Introduction
Part One: What Is Strategic Planning?
Chapter 1 The Basics
What is Planning?
Three Questions of Congregational Formation
There Are Different Forms of Planning
What Is Appropriate Planning?
How Much Time Will Planning Take?
Chapter 2: Questions to Ask Before Planning
Will Strategic Planning Fix Our Congregation?
Is Planning Complicated?
What Are the Benefits of Planning?
What Should We Ask Before We Begin?
The Journey Continues
Chapter 3: The Full Planning Process
An Overview of the Planning Process
Phases and Tasks of the Planning Model
Giving Feedback to the Congregation
Engaging In Bible or Text Study
Part Two: Taking the Process Apart
Chapter 4: Phase One: Getting Ready
Congregational Training For Planning
Committee Selection and Training
Needs Assessment
Chapter 5: Phase Two: Collecting Data
What is Data?
Learnings
Chapter 6: Phase Three: Shaping the Future
Mission Statements and Vision Statements
Objectives, Goals, and Recommendations
Board Approval and Referral of Action Plans and Implementation
Giving Voice to the Congregation
Part Three: Issues in Strategic Planning
Chapter 7: Energy to Plan
Pain as Energy Source
Hope as Energy Source
Vision as Energy Source
Chapter 8: Where Does Vision Come From?
A Congregational Theory of Vision Formation
A Pastoral Theory of Vision Formation
A Connectional Theory of Vision Formation
Vision as Meaning We Make Together
Chapter 9: Reading the Congregation’s Culture
Culture and Narrative
Culture and Size
Culture as Tool Kit in the Planning Process
Chapter 10: Reading the Community Context
Time Line
Pin Map
Walk-Around and Drive-Around Exercises
Exploring Network Maps
Interviews with Community Leaders
Demographics and Psychographics
Trends in the Wider Culture
Chapter 11: Spiritual Discernment and Planning
My Desire
Our Desire
God’s Desire
Formal Communal Discernment Methods
Finding Powerful Images
Chapter 12: Key Roles in the Planning Process
The Planning Committee
The Planning Chair
The Pastor
The Governing Board
The Consultant or Facilitator
Chapter 13: Involving the Congregation
Identifying De Facto Leaders
Staying Visible on the Congregation’s Radar Screen
Use of Surveys
Use of Home Meetings
Use of Large Group Exercises
Retreats
Part Four: What It Looks Like in Practice
Chapter 14: Planning in Congregations of Different Sizes
How Size Affects Planning
A Final Note on Size
Chapter 15: Common Driving Issues
We Are About to Expand the Staff.
We Are Overcrowded.
Anticipating a Capital Campaign
Our Long-tenured Pastor is Nearing Retirement Age
We Are Experiencing Tensions Over Growth
We Are in Persistent Decline and Need to Redevelop
We Do Strategic Planning as an Organizational Discipline
Chapter 16: Annual Planning Retreats
Developmental Planning at an Annual Retreat
Frame Bending at an Annual Retreat
A Final Reflection
Resources
- Questions for Leaders to Ask Continually Throughout the Planning Process
- Questions for Leaders to Keep in Mind When Planning to Plan
- Types of Planning
- Finding Our Biblical Story
- Understanding Your Congregation’s Life Cycle
- Healthy versus Unhealthy Conflict Index
- A Road Map to the Full Planning Process
- Building a Planning Committee
- How Many Triangles?
- Excavating the Religious Cultures of the Congregation
- Generational Watershed
- Favorite Hymn Exercise
- Wall of Wonder
- History Grid
- Membership Pin Maps
- Whom Do We Draw?
- Neighborhood Walk
- Network Maps (Ammerman, Carroll, Dudley, McKinney)
- Community Leader Interviews
- Snapshot Page, Ministry Area Profile (The Percept Group)
- Worksheet for Studying Ministry Area Profile
- The Abilene Paradox Goes to Church (Jerry Kirkpatrick)
- A Short Guide to Lectio Divina (Corinne Ware)
- An Oral Tradition Approach to Bible Study
- A Time of Centering at the Start of a Meeting (Roy Oswald)
Endnotes
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