St Martin’s-in-the-Veld

Parish Planning DaySaturday 4th May 2013

AGENDA PAPER

• Welcome

• Programme for the Day

• Objectives / Rules of Engagement

• Strategic Plan Review

• SWOT Analysis / Bucket List

• Feedback / Action Items / Tasks / Quick Wins / Improvement Projects

• Deliverables and Metrics

• Appoint Champions

• Feedback to all Parishioners

• Closing Comments

• Closure

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

• No shaming or blaming

• Do not become personal

• No name calling

• Be brief and to the point (guillotine method)

• Be objective

• Be fair and equitable

• Speak your mind / be direct

• Listen without interrupting

• Be honest

• Stick to the Discussion Topic

• Always bear in the mind the “bigger” picture

• Think as a team player

• How do we grow the church ?

The Conversation Model

Based on the book by CHANTELL ILLBURY & CLEM SUNTER called GAMES FOXES PLAY (Planning for EXTRAORDINARY times).

The First Phase – defining the game – comprises five (5) steps:

1. Scope of the game2. The Players3. Rules of the game4. Key uncertainties5. Scenarios

The Second phase – playing the game – also has five (5) steps:

6. SWOT7. Options8. Decisions9. Measurable outcomes10. The meaning of winning

PLAYING THE GAME

DEFINING THE GAME

9 Measurable Outcomes

6 SWOT

1 Scope5

Scenarios

4 Key

Uncertainties3

Rules of the Game

2 Players

10 Meaning of

Winning

7 Options

8 Decisions

STRENGTHS

Generous Variety of worship / 4 services of different styles to cater for needs of different

communities within the church. Friendly and caring Professional and educated Supports a surprisingly high number of ministries Supports the Vuleka School Project Outreach ministries - Vibrant school on premises Beautiful church building and gardens Large hall and adequate office space / good infrastructure Good Administration with fulltime verger, receptionist, efficient management of finances. Acknowledged “brand” as a church with long history of outreach ministries and church

planting (well established) Enjoys a reasonable level of income Excellent organ, active choir Attracting a multicultural congregation / Diverse congregation

WEAKNESSES

Allowed ourselves to be bullied (congregants / Diocese) Lack of commitment Too few members of congregation involved in its activities – St Martins relies on a relatively

small nucleus Church lacks vibrancy and ongoing manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit Still “doing church” as we have done in the past and so not attracting new and diverse

members of the Parish. Income is not adequate to maintain infrastructure and ministries at levels which will

reinvigorate the church. Infrastructure relatively shabby – need to upgrade. Money? Are we in a rut? Are we trying new ideas, approaches? Do not listen to one another Lack of clear Vision and Mission Do not spend enough time listening to what God is asking us to do (Retreats, etc) Are we really bring people into God’s Kingdom? Youth ministry - not meeting the needs of the parents Younger families tend to live outside the areas we typically have drawn people from Sunday school a pale shadow of what it used to be. Young adults / Young families - dedicated Clergy responsibility

WEAKNESSES CONTINUED

Alternate Church Warden/s Are we providing the leadership needed? Succession Planning Prayer - more prayer opportunities required Prayer commitment/ activity adequate? Lack of Spiritual growth (lack of mentorship and prayer) Get Real Services taking place in the hall Perceived split between Get Real and the Church Changing congregation – old residential areas becoming smaller. Demands of Diocese can be distracting for clergy and staff. Lack of biblical teaching Relative lack of outgoing, evangelising ministry Poor quality of music / singing especially at 9.30 service Portfolios collapsing – lack of commitment? Home groups are “cliquey” and can be unwelcoming to newcomers Home groups may be wasting away – need leadership and cohesion Home Groups co-ordinator Poor communication relating to St Martin's as a training parish, turnover of staff, etc No Alpha course

THREATS

Are we relevant? Complacency Busyness of leaders and congregation / Business of people living in our area Number of portfolios leading to lack of focus 09h30 Service - music group Get Real Service - lack of direction and pastoring Evensong changing time of service to accommodate Get Real Service Rapidly changing suburb and environment Lack of a clear vision and strategic plan / Are we trying to be everything to everybody Growing number of older parishioners Older members likely to retire to places relatively far from St Martins – may lose them. Dwindling congregation and possibility of becoming irrelevant in our community. Young adults leaving St. Martins / attending Sunday School at St Paul's If we fail to attract new and ideally younger members St Martins is likely to fade away. If we fail to retain our younger members we are also likely to fade away. Alternate activities that attract the young people (clubs, malls) and old people (golf,

weekends away)

THREATS CONTINUED

Staff leaving / Need to replace key staff members (clergy, youth pastor, verger) who are phasing out

Security - especially with Vuleka Adequate Security for the entire premises? Failing our Lord and Saviour

OPPORTUNITIES

Every member ministry Mission and evangelism (St Martin's in-the-inner-city) / St Martin's-in-the-workplace /

Alpha in the workplace We need a vision which will excite and get the support and involvement of the Parish. Attracting new members in changed environment of Rosebank Transformative projects Attract new, energetic and passionate staff members New Parish Lay Ministers (review role) Revitalise Home Groups Move Get Real Services into the Church Build on a nucleus of younger members involved in Get Real service. Be compassionate, caring and love one another deeply Pray / Prayer meetings New Youth Pastor attending Youth ministry training Youth ministry training (4G) Develop a Sunday school which attracts participation

OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUED

Develop a Sunday school which attracts participation Bring younger members into the mainstream of St Martins and provide the type of worship

that attracts them Use Luke’s example of the RC Church in Rome for planning ALL services * Teaching and spiritual growth offered to congregation and in Home Groups Provide inspirational leadership Communication Plan Capitalize on what works, such as combined services followed by a tea/braai. Plan for regular combined services throughout the year and advise the congregation

accordingly at the start of the year ie once a month. Prepare and publish an annual Church activity/special services plan for parishioners to

include above. Build a caring community ie follow-up on parishioners who stop attending Church regularly,

leave the Church. Appoint and publish the names of parishioners who are responsible for portfolios/activities

ie Who is responsible for sides persons?

A growing, vibrant, worshipping community which attracts and supports people of all ages from a wide range of backgrounds in finding and living in the Kingdom of God.

BUCKET LIST

VISION AND STRATEGIC PLAN INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP PARISHIONERS

HOME GROUPS TEACHING AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH / TRAINING YOUTH MINISTRY

PRAYER GET REAL WORSHIP AND MUSIC

OUTREACH & MISSION PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT PLANT & EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE

FUNDING COMMUNICATION PLAN

PARISH MATRIX

Community

GOD

GOD

GOD

Caring / Pastoral Prayer Worship / Music /

Performances

Choir

Rector

Get Real

Music Group

Young Families

Mothers Union

Liturgy

Services

Exco

Council

Clergy / Parish Lay Ministers

Administration / Catering

Portfolios, Parishioners & House Churches

Maintenance Outreach / Mission OVC Youth Intercultural

Succession Planning

Ever Changing Environment

GOD

IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

1. What are the drivers? Initiate programme. Establish the desire to change.

2. Where are we now? Define problems and opportunities. Form implementation

team.

3. Where do we want to be? Define Road Map. Communicate Outcome. Define

target state.

4. What needs to be done? Plan Programme. Identify role players. Build

improvements.

5. How do we get there? Execute plan. Operate and reuse. Implement

improvements.

6. Did we get there? Realise benefits and objectives. Embed new approaches.

7. How do we keep the momentum going? Review effectiveness. Sustain. Monitor

and evaluate.

FEEDBACK

• Feedback from Sub-Committees of Council

• Identify tasks and action items

• Identify “quick” wins and improvements

• Improvement projects

• Define deliverables

• Establish timeframes and metrics

• Appoint “CHAMPIONS”

• Mechanisms to provide feedback to Parishioners

• Establish a communication plan

CLOSURE

• Did we meet our objectives?

• Comments and suggestions?

• Future meeting dates?

• Thanks