The Mission Study Task Force conducted during the fall of 2015 two surveys followed by a question and answer (Q&A) session that used five questions formulated from a review of the surveys’ responses. The surveys and Q&A session sought information on the following three issues: 1) description of the church as it currently exists; 2) description of the church’s future (i.e., next 3-5 years); and, 3) the qualities or skills wanted in a pastor. Details of the surveys and Q&A session, questions, and responses are provided in the Appendix.
Summary statistical analysis of the responses was not possible due to the number and range of responses and the fact that many responses were 1) in list format, 2) the result of check-allthe-box questions, or 3) unstructured responses. In looking for trends and information among the responses, the analysis focused on responses that garnered fifty percent (50%) or more support from the number of congregants responding. Any review or analysis undertaken must consider the skewed age and sex structure of the Church’s membership (i.e., of 137 members 83 female and 54 men with the predominant age of both female and male members being in the over 65 group).
First Survey: A core values survey administered to 66 congregants without prior notice at the end of the Service on August 2, 2015, had the congregants identify in their opinion what has been happening at the church during the last few years. The congregants were asked to select from thirty (30) statements of church activity / function what they have seen as the Church’s ten (10) top activities / functions. By asking for quick, feeling-level responses, without lengthy reflection, the tabulated ten top responses help to identify the core values that drive most of the Church’s thinking, planning, and actions.
c. Diversity of age; and,
d. Diversity of culture or race (noted in this Summary due to low level of response).
4) Pastoral qualities and focus (which is 5th question):
a. Personality: warm, energetic, sympathetic, approachable, inspiring, and open to new experiences;
b. Work Style: works toward consensus, cooperates;
c. Theology – interpretive; and,
d. Focus: Involved with church events; Leads bible study; Worship – thoughtful, inspiring, youth involvement; Growth – enhance FPCT’s profile in the community and focus on children and youth; and, Pastoral Care – hospital, shut-in, and death / dying counseling.
5) How to get Church information: Like/use email, but also like reminders as in Service bulletin and Service announcements. But do not use a cell phone or web-based social media.
Predominate responses (>50%) for each of the 3 list format questions are as follows:
1) Church mission programs in which involved (33 responses): top 2 answers were Community Dinner and Family Promise.
2) Church activities valued most (41 responses): Worship; Choir; and Fellowship with Church Family.
3) Areas in which Ministry is weakest (40 responses): Sunday school / Youth / Age Diversity; Community Outreach; and Attendance / lack of involvement by all Church members in Church duties / activities.
Predominate responses (>50%) to request for Additional Comments or Concerns (26 responses) are as follows:
1) Change in all aspects of Church’s life and practice;
2)Concern about Church’s growth / continued existence;
3)Growing old / not attracting new / younger families.
Small Group Question and Answer Session: The Mission Study Task Force conducted two small group Q&A sessions that asked five (5) questions formulated from a review of the previous two surveys’ responses. The first session was on October 18, 2015, after Sunday Service that involved approximately 30 members. The second session was on Monday evening, October 26, 2015, that involved 9 members. The demographics for each session were similar (i.e., predominately older church members of both sexes).
As the responses to each question were unformatted and many redundant responses were given at both sessions, the Task Force first collectively reviewed all recorded answers and removed those judged to be redundant or not germane to the questions. This analysis will only note predominant new issues or subjects not already reported in the previous surveys.
New responses to note for each of the 5 Questions:
1) Pastor qualities looking for: Pastor will probably leave after 5 years.
2) Relations with Monmouth Presbytery and Presbytery Council USA: Nothing positive was said of either.
3) If Church closed, how would that affect you and the community: “Would lose our family”; would remain active Christians; and, the community would lose a resource.
(The 2015 Profit and Loss Statement by month for January – November is in the Appendix)
Mission Support
The church has been able to maintain a viable mission program over the last 5 yrs. Each year, up until 2013, a 10% tithing of its general offering was donated. (It should be noted that through 2013, the Per Capita was part of the 10% tithing, which reduced the church’s actual tithing of 10% to giving of 8% prox.)
Mission endeavors include One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS), Pentecost, Peacemaking, Christmas Joy, World Vision, CentsAbility, PDA, Heifer, Haiti, Honduras and Sister Jean’s Kitchen. In addition, the church donated to various Missionaries abroad, over the years. Local donations included Family Promise, Sister Jean’s Kitchen, Food Pantry and The Giving Tree.
In 2014, the church was forced to reduce its tithing of 10% to giving of 6%, due to budget restrictions. At the same time, however, the church abandoned the Presbytery’s Per Capita charge and paid only what was given annually, by the membership. Therefore, under this premise, there is no Per Capita cost to the church.
In Oct of 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the area and the church realized immediately that the Mission Committee needed to take action. What transpired was a miraculous undertaking. Over the next two-plus years, the church received over $33,000 in donations from all over the country and overseas. By December 2014, the $33,000 was disbursed, with the majority of the funds going to the local community who were in dire need.
Stewardship
This year, 2015, the Finance Committee planned a more aggressive Stewardship Campaign than in previous years. They began by hosting a potluck dinner. After the dinner, all played a game using the cost of running a church as the focus. All in attendance learned a lot about expenses, had a lot of fun, and even won some prizes.
The Finance Committee also gave several ‘talks’ prior to Sunday worship covering the challenges of seniors on fixed incomes and families with children committing to increase their pledges.
The next step was a letter sent to all members covering the financial needs of the church, again asking for increased giving as well as the importance of pledging.
On Stewardship Sunday the church received 50 pledges. These included pledges from members who had never pledged before and a good percentage of pledging members increasing their pledge amount.
2016 1st Quarter Proposed Profit & Loss Budget, January through March 2016
Ordinary Income/Expense
Paid Leadership
Paid members of the church leadership are the pastor, the music director, sexton, groundskeeper and the church administrator. Paid nursery care is also available. The responsibility of each is described. The pastor guides and instructs the church in spiritual matters. The pastor also encourages the involvement of church members in committees and activities and offers spiritual help to those experiencing losses and challenges in their lives and in their spiritual journey. The music director is in charge of an active and successful choir, a chimes choir, and provides and oversees music services throughout the church year. The sexton and groundskeeper are in charge of facilitating and making repairs noted by the building and grounds committee. The church administrator prepares and produces copies of the weekly church bulletin and the monthly newsletter, The Anchor. She facilitates communication between church leaders and members. She performs all clerical work needed by the churchleadership.
Unpaid Leadership, Programs, Committees
The Session is the governing body of the church and is composed of 9 elders. They oversee the daily activities of the church and serve as chairpersons of church committees.
There are 12 Deacons including a moderator. They describe their duties as "one of sympathy, witness, and service". To this end they provide food for the Sunday fellowship hour, host some community dinners, provide repasts, increase awareness of the shepherding, acknowledge birthdays, offer help to those in need of utility assistance and other local community assistance programs
The Finance Committee, assisted by the work of the treasurer, manages all the financial affairs of the church. They design the budget, coordinate the yearly audit, and prepare the financial report presented to the members in January. The finance committee also spearheads the annual stewardship campaign.
The Building and Grounds Committee is responsible for identifying necessary repairs and reporting them to the sexton and groundskeeper for implementation. They suggest large repairs or renovation projects. They are also in charge of approving and scheduling use of the church and fellowship hall.
The Christian Education Committee is in charge of the Sunday school program and the all-age vacation bible school. Members plan and implement the educational curricula for these programs.
The Membership Committee educates and accepts new members into the church. They also organize the annual church picnic.
The Mission Committee oversees the use and distribution of money to several charities. Included in this list are Hearts for Honduras, Physicians for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity, Sister Jean’s Kitchen, Missionaries (i.e., Miriam Escobar and Mark Adams; Bob and Kristie Rice), Greater Tuckerton Food Pantry, Community Dinner, and Family Promise. They also sponsor the Giving Tree that reaches out to the community during Christmas and the Christmas Shoe Box project.
The Worship Committee members and the pastor coordinate the worship activities of the church. These activities include lay readers, special services on Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter, to name a few. They work to enhance the worship experience. They also oversee the Praise Band (i.e., consisting of three musician/singers who perform a monthly Saturday night service), greeters, readers, and special programs.
Additional Programs
One characteristic not apparent with a listing of committees and charities is the degree of compassion and generosity of many individual members of the congregation. Members always rally with their time and money when special needs or crises arise.
Church Properties
First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton is a 19th-century church located in the historic district of Tuckerton. The church proper consists of a large sanctuary and a narthex that is used to expand seating during special services. Adjacent to the narthex is the Reed room. It functions as a library, meeting room, choir robe room, and office of the church secretary. Fellowship Hall, at the rear of the sanctuary, is a large, all-purpose room accommodating all of the programs of the church. There are two full-service kitchens equipped with two stoves, sinks, dishwasher, freezer and refrigerator. China, glass, cutlery, platters are stored in the cabinets.
There are two large coffee makers attached to a water pipe of the kitchen for automatic filling. There are enough tables and chairs to accommodate the congregation.
The lower level or basement is made up of a choir room, four Sunday school rooms, a nursery, the Pastors office and the boiler room. Many have expressed the opinion that the lack of windows in three of the four Sunday school rooms presents an unwelcoming and somber environment for children.
A large attic over Fellowship Hall with a closet below serves as storage for the Krafter’s materials and completed projects. It is also a storage place for seasonal church decorations.
Adjacent to the church is the Sapp house, a three story, restored, early Victorian house. When not used as the manse, it is rented. Sapp house is currently rented.
There is plenty of free parking in the two lots at the rear of Fellowship Hall. At one side of the rear parking lot, there is a Memorial Garden containing stones carved with the name of a departed loved one.
While our buildings are old, they are in generally good repair. There are no major renovations/repairs required or planned in the near future. As with any old building, there is always something that needs attention and these are handled as needed.
Groups Using Facilities
All church groups use the facilities. For a list of these see Unpaid Leadership, Programs, and Committees. Outside groups using the church are Alcoholics Anonymous and Tai Chi, a low impact aerobics class, attended by members of the community. Anecdotal evidence from members of the community indicates that the area’s alcohol and drug problem is severe. Attendees and their families benefit from attendance at AA meetings. Following Hurricane Sandy, a support group met at the church. The group offered advice and emotional support to residents attempting to navigate the complex and tangled web of agencies involved in recovery relief.
Community Snapshot
The "community" served by the church includes Little Egg Harbor proper, Osborne Island, Mystic Island, Great Bay, Tuckerton, West Creek, and Manahawkin. In recent years, the number of adult communities has increased in number and, in some cases, prestige. Parallel to the appearance of these communities has been an increase in middle to upper middle-class houses. There are also several modest townhouse communities and apartment complexes. There are still large tracts of undeveloped land much of it associated with the preservation of the Pinelands and the watersheds of the Mullica River and Barnegat Bay. Clustered in the town of Tuckerton and West Creek are older, large houses, many of which have undergone restoration and repair in recent years. Following Hurricane Sandy, the areas most impacted are coming back in Mystic Island, Atlantis, Osborne Island, and parts of Tuckerton. In some cases, the houses emerging are larger than the originals.
The elementary schools in Little Egg Harbor have increased in size and number of classes at each grade level. The Middle School and High School population has also increased but not, as yet, to the same degree. Another indication of the growing size and vibrancy of the area is the decision by Walmart to build a Super Walmart in Little Egg Harbor. The company anticipates opening in 2016. The building of a Super Walmart can also indicate the presence of a significant number of families with a limited or fixed income to spend on food, pharmaceuticals, clothing, household items, or on any items that might be found at a discount store.
From a different perspective, the company would help the unemployed. Many people from the area were employed by the casinos at Atlantic City until several closed in 2014. Some of these individuals represent the increase in the number of families who are receiving aid from the Tuckerton Food Pantry. Many of the needs of the multifaceted community, as described, could be met by the church. First, though, the community has to be aware of the opportunities our church can offer.
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