HPC Vision Team 2020 Pres to Session_FINAL

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH
VISION TEAM 2020
PRESENTATION TO SESSION

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST.

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST.

VISION TEAM 2020, which was authorized by Session and open to any member of the congregation,
began in January with 7 members: Judy Buehl, Elizabeth Finlayson, Mark Scheppler, Sharon Speziale,
Betty Tompkin, Bob Weaver, and Pastor Mark. We met bi-weekly through the end of May to develop a
5-year ministry plan for Highlands Presbyterian Church (HPC). We believe we have done so prayerfully,
collaboratively, honestly, and with the best interests of our current church family, as well as our future
congregants, at heart and in mind.
We are thankful for Pastor Mark’s leadership, for the open communication, love, and support of each other,
and the grace and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Rad·i·cal Kin·ship in Christ
(/ˈradək(ə)l/ /ˈkinˌSHip/):

A community bound together at the root level in God’s Kin-dom by the other-worldly
love we have known in God’s beloved son. Together, we follow Jesus, who was filled with
the Holy Spirit and anointed as “Christ”--the messiah--God with us.
“Radical” refers to the fundamental nature of our love for one another, which is set apart
from ordinary ties of family or kinship. As fellow children of God, our inclusive covenant
extends also to strangers, enemies, outcasts, “sinners,” and even creation itself.

2 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

TABLE OF
CONTENTS

1. Our Future Story | page 4
2. Vision Team Process - A Summary | page 10

• Mission Statement Development
• 5 Year Ministry Plan
• Managing Resistance
• Vision By the Numbers
3. The Hanks Family & the Millennial Demographic | page 14
4. FUTURE 16 - Our New Norms | page 16
5. Ministry Plan | page 18
• Marketing & Outreach
• Christian Education
• Hospitality
• Worship
• Facilities

APPENDIX | page 21
• Common Objections
• Acknowledging Our Rich History As We Look to Our Future

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 3

Highlands Presbyterian Church 2025: A Future Story

◆◆◆

IT IS THE LAST DAY OF VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2025 and the grounds are packed with families and
children. Classes are trying to line up for the final performance and parents are seated in the shade. Little
ones not quite old enough to participate are playing in the food forest poking each other with sticks and
smearing crushed berries on their shorts.

Having the summer off from her job in education administration, Ashley Hanks steps up to the microphone
and welcomes the other parents to the Highlands Presbyterian Church. She has been grateful to deepen
her time with her son, Cody, this week volunteering for his class while having the flexibility to bring baby
Elsa or drop her in the nursery if she needed to rest.

“Welcome to the final day of Highlands’ Presbyterian Church Vacation Bible School!” Kids and parents alike
begin to cheer. “Before we get to the lovely songs and skits prepared by our kids, I want to tell you a little bit
about Highlands Presbyterian Church and how my family came to be members.

“When I first moved to the area, I didn’t know anyone. My dear neighbor Kari invited me to come to church
and I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t grow up going to church, except when I had sleepovers with
a friend, but I thought I would check it out.”

The things I discovered here were that: 1. It is truly a warm and welcoming community, 2. They really make
my life as a parent easier— and I know you know that this week! And 3. This is a place for my children to
flourish and grow.
If you’re looking for a church home or just have some questions, come talk to me!”
The children begin their skits and Ashley takes her place with the other parents.

◆ RADICAL HOSPITALITY ◆

After the skits are over, the parents stand in the shade and talk about cute, funny moments in the show,
how impressed they were with the kids’ knowledge, and how hard it is to get a sitter they can trust. Jessica
Stephens walks over to Ashley, “Hi, I’m Jessica. I heard your speech earlier and was wondering if you could
tell me a bit more about the church. My family and I just moved back to the suburbs and we really don’t
know anyone yet.”

Ashley, “Sure. I remember my first time here at Highlands about three years ago. I was pretty nervous. I
didn’t know anyone in the area except my friend Kari and I was worried that people would look at me like,
‘What is she doing here?’ Like I had a stamp on my head— HEATHEN— for not growing up in a church.”
Jessica laughed.

“But when I arrived, even before I reached the doors, I was met by a man with a big smile on his face and
a warm handshake. He said ‘Hi, I’m Bob. I don’t think I’ve had the honor of meeting you.’ All my anxiety
melted away. We walked together to the Welcome Center where I was greeted by a couple of friendly
people. One of the teenagers made me a cup of coffee— and not just some brown water—and asked me
what I wanted in it. I didn’t know church could be like that— and then they gave me information about
programs the church offers.

“Bob offered to give me a tour of the building and the nursery. I was hooked! I really felt cherished.

4 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

A Future Story

“And you know, that might have been it, but then a really nice text came that day, and a few days later
someone called to see what I thought and if I had any feedback for them. I liked that they asked me what I
thought and seemed genuinely committed to improvement.

“Oh, I see Cody hitting someone with a stick, so I better get back to him, but talk to Tom here. He is the
grandparent of a couple of the children who performed today.
Jessica, “Hi, Tom.”

“Hi Jessica, I hear you have questions about how welcoming our community is. I’m on the building
committee and one of the ways we sought to be a welcoming community was to tend to the appearance
of our building. Ours was looking a little worn. We took on some remodeling and redecorating to give the
building an up-to-date look.”

Jessica pipes in, enthusiastically, “When I was inside earlier, I loved the plaques on the walls with
inspirational messages and the colorful pictures of children and adults interacting. I saw a bulletin board
with pictures of new members that gave a bit of information about each one of them. The colors, the whole
building feels up-beat and inviting.”

Tom continues, “We placed video monitors in the sanctuary to give an updated look to our service and
added signage around the building to help people find their way around the building easier.

“I think there’s something you’d really like, though.”
“What?”
Tom walks Jessica into the back of the sanctuary where it is cool against the summer sun and throws out
his arms. “Ta-da! A family seating area!”
“That looks really comfortable. I bet my kids will love it.”

“We realized that if we really want to let families know this is welcoming space for children and families, we
would have to carve it out in space. We also have a nursery and Sunday School classes for parents to drop
their kids if they want to worship alone, but we want you to enjoy the service as you would like— even if that
means your baby is crying, or your toddler is loudly excited about coloring his picture.”

◆ WELCOMING WORSHIP ◆

Ashley comes up and joins Jessica and Tom in the sanctuary. “Hi,” Ashley says out of breath, “Cody is now
drawing a picture in the Drop-In Center. He loves Sophia who volunteers here on the weekends watching
the kids. I really love that there’s a place where they’re comfortable and I can focus on my spirituality.”
“Tom was just showing me the family seating area.”
“I know, it’s so great.”
“What is the service like?”
“Well first, I would like to say that the welcoming part extends to the values and worship. I had been to
churches before where people made homophobic or sexist comments, which I didn’t like.”
“Ugh.”

“And Highlands isn’t like that at all. When I first came, Cody was a baby and I was worried people would be
angry if he cried in church or acted up, but as you can see, it’s not a big deal.”
Tom jumps in, “Our worship has always been one of the strongest parts of our church. The Rev. Zimmerly’s
sermons are always relatable and interesting.”
“Totally,” said Ashley.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 5

Highlands Presbyterian Church 2025: A Future Story

Tom said, “But a few years ago, we updated our hymnals and now also rotate types of services. Sometimes
we take our service outdoors, do Service Sundays—
“—that’s when we serve the community, like volunteer at a local food pantry—“ said Ashley.
“or have contemporary music,” said Tom.
“Wow,” said Jessica, “I haven’t known a church with a variety of options like that.”

Tom jumps in, “A few years ago, we really looked at our church offerings. We were great at attracting and
keeping older people. We had just begun to bring some young families back to the church, but we knew it
wasn’t enough to keep them and attract others only with traditional services.”

Ashley joined, “But when I came, it was so warm and welcoming and there are so many ways to participate.
I like that when the kids are sick or we’ve just had a hard week, we just join by Zoom or listen to the sermon
podcast in the week.”
“Ha ha. Times have really changed. I really like the values churches provide for kids— and I need ways to
keep them active. After working all week, it’s hard to know the right thing to do to keep them busy—“ said
Jessica.
“—and not fighting,” said Ashley.
“Yeah,” said Jessica. “Was it hard to make those changes?”

Ashley and Jessica look at Tom. “Well…” said Tom, “it was at first. At first, we had a group of people calling
for change and another group who did not want any change at all in their worship. Knowing that different
people worship in different ways, we felt it was important to have something for everyone. So, the first
thing we decided to do was to keep our regular service at 10:00 a.m.—same order of service, slightly
updated music, same sermon style. But then, every quarter we have special Sundays in which we try
different ways to worship.”

“That makes sense,” said Jessica. “I like trying new things…and I like to have traditional service like how I
grew up.”
“My favorite thing, though, is when everyone gets up out of the pews and greets each other during the
passing of the peace,” said Ashley.

“That was always part of who we were as a church,” said Tom. “C’mon, let’s go show you the Sunday school
rooms.”

◆ "PERMIT THE CHILDREN TO COME TO ME" ◆

Jessica, Ashley and Tom walk down the stairs from the sanctuary to the nursery and Sunday School rooms
passing bright, colorful signs on the walls indicating the Sunday School and bathrooms.
“Oh, it’s so nice and bright down here,” said Jessica.
“I know!” said Ashley.

Tom joined in, “A few years ago, we really looked at our offerings and made sure that we invested in our
youngest members in the same way we do for our oldest members. We know that in this area, we will
always attract older members and we have a lot of what people want, friendliness, good sermons, ways
to support the community, and adult activities— we kept all of that, but made a new rule, that 20% of our
expenses went toward the youngest 20% of our church family. It’s really paid off in more than just attracting
young families, it’s also revitalized our youth program and created a new generation of loving young people
of character. I’m really proud that my children and grandchildren have grown up here.”

6 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

A Future Story

“I know what you mean,” said Ashley. “That’s why I am really glad to be in a welcoming community with
other people who genuinely care about my kids and their development.”

“The other thing I wanted you to see down here,” said Tom, “is, if you look around, you can see that we’re
not the only ones using this building. Sundays and Wednesdays are for us, but all week long groups are
using the space. We realized that we exist to support the community and most of the week, the space was
unused. So we invited in lots of community groups and now we have two non-profits who use the space
during the week and lots of community groups have meetings here including the boy scouts—“
—“oh, great!”, said Jessica.
“—an exercise group, a theatre—“ continued Tom.
“—the shows are really great—” Ashley interjected.
“—and a food pantry,” Tom finished.

“That’s what I love about being here. There are always people coming and going. You really get to know
people from the neighborhood,” said Ashley.
“We used to make the community come to us, now we’re interwoven with the community.”

◆ GROWING DISCIPLES ◆

“Let me introduce you to Matt on our Welcome Committee,” says Ashley and the group makes its way back
up the stairs.
“So, what kinds of spirituality programs do they have here?” Jessica asked.
“Well, as a new Christian,” said Ashley, “I needed to learn about what it means to be a follower of Christ. I
knew nothing! I did not even own a Bible until Highlands presented me one when I became a member.”
“That is a common problem for new and old Christians alike,” Tom affirms. “As a group, we decided to
teach people how to study the Bible. We use traditional classes in addition to computer programs and the
internet. Some people prefer to learn by themselves, others in groups. And the teenagers love jumping
online, so they can sleep in.”
Ashley adds, “I attended the class for new Christians. Without that class, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m
now attending one of the spiritual formation classes. The focus is on holistic spirituality—mind, body, and
spirit. I love these classes. They have helped me to grow in my study habits and my spiritual understanding
of Jesus.”

Ashley goes on, “We have many other groups that bring people together that do not have the words ‘faith
development’ in their titles, but still place people in positions to witness, befriend, teach, and counsel each
other. The activity itself makes it easy to open the lines of communication and develop supportive and
lasting relationships.”

Tom agrees, “When we bring discipleship into our activities, meaningful friendships are formed in Christ’s
love. That’s why our motto is Radical Kinship in Christ.”
Ashley spots her friend, Kari. “Jessica, there’s my friend. I’d like you to meet her.”
After introductions, Jessica looks at Kari’s son Liam and asks, “Hi Liam, are you having a good time?
Liam smiles and says, “Well, yeah. I always have fun here. I have some real good friends and it is never
boring.”
“Never, huh?” teases Jessica.

“Yeah…(whispering) Mom, can I go play with my friends?”
“Sure, honey,” Kari answers.
Kari adds, “There are so many opportunities here for the kids to know Jesus.”

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 7

Highlands Presbyterian Church 2025: A Future Story

◆ NEW NORMS ◆

“Oh, there’s Matt,” says Ashley, spotting him playing roundball with his son and a group of boys. “Hi, can we
ask you to interrupt your game and come speak to Jessica here?”
“Sure. Welcome, Jessica! I see you’ve met Ashley and Tom. I hope they’re treating you right,” he joked.
“Oh, yes! They’ve been great,” Jessica answered. “In fact, I’ve been very impressed by what I’ve seen here.
Ashley’s been telling me about all the programs you have here and Tom’s been filling me in on the changes
the church has made over the last several years. It sounds like a big undertaking. How were you able to
accomplish it?”

“Well,” started Matt, “Jesus Christ is what happened!” They laugh together. “Okay, well that’s the short
answer, but the long answer is really that we reoriented the way we thought about the church. A few years
back, we realized that to attract new families, we would need to focus and invest in them. We knew that
outreach would need to be about 10% of our time, talent and treasure. We also looked at the unconscious
rules our church was following and realized we had to examine them. So, we took on the credo of the
Presbyterian Church, ‘Semper Reformanda’—always be reforming. For us, that looks like always innovating,
learning, and adapting—and my personal favorite, ‘25% discomfort’—”
“What does that mean?!” asked Jessica.

“Well, it means that we only get to be comfortable 75% of the time and the other 25% is for other people’s
comfort, particularly in an intergenerational church, that might mean dealing with some noise, or mess or a
different prayer—”
“Oh, I get it! That’s part of how you’re so welcoming. You’ve left room for other people…That can’t have been
easy at first.”

“No, you’re right, it wasn’t,” Matt answered. “Churches are sacred places where people invest a lot in ritual
and tradition, but everyone remembered how great it was when every room in the building had been filled
with kids and activities were always taking place. We knew that we needed to adjust to bring that back.”
“And you’ve succeeded!”

“Well, thanks! We still feel like we have a lot to do. Our groups and committees are always coming up with
new ideas. Speaking of…we’d love to invite you to one of our groups in the week. The Parenting Group meets
on Facebook live at noon for parents to participate during their lunch break.”
“Oh, great!”

◆ EPILOGUE ◆

Because of the church’s new hospitality procedures, Ashley becomes Jessica’s buddy and checks up on her
the week she visits the church and a few more times. Jessica doesn’t come back at first, but because Ashley
is committed to Jessica as a person and not just as a potential member, they strike up a friendship. Ashley
considers this both a volunteer job and a pleasure. One day, Jessica shows up on the Facebook parenting
group, then comes to a Game Night, then one day she shows up on a Sunday with her three kids. After that,
she is there every Sunday. When she joins the Welcoming Committee 6 months later, she is hooked for life.
13 years later when Ashley and Jessica’s sons graduate from LT, they remember the day they met when their
kids were so little at that last day of Vacation Bible School at Highlands Presbyterian Church.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

8 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

Thank you for reading or listening to our future story. Right now, this story is only words on paper, or on your
computer, or floating through the air. Although the story is completed, the journey is only beginning. We
would love to have each and every one of you climb aboard and share the adventures and blessings with
us. Find a ministry that fits your passion, and together we will fulfill the mission of Highlands Presbyterian
Church:

“Growing Disciples through Radical Kinship in Christ”

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 9

VISION TEAM PROCESS - A SUMMARY

▶ MISSION STATEMENT DEVELOPMENT
▶ 5 YEAR MINISTRY PLAN
▶ MANAGING RESISTANCE

Mission Statement Development

THE VISION TEAM began by closely examining our current mission statement, “Glorifying God, Growing Disciples,
and Meeting Human Need”, and arrived at the conclusion that it was too broad and lacked focus. We narrowed the
vision to focus on discipleship since Growing Disciples includes glorifying God and meeting human need.

We then recognized that choosing “Growing Disciples” as our mission statement was great, but it lacked “the how”
- HOW are we to grow disciples at HPC? Pinpointing what we know about the HPC family, the Vision Team agreed
that our congregation is a loving and caring community; it is like family, but deeper. In what way could we best
express this in the context of discipleship? After much discernment, we arrived at “Radical Kinship,” with a new
mission statement of “Growing Disciples Through Radical Kinship.”

When considering how we would express this vision to the wider world, we decided that “Radical Kinship in
Christ” would work better as a tag-line for branding and logo development, and would be accompanied by the
following summary for use in Worship bulletins, on our website, social media outlets, letterhead stationery, etc:

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST
Rad·i·cal kin·ship in Christ (/ˈradək(ə)l/ /ˈkinˌSHip/):
A community bound together at the root level in God’s Kin-dom by the other-worldly love we have
known in God’s beloved son. Together we follow Jesus, who was filled with the Holy Spirit and anointed
as “Christ”--the messiah--God with us. “Radical” refers to the fundamental nature of our love for one
another, which is set apart from ordinary ties of family or kinship. As fellow children of God, our inclusive
covenant extends also to strangers, enemies, outcasts, “sinners,” and even creation itself.

5 Year Ministry Plan

As we embraced our new mission statement, we began to visualize HPC’S future and discuss what we want the
church to look like in 5 years. A couple common themes emerged:

▶ FILLED WITH MORE PEOPLE - especially young families and kids
▶ STRONGER FOCUS ON EXTERNAL MINISTRIES - provide more outreach beyond our walls

We then took a look at our current demographics and noticed that we seem to be doing well with older folks,
but lack younger generations. We acknowledged that in order to grow, we will need to intentionally reach out to
people under the age of 50.

An “ideal new member” profile, The Hanks family, was developed as a way to better understand what this
designated group or individual might be looking for from a church (page 14). We asked, “What would the Hanks
family want?”, and what aspects of our current ministry would need to change in order to successfully reach the
Hanks demographic? To answer these questions, brainstorming took place and lists of necessary changes were
made. Knowing that our desired changes could not take place all at once, we prioritized to include items that will
have the most impact. The Ministry Plan, beginning on page 16, highlights what we need to do, and when we
need to do it in order to help the Hanks experience Radical Kinship in Christ.

10 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

Finally, we wrote and refined a narrative describing how we envision the results of this new ministry plan.
“Highlands Presbyterian Church 2025 - A Future Story” beginning on page 4, is a snapshot of how we envision
our congregation five years from now.

Managing Resistance

The Vision Team discussed how to best address resistance to our suggested changes from members who may not
understand or agree with the new focus. We developed “new norms” to guide discernment going forward in order
to stay focused on the mission. These “Future 16 New Norms” will be used in new officer training, and for reference
in committees as guidance for ongoing decision-making (see Appendix).

Additionally, we discussed and made note of common objections in order to be able to better recognize and point
out ways that individuals may inadvertently undermine or resist the new vision. We are familiarizing ourselves with
“Common Objections” (see Appendix) and preparing to move forward, prayerfully and lovingly, with listening ears
and care for those who may raise questions or experience discomfort in the face of change.

In the grand scheme of things, the Vision Team believes that the changes we are proposing are relatively minor. To
further help the congregation understand that most of our ministry together will remain the same, we developed
a list of things that we are NOT changing. “Acknowledging Our Rich History As We Look to Our Future” can be
found in the Appendix.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 11

VISION BY THE NUMBERS

CURRENTLY

74 8 under age 20
20 under age 50
CURRENT active 20 new or returned in past 5 years
MEMBERSHIP as
seen in worship
during past year.

OUR OPPORTUNITY

~19,000 Our target ministry share: 1%
Our ministry potential: 190 people
POPULATION of
“From Hinsdale

to Hodgkins”
target area.

“From Hinsdale to Hodgkins”

MEMBERSHIP GOALS FOR 2025

10% 10-15 new members/year 120 24 under age 20 (20%)
TARGET (includes children) 60 under age 50 (50%)
GROWTH RATE 2-3 “Hanks Families”/year TOTAL ACTIVE 60 new or returned since 2020
MEMBERSHIP

YEAR OVER YEAR MEMBERSHIP GROWTH 2021 - 2025

YEAR MEMBERSHIP AT ANNUAL LOSS ANNUAL GAIN NET GROWTH
START OF YEAR (4%) (14%) (10%)
2021
2022 74 3 10 81
2023 81 3 11 89
2024 89 4 13 98
2025 98 4 14 108
TOTAL 108 4 15 119
17% 63%

12 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

OUTREACH
TARGETS

VISITOR STATISTIC

Only about 3% of church visitors return and consider membership.
To get 10 new members annually, we would need 300 visitors per
year (6 per week, including children).

how would we do that?

INVITATIONS

ONLY ABOUT 1 IN 50 OF THOSE (VISITORS) WHO ARE PERSONALLY INVITED, WILL
SHOW UP.

 TO GET 300 VISITORS PER YEAR, WE WOULD NEED 15,000 PERSONAL

INVITATIONS PER YEAR/300 PER WEEK (ROUGHLY THE POPULATION OF OUR
REFERENCE AREA), THROUGH,

• In-person invitations
• Over the phone
• Snail mail AND email invitations
• Facebook invitations
• A friendly text

ADVERTISING

LESS THAN 1% OF PEOPLE WHO SEE AN AD WILL SHOW ANY INTEREST.


TO GET 300 VISITORS PER YEAR, IT WOULD NEVERTHELESS HELP TO
ADVERTISE REGULARLY TO MORE THAN 30,000 PEOPLE THROUGH,

• Targeted ads on Facebook, Google, Nextdoor, patch.com
• Print publications, such as Parks & Rec brochures, newspapers, school

newsletters, event sponsorships
• Neighborhood mailing of The Tidings once a year
• Postcards to new residents

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 13

THE HANKS FAMILY &
THE MILLENNIAL DEMOGRAPHIC

2025

Matthew Hanks
Age 35 (b. 1990) Millennial

Ashley Hanks
Age 32 (b. 1993) Millennial

Cody Hanks
Age 4 (b. 2021) Generation Alpha

Elsa Hanks
Infant (b. 2025) Generation Alpha

THE HANKS FAMILY SNAPSHOT

Matt is from downstate Illinois and Ashley grew up in a nearby suburb. They met right after college via an online dating
app when both were living and working in the city.

Why did they move to the neighborhood?

When they were expecting Elsa they decided they wanted more space for their kids, a yard for their dog, a garden,
and a better school district for Cody. They liked the idea of “Countryside” because it was closer to Matt’s work, has good
schools, and lower taxes than Dupage county. They got a good deal on a house.

Why did they have kids earlier than their peers?*
Ashley was the only child of a remarried couple. Her father was significantly older and died while she was in college.
She wanted to have more than one child and to live long enough to know her grandchildren, which might not have
happened if they’d waited. Matt’s parents are divorced and he looked forward to having a family of his own so that he
wouldn’t have to spend holidays with both sets of extended family (whom he doesn’t always like). He has a younger
brother and a younger sister with whom he doesn’t spend a lot of time.

*Average age for first child by women living in an urban area is 31

What do they do for a living?
Matt is a program manager at a company with offices in Oakbrook. Ashley works in educational administration in
Cicero.

What is their religious background, if any?
Matt’s dad was raised Methodist and his mom was raised Catholic, but they didn’t continue in the church. Matt was
baptized Catholic, but he thinks the Catholic church is corrupt. Ashley’s parents (a lawyer and a secretary) were anti-
religion. Ashley has a gay uncle, who she loves, so she hates religious traditions that condemn gay people. She also
thinks of herself as a feminist, even though her marriage is pretty traditional in terms of gender roles.

Political Leanings
Both vote Democratic. Matt has some Trump supporters in his extended family, but he thinks they are wackos. Ashley’s
parents are practically socialists, but she’s more middle-of the road.

Values
Like other millennial suburbanites, Ashley and Matt value safety, independence, diversity, protection of the environment,
education, racial and gender equity, family, and kindness.

Hobbies
Matt likes sports, mostly soccer and hockey. Ashley likes yoga and occasional swimming. Matt is more of the gardener.
Ashely loves their dog. Both of them watch a lot of Netflix after the kids go to bed, often on separate devices. Ashley
reads science fiction (mostly when on vacation) and Matt reads about a dozen non-fiction books a year, some of them
via audiobook.

Life’s Challenges
Ashley and Matt have occasional marital disagreements over in-laws, money, and parenting that concern them both
since they don’t want to end up divorced like their parents. They are both rather introverted and don’t make friends

14 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

“MILLENNIAL PARENTS WANT TO
CHANGE THE WORLD.

They are drawn to churches
that are focused on changing the world.
They also want their kids involved in this.”

churchleaders.com

easily. Cody is extremely shy and was a bit slow in speaking. Parenting has been stressful since most of their friends
haven’t started having kids yet. The kids’ grandparents do not live close by, which is probably good since they don’t all
get along. Ashley’s mom drinks too much. Ashley’s job is stressful and she doesn’t like her boss. She would prefer to stay
home with their kids, but they can’t afford to have her do so at this time. Childcare takes up too much of their budget
and they sometimes feel “house poor” in spite of being relatively well-off. The dog is older and has behavioral and health
problems. Matt sometimes has bouts of mild depression while Ashley struggles with anxiety. They often feel lonely.
They miss their life in the city and feel a bit out-of-place in the suburbs, especially since most people in this area seem to
have been here forever and they still feel new.

Appearances, Aesthetics, Preferences and Tastes
Matt & Ashley both have tattoos. Matt’s is visible on his arm and Ashley’s is hidden on her back. Matt is a little over-
weight but keeps active and healthy through soccer and an occasional bikeride. Ashley is typically trim and fit but is
currently working off “baby-weight” following the birth of Elsa. She likes to run the occasional 5k.

Matt drives a Subaru and Ashley drives a mid-level SUV. They both generally like shopping at Ikea, but have a mix of
furniture, some of which they got second-hand. They are working on various upgrades for their house, which was in
poor shape when they bought it. So far they’ve only been able to paint and replace some carpeting with laminate hard-
wood. They were able to use inheritance money from Ashley’s dad for a down payment on the house, and now they
are saving money for the roof and siding, both of which will need to be replaced in the next 10 years. They like having a
garage for their bicycles, even if they don’t have time to ride them very often.

Cleanliness is a big deal for Ashley, who also thinks of herself as somewhat of a minimalist. She’s always on top of
getting rid of the kid’s stuff once they’ve stopped using it. Matt likes nice clothes, but hates shopping, so he tends to
buy a lot on Amazon and then neglects to return it when it doesn’t fit. This drives Ashley crazy. They both like the brands
Patagonia and North Face.

Food and Beverage
Ashley spent a few years as a vegetarian and even though she eats meat now, she prefers to buy organic when she can.
Both her and Matt try to not to eat too much sugar, and they strictly limit Cody’s consumption of sweets. Matt drinks
about a beer a day and is fond of potato chips. Ashley is more of a social drinker, who sometimes has one too many at
parties and fundraisers.

Digital Life
Like most millennials, Ashley and Matt have smart phones and no land-line or voice IP. They have never subscribed
to cable. They are used to using Bluetooth in the car and on airplanes. They get their news from NPR in the car and
from their google feed. Both are on Facebook, though they hardly ever post anything. Ashley has a Pinterest page and
occasionally uses Snapchat. Neither are into Twitter, but they’ve both tried it. They prefer text messages over email,
though both have multiple email addresses.

Matt still plays video games occasionally on an iPad. They like going to the movies, but rarely have time, and it doesn’t
work with their kids. Though Ashley is concerned about online security, Matt recently convinced her to let him get a
smart speaker. Now they sometimes listen to podcasts around the house, and there is almost always music playing,
though Cody often interrupts with his own commands.

They pay almost all of their bills online and rarely go to an ATM since they can get cash at the grocery store. They
sometimes forget where their checkbook is because they use it so rarely. They have multiple credit cards for earning
airline miles, cash back, and such. Matt is really good at finding the best deals. Occasionally they will give to nonprofits
at a fundraiser, or online for #GivingTuesday or #GiveBig.

Matt received a smart athletic wristband for Christmas a couple years ago, but he hasn’t used it much. Ashley borrowed
it a couple times when she went to the gym with friends. She’d like to recommit to a running schedule and toys with
the idea of running a marathon, but probably not with their running stroller.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 15

 FUOTUURRENN1OE6WRMS 

FOR USE IN COMMITTEES, LITURGY, AND CASUAL CONVERSATION.

1. Semper Reformanda
“Always Reforming” is more than just the motto of our denomination, the PC(USA). We believe that ongoing
change is normal and healthy for those who are called to grow into the stature of Christ Jesus, therefore we
will be always innovating, experimenting, setting goals, and tracking our progress in the Kin-dom of God.

2. What Would the Hanks Want?
We accept that we can’t be all things to all people, and so we choose to focus on the needs and wishes of
(new) young families in the neighborhood, since most of us were once in their shoes. This means that their
preferences get priority. People like the Hanks may never make up the majority of our congregation, and yet
we will focus on these “strangers” and “outsiders” as a reminder that we are called to serve people who are
different from ourselves . For the sake of ongoing health and vitality, this means intentionally letting go of
“What we want” or even “What Grandma would want.”

3. 10% to Outreach
We understand that evangelism is part of discipleship, and that we are called to grow numerically as well
as spiritually, therefore we will invest in intentional outreach through advertising, publicity, public events,
ministries of hospitality, etc. As with other goals, this commitment involves our full STEAM: Space, Time,
Energy, Attention, and Money.

4. From Hinsdale to Hodgkins
We know we are not a commuter church, and yet in spite of our church name, we are not confined to the
Highlands either. We consider our “neighborhood” to encompass everything within a 7 minute drive of the
building, including parts of Western Springs, La Grange, Countryside, and Indian Head Park. We expect that
at least 50% of our membership will continue to live in this “community” or “reference area” and worship
alongside those who commute from elsewhere.

5. No Event Without a Stranger
Our church exists for others, not just ourselves, and Jesus specifically taught us to welcome the stranger,
therefore we will not support or continue activities that are so inwardly focused that they do not appeal to
outsiders. Our goal will be to have at least one visitor or newcomer present at everything we do.

6. Hospitality Hygiene
There are some things we have to do on a regular basis to make people feel welcome. We will clothe ourselves
with Christ at all times and maintain structures that ensure newcomers experience our community at its very
best. This work may seem cumbersome, but it is worth it.

7. 20% to the Youngest 20%
We invest in the future we want to create—an intergenerational community that reflects the demographics of
our neighborhood, including ~20% of our congregation under the age of 20. This will require committing at least
20% of our STEAM (Space, Time, Energy, Attention, and Money) to children and youth ministry in some form.

8. Discipleship, not just Fellowship
Remembering that our primary mission is to grow disciples of Jesus Christ, we will avoid putting our STEAM

16 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

9. toward activities that fail to accomplish this goal. Even though fellowship and community are good gifts in
10. and of themselves, these things too can become idols that distract us from God’s deeper call in Christ. We
11. choose to be more than just “The Lyon’s Club.”

12. 25% Discomfort
13. As we continue to experiment and grow and change for the sake of our mission, we understand and accept
14. that this will cause discomfort. Our mission is not to make our members comfortable! Especially given the
differing needs and preferences of an intergenerational church, we expect to be happy or comfortable only
15. about ¾ of the time, trusting that the other 25% of worship, mission, space, etc, is for the sake of someone else.
16.
We’re a Mission Station, not a Museum
Our church building was built for growing disciples, not for the preservation of the past, and so we aim to put
all of it to good use in support of our mission. We understand that this may require additional maintenance,
the loss of a sense of legacy or control, and changes to sacred spaces. As the Book of Order reminds us, we are
called to risk even the life of our church for the sake of the gospel.

10% to Missional Partnerships, 90% to Discipleship
As individuals we feel called to grow into dedicating 10% of our resources in some form of tithe, and together
we aim to model this practice in our congregational life, giving 10% of our STEAM (Space, Time, Energy,
Attention, Money) to people, organizations, and causes that do not directly support our congregation. This
may include special offerings, supporting foreign missionaries, donating to nonprofits, making space in
our facility for community groups, etc. At the same time, we understand that we are not a fundraising
organization for others, therefore 90% of our STEAM will remain focused on our primary mission of growing
disciples.

Relational Ministry
Though we live in a transactional culture where interactions can often be impersonal, we feel called in Christ
to strive for Radical Kinship instead. This means service that is face-to-face and mutual. It involves more than
simply cutting a check or doing something for others. Instead we grow with others into the fullness of God’s
Kin-dom through intentional community and transformational relationships.

Making All Things New
We understand that new people will bring new ideas and new opportunities for growth, which will entail
additional change. Eventually, we expect that our congregation will appear as an entirely new creation, and
that this is God’s will for us. We will therefore rejoice in the new things God is doing among us, and refuse to
dwell on the former things, as God has continually taught us in scripture.

Always Learning How to Let Go
Whether we’ve tried something once or been doing it forever, if it isn’t directly supporting our mission we will
let it go. When our leadership terms end, we will make room for others and let go of our individual needs for
power or control. When we lose a vote about how to move forward, we will let it go. We won’t get too attached
to a particular aspect of our building or worship. By letting go of the past and our preferences for the present
or future we will grow into the stature of Christ Jesus, who in humility put others first and trusted God in all
things.

Count the YES Votes
We are called to be hopeful and thankful in Christ Jesus, encouraging one another to move forward in faith.
This means that when we do at times feel cynical, critical, doubtful, anxious or afraid in the midst of change,
we take these negative feelings to Christ in prayer, rather than spreading them around as a stumbling block
for others. At all times we aim to focus on that which is lovely, admirable-- excellent or praiseworthy and to
think about such things. (Phil 4:8)

Cut the Red Tape
We encourage and empower work groups / committees / teams to take ownership over programs and
spaces and make changes without having to gain approval at every step of their process. We will reform
and restructure as necessary to move our vision forward and get things done, trusting one another to act
responsibly under the authority of Session.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 17

MINISTRY PLAN

Immediate Needs MARKETING
& OUTREACH
Brand Awareness
• Logo & “tagline” (i.e., our focus statement)
• E-presence – Creating online community via HPC website, Facebook,
Instagram, YouTube, and paid social media advertising platforms
• Ad placement – local newspapers, school programs, community groups
• Physical Signage – Church property signs and directional signs within
Highlands area, and welcoming and directional signage inside the building
• HPC App – stay connected – alerts/reminders, news, events
• Online access to Worship Services
• Printed material – general brochure, stationery, newsletter, business cards

Public Ministry & Outreach
• Presence at local events, community gatherings, school functions, interfaith gatherings

Individual Outreach
• Personal invitations to worship, events, and programs

Ongoing Needs

Enhanced Communications
• Consistent email campaigns
• Snail mailings to the community (newsletter, newcomer welcome postcards, event invitations)

Building Use
• Sharing the building – workshops, community groups, Scouts, support groups
• Renting the building – satellite location for specialty schools (music, adult education, etc.); for-profit
organizations; conferences; consultant/small business office space

Promotional Items
• T-shirts, hats and hot/cold beverage containers

Long-term Needs

Changes / updates to facilities exterior
• Bulletin board, food forest, little library

Sponsored Community Event

Expanding and Developing VBS and Youth Group

eCdHuRcaIStiToInAN Immediate Needs
• Increase children’s participation in worship with
children/youth choir, children’s moments, etc.
• VBS or identify a similar outreach opportunity
• Nursery care (0-5 years old)

Ongoing Needs
• Camp and retreat opportunities
• Parent’s night out (evening childcare once in a
while)
• Youth group and adult small groups
• Childcare during adult programming

Long-term Needs
• Confirmation and new members classes
• Intergenerational service trips or Pilgrimages
• Inter-church and denominational events

18 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMMING EXAMPLE

CHILDREN & YOUTH (20 KIDS) ADULT EQUIVALENT (20 ADULTS)

• Children’s choir, youth choir • Adult choir, bell choir
• Nursery care • Shut-in visitation
• Summer camp (Stronghold) • Church retreat
• Vacation Bible School • Leadership retreats and meetings
• Sunday School • Adult classes
• Confirmation • New members class
• Parents Night Out • Game Night
• Mission trip or pilgrimage • Mission trip or pilgrimage
• Service projects • Service projects
• Worship • Worship
• Interchurch groups or other PY groups • Ecumenical services, CWU, other PW groups
• Youth Group • Small groups
• Baby showers/celebrations • Funerals
• Children’s sermons/moments • Sermons
• Acolytes, readers, collection • Liturgists

we’re GLAD HOSPITALITY

You’re

HERE!

Immediate Needs
• Updating online info and signage
• Welcoming visitors in worship--form in bulletin, follow-up
• Clear protocols and training for welcoming newcomers--script, sign-in book, ushers, etc.
• Online giving

Ongoing Needs
• Pictorial directory
• Lenten faith formation program
• Internal signage

Long-term Needs
• Coffee bar on way into worship
• Leadership Ladder - a plan for how we intentionally develop newcomers into leaders



Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 19

WORSHIP

Immediate Needs
• Increased participation of children and families
• Special Sundays for outreach
• Hospitality hygiene--nametags, testimonies, etc.

Ongoing Needs
• Nursery care
• New music
• Variation in worship - 25% discomfort

Long-term Needs Example of family seating in sanctuary
• Differentiated and “family seating”
• Coffee Bar led by youth – before worship and “on your way in”
• Video in Sanctuary



FACILITIES

Immediate Needs
• Signage
• Downstairs Bathrooms - paint, faucets, toilets, flooring
• Updating Bulletin boards and displays

Ongoing Needs
• Making use of the whole building through programming and partnerships
• Fixing things that are broken - windows, cross, floor in basement
• Updating décor – fresh paint, replace furniture, lighting, etc.

Long-term Needs
• Air conditioning
• Basement leakage & lighting
• Repurposing spaces (Choir room, back of sanctuary, narthex, balcony, etc)

20 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

APPENDIX

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 21

COMMON OBJECTIONS & PREPARED ANSWERS

We’ve tried that before.
If at first you don’t succeed. . . try, try again.
How long ago was that? Were the circumstances the same?
Was there anything about it that worked the first time?
Sometimes it takes repetition to get things going.
Here’s a reason why it maybe didn’t work the first time around...
Tell me more...

It will never work. NOPE.
You might be right, but how will we know unless we try?
Why? Tell me more. Let’s figure it out together. Let’s be problem solvers.
That’s okay--sometimes we learn best by trial and error. We’re not afraid of failure.
It’s a learning process.

It’s a waste of money. We can’t afford it.
We can’t afford NOT to try new things.
God calls us to take risks for the sake of ministry.

It’s a waste of time.
What do you mean by “waste?”
It sounds like you may have a different idea for what we should do. Tell me about that.
This is part of a bigger process toward shifting our focus to the Hanks.
The new people we hope to welcome to the church may think this is the BEST thing we can be doing. Do you think the Hanks
would consider this to be a waste of time?
We think that bringing in new people is the best use of our church’s time.

“They” will never go for it.
Who is they? Have you talked to “them” about it? Let’s talk to them together!
We’re going for 75% comfort. They may be uncomfortable 25% of the time.
We count the yes votes. There is no individual veto power in the church.
We’re moving towards a system where we don’t expect to get our own way all the time.

People will complain.
People are always concerned with change but you can be assured that all such concerns will be listened to.
If God can put up with our many complaints, we should be able to deal with the complaints of others.
We need more information. We should study it
We’ve had a team doing exactly that for the past several months and meeting continuously to define and evaluate these
recommendations and bring them forward.
Analysis paralysis is a common impediment to progress. We know we will never have all of the information or assurance we want, so
we have decided to move forward in faith anyway.
Experimentation is a great way to study!

Who will do all the work?
We will all need to do our share but please note that this is a phased approach over the next five years.
Increased outreach brings new people with new energy to do new ministry.
We have been praying for God to send us more workers. Let’s trust God to make it happen.

It will ruin the church.
That’s certainly not the goal. I think you’ll agree that everyone in the congregation understands the value that HPC offers and is
interested in reaching out to more members of our community.
The changes we are making will not please everyone, but most will find that the church continues much as it did before, and that
the changes are actually an improvement.

Nothing ever changes - it’s not worth it.
We’ve actually had some neat changes that have occured over the last six months and everyone has been excited and empowered
by it. Discouragement is a sign of burnout. If you are feeling cynical or hopeless, this might be a good time to take a break and let
others take charge. Who knows, you might be surprised what they accomplish!

Those young people don’t know what they’re doing.
The Visioning team ranged in age from 40 - 82, and was representative of our congregational as a whole. Over 40 is not exactly
“young”. The Session continues to run the church. Please address any concerns directly to them.

22 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

COMMON OBJECTIONS & PREPARED ANSWERS

It will cause too much liability. Our insurance won’t allow it.
Sometimes the church is called to take calculated risks for the sake of mission. It is up to the Session to discern what “liability” is
worthwhile.
Insurance liability is a common misunderstanding. We encourage you to research insurance policies to see for yourself what is
covered and what is prohibited. Most churches are simply insured against loss and law suits up to a certain dollar amount, period.
There are very few restrictions on what we can actually do or not do.
It will cause too much conflict. It will divide the church.
This is a five year vision, hopefully based on making sure we’re all focused in the same general direction. You can be sure that results
and new ideas will be evaluated along the way as we begin our journey.
Some conflict has always been and will always be a part of the church. Done the right way, we can use it as an opportunity to grow.

We can’t afford to lose people over this.
We can’t afford to continue in stagnation because we are afraid of losing a few people.
It is unlikely that we will lose more than one or two people, and we CAN afford to lose these few in order to gain many more
members.
Shouldn’t we be looking to please God rather than people anyway?

The pastor is pushing his own agenda.
Maybe so. Maybe not. But is it a good agenda? What about the vision do you like or dislike?
The Session still rules the church, not the Pastor. If you don’t like the vision that the Session adopts, the appropriate thing to do is to
talk to the Session directly and encourage them to vote differently.

What’s wrong with the way we’ve always done it?
Nothing is wrong with our current ministry--it is beautiful! At the same time, we know we need to change if we want the church to
grow and thrive again. If we do nothing, the congregation will decline and die.

People worked long and hard to build it and you’re tearing it down. This dishonors their legacy.
The purpose of the church is not to glorify people, but to glorify God. What kind of legacy would Jesus want us to leave?
We’re not about memorializing the past, but about leading people into the future kingdom of God.
Those who invested in our congregation had the same purpose we do--discipleship. The best way to honor them is to grow the
church and help it adapt to a new era.

We should be honoring our elders--the people who have been here forever.
Yes, honoring father and mother is one of the 10 commandments, but Jesus also says to welcome little children and strangers and
“the least of these.” It’s a both-and, not an either-or.
In Jesus’ kindom there is no hierarchy based on longevity or works. God loves new disciples just as much as life-long Christians.
The great commission was not “go forth and celebrate elders.” It was go and make disciples. See Matt 28.

So and so would be rolling over in his/her grave...
That may well be true, but how would Jesus feel about it?
There are many things about the church today that would bother previous generations of Christians: women in leadership, the
abolishment of slavery. The Holy Spirit continues to call us to reformation and change.

I can’t believe they didn’t ask us before doing this. Who do they think they are?
This strategic planning process was approved by Session and any member was free to participate. All were invited. The final
recommendations were then sent back to Session, which alone governs the congregation in our Presbyterian polity.

This is just change for the sake of change--it’s pointless.
If you don’t think these changes are substantive, then there is no need to worry about it! Why not let others try some new things?
“By their fruit you shall know them.” It might be wise to reserve judgment and see what happens.

The church is going to die anyway.
That may still be true, but how do you think God would want us to spend our final years--simply waiting to die, or moving forward in
faith?
Eventually all people and institutions do face death, but we can and should make the most of the time we have left. We believe that
these changes will at least extend the life of our congregation if not give us a chance at new life.

I tried to tell them that they’re wrong, but they’re not listening to anyone but themselves.
Who is “they?” It is easier for leaders to receive feedback when it is expressed directly and openly.
“There are truths and forms to which people of good principles and character may differ” (book of order). It is okay to disagree, as
long as we can respect one another in the midst of disagreement.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 23

COMMON OBJECTIONS & PREPARED ANSWERS

Rev. Beloved would never have allowed this.
That is perhaps true, but he is no longer with us. We need to respond to the reality of our situation now, rather than what it was years
(or decades) ago.
Thank God that we have new and different leadership today that IS capable of leading us into a better future.

We’ve had people try to kill the church before. We need to resist.
Who is “we?” In times of disagreement it is essential that we maintain direct, open communication and be clear about who “we” are
talking about.

What do these young people know? We’ve kept this church going for 70 years.
We are grateful for the excellent ministry that has been carried out over the years, but times have changed. Young people sometimes
do have a better understanding of how to move forward. We need to let them lead.
Our congregation was younger once. WE were younger once. The church focused on us then. Shouldn’t we also focus on the
younger people now?

It’s only a few people who want change. Why should we listen to them?
Sometimes God speaks through the few rather than the many. It is up to the Session to discern God’s will for the entire congregation.
In the larger community, our congregation is also small and relatively “few.” Why should they listen to us?
Jesus said that the way is narrow that leads to salvation, and few find it. How might this challenging call lead us in that direction?

I hate seeing the long-time members so upset.
We all hate seeing people upset, but Jesus wasn’t a people pleaser, he was a people healer/changer/saver. How can we work together
to help bring our long-time members along into the path of health and salvation?
We don’t want to upset our long-time members, and yet at the same time we also want to welcome our neighbors and friends who
have different needs. Shouldn’t those who follow Jesus be the ones who adapt for the sake of reaching others?

It’s like this isn’t even our church anymore.
The church has never belonged to us anyway--it is Christ’s church, and Christ goes ahead of us to welcome others in. If this means
that if it no longer feels like our church, then we’re probably doing something right.
We are called to lay down our lives for others. Might this also include our sense of what the church is or does or feels like?

They’ve pitted the young people against the old people.
It’s not an either/or, there is room for everyone! We are just trying to bring in the demographic that is currently underrepresented.
Young people have so much to share with older people--we need both.

Older people have so much to share with younger people--this is what Radical Kinship is all about.
How do you see that happening?
We don’t envision there ever being a majority of younger people in the church. We focus on them because they are
underrepresented.

24 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

ACKNOWLEDGING OUR RICH HISTORY AS WE LOOK TO OUR FUTURE

THE THINGS WE ARE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE

The time and general structure of our regular worship service.
The liturgy will usually be pretty much the same. We’re not adding a service or
intentionally trying to move toward a “contemporary” format, even though that might
happen naturally over time.

The music.
Even if we get new hymnals, it’s still traditional worship! We’re not looking to ditch the
piano, avoid classical music or cancel choir.

Our location.
We’re not looking to move to a new building or merge with another church.
Our staff and committee structure.
We’re encouraging committees and staff to do new things, not to change how we conduct nominating or meetings.
We’re not looking to fire anyone or radically change anyone’s job description.

Our general program.
We’re still looking at basic children and youth programs, adult bible studies, and service projects. It’s nothing we haven’t
done before.

Our church name.
We are still Highlands Presbyterian Church, not “community” or anything else. Note that “highpres” is simply an
abbreviation for use in online applications.

Our denominational affiliation.
We are still Presbyterian Church (USA), a member of the Chicago Presbytery. Same book of order, book of confessions
and policies.

Our overall theology.
We’re not looking to suddenly become more liberal or more conservative. We’re not moving away from scripture or the
centrality of Christ Jesus.

The size of our congregation.
We’re not trying to become a mega-church. Over five years, our goal is to grow to 153 members, which would feel pretty
much the same size we have always been.

Our membership make up.
We’re not looking to sideline our elderly members, but rather make room for new people to work alongside them.

Our target demographic.
The Hanks are pretty much like the people HPC has always tried to serve. A lot of us were like them once. While we
would like to be more diverse as a community, we are not intentionally trying to reach out to a new racial or ethnic
group.

Our primary mission.
“Growing disciples” is still the center of what we aim to do. “Glorifying God” and “meeting human need” are both part of
discipleship. “Radical Kinship” is simply a new focus for this broader mission.

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 25

26 Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020

Highlands Presbyterian Church | VISION TEAM 2020 27

HIGHLANDS
PRESBYTERIAN

CHURCH

RADICAL KINSHIP IN CHRIST.