September 24, 2026
Each week, we’ll be sharing insights from the Executive Summary of the Congregational Assessment.
Magi Culture and Paraclete Culture: What it means for strategic planning in a dual culture
Responses from the 168 people who completed the survey show that our congregation holds two distinct cultures.
The Magi culture is marked by deep intellectual curiosity and a commitment to the rational integrity of faith. This culture values analytical thinking and often advocates for people who have been marginalized. Magi cultures tend to reflect progressive theological perspectives.
At the same time, this culture can lean toward overthinking and may struggle to balance head and heart. Because of this, it is important to cultivate relational ministries where meaningful emotional connections can grow.
The Paraclete culture often centers on healing, recovery, and being a place of refuge for those in need. Hospitality, inclusiveness, and spiritual practices are deeply valued.
Paraclete cultures benefit from a strong missional focus so they don’t become stuck in routine. They also need to be mindful that caring for others does not lead to burnout. Unconditional acceptance, while vital, can sometimes come at the expense of accountability—“potentially sacrificing the personal and organizational growth required for true transformation.”
What we are learning about ourselves at First Church is that we hold both of these cultures together—some of us tend to lead with the head, and others with the heart. Our work is to build bridges between them.
Emily, our consultant, suggests that as we move into strategic planning, we engage in deep, rigorous thinking while also nurturing the church as a place of healing and inclusiveness—finding connection between head and heart.
For individuals in our congregation to move from a “wait and see” posture toward strong, active commitment, we will need to set measurable goals, create more pathways for spiritual growth, and intentionally build meaningful relationships.
The Church Council met on Sunday, September 20, and had an initial conversation about the Executive Summary. They will continue this work in the coming weeks. For now, Council members have been invited to prayerfully engage the summary and listen for where God is speaking. At the next meeting on October 4, they will take a deeper dive into the report and begin discussing next steps.