Some folks have been wondering where we are in the planning process (formerly called Transition, now called Living into God's Future for Us). In last week's entry (March 16, Living into God's Future) we discussed some of the motivation for planning. This entry describes how planning is moving forward these days.
The graphic below pictures 3 distinct stages. Currently we are engaged in the conversations represented in the left-hand column. Staff and Mission council are involved in ongoing conversations to clarify existing needs and opportunities. The circled "Re-visioning Ministry Conversations" are in process. Core leaders of basic ministry areas met on March 5 to discuss our community's identy/purpose statement and begin clarifying the purpose of each ministry area. Those groups are currently having follow-up discussions in preparation for meetings that will be held for each area, inviting constituency input and feedback. Ministry leaders will develop preliminary plans, based on this feedback. Congregational conversations are happening via this blog, the upcoming constituency input sessions for ministry areas and forums yet to be announced.
As activities represented in the first column proceed, we will move into a phase of discerning and describing a long term vision for Trinity, Lynnwood and Pointe of Grace. Building on recent similar work, we will assess the community around us, look at current needs and opportunities, and open ourselves to the leading of the Spirit in order to plot the trajectory for ministry that we believe will characterize our community in the future.
The third column of the graphic represents the development of an organizational and resource plan for ministry. Our community has already evolved into new ways of doing ministry and we need to develop the organizational systems that will support the complex network of ministries that exist and will emerge in the future. We also need to organize our human resources (staff and volunteer) so all are liberated to maximize their effectiveness and plan for arranging and developing our capital resources (building, property, finances) in ways that will position us to move into the future we imagine God has for us.
When will this process be done?? That is good question. Let me begin to answer with a joke that has often come to mind reflecting on this process.
Question: "Why do surgeons get paid so much more than auto mechanics?"
Answer: "Because mechanics don't have to work with the motor running."
It's hard to predict exactly how long this will take because we aren't shutting down current ministry while we do it. Existing ministries continue. New ministries are initiated. Staff continue to walk with community members through life's passages. Life and ministry are happening now, even while we plan for the future. But, acknowledging this reality, we can project that the Re-visioning Ministry conversations may be completed by sometime this fall and an organizational and resource plan may be completed sometime next spring.
This blog will be a central place to keep updated on evolving developments and to keep connected to what is happening. If you have questions about this planning process, you can post them here.
To add a comment, click on the (#) comments link below and the page will open where you can read comments and add your own.
No comments:
Post a Comment