Southwestern Texas Synod. GOD's People - Growing in faith, Outwardly focused, Doing mission!

Southwestern Texas Synod


GOD's People -

Growing in faith,

Outwardly focused,

Doing mission!

Strategic PlanStrategic Plan

Met in retreat September 2013Met in retreat September 2013 Conducted a SWOTT analysis:Conducted a SWOTT analysis:

StrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknesses OpportunitiesOpportunities Threats andThreats and Trends Trends


COMMON SWOTT THEMESCOMMON SWOTT THEMES

diversity/demographic change/racismdiversity/demographic change/racism

technology/communicationtechnology/communication

stewardship/project stewardship/project funding/materialism/changed giving funding/materialism/changed giving

patterns patterns


We determined that as a Synod We determined that as a Synod CouncilCouncil

we would always:we would always:


Be grounded in the Word, Worship and Be grounded in the Word, Worship and Prayer, holding true to our faith,Prayer, holding true to our faith,

promoting growth in Christpromoting growth in Christ

andand

remembering our call to serve.remembering our call to serve.


Be representative of the larger synod,Be representative of the larger synod,

be a safe space to speak and be heard,be a safe space to speak and be heard,

committed to accepting all on council,committed to accepting all on council,

and be oriented to serve. and be oriented to serve.


Value mission over institution,Value mission over institution,

never giving up we will be committed to never giving up we will be committed to our responsibilities even when difficult,our responsibilities even when difficult,

making decisions for the good of the making decisions for the good of the synod, we will not be bound by synod, we will not be bound by

nostalgia or griefnostalgia or grief

but committed to speaking the truth in but committed to speaking the truth in love.love.


Support and equip leadership by Support and equip leadership by sharing resources,sharing resources,

remember our ministry partners,remember our ministry partners,

fund ministries that are not self-fund ministries that are not self-sustaining andsustaining and

looking beyond boundaries and looking beyond boundaries and remembering the marginalized. remembering the marginalized.


Be committed to managing Be committed to managing appropriately at a board level,appropriately at a board level,

valuing transparency and visibility to valuing transparency and visibility to the synodthe synod

as we manage our fiduciary as we manage our fiduciary responsibilities.responsibilities.

Brownsville PropertyBrownsville Property


Support and equip leadership by Support and equip leadership by sharing resources,sharing resources,

remember our ministry partners,remember our ministry partners,

fund ministries that are not self-fund ministries that are not self-sustaining sustaining andand

looking beyond boundaries and looking beyond boundaries and remembering the marginalizedremembering the marginalized. .

Brownsville PropertyBrownsville Property

Mission Opportunity – Synod Council Mission Opportunity – Synod Council decided to:decided to:

Take the $43,589 in accumulated funds Take the $43,589 in accumulated funds and use as seed money for the Mission and use as seed money for the Mission Begins working groupBegins working group

Take the monthly mortgage payments and Take the monthly mortgage payments and provide seed money for the growth of provide seed money for the growth of mission in non-selfsustainable ministriesmission in non-selfsustainable ministries

What is God calling What is God calling

this Synod and our this Synod and our congregations congregations

to be?to be?

Who is my neighbor?Who is my neighbor?

% of Growth Due to Each Ethnicity in Texas, 1980-1990, 1990-2000, 2000-2007, and 2000-

2040

Source: U.S. Census Counts, and Texas State Data Center 2008 Population Projections, 0.5 Scenario

SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNODSOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNODCONGREGATION SIZECONGREGATION SIZE

SmallSmall(1 to 50)(1 to 50)

PastoralPastoral(51 to 150)(51 to 150)

ProgramProgram(151 to 350)(151 to 350)

CorporateCorporate(351 to 800)(351 to 800)

3737congregationscongregations




27.6%27.6% 50.7%50.7% 18.7%18.7% 3%3%

SOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNODSOUTHWESTERN TEXAS SYNODGROWING – STABLE – DECLININGGROWING – STABLE – DECLINING

2005 - 20102005 - 2010

GrowingGrowinggrew 5% or moregrew 5% or more

StableStablechanged -5% to changed -5% to

+5%+5%

DecliningDecliningdeclined 5% or declined 5% or

moremore




18.7%18.7% 14.2%14.2% 67.1%67.1%


GOD's People -

Growing in faith,

Outwardly focused,

Doing mission!

Missional River Missional River CongregationsCongregations

Hope, House of Prayer, Shepherd Hope, House of Prayer, Shepherd King, Good Shepherd, and Lord of King, Good Shepherd, and Lord of Life in San AntonioLife in San Antonio

Emanuel’s in SeguinEmanuel’s in Seguin St Paul in Karnes CitySt Paul in Karnes City Lord of Life and Ascension in AustinLord of Life and Ascension in Austin Spirit in the Hills in SpicewoodSpirit in the Hills in Spicewood Living Word in BudaLiving Word in Buda

Missional River CoachesMissional River Coaches

Mr. Paul PfeiferMr. Paul Pfeifer Pastor Skip WachsmannPastor Skip Wachsmann Pastor Tom GlasoePastor Tom Glasoe Pastor Patsy KoenekePastor Patsy Koeneke Pastor Marie PurcellPastor Marie Purcell

CICBA CongregationsCICBA Congregations

St. Peter's , AndersSt. Peter's , Anders St. Martin's, AustinSt. Martin's, Austin MacArthur Park, San AntonioMacArthur Park, San Antonio San Lucas, Eagle PassSan Lucas, Eagle Pass Our Savior, BoerneOur Savior, Boerne

Healthy Congregation Healthy Congregation WorkshopsWorkshops

31 workshops around the 31 workshops around the synodsynod

(19 Workshop 1, 9 Workshop 2,(19 Workshop 1, 9 Workshop 2,

3 Workshop 3) 3 Workshop 3)

17 Congregations have 17 Congregations have participated in 1 or more participated in 1 or more workshops, and 558 people workshops, and 558 people have attended these eventshave attended these events

Healthy Congregation Healthy Congregation WorkshopsWorkshops

May 31, 2014May 31, 2014Workshops Workshops 2 and 2 and 33Triumphant Love, Triumphant Love, AustinAustin

June 7, 2014June 7, 2014Workshop Workshop 11Abiding Savior, Abiding Savior, CameronCameron

June 14, 2014June 14, 2014Workshop Workshop 11Trinity,Trinity,KingsvilleKingsville

June 14, 2014June 14, 2014Workshop Workshop 22Peace,Peace,New New BraunfelsBraunfels

Way to LeadWay to Lead

Monthly webinars Monthly webinars Designed to equip Designed to equip

leadersleaders www.waytolead.orwww.waytolead.or

gg

LEAD10 MINUTETOOLBOX

““God’s Work. Our Hands.“God’s Work. Our Hands.“

““God’s Work. Our Hands.“ God’s Work. Our Hands.“ Sunday September 7, 2014Sunday September 7, 2014

Documents

Southwestern Texas Synod. GOD's People - Growing in faith, Outwardly focused, Doing mission!