Ministry Audit Form 2016

Transcription

1 Angela D Sims Your ministry audit has been submitted to the ACC Team. You may use the link you receive with this to view and edit your application. Date created: 12/21/2016 Ministry Audit Form 2016 First Name Last Name Angela D Sims angela.sims@spst.edu Full name of ministry: Saint Paul School of Theology Position: Academic Dean Today's Date: 21 December 2016 Ministry Team (DMT, MSMT, LDMT, etc.): Related Ministry Group LDMT Please provide the following information for use by the ministry audit team in case further clarification is needed. Ministry Director's Cell Number: Ministry Board Chair's Cell Number: (Nancy R. Howell, Executive VP) What type of audit did the ministry complete in 2015? Summary

2 Your ministry received a letter from the 2015 Ministry Audit team making suggestions for the upcoming year. Please respond to how the ministry has given consideration to these issues since last year. The Ministry Audit team saw room for improvement in: a) training of Board members; b) providing more information about fruitfulness in ministry; c) providing more information about fiscal stewardship; and d) identifying more laity for board membership. In October 2015, the board conducted New Member Orientation that included a historical overview of the institution, a timeline of key decisions, and information on current direction of the seminary and associated challenges. While the board continues to work with a consultant who specializes in higher education as well as with legal counsel to address issues of governance, conflict of interest, and institutional policies, priority will need to be given to familiarizing board members with policies and matters related to our accrediting agencies. The 2015 summary audit report we submitted did not request information about fruitfulness in ministry, fiscal stewardship, and the makeup of our board. Completing the full report may address these concerns. The board transitioned to a new governance model in July Per the board's bylaws, "the total membership of the Board shall be no fewer than 12 and no more than 21 members." Of the current 17 board members, 9 (53%) are clergy. Members of the Governance Committee continue to refine a process by which individuals are invited to serve on the board. What apportionment dollars did your ministry receive from the Annual Conference in 2015? $193, (calendar year 2015); $181,190 (fiscal year ) What was your ministry's total dollar expenditure for 2015? $4,579,191 (fiscal year ) What percentage of the Annual Conference apportionment made up your 2015 budget? 5.81% Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Local churches are the most significant arena where disciple making occurs. (Book of Discipline, 120) Ministries of the Conference will exhibit the following characteristics in support of the three strategic areas within the Oklahoma Annual Conference Strategic Plan: I. Growing Fruitful Congregations/Ministries: a. The mission and vision of the ministry are aligned with the Conference mission statement. b. The ministry can demonstrate effectiveness and fruitfulness c. The ministry demonstrates sound fiscal stewardship II. Recruiting, Assessing, Equipping & Sending Spiritual Leaders a. The ministry is intentional concerning race, age, and gender inclusiveness. b. The ministry is actively engaged in training/preparing new laity & clergy members for assuming more active leadership roles in the ministry.(new) III. Promoting Ministry Partnerships a. The ministry is strongly connected to the local church. b. The ministry has Conference wide impact or represents the Conference ministry priority. Each ministry or program that receives funds from the Annual Conference will be assessed annually. The board of that ministry will be invited to complete a ministry audit on their own behalf. The Annual Conference Council will review each ministry and will fill out an assessment based on the above questions. Please respond to the following questions:

3 Section I: Growing Fruitful Congregations/Ministries Section I a The mission and vision of the ministry are aligned with the Conference mission statement. 1) Please include your mission statement (or vision statement) in this field. Mission Statement: Centered in in Christ and rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, Saint Paul School of Theology is a seminary of intentional relationships committed to the formation of people for innovative, creative ministry through rigorous academic life; the exploration of Scripture, tradition, and ministry practices; and diverse, contextual experience. Vision: Saint Paul School of Theology, a seminary in the Heartland, aspires to be a creative network of collaborative learning relationships where students, clergy, lay professionals and laity are equipped to serve congregations, the church, the city street, the country road, the public square, and the academy, in an ever and rapidly changing world. How well does this ministry make disciples of Jesus Christ? This includes an external component (making new disciples) and an internal component (helping those who work with the ministry to grow in discipleship). Section I a 2) What are the external components? An official seminary of the United Methodist Church, Saint Paul remains committed "to forming people for transformational ministry in congregations, faith communities, and the world in which we live, especially in the Heartland, so that they are equipped to carry out the mission of the Church: making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world." We continue to offer the part time Course of Study in Oklahoma City in support of local licensed pastors theological education. During the academic year we offered Administration (6 students), Bible III (8 students), Preaching (7 students), and Theological Heritage III (3 students). In our initial year as a partnering seminary for the United Methodist Office of Deaconess and Home Missioner, we offered two course (Theology of Mission and United Methodist History) in July with 4 and 11 students respectively. As we continue to strengthen our relationship with the Oklahoma Conference Hispanic/Latino Ministries Office in support of the Hispanic Lay Academy, 15 attendees participated in meetings during March, April and May, Of the five LEAD events scheduled during academic year, we cancelled one due to low (9) enrollment. As the conference leadership re evaluates LEAD as a requirement by the Board of Ordained Ministry for all provisional members, 548 persons registered and 463 attended events offered from This fall, we signed an accelerated degree (3+3) memorandum of understanding with Oklahoma City University that will allow students to complete their undergraduate degree and MDiv in five years. In initial conversations with Charles Neff and Sharon Betsworth, this program has the potential to be of significant value to the conference as we collectively contribute to the development of clergy and lay leadership for the Church. Section I a 3) What are the internal components? Internally, our purpose, mission and vision inform our curriculum and integrative approach to prepare persons for ministry in church and society. We are accredited to offer four degrees in Oklahoma. Of the 38 students we've graduated, 35 are United Methodist. Of those 35, 31 are in Oklahoma of which 28 are either appointed or on staff at a United Methodist congregation in Oklahoma. We began offering the Doctor of Ministry in Prophetic Witness and Service with a specialized option in spiritual formation in partnership with the Academy for Spiritual Formation this year. Of the seven students in this inaugural cohort, one is from Oklahoma.

4 Section I b 1) Specifically, how are the members in the local churches impacted in their discipleship by this ministry? A primary way in which Saint Paul impacts local churches is through our contextual education program. Students are required to complete at least four hours per week in an approved ministry setting five of six semesters during their enrollment. As designed, our contextual education program provides an opportunity during the first year of study that is unique in the Saint Paul curriculum: students are together in the same group and with the same experienced practitioner of ministry for two consecutive semesters. Subsequent small group learning experiences allow students to engage in dialogue, facilitated by faculty, about their identity and role in ministry, practices of ministry, and the Church and its mission. Students are also required to take four practicums designed to focus on a specific practice of ministry. As an example, Rev. Tim Travers, Minister of Congregational Care at Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City, teaches a practicum on Funerals and Memorials. Feedback students receive from ministry site supervisors (designated at beginning of semester) and small group leaders (experienced practitioners of ministry, such as Rev. Perry Williams) is invaluable to their ongoing formation for service to and with the Church. Section I b 2) How many members of the board (or leadership of this ministry) are active members of their local United Methodist Church? Saint Paul at OCU has 6 employees all of whom are active members of their local United Methodist Church. Section I b 3) How many United Methodist volunteer(s)/hours are invested annually in this ministry? Saint Paul at OCU is accredited by three separate national agencies under the auspices of the Department of Education: 1) The Association of Theological Schools; 2) The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges; and 3) The University Senate of the United Methodist Church. Since these agencies stipulate credentials required for teaching in some capacity at the seminary, the substance of our direct ministry must be salaried professionals. However, when we consider, for example, persons who serve as guest lecturers in our class, preach at our chapel service,or present at a community forum, and the United Methodist members of Saint Paul's Board of Trustees, we estimate our volunteer hours exceed 500 total hours annually. Section I c The current financial audit must be on file with the Council on Finance and Administration, (CF&A). The current balance sheet or financial statement must be attached to this report. Before submitting, please see the area below to attach any pertaining documents. Section I c 1) List the other sources of funding provided to this ministry. Tuition and fees Endowed scholarships Annual donations Section I c 2) In these days of shifting resources, specifically, what is your ministry doing to reduce its reliance on Conference apportionments? We began work with a consultant this semester to develop a comprehensive approach to institutional development that will position us to offer students a Presidential Fellow that will cover tuition and fees. As our enrollments increase in Oklahoma, we anticipate reliance on Conference apportionments to decrease proportionally.

5 Section II: Recruiting, Assessing, Equipping & Sending Spiritual Leaders Section II a The ministry should submit a report indicating how its leadership and outreach is intentional in regard to inclusiveness and diversity. Review the makeup of the leadership and those the ministry serves. 1) Cut and paste a list of the Board members and the church to which they belong in this field or attach a file below. Files attached Section II a 2) How will you improve age, gender, and racial inclusiveness in the future? See attached Fall 2016 Diversity Report. We will continue to build on a commitment to have Saint Paul at OCU reflect the composition of the United Methodist Church in general and US demographics more specifically. This will require awareness of sensitivity to cultural differences as we develop our comprehensive enrollment plan. Section II a 3) Did your board members attend approved training? If yes, please explain. (Examples of board approved training include the following: General Board, OK Center for Nonprofits, OK United Methodist Foundation, Official United Methodist Board training, board training offered by the OK Conference or a paid consultant.) n/a Section II b 1) How are you engaging new laity/clergy in preparation for their assuming a more active leadership role in this ministry? We continue to play a central role in the formation of persons for ministry and in ongoing formation for ministry, both lay and clergy, through our various programs. Saint Paul has benefitted tremendously from the active engagement of faculty and administrators with the conference and congregations in the Oklahoma City metro area. We have a dedicated student recruiter, herself a recent seminary graduate, based in Oklahoma who brings fresh insights and perspectives on how to engage with persons who are considering graduate theologian education in response to a call to ministry. Section III: Promoting Ministry Partnerships Section III a A new ministry may be a pilot project in a limited geographic area, but the model should have the potential for Conference wide application. Ministries that are geographically specific should represent the Conference s priority. 1) How does this ministry reach across the Conference or represent the Conference priority? Saint Paul offers programs or partnerships with others, such as Deaconesses/Lay Missioners, the Hispanic Lay Academy and LEAD to offer programs that prepare persons for ministry in local congregations and para church ministries across the annual conference. We will continue to explore ways in which our shared missions present us with opportunities to better serve the conference and its leadership development.

6 1) What criteria does the ministry use to judge its own effectiveness? We have a program assessment plan that guides the work of our evaluation of our degree programs. This work is informed by student learning outcomes, course evaluations, and other factors such as ordination and student appointment/employment. We also engage in a process of self study with our accrediting agencies. In addition, we are in the development phase of a comprehensive institutional assessment plan to facilitate evaluation of and improvements in all sectors of the seminary. 2) Concretely, where can the fruit of this ministry be seen? Several of our students serve as student pastors while enrolled in seminary. The fruit of this ministry can be seen in the contexts in which our students and graduates serve. 3) Using the scale below, how does the ministry rate itself for the past 12 months' work? Exceeding Expectations Explain your answer With limited resources, our staff accomplishes a great deal. We work in partnership with colleagues at our Kansas campus, persons at Oklahoma City University (especially Wimberly School of Religion faculty), conference personnel and local pastors to provide quality educational, faith formation and professional development offerings. For the seminary to grow and serve its mission, we constantly accomplish things as meeting with students who need to attend to areas of professional development, planning and organizing for chapel or classes, working on fundraising activities, recruiting new students, devising new programs, and cultivating relationships. Thus, we are both effective, productive and efficient at our day to day operations while keeping our long term strategic plan moving forward. 4) Productivity? Exceeding Expectations Explain your answer see 3 5) Efficiency? Exceeding Expectations Explain your answer see 3 NOTE: If there are independent assessments of the ministry, such as accreditation's and awards, include with the Ministry Audit.

7 Current balance sheet or financial statement Attach your files here saintpaulschooloftheology2016auditreport.pdf ( spstocu30sep2016financials.pdf ( Board Members List Attach a list of your board members boarddirectory final updated pdf ( reg.brtapp.com/files/tables/registrations/340641/questions/80036/85b84e169d594eecb11c69374ed3d0dd/ boarddirectory final updated pdf) Ministry Audit Materials If your group has extra informative materials (flyers, brochures, etc.) to submit, please attach the digital file below or mail your materials to OKUMC, Attn: Rebekah Hasty at 1501 N.W. 24th St., Oklahoma City, OK fall2016diversityreportocu.xlsx (