Some Additional MAP Highlights & Perspectives

The following is a second installment of what we learned from you through the MAP (Missional Assessment Profile), the congregational survey this past fall.  The full report can be viewed online HERE, available under Downloads.

1. Strong Core, Not a Church in Crisis
   Overall MAP responses suggest that First Lutheran is viewed as a healthy, stable congregation with strong worship, capable leadership, and meaningful ministry. The desire for growth is not driven by dysfunction, but by a sense that more is possible.

2. Facilities Questions Reflect Engagement, Not Dissatisfaction
   Questions and comments regarding the sanctuary and narthex do not reflect widespread discontent, but rather increased attentiveness to how space supports worship, hospitality, accessibility, and future ministry needs.

3. Worship Is Valued—Experience Matters
   Worship is consistently named as central to congregational life. At the same time, respondents show awareness that sound quality, seating flexibility, visibility, and accessibility all shape how worship is experienced—especially for newer or older worshipers.

4. Sanctuary Improvements Are Seen as Enabling Ministry
   When respondents reference potential sanctuary updates (sound, seating, hearing assistance, layout), they most often frame them as tools that could enhance participation, inclusion, and engagement, not simply aesthetic upgrades.

5. The Narthex Is Viewed as an Untapped Opportunity
   MAP input suggests the narthex is experienced more as a transition space than as a relational or welcoming hub. There is curiosity—and openness—about how it might better support connection, conversation, and hospitality before and after worship.

6. Hospitality Is a Shared Value, with Room to Grow
   Respondents express pride in the friendliness of the congregation, while also acknowledging that first impressions, wayfinding, and gathering space matter more than ever—especially for visitors and newer members.

7. Growth Without Losing Identity
   Many respondents express a desire for growth and renewal without losing the church’s relational culture or theological grounding. This creates a healthy tension: openness to change paired with care for tradition and identity.

8. Physical Space and Community Life Are Linked
   MAP data suggests that members intuitively connect physical space with relational outcomes—recognizing that where and how people gather affects connection, lingering, and the sense of belonging.

9. Questions Signal Readiness for Discernment, Not Decisions
   Interest in sanctuary or narthex improvements does not imply a mandate for immediate action. Rather, it suggests readiness for thoughtful exploration, shared learning, and prayerful discernment about next steps.

10. A Desire for Clear Direction and Communication
    Across multiple MAP responses, there is an underlying request—not for quick fixes—but for clarity: Why consider these things? How do they serve the mission? What’s the process? Transparency and purpose will matter as conversations continue.