Transformation process for Hyde Park
keeps congregation from closing doors

By Cheryl Broome
Hyde Park UMC, Austin
Let’s face it: No one really likes to go to the doctor. We put it off and put it off and put it off. Often we persist in our denial that anything could be wrong with us—even though we are experiencing some pretty significant symptoms of illness.
At Hyde Park UMC, Austin, we did the same thing regarding our church health. Although we knew deep down that we were not healthy, we lived in a state of denial. It was not until District Superintendent Kim Cape called for a districtwide check-up that we got our wake-up call. Unable to deny the truth of our systemic malaise, we were scheduled Jan. 6 for a church checkup with the Rev. Don Nations, DNA coach and transforming congregations leader.
So how did it go? It was one of the most painful consultations I have ever experienced. Why? Because for the first time in a long time, I had to get “real.” Real with myself, real with others—yes, even real before God.
We were dying. We were suffering from a serious case of inward focus and lack of vitality! We calculated at the current rate of expenses verses revenue that we would have to close our doors in six to nine months (that was a very optimistic view). Nations was very clear that we couldn’t continue to conduct church as usual—or soon we may not have a church to conduct.
When surgery is needed, doctors offer the patient options for health and healing. The decision to operate is always up to the patient. The very decision to act or not act affects the outcome of the prognosis. The Great Surgeon, our Lord, was heard asking those who needed healing, ”Do you want to be healed?” John 5:5-6 says: “One man was there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’”
That question burned in my heart as we faced the first of many changes. Do we want to be healed? What are we willing to do to live? That was a serious wake-up call for me and for the church.
Our church leaders immediately mobilized and began to ask what we would be willing to do to live. It would take faithful prayers, time and energy to make the changes necessary for us to move toward life.
We started by preparing a leadership covenant. The leadership team (all members of the Administrative Council) signed this covenant in front of the church family during worship in January. We had a town hall meeting to alert and seek help from the entire church. We mobilized work teams to explore the ways Nations encouraged us to revitalize our church.
Pitfalls are dangerous as we continue the work of transformation at Hyde Park. We will continue to be mindful of our health issues as we work preventatively to get healthy and stay that way!
Our average worship attendance has jumped from 85 per week in the first quarter of 2006 to 120 for first quarter 2007. We have experienced a huge increase in giving, up from $48,065 in the first quarter of 2006 to $87,517 in the first quarter of 2007.
It’s never too late. With God new life is possible.