From Strategic Plan to Congregational Development
“Preparing the Ground”: pansy seedlings planted by the Messy Church group in February
A small group met twice in January to revise the 2019 Strategic Plan based on the feedback from the congregation in October and November. At the second meeting, it became clear that the format of the 2019 Plan was hindering the revisions, and that in fact we needed to start fresh, and have just one or two people come up with a new document, a summary of where we’ve been and where we plan to go. Ross Hamilton and I are now working on that document, tentatively titled “Preparing the Ground,” and we hope to report more fully at the March 26 parish meeting.
In the mean time, those who participated in Heather McCance’s three-part series on “Collaborative Leadership in Challenging Times” heard her offer many insights that are deeply relevant to our parish’s current situation. The last session, especially, on discernment in liminal situations, struck me as practically tailor-made for where All Saints finds itself at the tail end of the pandemic, and I hope to invite Heather to present it to us on an upcoming Sunday. It explained so much about why we are finding it so challenging to figure out our future direction.
Heather, of course, is the editor of this newsletter and a member of All Saints’, and we are very blessed to have the gifts and energy of her and her husband Dave Robinson in our congregation! Dave is a lifelong lay minister (initially working with youth, then for several decades in congregational development) in the Anglican Church of Canada and beyond. He has volunteered his services (which would be worth more than we could afford otherwise!) to guide a congregational development process as All Saints’ continues to discern our path in this confusing time. Dave’s work will focus on identifying the talents and strengths that already exist in our parish, and connecting them to the needs of the people in the neighbourhoods around us (and those who will be moving in as new housing continues to be built!).
How can our church reinvent itself for mission in the 21st century and beyond? How can we connect with the spiritual hunger of those who don’t even know we’re here? And how does that connect with the practical concerns (building, staffing, finances) that continue to be on our radar as we work to responsibly steward our resources?
We’ll begin with a “natural church development” inventory (some of you may have been through this process before, at COTR or elsewhere) and we’ll convene a “ginger group” whose job is to stir us up and generate new ideas. Later, look forward to a bible and/or book study, more conversations about demographics, and other exciting projects to get us thinking about mission!
As always, if you have any questions, I’m happy to talk anytime!
In God’s peace,
Grace+
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