Strategic Planning Team Update

Date Posted: May 5, 2009

After speaking to over a dozen groups with more than 300 people involved, the Strategic Planning Team wants to update you on the status of the plan development.

1. The focus groups confirmed the following three Strategic Initiatives were the right ones for First United Methodist Church to support our Mission Statement:
   • Bring in new members to make new disciples of Christ
   • Involve all members to support everyone on their faith journey
   • Become a more laity-led church to support members growing in their faith and serving others
2. The groups also agreed on the top 15 items (listed here in no particular order): Church Programs or Events, Children/Family/Youth Programs, Communications, Congregational Care, Education, EMIM, Facilities Use, Image, Lay Leadership, Missions, New Member Outreach (including Parking and Outside Welcoming), Operations, Outreach to the Community, Participation and Spirituality.
3. The Planning Team is now developing specific tactics around each of the Strategic Initiatives with the congregational input and priorities in mind.  The tactics will identify what is to be done, who will do it, and when it should be completed.  We will include items that depend on the completion of other initiatives and will include success criteria and resource requirements.  Key elements in this planning process include each tactical implementation team a) has clear goals, b) is held accountable for accomplishing them, and c) has assistance with overcoming challenges that arise in the normal course of getting things done. 
4. The Planning Team will present this plan in personal meetings to the congregation and to various Task Teams and the Church Council in the next two months.  The overall Strategic Plan and its priorities will be used to drive the facilities plan priorities. The communication plan (internal and external), and lay leadership development are key enabling elements that will touch on all the initiatives and will need to be developed as the plans progress.
5. We identified some relatively short term items that can be done immediately and we are working with various teams to accomplish these.  Some examples include:  Creating a Sermon “blog” online, initial phase of the parking project, revising EMIM, updating ACS databases and reports, new member process review, and banners at Church entrances.

Thank you to everyone who participated.  We know God has great opportunities for our church to serve and with caring, dedicated people, we can do them.