- Mission giving in 2006 exceeded $1,000,000 for the first time.
- The number of Kirk people participating in mission and service is way up.
- Even though we had unplanned substantial legal expenses, we may come close to being in the black for 2006.
- Pledges are significantly up for 2007.
- The congregation’s response to the New Wineskins Convocation demonstrated that we can effectively host national events.
- We have had incredibly encouraging support from local (non-presbyterian) congregations during our disaffiliation. The Tulsa church community, apart from some mainliners, are solidly behind us.
- There has never been a greater sense of unity in the Kirk congregation (at least in the 25 years I've been here).
- We will increase the number of mission trip opportunities for Kirk members.
- We will greatly expand our mission work in Tulsa.
- We will be close to starting one new church in the Tulsa region.
- Worship attendance and membership will increase.
- We will know where we stand on the 61st Street property.
- We will be admitted into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church denomination.
- A significant number of PCUSA churches will either disaffiliate or ask for dismissal. The New Wineskins’ task force anticipates that more than 100 will leave. We’ll see.
- Don't expect the PCUSA or EOP to be kinder or gentler to us or churches like us.
- Typical church problems will not go away: we'll still need to remind folks to give, to minister to difficult (and lovely) people, and we will still need to solve problems as they present themselves.
- The new denomination (EPC) will not be perfect for us, but it will be Biblically faithful.
- On any give Sunday I'll get two notes--one saying that the hymns are too fast, the other saying that they're too slow.
- My sermons won't get any shorter; Wayne's won't get any longer (he won't get any taller, either--even though I'm getting shorter).
Tom
