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Vision Planning : Animating our Beliefs
Vision is the imagining of our desired future, articulated and acted on in the present. Vision is the collection of stories and images which tell us who we hope to become. It is also the actions we take today which lead us into our new reality. There is no vision without concrete plans to make it happen. There are no effective plans without a vision to direct them.

Learn more about our processes of: 		Spire
Vision Planning for Congregations
The purpose of vision planning is...
  • to evoke a compelling vision and direction for ministry
  • to discern initiatives which will help us live our vision
  • to develop, integrate and resource new initiatives
  • to energize more people for ministry
Elements of vision planning...
  • exploring the identity of the congregation and the possibilities this identity holds for the future
  • examining the congregation's connections with the neighbourhood
  • evoking the hopes and dreams of all members of the congregation for the future of the church
  • sharing faith
  • using imagination, intuition and reason
  • creating new opportunities for leadership
  • involving all ages
Outcomes...
  • new leadership
  • a deepened sense and clearer articulation of the connections between faith and daily life
  • increased awareness of gifts and skills for ministry
  • new ministries which are needed inside and outside the church
  • a coherent plan for ministry
  • new ways of organizing for ministry
Stages and processes in planning...
  1. Exploration of the opportunities and challenges for ministry. This exploration has both a personal and corporate dimension.

    Exploration involves ...
    • interviews on faith experiences
    • "dinner table" conversations to think strategically
    • demographic research on the neighbourhood and community
    • discussions on being the "People of God"
    • creative communications

  2. Exploration culminates in an intergenerational congregational event in which we bring together all we have learned to find our direction for ministry. Vision is articulated in the areas of community, worship, learning, pastoral care, social justice and evangelism. Projects and leaders emerge in these areas.

  3. Integration in a strategic plan. We identify values and direction. We develop strategies and action plans.

    Integration takes place through...
    • identifying short and long term initiatives
    • liberating organizational structures
    • involving new leadership
    • developing frameworks for implementation, volunteer support and evaluation
    • advocating for new initiatives and experiments

    The process is guided throughout by experienced Potentials' consultants and a congregational steering team.

    Vision planning processes have also been adapted for use in clusters of congregations, presbyteries, deaneries, dioceses and synods.

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    Strategic Planning for presbyteries, synods, dioceses and judicatories

    The larger body plays an important role in the life of the church. It is a sign that the church is more than isolated congregations. Part of being the church means caring for one another and being called into mission beyond our congregational boundaries.

    Creating a plan for the future through demographic and congregational analysis, outlining strategic choices, allocating resources, and building consensus is the role of the larger body.

    Potentials has worked extensively at the judicatory level to

    • create a mission plan for new church development and redevelopment
    • produce a study with options for ministry in a downtown presbytery
    • explore more effective ministry through clustering
    • conduct feasibility studies

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