ST. JOHN S EPISCOPAL CHURCH STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2018 We, as the St. John s Church community, strive to bring all people to a closer relationship with God and each other in Jesus Christ.
St. John s Episcopal Church Strategic Plan 2015 2018 10 March 2015 Mission Statement We, as the St. John s community, bring all people into a closer relationship with God and each other in Jesus Christ. Vision Statement At the center of St. John s is the Episcopal tradition as embodied in the Holy Scripture, the Sacraments, and the Book of Common Prayer. We glorify God through joyous worship, making disciples through faith formation and learning, reaching out to care, serving locally, nationally, and globally, and growing as an inclusive Christian community connected to the diversity of people in Ellicott City and beyond. As a parish and school we will be faithful to the future of our shared educational and formation mission. Our Core Purpose St. John s Core Purpose is to bring Christ s reconciling love to the world through our daily lives. Our purpose offers opportunities for individuals and families to belong, seek, grow, and serve in faith. We celebrate and embrace the common life of the parish and the school, the diversity of our city, county, and surrounding areas, and the hospitality that brings all these communities together. With God s help, we transform lives to be Christ s light in the world through worship, prayer, education, fellowship, and service. Our Values With God s help our vision is to continually create a community that supports, nurtures, challenges, and invites us to grow to be the light and share the light of Christ. Spirituality Across nine worshipping congregations, St. John s offers weekly opportunities to meet the spiritual needs of all ages through diverse offerings of worship, music, education, formation, and prayer. Service St. John s is a community comprised of many talents and compassionate commitments. By combining our volunteer efforts with financial support from our parish, our goal is to serve local needs. In addition, we serve as leaders of diocesan and national relief efforts, as well as providing leadership in our daily lives and work. We continue our international education and support with our partners in Kenya, India, Haiti, and Honduras. 1
Fellowship St John s welcomes all into the common life of the parish and the school, and we celebrate our community connections through a rich variety of fellowship activities. St. John s Goals 2015-2018 Tell our Story: Keep St. John s message focused on connecting people to God through o Continuing our traditions of hospitality, welcome, and visibility Strong web presence Social Media Hospitality of ushers, greeters and Welcome Center hosts New Member Forums and follow-up Intentional invitations to One Worship, Progressive Worship, New Comer Receptions, Progressive Dinner, Dinners for Eight, and other fellowship events that help members get to know one another o Shifting channels of communication into people s homes Enhance use of technology Leverage podcasts, live streaming, and video testimonials to draw others in Share with others the joy of this community o Neighborhood gatherings to introduce SJEC to friends o Come and See Sundays so that members intentionally invite friends and families to SJEC o Communications that members can share with others who might be interested in Pastoral Care, Children, Youth, SJPDS, Music, and Outreach Establish a firm foundation of Financial Sustainability for the parish: Continue to build a culture of generosity through o Preaching o Faith Formation o Stewardship Committee and continuing year-round financial and giving education o Planned Giving Communicate annual financial needs to parish during Stewardship season o Explain that the parish operates on a deficit (of $40,000) and needs revenue to grow by at least $100,000 annually or $1.1 million dollars to stay even o Communicate that in order to grow, the parish needs to operate on a budget of between $1.2 and $1.3 million annually 2
Conduct a Capital Campaign to address long-term needs for campus repairs, debt reduction, and to inspire annual giving o Goal to be set with assistance of Capital Campaign consultants in January 2015 Set an annual target for Revenue and Expenditure needs for stewardship and fundraising o Revenue from pledges o Number of returning and new pledges o Income from private foundation and diocesan grants, facilities, and other sources o Income needed in gifts and private donations for special needs For example: Advent and Easter Wish Lists that raised funds for Historic Church Cross restoration, organ restoration, and sound system o Continue thoughtful and financially responsible budgeting Finance Committee and Investment Committee continue active roles Expand Outreach Ministries: Enable members to serve individually, in groups, as families, as youth, as ministries, in classrooms o Outreach Guide to describe ministries and invite participation o Service over Self coordinators o Enhance communication about Outreach Ministries through Telling Our Story and invitations for others to join Strengthen partnerships with local agencies that feed, clothe, and house those in need in our neighborhoods, as well as identify new partnerships to meet the needs of urban Baltimore Enhance opportunities for the campus to be a resource for nurturing spiritual growth for our members and the community Practice comprehensive ecological stewardship to reflect our values as good stewards of God s creation through our intentional use of campus resources o Energy, recycling, rain gardens, slow foodies, education programs, green school Grow as a vital Resource Congregation* for our members, the Diocese of Maryland, and the Episcopal Church: Continue supporting the strong ministries of o Youth Programs o Children s Faith Formation and Music Programs o Pastoral Care for all ages o Adult Faith Formation, Music Programs, Outreach, and Worship o Worship that connects with children, youth, and adults o Fellowship for adults, children, and youth 3
Continue to invite our surrounding community to our campus; take our St. John s vitality out into our community o Howard County Concert Orchestra (HCCO) o Summer Camps o Facility rentals by outside groups that meet our mission o Rotary Continue building a strong, healthy relationship with St. John s Parish Day School (SJPDS) o Support healthy governance and business operations at SJPDS o Support the community and academic excellence of SJPDS o Common Life Commission o Chaplain for Common Life Continue strong relationship with Diocese of Maryland o Host the Annual Diocese of Maryland Stewardship Conference, Bishop s Bash, meetings of the Claggett Camp and Conference Center Board, and other diocesan events Plan and implement Satellite Campus in Catonsville in collaboration with the Diocese of Maryland Note: In August 2015 the Diocese of Maryland consulted with St. John s as the ministry strategy for Catonsville changed. An existing congregation in another region of the diocese now plans to establish a worshipping congregation at the Episcopal Mission in Catonsville. The Bishop is very grateful that St. John s was prepared to partner with the diocese. St. John s celebrates that an Episcopal presence for worship and ministry in the community will be re- established in Catonsville. Enhance our worship experience through the excellence of preaching, reading, music, and liturgy Enhance our pastoral care through education and by bringing together small groups to serve as compassionate care givers o Compassionate Friends o Mourner s Path, Bereavement Ministry o Stephens Ministry o Christian Response to Violence Create the St. John s Institute for training lay and clergy leaders o School of Theology o Ministry Residents Program o Consulting 4
Enhance the connection between the Korean speaking and English speaking congregations Create ways for the various congregations to get to know one another *Resource Congregation describes a congregation that benefits from a large membership base, usually over 1,500, as well as many well-developed programs and ministries. As nine worshipping congregations with 1,800 members and strong ministries in Worship, Faith Formation, Outreach and Pastoral Care, St. John s can easily be called a Resource Congregation. Congregations of this breadth and depth have much to offer their members, as well as expertise and excellence to share with other congregations in our diocese. Being a Resource Congregation is a form of outreach beyond our immediate needs, an honor for the trust placed among our community to support complex dimensions of ministry, and a responsibility to be generous and wise stewards of our resources for the benefit of our members and the church. 5
Summary Report for 2011-2014 Strategic Plan Beginning in 2009 with wide consultation of parish members, the rector and strategic planning task force began to identify St. John s Core Values and Core Purpose. Through regular reports and conversation, vestry members and commission chairs were invited to give their input. The result was the Statement of our Mission, Values, Purposes and Strategic Plan, which was finalized at the March 2011 vestry retreat. The plan was published and distributed to the parish both electronically and in print. It guided our decisions, affirmed our direction, and inspired collaborative projects among ministries to try new approaches. Although the need for a written plan of action was consistently identified for every goal, a written plan was not developed for each goal. Instead, new planning of events within each ministry moved the goal forward. Goals that most strongly meet the objectives stated in the strategic plan are: Strengthen integration of The Parish Day School (SJPDS) and the Parish (SJEC) Build a culture that embraces and emulates our mission, values, and goals Celebrate our youth by building on the energy of our existing parish Develop a culture of giving through generosity Leverage existing and develop new Outreach initiatives that increase the interconnectedness of our diverse communities Increased connection and inclusivity across our many diverse communities through fellowship For each goal, a summary of how the goals were met and measured follows: Strengthen the integration of the SJPDS and SJEC. The newly formed Common Life Commission brought together the parish and school to honor the 10 th anniversary of September 11 with the Pennants for Peace Project. Families and students of all ages were invited to make a pennant in the school colors, which were then hung along Frederick Road. A Celebration of Remembrance and Peace to mark the anniversary and bless the pennants was held on 9-11-11 at the Labyrinth. The Common Life Commission continued to improve communication, share their mission, and build mutual understanding over the next two years. In the fall of 2013 the commission had matured so that the Chaplain s position was renamed Chaplain for Common Life. The Chaplain now chairs the CLC, has incorporated a range of current and alumni parents, and added alumni events. The goal is measured by the weekly communication among parish, school, members, and parents; by the initiation of new programs; and by the integration of the chaplain more deeply into the daily fabric of the school. 6
Build a culture that embraces and emulates our mission, values, and goals. Vestry members embrace the interplay around Spirituality, Fellowship, and Service at meetings and in their relationships in the parish. Priorities for the vestry are: Relationship between SJPDS and SJEC Communication with the commissions, including an assigned monthly commission visit at each vestry meeting Keep the broad, balanced view of many ministries creating the whole ministry of SJEC Annual retreat for Planning (spring) Annual retreat for Leadership Development (fall) Leadership Development forums (fall and spring) Attendance at key events Support of stewardship process both with financial commitments and communications Serve the many capacities in the parish Lend leadership to new initiatives: YAC ministry rotations, CLC, Slow Food, Reclaiming the Gospel of Peace, Stewardship Committee, rector s sabbatical, SJPDS leadership transition Celebrate our youth by building on the existing parish youth program. This goal was achieved most notably in three important ways. First, the Young Adults in Church (YAC) cohort took a significant step by creating ministry rotations. The 17-18 year old age group that comprises YAC participates in various types of ministry, both internal and external. Within the parish, they connect to members across generations and to leaders throughout the parish. The objective is to build and provide the YAC cohort with a range of ministries to choose from as they grow in college. Second, the Survivor Sunday School process has been documented and digitalized. The lesson plans and activities will soon be accessible for other parishes to use. And third, the college ministry and beyond has been strengthened through two college internships, a college group mission trip to Kenya, and continuing the foundation of Guardian Angels for our college students. Develop a culture of giving through generosity. Our goal of generosity focused on the ministry of the Stewardship Committee. Beginning in 2011, the theological foundation of God s generosity to use and our grateful response was the core of the committees message. Recognizing that education requires repeated and intentional messages, the implementation of the goal is evident in the consistent expression of images, mailings, digital, and print of each year s theme. Preaching across the clergy team was designed to express that year s theme. Generosity was taught in forums, through adult classes on financial management, by offering guidance, and setting goals for participation. The culture of generosity continues to be shaped. However, the measurement of that culture is being built by a year-round stewardship process, invitation to new 7
members to pledge in New Member forums, at baptisms, in spring mailings, and by converting regular contributors to those who regularly pledge. In addition, regular follow-up contact by vestry, pledging by vestry, growing comfortable with pledging with a wide range of seasonal requests, financial support, and expressions of thanks complete the many ways we engage the year-round stewardship process. The vestry and stewardship committee are always identifying ways to improve and enhance the message. Leverage existing and develop new Outreach initiatives that increase the interconnectedness of our diverse communities. Participation in Outreach activities and within the organizations of SJEC was a key focus of the Outreach Commission. They created Service Over Self (SOS), a day where all ages of SJPDS and SJEC serve together with hands-on projects. It was enthusiastically received by the parish, and we all proudly wear our SOS tee shirts. Carefully planned and recruited the first two years, SOS offered spring and fall days for volunteers to serve in six different locations. The creation of SOS addressed all the dimensions of this goal. As a program, it has room to broaden in participation, leader recruitment, and times to serve. Increased connection and inclusivity across our many diverse communities through fellowship. Increased collaboration among individual ministries accomplished this goal. Commission Chairs were encouraged to expand their ministries by partnering with another commission. These collaborations include Pastoral Care and Youth Ministries, Outreach and Common Life Commission, Fellowship of the Table with Hospitality, and Parish Life with specific invitations to new members to events such as The Living Crèche and the Progressive Dinner. More collaborations include a designated volunteer to follow up with visitor cards, expanded clergy and lay participation in New Member Forums, enhanced hospitality among ushers, greeters, vergers, and members on Sunday mornings, SJPDS chaplain connected to school families for welcome and for pastoral care, and new members added to both the adult and youth choir. However, over the last three years the diversity of the Parish Life Commission had challenged centralized leadership. One volunteer coordinator is stretched too thin to oversee all the fellowship events of the program year. The Parish Life Commission now centers around the following four main events: Parish Fair, Living Crèche, Progressive Dinner, and Dinners for Eight. Other fellowship groups continue to meet according to the participants schedules. The other goals named in the report were realized only in part or realized in a way different from the original description. 8
Create and implement an effective communication strategy and approach to engage the many communities across the parish, the day school, and our broader community. The key ingredient for developing a strategy is focusing on the message. Historically, St John s focuses on the many events happening in the parish. The weekly announcements are a good example of information that is considered communication. This goal did not evaluate approaches or gaps. For example, communications on Sunday reaches only one quarter of the congregation. In order to bridge this known gap, the communication team of Kendle and Carol focused on vehicles. We expanded the Blessings enews, Facebook, and blog. SJPDS disseminated messages and communication from the SJEC staff. Enrich adult faith lives by implementation of a Journey through Adulthood program. The parish knows well the Journey to Adulthood program with age cohorts for each team development stage. A similar process was envisioned for adults. The 2011 Associate Rector position focused on Adult Formation. Rather than develop an age cohort process, a year of experimentation with subjects, session, and timing began. Topics such as the bible, spirituality, life transitions, and sacraments were offered in one or multiple week sessions. The parish adults attended more frequently the multiple week series on spirituality. Adult Faith Formation now offers this focus twice a year with smaller group offerings for bible study, contemplative prayer, funeral preparation, adult confirmation preparation, money management, and issues of peace making. Additional EfM and bible study groups meet throughout the week. The Adult Faith Formation process has been revised and renewed at St. John s through the strong focus on spirituality on Sundays and multiple small groups throughout the week. Focus on Vocational Care so that our leaders, clergy and lay, are nurtured, supported, and growing as individuals, as beautiful people, as well as serving within the congregation in Spirituality, Service, and Fellowship. The Ministry Resident Program (MRP) is the one aspect of this goal that has been achieved. Begun in 2013, our first resident, Melinda Artman, arrived at St. John s. In concert with the MRP process, she worked thirty hours per week at the parish while completing the requirements of the M.Div. at Virginia Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, she served full time at the parish for one year from June 2013 to June 2014. Our second resident, Bernard Anderson, began in June 2014. Each resident engages in the core areas of ministry: preaching, teaching, and pastoral care while learning the many dimensions of parish life. Each resident meets with various levels of support, from weekly mentoring sessions with clergy, to a parish support team, to cohort seminars through VTS. Another aspect of this goal was achieved by the Rector s sabbatical from April 19, 2013 to August 19, 2013. The Clergy Renewal Program of the Lilly Endowment provided the financial resources for the sabbatical. 9
The clergy team has not realized a monthly Quiet Day, an annual retreat, or regular continuous education. The reason is the lack of financial resources. Integrate the vitality of the music ministry across the church, school, and extended community. The Task Force met once. From that first meeting, Progressive Worship was launched. The objective was to bring the 9 a.m. worshipping congregations together. On a fall Sunday, worship begins in All Saints Hall and continues through the Creed. Members worship in open space, with contemporary music, and through the hands-free experience of power point. The congregation then progresses outside to the labyrinth for the Prayers of the People and the Confession. The progression then moves to the Historic Church for the Peace and the Liturgy of the Table. Members of both 9 a.m. services experience three styles of worship: contemporary, contemplative, and traditional all in one morning. Aspects of this goal that were not met include creating a three-year vision for integration of music across SJPDS and ASH, and HC and the choirs. Also not realized was the identification of needed actions and resources in these key areas: Musical integration Support of the ASH musicians Consistent choirs at the 9:00 and 11:30 services in the HC Enhanced opportunities for the youth choir 10