Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth Beach Making Christ's

Metropolitan Community Church

of Rehoboth Beach

Making Christ's Connection Real

Dear Applicant,

Welcome from Metropolitan Community Church Rehoboth. We are excited that you are interested in MCCR and hope that this information packet answers your questions and gives you a picture of our church and community. Though most people frequent Rehoboth Beach as a vacation spot please do not let this small coastal town inhibit the opportunity to learn more about what really makes up the community and people of Rehoboth (This is a year round community).

For the past three years MCCR has had the pleasure of being guided and enlightened by Senior Pastor and Rev. Dr. Dusty Pruitt. After a long and successful journey down the path of ministering, Rev. Dusty Pruitt has decided to retire and pass the torch on in hopes of leaving MCCR in the capable hands of a new Pastor who can guide and aid in the continuing growth of the congregation. Some of the accomplishments that we have achieved are; our own church building, major increase in membership, multiple successful fund raisers and a congregation that willing volunteers to make this congregation a success.

We have embraced the wishes of Pastor Dusty and are moving forward with the process of finding the one who is called to lead MCCR. This is our journey of growth, embracing and engaging the community at large. After the application packets have been reviewed we will select our top candidates for a Skype/Phone interview.

Please send completed applications by June 20, 2016 to Janet Urdahl at: P.O. Box 191, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 or send an attached email to [e-mail].

We look forward to hearing from you. Peace and Blessings!

Janet Urdahl Pastoral Search Committee – Chair

[e-mail] 302-258-7024

Checklist of materials:

_____ Resume with educational history and three letters of reference, including one from someone who has supervised you along with contact information.

_____ Completed application form (see attached)

_____ Your current statement of faith and a “Preaching Link” of one or more recent sermons with written transcript of those sermons if available.

_____ Your expected salary.

Mission of MCCR Mission: We are a loving, open, and affirming Christian congregation celebrating the wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.

Rooted in and reaching beyond the Rainbow Community, we offer a safe and encouraging environment for spiritual transformation through worship, learning, growth, and service.

Culture of MCCR church is based on being generous, welcoming and friendly.

Values of MCCR are based on providing a loving, affirming, sharing, vocal, energetic and accepting service each time we come together.

OUR COMMUNITY

Rehoboth Beach is also referred to as “The Nations Summer Capital”. Approximately 2 hours to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC.

Rehoboth Beach was incorporated in 1873 to create a Christian seaside resort. By 1878, the railroad was extended to Rehoboth Beach bringing more visitors and business, and in 1879 the town was renamed “The Rehoboth Beach Association.” Rehoboth Beach boasts a mile-long boardwalk that provides tourists and locals opportunities for walking, jogging and cycling just steps away from the ocean. Other board walk activities include miniature golf, arcades, pizza shops, french fries stand and Funland (an affordable price for several hours of fun), a family owned amusement park that has been a landmark on the board-walk for more than 50 years. The town’s bandstand is located at the end intersection of Rehoboth Avenue and the boardwalk, and hosts free entertainment throughout the summer season. Rehoboth‘s year-round population has grown rapidly.

Rehoboth Beach’s zip code (19971) covers a large area. Keep in mind downtown Rehoboth has approximately 1,357 full time residents. The remaining area in this zip code population is approximately 12,000.

Rehoboth Beach experiences mild winters. Winter’s temperatures averages 40 – 50 degrees, fall 60 – 80, spring 60 – 80 and summers 80 – 90.

Just a short drive to the Bayside Resort Golf: an 18 hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course. We offer several golf courses within Rehoboth. We are within the Cape Henlopen School District. Delaware offers tax free shopping and 130 outlets for shopping. The Cape May Lewes Ferry travels to Cape May NJ daily.

For the nature lover we offer numerous biking trails leading around Rehoboth Beach and Lewes. SWith such a wide variety of parks, trails and beaches make this a favorite East Coast playground.

For additional information please go to www.beach-fun.com

What makes MCCR so special?

We have one worship service with different music options every week.

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  This one service has a diverse group of individuals averaging 45-65 individuals in attendance each week
  
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  We have a large roster of individuals who volunteer in a variety of ways at the service which include; musicians, vocalists, communion servers, acolytes, ushers and hospitality coordinators. There is something for everyone when it comes to music as this responsibility is divided up between four groups of musicians. Offering traditional musical service, contemporary Christian Band and gospel.
  
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  We are a very strong community when it comes to fellowship, we have the traditional fellowship after every Sunday service, Pot Lucks every third Saturday of the month, sponsored by individual members and sometimes hosted by parishioners at their homes, Monday night is a “Dine Out” at a local restaurant. We also host a movie night. In addition we participate in community activities including but not limited to road clean up, Pride Fest, AIDS Walk, and Men’s and Women’s Breakfast.
  
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  The mix in our congregation is males and females, straight and transgender. The age range is 21-92.
  
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  Generally people will return to our church for the primary reason of being made to feel so welcome.
  
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  We have several fundraisers during the year including a Crab Feast, Paint Nite and Yard Sale, getting volunteers for these events is never a problem.
  

Where can we grow?

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  Develop a children’s/teen ministry to encourage more families to come to church
  
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  Add a second service as the congregation grows starting later in the morning (we would probably end up with a 9:00 Service and an 11:00 Service.
  
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  Bible studies and formal Christian education needs to be added to the schedule
  
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  Ministry Paths for individuals to truly exercise their spiritual gifts
  
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  More outreach to the gay and lesbian community
  
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  More outreach to the teen population in the community
  
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  Plan for a Music Director
  
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  We would like to increase the diversity in the congregation.
  
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  Another area of support would be to hospitals and homebound
  

A little bit of information about our congregation….

We have opted not to use an interim pastor as our current pastor came to us as an interim, left when a new pastor came, and then came back to us when the former pastor resigned. This is a congregation rising from the ashes, over three years ago the congregation was down to 12 members and today we have 72 members on our roll. The board believed that using an interim again would be disruptive to the growth of the congregation at this time.

Thirty eight of our congregants participated in our “Readiness Survey” and fifty five people took our survey to discover what they were looking for in a Pastor. Most members have been a part of this congregation for two years or less, most live within 15 to 30 minutes of the church, spiritual backgrounds include the following denominations; Catholic, Methodist, Other Protestant denominations in addition to New Age and Non-denominational (a new pastor will have access to the surveys).

Members of this congregation are doing all of the landscaping at the church, which includes 6 flower gardens, a small space that acts as a quiet place to be in prayer, two raised beds and the plan is to at some point put in a labyrinth. The property is large and can accommodate 50 plus cars in the parking lot with additional parking behind the church. The back of the property is extensive and this is where we have the Crab Feast which is well attended by the local community (last year 125 participants).

Finally our current pastor serves as Vice President on the Lewes Rehoboth Association of Churches (LRAC). This is a coming together of all the churches in the community to provide for benevolence efforts and support ongoing projects in the community at large.



PASTOR’S PROFILE

MCCR was polled to ensure that we understood what kind of gifts, talents, skills, and abilities they were looking for in a new Pastor. Recognizably we realize that not everyone is going to have all of them.

People Person – Interactive sociable individual who is comfortable in a variety of settings. Incredibly willing to be the face of MCCR in the community. Approachable and willing to listen with the ability to make people feel valued.

Preaching – Proclaims the Word through Christ Centered preaching. Witnesses to the saving power of Christ. Energetic and Charismatic and knowledgeable with the ability to apply biblical lessons to present day living.

Team Builder – Finite ability to develop teams of people to accomplish what is needed for MCCR to continue being a beacon of good news.

Strategic – Bring vision and skill for outreach and growth. Develop and collaborate to find the best route for MCCR.

Leadership – A visionary leader who focuses on developing others to realize their capacity to lead. Able to delegate appropriately to church staff and volunteers; at the same time works closely with church leadership, including board, music and church worship. Provide leadership to heal conflicts and division.

Qualification & Experience – Currently licensed or in the process of getting licensure from UFMCC. Balance of administrative and Pastoral skills. Experienced in conflict resolution with good communication skills.

Gifts and Personal qualities – Empathetic and motivated. Lives with integrity and practices self-care.

Spreading and Sharing – Monthly newsletter “Sea Scapes” by MCCR, keeping the congregation and community up to date with MCCR actives and personal note from the Pastor. This also includes keeping the community up to date about LGBT issues and paid and unpaid advertisements in local publications.

Activities- Provide opportunities for involvement in church activities.

Ministries- Develops ministries that help newcomers to become part of the church life. This will also be a pastor who encourages programming to address cultural needs and backgrounds. Also to make regular home, hospital, and nursing home visits.

MCC Metropolitan Community Church of Rehoboth Beach