Sarasota Community Church

The Congregational Profile

Name of Congregation: Sarasota Community Church

Date profile prepared: October 21, 2024

By Whom: Board of Overseers & Search Committee

1. Basic Information

Address:          4041 Bahia Vista Street

                        Sarasota, FL

Phone:             941-377-4041

Email:             peggysccsearch@gmail.com or norisccsearch@gmail.com

Website:          sarasotacommunitychurch.org

2. Average Attendance

Summer Season 120-130

Winter Season 500 + with dedicated winter residents attending year after year.

3. Profile of those attending:

Age Range:

            0-10 yrs.          =          5            11-18 yrs.        =          2

            19-30 yrs.        =          2            31-50 yrs.        =          8

            51-65 yrs.        =          50          66 – 100 yrs.   =          majority

4. Pastoral leadership for the last three pastors:

1. Dennis Bontrager     2021-present
2. Roger Shenk             2008-2021
3. David Kniss

1. Facilities 
2. Sanctuary: has been updated and has a seating capacity of 650-800
3. Christian education classrooms: we have 8-12 classrooms available
4. Recreation/Multi-ministries (indoor/outdoor): 3 portable cottages, a pavilion, 2 open courtyards, 2 pickleball courts
5. Kitchen/Dining: large fellowship hall
6. Nursery: has been updated with a crib, changing table and lots of toys

1. Urgently needed: Remodeling of our kitchen and bathrooms. There is a plan in place for updating the bathrooms.
2. Long range projections: to bring in more generational congregants

1. Annual budget for the past 3 years:

Approved Budget                                Actual Amount Reached

            2024                $600,000                                             $462,768 as of the end of 9/2024

            2023                $550,000                                             $674,497            

7. Employees of the congregation:

Pastoral Staff:

      Lead Pastor

Ministerial Staff:

      Minister of Discipleship

      Minister of Music

      Directors of Care & Visitation

Other Staff:

      Creative Director – part-time

      Administrator – part-time

      Church Secretary – full-time

      Bookkeeper – part-time

      Maintenance – part-time

Volunteers:

We have many hands that volunteer for all areas of the church, including but not limited to: facility rentals, maintenance, media & tech team, kitchen, info center, ushers, and decorating the church.

8. Identify church programs and ministries:

1. Weekly services schedule:

Sunday Worship – 10 a.m.                  Style: Traditional, open to variations

Sunday School – 9 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Group – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Men’s Prayer Breakfast – 8 a.m.

Thursday Bible Study – 9 a.m.

Thursday Dorcas Circle – 9 a.m.

Bi-Monthly Women’s Devotional Luncheon

Living Joyfully – monthly

 All Church Carry-in – monthly

 Book Club – monthly

1. Annual events:

Discipleship Weekend

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Thanksgiving Meal

1. Church’s Community involvement:

• Dreamers School
• Work w/local schools
• Local Christian school
• Community Pregnancy Center
• Loving Hands Ministry
• Change for a Dollar
• Local prison ministry
• Dorcas Circle – donates to community – school kits, baby kits, blankets

1. Other areas of ministry:

• Global Disciples
• Gideons
• Life Impact
• Southeast Conference

We have increased our giving ministries this past year.

9. Identify the congregation’s decision-making process, its communication network, how it goes about making changes in ministry:

We have a Board of Overseers that are the decision makers. There is a weekly emailed newsletter that is sent every Thursday with the description of what the sermon is going to be about and also the upcoming events for the week. Any changes in ministry are made by congregational vote.

10. What is the congregation known for specifically?

We are known as a friendly and welcoming congregation. Generosity, both financially and of time, is a huge part of our church. We glorify God, worship the word and share the gospel.

11. List the top three expectations of the pastor:

• Exceptional teaching/preaching ability that engages and instructs
• Relational skills that attract
• Lead and empower the staff

12. Other relevant information that should be shared:

We have a great facility and great location to reach our community. We are a snowbird church but during the summer season we are still committed to making our church run smoothly and be fiscally responsible. We are located in the heart of Sarasota, just 3 miles from the beach. The median age is 57 ½ years old. The population is 464,223 and seasonally adds 78,900 people. We are a growing area with lots of families