Wilson First United Methodist Church 2011-2016 Strategic Plan

[Pages:14]Wilson First United Methodist Church

2011-2016 Strategic Plan

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High Performance Strategic Plan

This strategic plan is the result of months of work by our Church Council and our ministers at Wilson First United Methodist Church (FUMC). It provides the direction for our mission, ministries, and budgeting for the next five years.

Why do we need a long-term strategic plan? We need to be focused on the goals and strategies that will enable our members to create a 21st century church that celebrates the traditions of our great church and prepares our members and our church for great service within the church and the community.

We have set ambitious goals. We have to aim high because the world needs Christ and FUMC should be the means through which the lost come to Christ. A strategic plan guides us in the church's journey and governs the decisions of every minister and committee. The actions steps in this plan are designed to help us reach those goals.

We are to be the body of Christ and we need to improve spirituality, serve our neighbors and community and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. This plan provides us with specific actions to that end.

VISION STATEMENT

First United Methodist Church will be a welcoming, vibrant family transforming lives through Christ.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Wilson First United Methodist Church is to... Invite ...all people to become disciples of Christ. Inspire ...all people through worship, education and fellowship. Ignite ...all people into life-changing mission, service and generosity to others.

CORE VALUES

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and we worship Him in spirit and truth (John

3:16; John 1:4; Jude 1:25; Isaiah 43:11)

The Bible is the true Word of God (John 1:1; Hebrews 4:12; Col. 3:16; Eph. 6:17;

Psalm 119; 1 Peter 1:24)

Prayer is an essential part of our lives (Phil. 4:6; Proverbs 15:29; Psalm 6:9; Mark

11:24; Matthew 21:22)

All are welcome (Matthew 11:28; 1 John 4:11-12; 1 John 4:19)

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We love one another, providing compassion and support for our church family and

beyond (1 John 3:11; 1 John 4:19; 1 John 4:16; John 13:34; Matthew 22:39; John 15:17;

Zec. 7:9; Matthew 11:28; Ephesians 4:32)

We love and minister to our youth, involving them in the life of the church (Matthew

19:14; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 78:5; Mark 9:37)

All are encouraged to discover and use their spiritual gifts to the glory of God

(Romans 1:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10; Hebrews 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11)

We are disciples of God and are called to make disciples of others (Matthew 28:19;

Mark 16:20)

We are called to share our faith with all people (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 20;

Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 10:6-8; 2 Timothy 4:2)

We minister to the spiritual and physical needs of humankind in our local

community and throughout the world (Matthew 28:19; Matthew 10:6-8; Matthew 25:34-

40; Mark 12: 30-34a; James 1:27a; Isaiah 61:1; 1 Peter 5:2)

The Strategic Plan

Our strategic plan is based on the book, The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, by Bishop Robert Schnase. The book describes practices that shape and sustain congregations. Vibrant, growing, fruitful congregations repeat and deepen certain fundamental activities, seeking to perform them with excellence: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. These edgy words focus us on the appropriate work that helps us fulfill the mission of the church. Congregations offer the invitation and welcome of Christ, provide worship that connects us to God and to one another, offer opportunities for people to grow in Christ by learning in community, relieve suffering and improve the conditions of people in need through service and mission, and teach people to give of themselves.

Five Practices of Fruitful Living moves the discussion of Christian practice from the congregational level to the personal practices of discipleship. The fruitful, God-related life develops with intentional and repeated attention to five essential practices that are critical for our growth in Christ. We invite God into our lives and make room for God in our hearts, we love God in return, we purposefully cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our spiritual growth, we serve and love others, and we allow God to shape our giving. Through these practices, God changes us from the inside out and works through us to transform the world.

Radical Hospitality

The Congregational Practice of Radical Hospitality

Congregations that practice Radical Hospitality demonstrate an active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. Radical describes that which is drastically

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different from ordinary practices, outside the normal, that which exceeds expectations and goes the second mile.

The Personal Practice of Radical Hospitality

Radical Hospitality in our personal walk with Christ begins with an extraordinary receptivity to the grace of God. In distinctive and personal ways, we invite God into our hearts and make space for God in our lives. We say Yes to God and open ourselves to the spiritual life. We accept God's love and acceptance of us. We receive God's love and offer it to others.

Passionate Worship

The Congregational Practice of Passionate Worship

Worship describes those times we gather deliberately seeking to encounter God in Christ. God uses worship to transform lives, heal wounded souls, renew hope, shape decisions, provoke change, inspire compassion, and bind people to one another. The word passionate expresses an intense desire, an ardent spirit, strong feelings, and the sense of heightened importance. Congregations who practice Passionate Worship offer their utmost and highest; they expect worship to be the most important hour of the week.

The Personal Practice of Passionate Worship

Through the personal practice of Passionate Worship, we learn to love God in return. Followers of Christ develop patterns of listening to God, allowing God to shape our hearts and minds through prayer, personal devotion, and community worship. We love God.

Intentional Faith Development

The Congregational Practice of Intentional Faith Development

Intentional Faith Development refers to all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship, such as bible studies, Sunday School classes, support groups, and prayer teams. Congregations who practice Intentional Faith Development offer opportunities for people to learn in community for people at all stages of faith. They offer ministries that help people grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God. Intentional refers to deliberate effort, purposeful action, and high priority.

The Personal Practice of Intentional Faith Development

Through the personal practice of Intentional Faith Development, we do the soul work that connects us to others, immerses us in God's Word, and positions us to grow in grace and mature in Christ. We place ourselves in the most advantageous circumstances to learn and grow in our

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following of Christ. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our own spiritual maturation. We learn in community.

Risk-Taking Mission & Service

The Congregational Practice of Risk-Taking Mission and Service

Mission and Service refers to the projects, efforts, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever become part of the community of faith. Risk-taking pushes us out of our comfort zone, stretching us beyond service to people we already know, exposing us to people, situations, and needs that we would never ordinarily encounter apart from our deliberate intention to serve Christ. Congregations who practice Risk-taking Mission and Service offer endless opportunities for people to make a difference in lives of others through service projects, volunteer opportunities, and mission initiatives.

The Personal Practice of Risk-Taking Mission and Service

The personal practice of Risk-Taking Mission and Service involves offering ourselves in purposeful service to others in need, making a positive difference even at significant personal cost and inconvenience to our own lives. We offer ourselves, our gifts and abilities and passions, to God so God can use us to transform the world by relieving suffering. We serve.

Extravagant Generosity

The Practice of Extravagant Generosity

Generosity describes the Christian's unselfish willingness to give in order to make a positive difference for the purposes of Christ. Congregations that practice Extravagant Generosity provide ministries that address our spiritual need to give in ways that exceed all expectations and extend to unexpected measures. Fruitful congregations thrive because of extraordinary sharing, willing sacrifice, and joyous giving out of love for God and neighbor.

The Personal Practice of Extravagant Generosity

Through the practice of Extravagant Generosity, we offer our material resources in a manner that supports the causes that transform life and relieve suffering and that enlarges the soul and sustains the spirit. God uses our giving to reconfigure our interior lives and form us anew. We give back.

The goals and strategies that follow will take our church to a level of service that will enable First United Methodist Church to become a fruitful congregation. Every member is challenged to become an active part of this transformational experience.

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STRATEGIC PLAN-AT-A-GLANCE

1. Radical Hospitality

1.1 Increase the ways in which people in the Wilson community hear about FUMC. 1.1.1 Develop an outward focus from FUMC into the community and develop outreach communication through personal contact, radio, television and electronic media including the Internet, email and through electronic social networking. 1.1.2 Evaluate and expand communication systems, attentive to non-members as well as members. 1.1.3 Utilize multiple media outlets and mailings to inform the community of our ministries and provide invitations to visit. 1.1.4 Conduct an evaluation on all systems for inviting, welcoming and following-through with visitors.

1.2 Develop a plan for welcoming visitors who attend worship, children's programs, bible studies, support groups and other ministries of the church. 1.2.1 Establish a welcome center for visitors to get information on services provided and directions to important places in the church. 1.2.2 Establish an appropriate means of identifying visitors for current church attendees to insure personal contact and to welcome them to FUMC. 1.2.3 Develop a significant visitor follow up initiative. 1.2.4 Improve signage on the property and in the church to direct visitors to the welcome center and other places to get information. 1.2.5 Designate parking for visitors and provide appropriate signage.

1.3 Provide training for laity and clergy to enhance hospitality. 1.3.1 Train greeters to determine services that visitors and members might need to enhance their FUMC experience. 1.3.2 Train ushers to enthusiastically welcome church attendees to FUMC and escort them to their seats. 1.3.3 Teach a lesson on Radical Hospitality in every adult and young adult Sunday School class annually.

1.4 Emphasize ministries that support the spiritual and emotional needs of members and constituents, while seeking new ways and services to minister to their needs. 1.4.1 Appoint a congregational care committee to create, coordinate and facilitate meaningful ways of supporting, encouraging and ministering to FUMC members. 1.4.2 Provide activities that create opportunities for members to engage with each other, including the elderly who are unable to attend services at the church. 1.4.3 Create and support regular opportunities for members to share prayer concerns, praises and announcements. 1.4.4 Create laity led small groups that provide for meaningful personal

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connections, correspondence and visitation among members.

2. Passionate Worship

2.1 Deepen the worship life of FUMC in the traditional worship service. 2.1.1 Present worship opportunities that actively engages, genuinely connects, personally addresses and deeply challenges congregants to anticipate and expect God's presence in worship. 2.1.2 Effectively utilize timing, balance, variation, flow, theme and movement as important means to achieve a multi-sensory worship experience to draw people to worship. 2.1.3 Evaluate the sound system and sound protocol so the sound system is crystal clear and to insure that mikes are on at the correct times. 2.1.4 Develop a prayer ministry that supports the pastors and ministry teams. 2.1.5 Hold a worship retreat to educate members on each element of worship, on how and why it is done and develop ideas for improving the worship experience and to reinforce the theological underpinnings of all aspects of the worship service.

2.2 Begin a contemporary worship service. 2.2.1 Start an alternative worship service with quality and careful planning to reach a different constituency. 2.2.2 Implement the proposal from the Worship Committee to add a third service on Sunday mornings.

3. Intentional Faith Development

3.1 Develop a spiritual growth plan for offering Christian learning opportunities for every age group and stage of faith category. 3.1.1 Encourage Bible study by offering Disciple Bible Study each year, weekly Bible studies and begin a singles and/or college study groups and Sunday School classes. 3.1.2 Have at least one congregation-wide, every household period of common prayer and reading each year. 3.1.3 Encourage every member to participate in a minimum of one faithlearning, spiritual formation event per year.

3.2 Encourage all Sunday School classes and study groups to actively recruit members. 3.2.1 All classes and study group will invite two new members each month. 3.2.2 Hold a membership campaign each August for all Sunday School classes and study groups.

4. Risk-taking Mission and Service

4.1 Develop new mission opportunities to serve the Wilson community.

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4.1.1 Have monthly Mission Moments in worship in which a layperson involved in a service ministry shares his/her experiences and issues invitations.

4.1.2 Every Sunday School class, study group and team in the congregation will support a mission project, financially or through volunteering.

4.2 Increase support for existing mission programs. 4.2.1 Collect canned goods for Wesley Shelter and Hope Station through the Summer Blessings programs, increasing the number of canned items each year by 10%. 4.2.2 Collect food items, supplemented with perishables for the White Gift Service boxes, increasing the number of items each year by 10 %. 4.2.3 Provide financial support for Wesley Shelter and Hope Station through the church budget and special offerings.

5. Extravagant Generosity

5.1 Teach, preach and practice the tithe and proportional giving. 5.1.1 Develop the spiritual foundation among the members of FUMC to tithe or begin the journey toward tithing. 5.1.2 Educate the congregation on its obligation of financial stewardship.

5.2 Offer a high-quality, multi-week, lay and clergy-led, theologically sound opportunity for members to pledge and to step up their giving to support the church. 5.2.1 Hold conversations about Extravagant Generosity in every adult class. 5.2.2 Conduct Bible studies on giving as a product of spiritual formation. 5.2.3 Increase operating revenue by 10 percent each year.

5.3 Create high-trust, transparent, accurate and audited financial and financial reporting systems for the congregation. 5.3.1 Provide monthly reports to the congregation on the financial status of FUMC. 5.3.2 Conduct an annual audit and report the findings to the congregation.

5.4 Evaluate the current FUMC facilities and address future needs. 5.4.1 Develop a facilities plan for FUMC. 5.4.2 Raise funds for facility improvements. 5.4.3 Determine the need for construction of a family life center, and if needed, develop a plan for gaining financial commitments for the project.

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