The Strategic Planning
Task Force
Final Report of Goals and Tasks
for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, Mississippi
Approved by the Vestry, May 21, 2003
Presented to the Parish on June 1, 2003
Bobby Harper and Pat Kaye, co-chairs
Task Force Membership: Mary Cleveland, Eulalie Davis, John Davis, ex-officio, Hunter Gholson, Bill Gillis, Tyson Graham, Mark Hardy, Ellen Jackson, Martha Kirkley, Lenore Prather, Bob Proffitt, Willis Puckett, ex officio, Pam Rhea,
The Reverend Rob Wood, ex-officio.
Lord, Direct our actions by your holy inspiration and follow them through with your gracious assistance, that every prayer, thought, word, and work of ours may always begin with you and through you be brought to completion and fulfillment.
The Strategic Planning Process
The strategic planning process began in the fall of 2002, when a group of St. Paul’s members were asked to serve on a Strategic Planning Task Force. The group first gathered on September 17, 2002, and together developed a time line of foreseen events over the next several months, setting their sights on a three year completion plan for six to eight specific goals. Father Rob Wood commissioned the Task Force during the Sunday services on September 22, 2002. The congregation present was also asked to commit to prayer time and participation in the discernment process.
A consultant, Linda Nelson, was hired to aid in training the Task Force and to facilitate the parish wide discussions that were essential to the planning process. During the fall of 2002, two parish-wide meetings led by Linda Nelson were held, for which the Task Force was to be the “ears of the congregation” by mingling and listening as well as encouraging participation. All those present were given the opportunity to comment by way of round table discussions in small groups.
Using Linda Nelson’s comments and interpretation of our parish meetings, the comment cards, notes, and its own recollections from these discussions, the Task Force began in early 2003 refining the goals. During the next four months, the Task Force met frequently and at length to discern what the parishioners felt that God was calling St. Paul’s to do and be. The result of this discernment is presented here in the form of six major goals. Each goal has a list of itemized tasks to be carried out by the people on each goal’s particular force, under a given time frame, with regular reporting to the vestry.
On May 21, 2003, the vestry of St. Paul’s approved the goals and next stages of the process. These six goals are now offered to the parish for your direct involvement and support in the ministry of this congregation.
Strategic Planning Task Force Goals
In exercising our Christian ministry, the people of St. Paul’s, Columbus, commit to focus on the following goals over the next three years.
1A. Facilities
Identify and recommend a consultant to advise in enhancing and preserving the architectural structure of the building.
1B. Outreach
Define and address two to four urgent needs for sharing resources and hands on ministry that will make a difference outside our parish.
3. Christian Education
Evaluate current Christian Education programs and activities as to value, interest, and participation. Continue and/or add programs as a result of an every member Christian Education canvass.
4. Pastoral Care and Staffing
Determine ways to enhance pastoral care by clergy and laity, including hiring a curate or assistant priest.
5. Evangelism
Expand opportunities and programs for our parishioners to share their Christian faith with others by word and example.
6. St. Paul’s Episcopal School
Determine what it would take to become a first rate school and if we are committed to making that happen.
Note: These goals are ranked according to the level of interest and energy expressed at the parish meetings in the fall of 2002.
Facilities
Goal: Identify and recommend a consultant to advise in enhancing and preserving the architectural structure of the building.
To fulfill the goal above, THE FACILITIES TASK FORCE will:
A. Identify and recommend a consultant specializing in historic church structures to the vestry for hire.
B. To enhance and preserve the worship area, the consultant will be asked to consider areas including but not limited to:
1. choir stall and acolyte area
2. altar configuration
3. electromechanical systems
4. structural assessment (floor, wall, etc.)
5. organ
6. handicap seating
7. columbarium
8. sand/stain floors and pews
9. window condition
10. roof assessment
11. exterior brick
12. space for piano
C. Other considerations for the consultant include St. Paul’s multipurpose areas including but not limited to:
1. office and meeting space
2. better use of south end rooms (choir room, conference room, office space)
D. General considerations including but not limited to:
1. mold
2. ventilation
3. termites
4. drainage
5. storage
6. future property
E. The consultant will provide analysis of plans and costs to the parish and vestry.
F. Time Line The consultant will be hired by 12/31/03. The Task force will ask for consultant’s report to be completed on or before 12/31/04, with interim reports on progress given quarterly.
G. This task force will report to the vestry at least six times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Outreach
Goal: Define and address two to four urgent needs for sharing resources and hands on ministry that will make a difference outside our parish.
To fulfill the goal above, THE OUTREACH TASK FORCE will:
1. Collect data from outreach agencies in the community through personal interviews and/or surveys to determine urgent needs.
2. Focus on needs that provide food, shelter, health, and/or literacy, beginning with discussions on – but not limited to- the following:
· The parish expressed much interest in Stoke-Beard school, Habitat for Humanity, and Golden Triangle Cares
· Parishioners also expressed interest in:
o taking meals to the homeless
o reaching out to those in the Hispanic community
o those suffering with HIV/AIDS
o a half-way house for those leaving prison
o a mentoring program for young people in the community.
3. Report on its progress at least quarterly to the co-chairs of the Strategic Planning Task force.
4. Present the results of their work as it becomes known and finalized to the vestry and parish so that ministry in these areas can begin under the Outreach task force’s leadership.
5. Time Line: outreach ministries in the selected two to four areas will begin on (or before) June 1, 2006.
6. This task force will report to the vestry at least four times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Christian Education
Goal: Evaluate current Christian Education programs and activities as to value, interest, and participation. Continue and/or add programs as a result of an every member Christian Education canvass.
To fulfill the goal above, THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION TASK FORCE will:
1. Construct a questionnaire and canvass parishioners of all ages about why they do or do not attend Christian education programs Example questions would include but would not be limited to:
· What are your preferred day and time for Christian Education programs?
· Would you ever teach –why or why not?
· What type of teacher training do we need?
· What are the barriers now to your participation in Christian education programs?
· Give a sample of 10 possible topics for Christian Education programs, and ask, “Which of these would you be most interested in?” and “Would you come if we had these programs?” “
· As a youth member, what from the following list [to be created by task force] (or otherwise) do you want to see offered in Christian education?
2. Based on the results of the questionnaire and canvass, consider the following:
· Better consistency with senior citizens programs – perhaps monthly with a lunch/program mix.
· Ways to train and cultivate teachers
· Exploring new mediums – including the use of TV, movies, etc. (for example – a class based on a Bill Moyers series)
3. Continue to add other programs based on canvass results.
4. Time Line: Questionnaire completed by 9/15/03. Results compiled by 12/1/03. Assist staff in implementing these new and continuing programs 12/1/03 – 12/1/05.
5. This task force will report to the vestry at least four times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Pastoral Care and Staffing
Goal: Determine ways to enhance pastoral care by clergy and laity, including hiring a curate or assistant priest.
To fulfill the goal above, THE PASTORAL CARE AND STAFFING TASK FORCE will:
- Assess current pastoral care ministry by interviewing staff and parishioners.
- Seek ways to improve communications between clergy and parishioners involving pastoral care matters.
- Add Pastoral Care committee at the vestry level.
- Set up a schedule/calendar for Lay Eucharistic Ministers to take home communion to shut ins and infirmed to be published with the current monthly calendar.
- Explore ways to enhance lay involvement.
- Work closely with the rector for the next three years.
- With the rector and wardens develop a job description for the prospective curate or assistant priest.
- Within the diocesan guidelines, determine a compensation package for the prospective curate or assistant priest by September 1, 2003, and present it to the Vestry and Finance Committee for consideration in the 2004 budget.
- Consult with the bishop about candidates and, with financing in place, plan to have a curate or an assistant priest at St. Paul’s in the summer of 2004.
- Have pastoral care enhancements in effect before June 1, 2004.
- This task force will report to the vestry at least four times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
Evangelism
Goal: Expand opportunities and programs for our parishioners to share their Christian faith with others by word and example.
To fulfill the goal above THE EVANGELISM TASK FORCE will:
1. Improve or implement Evangelism efforts with people in the following regions/areas:
· Columbus Air Force Base
· Mississippi University for Women (faculty, staff, students)
· Hispanic Community
· African American population
2. Look for ways to improve St. Paul’s welcome efforts through:
· timely incorporation of visitors and new members
· improved parish activities packet and/or flyer for distribution in the community and for visitors to St. Paul’s
· intentional hospitality and greeting at all church functions
3. Create or improve the following “doors” to welcome others and share the Christian faith with them:
· Parish fair
· Church presence at Market Street Festival
· Advertising in newspaper, yellow pages, and other places
· Lenten programs
· 8 O’May Luncheon
· Stations of the Cross
· sponsor a lecture series
· Canterbury club (Episcopal college ministry)
· Host families for MUW/CAFB
· Web page links
· Newcomers dinners
· English as a second language courses
· offer worship services in Spanish
· Ecumenical programs in music and drama
4. Encourage lay involvement in all these efforts.
5. Time Line: Develop a specific plan and a time line by October 15, 2003.
6. This task force reports to the vestry at least four times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006 .
St. Paul’s Episcopal School
Goal: Determine what it would take to become a first rate school and if we are committed to making that happen.
To fulfill the goal above, the ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL TASK FORCE will:
1. Work closely with Karen Robinson, St. Paul’s Episcopal School (SPES) Director, and the School Board in determining the criteria for becoming a first rate school.
2. Develop a plan to evaluate present program of the school.
· Interview director, staff, parishioner and non-parishioner parents, parents of graduates.
3. With the School Board, implement a parish awareness campaign and a better marketing plan in the community to promote the school.
4. Explore the development of a Mission Statement that clearly describes the school’s identity and purpose.
5. Time Line: Complete the program evaluation by 12/31/03 and report findings and criteria to the vestry.
6. Once the program evaluation is complete, determine the resources, program, and staff it will take for SPES to be a first rate school, review the parish’s commitment to those making those resources, programming, and staffing a reality.
7. This task force reports to the vestry at least four times a year and report to the congregation at the Annual Parish Meeting in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
