Bega Kwa Bega Companion Synod Relationship. April Strategic Plan for the Saint Paul Area Synod

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1 April 2015 Bega Kwa Bega Companion Synod Relationship Strategic Plan for the Saint Paul Area Synod A Ministry of the Saint Paul Area Synod, ELCA and the Iringa Diocese, ELCT

2 Preface Using the Memorandum of Understanding from 2008 that was signed between the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania as a foundational document, this strategic plan is designed to guide the ways we, the Saint Paul Area Synod, intend to live into our half of this companion synod relationship. By identifying principles and language that have guided this relationship since its founding and building upon the work of previous planning and visioning initiatives, our desire is to honor and cherish our shared history while casting a vision that will shape our life and work together over the next five years. As we translate this plan from word into action, we pray for God s continual guidance and direction as the next iteration of this dynamic network of relationships begins to take form. Finally, a word of thanks: as the Strategic Planning Committee we give thanks for the nearly two hundred people who gave of their time over the course of the last year to help shape this plan. Through listening sessions, phone calls and workshops, you have helped us name our collective joys and concerns. You have helped us articulate our future hopes and dreams. For all of this and for all of you, we give thanks. - The Rev. Peter Harrits, Director of Bega Kwa Bega Karen Sawyer- Smith, St. Stephen s White Bear Lake The Rev. Peter Hanson, Christ the King, New Brighton The Rev. Lamont Koerner, Assistant to the Bishop March 31, 2015 About Bega Kwa Bega Bega Kwa Bega is the name of the companion synod relationship between the Iringa Diocese (ELCT) and the Saint Paul Area Synod (ELCA). With a history that stretches back to the formation of the Iringa Diocese and organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, this is a program that unites nearly seventy congregational pairings and thousands of individuals across cultural and continental lines. It is also one of the largest and most complex companion synod relationships in the ELCA, with hundreds of travelers and hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing between Saint Paul and Iringa annually. It has grown to include a host of affiliated development organizations that, while administratively and financially independent, are operationally and relationally interdependent with the Saint Paul Area Synod, Iringa Diocese, companion congregations, and one another. Rooted in the theory and practice of accompaniment, this is a relationship that is strengthened and sustained through the shared practices of prayer, presence, and projects. 2

3 The Mission of BKB- SPAS (Who we are and why we are here) Bega Kwa Bega is a joint ministry between the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Saint Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America representing communities of faith whose core purpose is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to extend Christian hospitality, and to strengthen one another through the shared practices of prayer, presence, and projects. In brief, then: Bega Kwa Bega is a network of relationships: holy, growing, and thriving. Through it we walk beside our companions in Iringa, celebrating our life together through mutual prayer, presence, and projects. The Vision of BKB- SPAS (Where we are heading) Led by the Spirit, we envision deeper faith and fuller life, accompanying one another as participants in God s ongoing mission in both America and Tanzania. 3

4 The Values of BKB- SPAS (How we strive to act and to be) These accompaniment values come to us from the theological, missiological, and ethical reflections of the Global Mission unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This specific text is copied from Accompaniment, a handbook created for 2013 Glocal Mission Gatherings. 1 Mutuality: In accompaniment, we work to build up our capacities to proclaim and live out the Gospel of Christ. We work to recognize that all of us have gifts to offer to God s mission, and to value gifts of all, while caring for one another s needs. Mutuality is built upon giving and receiving trust as we grow together. Inclusivity: God calls us to include everyone in the mission of reconciliation, yet we know that all communities exclude someone. In accompanying one another, we look to see who is excluded, and why, and commit to change community structures and habits that can exclude people without any deliberate intention. For those who experience exclusion, as well as for those who are inside, it takes great effort and courage to continue to attempt to build relationships across boundaries. Inclusivity requires self- reflection and honesty about our own communities and relationships. Vulnerability: Vulnerability and Empowerment taken together are an important key to accompaniment in God s mission. In our culture, vulnerability often seems to be weakness, but Jesus shows us that vulnerability openness to relationship, giving up power is God s way of redemption. We enter God s mission through vulnerability, just as Jesus became vulnerable to us and with us. Empowerment: As we accompany one another, we struggle to recognize and name power as it affects our relationships. When we recognize that relationships have asymmetries of power, and struggle to balance and correct those asymmetries, we are working to Empower ourselves and one another. Learning to let go of power to become Vulnerable is an act of empowerment, as is recognizing and standing up to power that hobbles people in their walk through life. Sustainability: Often we imagine our relationships as simple and self- sustaining. In fact, relationships are complex, and connected to other relationships and commitments, and require much attention over time to sustain. The Accompaniment Value of Sustainability means that we recognize that any given relationship will require an intentional commitment of attention and time to build up all those who are involved. In a mission project context, sustainability means embedding the project or work in the community as a whole, so that the project doesn t depend only on one or two people, and can continue over time [Cited 15 March 2015] 4

5 Summary of Process In September 2013, the St. Paul Area Synod Council directed the Iringa Committee of Bega Kwa Bega to develop a five year Strategic Plan ( ) with a focus on five directives: 1. Define Core Work and Build the Administrative Capacity to Carry It Out 2. Expand Congregational Involvement 3. Develop Volunteer Leadership 4. Assess and Develop Long Range Funding 5. Clarify and Strengthen Relationships with Affiliates (and other stakeholders) A committee was formed and the Synod Council approved the following timeline: June, 2014 Definition Defined the Mission Vision and Core Values which informed the rest of the work. July September, 2014 Assessment Assessed the current organization and environment. October December, 2014 Reflection Conducted listening sessions with congregations, affiliates and pastors to inform the plan. January March, 2015 Synthesis Wrote the Strategic Plan which includes goals and objectives. April, 2015 Presentation Finalized the plan for presentation at the Synod Assembly. 5

6 Groups Providing Input 75 Active BKB Participants through two different listening sessions 57 Congregations Contacted, 30 Pastors interviewed 53 Participants in Fall Festval workshop 15 Participants at Affiliate Listening Session Ongoing conversation with the Bishop s Office and BKB Leadership Goals and Objectives Through listening sessions with Cluster Congregations, Affiliates, Pastors and at the Fall Festival information was gathered which resulted in goals and objectives for each of the five Synod directives. The next pages identify the directives, state the goals and list the objectives identified to meet the goals. 6

7 1) Define the Core Work and Build the Administrative Capacity to Carry It Out Educate companions in Saint Paul about BKB- SPAS mission, vision and work Clarify and enhance lines of communication between BKB- SPAS, DIRA, companion congregations, affiliates, and other stakeholders Develop and adopt a common mission vocabulary for use across the BKB network Identify and train mission interpreters to teach about BKB- SPAS mission, vision, and work Link individual relationships with the larger vision and mission of Bega Kwa Bega Teach about the theory and practice of accompaniment Celebrate individuals who practice accompaniment well Strengthen infrastructure to support work Assess current BKB assets and staffing strategies in Minnesota and Tanzania Develop and implement policies and procedures to guide BKB- SPAS operations Create an ongoing recruitment and transition strategy for BKB leadership 2) Expand Congregational Involvement Evaluate the strategy of congregational pairings Assess SPAS ability to match the growth of the church in Iringa Identify congregations of excellence and congregations who are challenged Review and redefine covenants between and expectations of companion congregation relationships Encourage more congregations to become involved Identify SPAS congregations to invite into the BKB relationship Create a BKB 101 class (share personal stories, learn Swahili, have different congregations prepare for travel together) Develop multiple avenues by which a congregation may be involved Reinvigorate relationships already in place Bring Tanzanians to the US women, pastors, choirs, etc. SPAS congregations should accompany and travel together, pairing the experienced and inexperienced Establish a prayer partner program Equip SPAS pastors to do accompaniment well Establish First Call leader trips (every three years donor sponsored trips) Highlight relationships that work and encourage mentoring Assure regular communication re: use of scholarship and development funds 7

8 3) Develop Volunteer Leadership Expand the volunteer leadership pool Connect with returning groups to extend an invitation to join an affiliate Send targeted groups to Tanzania for example research or evangelism Share experiences on return to SPAS and teach one another Encourage involvement of the next generation Create opportunities for youth to share experiences with each other Create scholarships and travel assistance for the next generation Seek out young leaders Create a variety of volunteer opportunities in Iringa Identify the role of one to two week volunteers Identify the role of three month or short term volunteers Identify the role of one to two year volunteers 4) Assess and Develop Long Range Funding Oversee financial processes and structures with a balance between business and faith practices Seek out best financial practices from other organizations involved in related work Develop guidelines regarding major gifts, DIRA projects, and special requests Ensure a high degree of transparency and regular delivery of financial reports to BKB- SPAS stakeholders Show more intentionality on sustainability of resources. Intentionally seek out new revenue streams Investigate a planned giving approach or legacy gift Consider the creation of an endowment Provide monetary equity for all congregations. Encourage partner congregations to continue providing scholarship funding Share fundraising ideas and opportunities across BKB- SPAS network Create a shared pool of funding. 8

9 5) Clarify and Strengthen the Relationship with Affiliates (and other stakeholders) Maintain affiliate relationships under the umbrella of BKB. Clarify expectations of BKB as facilitator Determine how the affiliate groups can best interface with BKB Ensure that companions are aware of affiliate organizations and how they can work together Strengthen relationships among affiliates Create an affiliate council Encourage affiliates to sponsor gatherings among themselves to share information and resources and create stronger relationships Develop areas of cooperation among affiliates Improve communications between affiliates, the Iringa Committee and partner congregations Share information about affiliate work across the organization Mutually share meeting minutes between the Iringa Committee and affiliates Share travel plans and initiatives with BKB 9

10 Next Steps In this Strategic Plan we have identified what needs to be done. Our next steps involve how this will be accomplished. A Visioning Committee, which will report to the BKB Director, will be created to oversee the implementation of the Strategic Plan. This committee will prioritize the goals and objectives. Working with the Executive Committee, tasks will be assigned to Iringa Committee members and across the Synod at large. The Strategic Plan is a living document. As goals and objectives are achieved, others will be identified to take their place. 10