The United Church of Mapleton

The United Church of MapletonWE ARE UNITEDThe Visioning ProcessA Healthy Church Coming into FocusVision Committee ReportUnited Church Official BoardAugust 28, 2013

1Committee HistoryFormed January 20, 2013 (Annual Meeting)At the time, this was the charge and the purpose of the group.

This Committee is to:Develop a Mission Statement for our ChurchDevelop a Vision Statement for our ChurchIdentify and understand Core Values of our ChurchIdentify necessary minor revisions to our Constitution and propose required amendmentsDevelop a 3-5 year Strategic PlanPrepare a written report for Official Board by Sept. 2013Throughout the process the Groups work is to have transparency.2Committee MembersMembers Hugo John, Michael Johnson, Lisa Shubert, Chad Kunkel, Dick DietzEx-Officio Members Church Moderator David Ward, Pastor Ashley WhitakerConsultant - Kathy Stutzman

When I wrote The Purpose Driven Church, I predicted that church health not church growth would be the primary concern of the 21st Century church. I believe that prediction is proving itself true. Rick Warren

3Tasks CompletedConstitutional Amendment PassedTemporary amendment allowing board/committee numbers to be adjustedFormulated Mission Statement from questionnaires from the congregation.Drafted Strategic PlanDeveloped New Ministry teams as part of Strategic PlanMeeting with Official Board on August 28, 2013 with written and presented report

Church health is the key to church growth. All living things grow if theyre healthy. You dont have to make them grow its just natural for living organisms. Rick Warren

4 8 DEFINED Core Values

CommunityCompassionRespectHeritage FriendshipOpennessForgivenessSpirituality

Since the church is a living organism, its natural for it to grow if its healthy. The church is a Body, not a business an organism, not an organization. Its alive. If a church is not growing, it is dying. Rick Warren

5NEW Mission Statement6The Strategic Plan1-2 year Strategic PlanMinistry Team ModelThe following slides will:Introduce Ministry Team ModelDescribe relationship between Ministry Teams and existing Boards/CommitteesIntroduce Ministry Team Tasks (Short Term and Long Term)Illustrate the Ministry Team structureDescribe the four Ministry Teams and their proposed tasksCurrent Committees and New Ministry TeamsAll existing standing Committees/Boards will stay in place and not be changed. Ministry Teams will be started in addition to and separate from Committees/Boards. Though some Ministry Teams look similar to Committees/Boards, Committees/Boards will not be expected to do Ministry Team work.Committee/Board members are not required to join a Ministry Team.Anyone from the congregation can join a Ministry Team. The Ministry Team Model will exist on a trial/ad hoc basis, separate from the current normal structure of the church according to the ConstitutionThe Official Board will recruit and appoint a Coach to oversee the four Ministry Teams and a Shepherd to oversee one Ministry Team each.These Ministry Team appointments will last for one year.

Strategic Plan - Ministry Team Tasks DefinedShort Term and Long Term Ministry Task leaders and Ministry Task members are invited to join according to their interests and passions. Members may come and go. Supporting Ministry Tasks is not an appointment.The Official Board will empower the Coach, Shepherds, and Ministry Teams to do their work apart from Official Boards direct supervision or management. Only the Coach will provide updates directly to the Official Board.Strategic Plan - Short Term Ministry Team TasksShort Term Ministry Team Tasks are those that can be completed within 3-6 months from the Strategic Plan launch.After a Short Term Ministry Team Task is completed, it will either end or a maintenance plan will be developed so it can continue.A new Short Term Ministry Team Task will then be selected by the Team Shepherd and started.Strategic Plan -Long Term Ministry Team TasksLong Term Ministry Team Tasks are those that can be completed within 9-12 months from the Strategic Plan launch.After a Long Term Ministry Team Task is completed, it will either end or a maintenance plan will be developed so it can continueA new Long Term Ministry Team Task will then be selected by the Team Shepherd and startedNew Ministry Teams4 NEW Ministry TeamsCommunityAll "community team" events are open to both the church and the Maple River community. Community team events are educational or informational, aimed mainly at the Maple River community at large (while including The United Church).

Short Term: Book ForumLong Term: Contemporary Issue Forum134 NEW Ministry Teams (continued)Fellowship Ministry TeamFellowship team events are aimed mainly at The United Church members (while also open to Maple River community at large). Fellowship events are mainly focused on fun and friendship.

Short Term: Cook-Off Competition (chili, BBQ, grilling, wild game, pork...)Long Term: Parent(s) Day Off (or Night Out)

144 NEW Ministry Teams (continued)Spiritual Care Ministry TeamThe Spiritual Care team focuses on congregant care and the spiritual life of the congregation outside of the weekly worship service(s).

Short Term: Prayer Ministry (prayer chain, prayer team)Long Term: Long Term Lay Visitation Team (trained laity group focused on long term spiritual care needs: shut-in, elderly, nursing home...)

154 NEW Ministry Teams (continued)Mission Ministry TeamThe Mission team focuses on local, national, and international service, outreach, and mission projects of the church.

Short Term: Heifer ProjectLong Term: Intergenerational Mission Project (Urban project in Cities, Habitat for Humanity...)

16The United Church of MapletonWe are UnitedNew Initiative Ministry Team Implementation Diagram3 Cornerstone MinistriesThese ministries are separate from the Ministry Team model and include ongoing ministries of the church that will be maintained in the future.

WorshipWeekly WorshipChoirMusicDiaconate led ordinancesFaith Formation (Christian Education)Sunday School Bible StudyYouth Group, Childrens MinistryConfirmationAdministrationBoard of Trustees led ministriesBuilding / Equipment / PropertyPersonnelChurch Finances18Recommendations for the Official BoardWhat Now? Whats Next?Consider/Adopt proposed Mission Statement.Consider/Adopt proposed Strategic Plan.The Official Board will create a plan to recruit the Ministry Team Coach and the four Ministry Team Shepherds as soon as possible.The Official Board will plan a Congregational Meeting to present the Mission Statement, Strategic Plan, and Ministry Team model in about 4-6 weeks.This meeting will include the opportunity for the congregation to sign up for Ministry Team Tasks they are interested in.The Official Board will evaluate the Ministry Team model in one year and in two years.The Official Board will not plan to revise the structure of the United Church according to the Constitution until after the two year evaluation.

19Something to Think About20Congregational VitalityCongregational vitality is the capacity to create and sustain a meaningful Christ-centered, faith-based existence that focuses more on being on mission than on maintenance. Congregational vibrancy exists when a congregation expresses obvious passion around its vision for a future in ways that captivate its spiritual imagination. This vision energizes the churchs disciple-making processes and missional actions. Through spiritual discernment, the congregation knows who they are under God and where God is leading them, and they are intentionally moving in the direction of a shared vision.George Bullard21