Christian Formation Strategic Plan Team - May 25, 2008

Update

A meeting will be held after the 11 AM service on May 25, 2008 for those interested in participating on the Christion Formation Strategic Planning Team. Location to be determined. If you are interested please contact Doug Ellmore, Sr. via phone or email. A team blog site has been setup at http://stjamesparishcpt.blogspot.com/.

Background

The Christian Formation Committee was asked in February to create a strategic plan for christian formation. In March, the Christian Formation Committee discussed issues and ideas for creating the strategic plan. In April we presented a framework to the Vestry.

We are now organizing a team of 8 to 12 members. The draft scope for the strategic planning team is as follows:
- Christian Education for "All Ages"
- Youth and Young Adult Pastoral Care
- Youth Groups
- Christian Youth Service Learning and Leadership

The tentative framework for the processes is as follows:

1. Solicit membership for the team, with an understanding of a commitment for 1-4 hours per week during peak periods from June to November.

2. Hold a formal Church Service to Commission the team and its members on June 1st.

3. Organize and hold 10 or more facilitated focus groups. With Parish membership during the summer, starting first with general topics and then later specific topics for more in depth discussions.

4. Formalize a draft outline of the strategic plan goals and objectives.

5. Gather input on the draft from a few final focus groups.

6. Finalize the plan.

7. Formally deliver the plan to the Parish. We are coming to the end of the school season, which means Parish membership will be taking vacations. Therefore, given the framework of the process, the season of activities before us, it only seemed reasonable to me for the team to have as a goal to work to deliver a high quality and completely communicated plan just before Thanksgiving 2008.

This timeline gives us time to solicit the broadest parish input, time to develop and formalize measurable goals and objectives, and time to define the required resources before the peak of the budget process.

To ensure sustained success, I've proposed that a Vestry member be appointed to continually monitor the execution over the lifespan of the plan.

While this may seem to be a lengthy process, I have also proposed that when and where there is early Parish consensus to implement ideas along the way, the team should introduce and help facilitate the implementation of such recommendations sooner than later, with an understanding that the full plan must capture the strategic view of all goals, objectives and activities within the scope of the team.

If you have a deep interest and time to help us with our mission, I pray you will consider joining our team. You may contact me, Doug Ellmore, Sr. by email at doug@ellmore.net.

Peace in Christ,

Doug Ellmore, Sr.