St. John the Forerunner Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Strategic Plan 2004 2008
The Process Strategic Planning Committee members identified Existing plan reviewed for: Achieved objectives Objectives that should be revised (dates, responsible parties) Obsolete objectives to be removed Goals, tactics and objectives developed for new/revised items Plan presented to parish council for approval Plan presented to parishioners
From Vision to Objectives Vision Mission Strategies Goals Tactics Objectives
Our Vision Heaven on Earth
Our Mission It is the will of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to join Heaven and earth. In our worship, we praise the Most Holy Trinity. In our disciplined lives, we follow in the footsteps of the martyrs and all the saints made perfect. In our fellowship, we seek to love one another as Christ loves us, that all men may know we are His disciples. In our evangelistic and other outreach work, we share the love of the Most Holy Trinity with the people of Central Texas. Through all these things, heaven and earth are united. Holy Prophet and Forerunner John, our Patron and Protector, pray for us.
Strategies, Goals, Tactics and Objectives Strategies produce goals, which have tactics, and one or more objectives Strategies are the direction we re headed Goals are what we want to accomplish once we get there Tactics are the how of achieving the goal Objectives the what, and are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited Many goals, tactics and objectives have milestones Milestones help us to know when we ve achieved the goal, tactic, or objective
Strategy: Our Worship Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 1.0. In our worship, we praise the Most Holy Trinity. 1.1. We offer on-going celebrations of the divine services. 1.1.1. Opportunities for worship are expanded 1.1.1.1. Latias are served on major saint's feast days 1.1.2. Worship space size is increased 1.1.2.1. Include plans for new temple in Master Site Plan 1.2. We foster full participation in divine services by providing education, resources and support. Our goal is to enable all children, youth, and adults to participate in the services as fully as possible. 1.2.1. Worship resources are provided 1.2.1.1. Implement congregational texts for the Divine Liturgy, Orthros, and Vespers. 1.3. We enhance the quality of divine services by identifying talented people and helping them to use their gifts. 1.2.2. Transportation to the Divine Liturgy and other services is provided on a regular schedule 1.2.3. Educational opportunities to enhance learning about the divine services are implemented 1.3.1. Those with vocations to holy orders or those who have gifts for chanting or music are identified and their gifts developed 1.2.2.1. Implement a church van for transportation to Divine Liturgies and festal services 1.2.3.1. Develop and present annual instructional services, i.e., the Divine Liturgy, Vespers and Orthros. 1.3.1.1. Foster individual development plans for potential deacons and subdeacons, and report these plans to the parish council twice annually. 1.3.1.2. Sponsor an annual chanting weekend workshop that is mandatory continuing education for chanters. 1.3.1.3. Sponsor an annual choir weekend workshop that is mandatory continuing education for choir members. 1.3.1.4. Develop a children's choir to sing at designated services
Strategy: Our Disciplined Lives Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 2.0. In our disciplined lives, we follow in the steps of the martyrs and all the saints made perfect (Jn 17:20-25). 2.1. We embrace the fundamental disciplines of Orthopraxis. 2.1.1. The discipline of prayer is taught and encouraged in homilies, in Church School, and in the newsletter. 2.1.1.1. Develop and make available a basic rule of prayer 2.2. We offer a comprehensive educational program for all ages. 2.2.1. Age-appropriate educational opportunities are offered 2.1.1.2. Provide a printed version of the rule to be available in the narthex. 2.2.1.1. Expand church school to semester length 2.2.1.2. Offer one full week of Summer Vacation Church School. 2.2.1.3. Foster participation in Parish Life Conferences (e.g., Creative Arts and Oratorical Festivals) 2.2.1.4. Conduct semiannual gender-specific retreats for spiritual growth 2.2.1.5. Provide scholarships to young adults (high school juniors/seniors) for the purpose of missions, monastery visits, and other Orthodox educational opportunities 2.2.1.6. Conduct classes on Orthodox traditions, e.g., prosphora-baking, Paschal eggs, making koliva. 2.2.1.7. Mentor young adults in the administrative life of the parish, e.g., parish council activities 2.2.1.8. Implement St. John chapter of Teen SOYO
Strategy: Our Disciplined Lives (cont.) Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 2.3. We support a lending library so that materials are available for inquirers and parishioners. 2.4. We are good stewards of what God has given us 2.3.1. The parish supports lending library activities 2.4.1. The parish has an organized and focused approach to financial responsibilities and growth 2.3.1.1. Develop a library improvement plan that includes development through donations of funds and books, and a budget. 2.3.1.2. Present the improvement plan and budget for activities to the parish council. 2.4.1.1. Create and implement a financial strategy to move current mortgage to a commercial financial institution 2.4.1.2. Plan and conduct capital campaign to implement master site plan 2.5. We furnish support to those new in the faith 2.4.2. A new temple is built, to His glory 2.4.2.1. Engage architect for building plans 2.4.2.2. Construct new temple and implement other elements of master site plan 2.4.3. The Strategic Plan remains aligned with our vision and mission 2.4.3.1. Review and revise the Strategic Plan annually 2.5.1. Godparents and sponsors know their role and responsibilities to those new in the faith. 2.5.1.1. Develop program for godparents and sponsors. 2.5.1.2. Offer program three weeks before any baptism or chrismation. 2.5.2.1. Finalize package contents for adults and children 2.5.2. We ensure the newly baptized and (age-appropriate, e.g., prayer rope, incense, censer, chrismated souls have an Orthodox starter charcoal, icon, subscription to Again or Word magazine, set, to facilitate their prayer life. Orthodox Bible). 2.5.3. We develop a First Year Program to monitor progress and develop of newly baptized and chrismated through their first calendar year in parish. 2.5.3.1. Develop First Year Program.
Strategy: Our Fellowship Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 3.0. In our fellowship, we seek to love one another as Christ loves us, that all men may know that we are His disciples (Jn 13:34-35). 3.1. We encourage fellowship through a number of activities. 3.1.1. We celebrate our lives in the Most Holy Trinity together. 3.1.1.1. Implement changes to coffee hour to minimize parishioners' efforts and maximize time spent in Sunday worship 3.1.1.2. Create opportunities for fundraising through sponsored parish meals 3.1.1.3. Develop fellowship opportunities using the "Soup and Saints" model, to encourage education and fellowship 3.1.1.4. Encourage fellowship and build up our community through four dances and communal meals each year (Theophany, Pascha, St. John, St Raphael). 3.1.1.5. Move our patronal feast day to June 24 th (pending blessing of Bishop). 3.2. We build our community through activities for specific groups of parishioners 3.2.1. We support an active Women s group. 3.2.2. We implement a men's service group. 3.2.3. We foster an active youth group. 3.1.1.6. Sponsor quarterly receptions for catechumens and inquirers. 3.2.1.1. Develop a five-year plan and submit to the parish council. 3.2.2.1. Develop men s service group. 3.2.3.1. Discuss plan for future youth group with the parents of current youth and children who will one day be of an age to participate in the youth group. 3.2.3.2. Develop a five-year plan and submit to the parish council.
Strategy: Evangelistic & Other Outreach Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 4.0. In our evangelistic and other outreach work, we share the love of the Most Holy Trinity with the people of Central Texas. 4.1. We provide evangelistic opportunities for Central Texas. 4.1.1. Evangelistic outreach events are regularly offered to the community 4.1.1.1. Conduct at least one monthly outreach event (through services in alternate locations, book tables, speaking to various clubs and organizations, choir events, the Center for the Study of Ancient Christianity, invitational Suns, etc). 4.1.1.2. Develop the Center for the Study of Ancient Christianity as an educational and outreach center 4.1.1.3. Form an Events Subcommittee of the Outreach Committee, to plan and deploy semiannual community events featuring nationally known Orthodox speakers/musicians/monastics 4.2. We maintain a vital Internet presence 4.3. We improve parish communication through more efficient use of technology 4.1.2. Our parishioners are equipped to share their faith 4.2.1. The parish web site is evolved with evangelistic and other outreach goals 4.3.1. Meet increasing information needs through enhanced technology and administrative tools 4.1.1.4. Advertise "Soup and Saints" to the community 4.1.1.5. Consider sponsoring local broadcast of "Come Receive the Light" 4.1.2.1. Offer classes on sharing our faith; do's and don'ts 4.2.1.1. Develop a web site enhancement project plan that includes, at a minimum, the following features and budget: audio and video components; specific elements for seekers and children; education; and a members-only section to access phone lists, meeti 4.3.1.1. Form an information needs assessment team, to assess and recommend enhanced technology and administrative software. This group will: 4.3.1.1.(a). Survey parishioners to determine information needs 4.3.1.1.(b). Assess current hardware configuration and determine budget for enhancements 4.3.1.1.(c). Implement a web-based parish management software system
Strategy: Evangelistic & Other Outreach (cont.) Strategy Goal Tactic Objective 4.4. We welcome visitors and inquirers in a planned and organized way 4.5. We support Christ the Lightgiver Bookstore. 4.6. We remove administrative support duties from the priest, parishioners, and bookstore manager 4.4.1. Printed materials and opportunities for interaction with visitors and inquirers are improved. 4.5.1. The parish supports bookstore activities 4.6.1. Administrative support duties of the parish are reassigned 4.4.1.1. Deploy a visitor s informational packet. 4.4.1.2. Implement educational opportunities for early inquirers 4.4.1.3. Create automated tracking and outreach solutions to improve visitor/inquirer contacts 4.5.1.1 Provide a detailed plan and schedule for bookstore development and promotion 4.5.1.2 Present the bookstore advertising budget 4.6.1.1. Determine labor hours required for administrative duties currently performed by priest, bookstore manager, parishioners 4.6.1.2. Assess charisms of parishioners who may want to volunteer their time and talent 4.6.1.3. Hire administrative support, either temporary contract or permanent 4.7. We give back to the community 4.7.1. Our parish is a good corporate citizen 4.7.1.1. Conduct a community needs assessment with Cedar Park officials and organizations 4.7.1.2. Determine parish contribution to the community 4.7.1.3. Implement program or activity 4.7.1.4. Evaluate community satisfaction with the parish's contribution 4.7.1.5. Consider expanding parish services outside of Cedar Park
Monitoring Our Progress Worship Number of Litias Discipline Percent of members attending educational classes (by age group) Fellowship Women s group Strategic Plan submitted Evangelistic and Other Outreach Percent of months with outreach activity
Next Steps Present plan to the parish Implement Monitor Evaluate monthly Revise annually
Strategic Plan 2004-2008 Questions?