The Strategic Plan

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The Strategic Plan

Annual Meeting Report

January 25, 2004

Saint

Episcopal ChurchMatthew’s

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Outline

What is a Strategic Plan? The Road to a Strategic Plan? What is the Balanced Scorecard methodology? Vision, Mission and Core Values Parishioners Survey The 2004-2006 Strategic Plan Next Steps In Summary

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What is a Strategic Plan

Thinking and Acting A Long Range Plan A roadmap A means to achieve a goal and reach a target and avoid reactive

management

Reference Books:1. Strategic Planning – a new model for church & ministry leaders - Aubrey Malphurs2. Twelve Keys to an effective church – Kennon Callaghan 3. Master Planning – Bobb Biehl4. Developing a Dynamic Mission for your Ministry – Aubrey Malphurs

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Road to a Strategic Plan

1. Ministry Analysis 2. Values Discovery3. Vision Development4. Mission Development5. Strategy/Objectives Development6. Strategic Plan Implementation7. Ministry Organization8. Ministry evaluation

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Road to a Strategic PlanMinistry Analysis

What type of church are we SWOT analysis

– Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats

Congregation Analysis– What does the congregation feel/want/need

Vestry Ministry Committee Analysis– What does the Vestry Committees want/need

How do we perceive God’s plan for St. Matthew’s?

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What is the Balanced Scorecard Methodology

Developed as a balanced method of strategic planning

Balances the following areas – Service, Financial, Processes and People

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What is? – The Vision

A clear challenging picture of the future Differences between mission and vision

Mission Vision Planning Communication Informs Inspires Doing Seeing Head Heart Verbal Visual

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What is? – The Mission

Dictates the Direction Focus point for the future Guideline of decision making Shapes the strategy Enhances Ministry effectiveness Ensures an enduring organization Facilitates evaluation – Balanced Scorecard Its not the why, its the what

– What are we supposed to be doing A broad biblical statement of what the church is supposed to be

doing

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What is? – Core Values

Values are passionate and from the heart Determination of Core Values

– Conscious versus Unconscious– Shared versus unshared– Personal versus organizational– Actual versus aspiration– Single versus multiple– Good versus bad

Values are important– Determine ministry uniqueness– Dictate personal involvement– Communicate what is important– Embrace good change– Influence overall behavior– Inspire people to action– Enhance credible leadership– Contribute to ministry success– Influence ministry mission and vision

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Results from the Parishioners Survey

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Under 2121 - 3536 - 5758+

10%

26%

26%

38%

Total Number of Responses = 70

Survey respondents

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Which service do you usually attend?(By Age Group)

0

20

40

60

80

8:00 9:15 10:30

(%)

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

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Which service do you usually attend?(By Service Time)

0

20

40

60

80

8:00 9:15 10:30

(%)

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

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What reasons keep you returning to St Matthew’s?

0

20

40

60

Worship Music Community Youth Other

(%)

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

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Spiritual Growth

Most felt their spiritual needs were met by St Matthews Areas for growth

– More small groups– Acknowledge those who have come to the Lord– Consideration for others and their efforts

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Values

Congregation Values– God’s Love and a deep relationship with Him– Family – Honesty – Opportunities to share with others and the community– Fellowship

St Matthews Values– Fellowship– Being a good Christian– Love – Family– Service – within the church and outside

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Do you feel that your participation at St. Matthew’s is allowing you to fulfill God’s mission for you?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

(Yes %)

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Strengths

Father Rob Sermons Community/Congregation/Fellowship Christian Education/Devotion to Children Youth Group Music/Choir Good Leadership Caring

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Weaknesses

Outreach Cliques Number of volunteers The size and condition of the church Lack of focus on 8.00 service Lack of acolytes Money The pace of life for many in the congregation Advertising

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Stewardship Do you participate in pledge funding today?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

(Yes %)

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Stewardship Do you understand today’s financial needs of St. Matthew’s?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

(Yes %)

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Stewardship - If God’s future vision for St. Matthew’s required additional financial resources, would/could you support that need?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

(Yes %)

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Stewardship - If God’s future vision for St. Matthew’s required additional congregational time resources, would/could you support that need?

0

20

40

60

80

100

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

(Yes %)

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The Future? - Your focus for St Matthew’sLow to high order (Number 1 equals most important)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Attract youngpeople

Traditionalliturgicalworship

Contemporaryworship

Safe haven forseekers

Christian edfor youth

Christian edfor adults

LovingChristian

community

Evangelism Fellowship M akedisciples

Foreignoutreach

US outreach Local outreach

Rela

tive

rank

ing

Under 21 21 - 35 36 - 57 58+

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The future ? – What should we keep

Father Rob Services that suit everyone Fellowship/community within St Matthews Youth Group God First

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The future? – Challenges

Opportunities for a better future – Larger congregation– Bigger/better church building– More children/larger Sunday school – Greater outreach – soup kitchen/worldwide/local– Dynamic Youth Group– Fellowship – small groups– Bilingual

Issues for the future– Financial overextension– Need for a 2nd clergy– Number of volunteers– Training for volunteers– Choir location

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Stewardship – Challenges to involvement?

Better communication on needs Would help with

– Outreach for the community– Music

Need for better training– time management– organizational

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The future? – what we need to change

Choir location Building and grounds Better planning Children’s sermons Youth group for teens Full time Youth Minister More money Less programs Parking paving/sidewalks/tile

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Other comments

Rearrange the music practice for 9.15 to allow 8am congregation fellowship time

AA or other group sponsoring Charging more for use of the building Improve communication – website etc Revise parish profile Avoid negative comments instead show appreciation Avoid perceptions of Cliques/gossip Caring for God’s world needs to be a focus

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Parishioner’s Survey - In Summary

Church is growing and in a good way Most feel blessed to be part of this church Many see continued growth in the congregation Lots of love for God and the members of St.

Matthews Challenges

– Resources – building/financial/people

Ideas are overflowing for the future

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2004-2006 Strategic Plan

Vision: To live life at it’s fullest in Christ I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Mission: To Know and Share God’s LoveThrough the following actions

--to do all in our power, and then some, to foster, nourish, and sustain authentic, living relationships with God in Christ--to build a community devoted to becoming one human family in pursuit of God’s dream for us--to promote personal growth so that, with God’s leading, help, and grace, we will more fully realize our God-given potential and purpose tomorrow than we have today--to embrace the highest standards, as individuals, families, and a church, of love, dedication, honesty, integrity, and service

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St. Matthews Core ValuesThe members of St. Matthew’s follow God and embrace his Word as reflected in our Core Values which we communicate to one and all

Enthusiasm - to undertake God’s work using our energies, innovations, laughter and adaptability in the use of our resources

Faithfulness – to God’s Word and all our relationshipsGod’s Gifts to us – our personal talents and skills, our families and our

building and grounds which we use to celebrate the Lord and God’s good earth that sustains us all

Humility – and Grace in serving the Lord and his children Integrity – through truthfulness, sincerity and honesty in our thoughts, words

and deeds. Kindness - to our families, friends our community of St Matthews and also

every stranger Love – for God, our families, our community and the World Praise – through joyful song, spirited sermons and daily prayer People – whom we love, protect and lead to God through Christian teaching

(especially our children) Spiritual Growth – for each member of St Matthew’s on their personal

journey of faith

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St. Matthew’s2004-2006 Strategic Plan

Our service objectives form the word C.R.O.S.S.Community Reverence Outreach Spiritual Formation Stewardship

Objective 1: Community.

Create a community in which people experience vital, life giving connections with God and one another.

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Objective 2: Reverence.

Craft services that honor God and powerfully bring people into His presence

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Objective 3: Outreach.

Genuinely improve the quality of life for those less fortunate than ourselves in Sterling, the local community, and the world

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Objective 4: Spiritual Formation.

To introduce and/or further the relationship individuals have with Jesus, as Lord and savior, by helping them grow in their faith, knowledge, worship, and services as His devoted followers.

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Objective 5: Stewardship. – Ensure St. Matthews has ample financial resources

available to do the Lord’s work– Ensure St. Matthews has ample human resources available

to do the Lord’s work. Create an environment where we can match the skills of the members of St. Matthews to the needs of the church and community in service to God’s and his children

– Ensure that St. Matthew’s protects the Earth God has given us, uses the resources of the Earth wisely and with reverence, and celebrates the beauty of His creation.

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Objective 6: Building and Grounds. Ensure St. Matthews has takes care of the resources to maintain a healthy church

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Objective 7: Process

Create an organization that provides the trained personnel and the organizational structure to support St. Matthews for the future

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Next Steps

Establishment of Ministries Finalize Initiatives/Targets/Measures Begin the work Continue Ministry evaluation Communicate, communicate, communicate

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In Summary

Accomplishments– SWOT Analysis– Parishioners Survey– Strategic Plan with draft initiatives

Work has just begun Monthly Vestry review Newsletter and website communication Annual Report Any Questions?

Documents

The Strategic Plan