Synod Assembly 2022 | Pre-Assembly Workshop : VCI in Pittsford, NY: How One Congregation is Nurturing Congregational Vitality in the Greater Rochester Area

Workshop Description

In the spring of 2020, the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, NY, was simultaneously calling a new Pastor, launching the VCI program, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite serious setbacks in the VCI program due to the pandemic, the church was able to maintain interest and enthusiasm in it. By modifying it to better suit a remote and hybrid environment, the church was able to gain valuable knowledge about its congregants through the US Congregational Vitality Survey and to identify and carry out transformative actions that have promoted greater vitality. In this workshop, participants will learn how the 7 Marks of Vitality are a helpful standard by which to measure congregational health and, using First Presbyterian Church as a case study, will gain helpful insights in how to nurture congregational health in their own churches.  Participants are encouraged to bring their own ideas of ministries/actions/programs that they believe may increase vitality in their own congregations.

Presenters

Rev. Aaron Neff

Rev. Aaron Neff is the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, NY, and the Moderator-Elect of the Presbytery of Genesee Valley. He was called to become the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church on March 15, 2020, just days before the stay-at-home orders were issued for New York State. He has pastored and served in other ministerial roles at churches in New York and in New Jersey. Aaron has theological degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Wheaton College Graduate School, and the University of Valley Forge. He is a regular blog contributor for The Presbyterian Outlook.

Ruling Elder

Hezekiah

Simmons

Hezekiah Simmons is a Ruling Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsford, NY, and a former Clerk of Session. He is a Ruling Elder Commissioner to the Presbytery of Genesee Valley, a former Moderator of the Presbytery, and serves on the Presbytery's Personnel Committee. Hezekiah has served the wider church at both the level of the Synod and the General Assembly. He retired from his long-time role as CFO and Vice President of Administrative Services at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY, and now works as a consultant.