FROM VISION TO

STRATEGIC PLANNING

CONGREGATIONAL

MISSION ASSESSMENT

(CMA)

AN EDUCATIONAL NUGGET BASED ON

TOM BANDY’S WRITINGS

Rev. Dr. Pablo A. Jiménez

Introduction

In our previous videos we have

studied the meaning of concepts

such as vision & mission.

We also saw two models for Church

development and growth, namely the

Declining Church and the Thriving

Church.

Strategic planning

In this occasion we turn our sight to

strategic planning, a key topic for any

Church revitalization plan.

Our video has been developed in

dialogue with Thomas G. Bandy’s

“Moving Off the Map” (Nashville:

Abingdon Press, 1998).

A Book we Strongly

Recommend

Here we will define each area, focusing on

the goals for analysis. On “Moving Off the

Map”, you will find key questions and

strategies to analyze each sub-system.

Overview of the Sub-

Systems

Foundational Sub-Systems

Congregational Identity

Congregational Identity is like an

umbrella under which all aspects of

local Church life and ministries are

embraced.

It is a living identity, both intentionally

and unintentionally revealed, which

newcomers perceive and evaluate.

Goal of Identity Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

What that “basic umbrella of

congregational life” really is.

How that identity is celebrated,

articulated and tested.

To what degree your congregational

leaders demonstrate that identity.

Definition: Congregational

Mission

Congregational mission relates to everything the congregation does for people other than themselves.

There is a direct correspondence between the degree to which the congregation is engaged with people beyond themselves and the growth and health of the congregation.

Goal of Mission Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

What is absolutely unique and vital in

your own mission as it arises from your

experience of Jesus Christ.

The nature and degree of

congregational involvement with

people beyond the Church.

& the nature and degree of leadership

engagement with the unchurched.

Congregational Organization

Congregational organization is the structure through which the identity is articulated and the mission is released.

There is no single blueprint for an effective organization, but there is a direct correlation between the degree of readiness to take risks on creative ideas and the growth and health of the Church.

Goal of Organization Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

The ability of the structure to

distinguish between “control” and

“stability.”

The readiness of the congregation to

build respect and trust for leadership.

The commitment of leadership to a

feasible, positive, long-range plan.

Functional Sub-Systems

Experiencing God

The Thriving Church seeks to help people

experience the continuing, transforming

power of God that touches the hearts and

changes their lives. They remove all

barriers that inhibit rapid immersion into

spirituality. Correct information,

institutional awareness, and membership

recruitment are all secondary to the

healing touch of God.

Goal of Experience Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

How newcomers are welcomed, not into the Church, but into an experience of the Holy.

How worshipers get involved, not in an education of the mind, but into an affair of the heart.

How participants are immediately nurtured, how they network institutional support, and how they move toward mentoring relationships.

Growing in God

The Thriving Church perceives

membership as a covenant to go

deeper in faith, to discern the true

origins and purposes behind the

changes they are experiencing in life.

Church membership moves most

people in processes of intimacy,

mutual support, and personal growth.

Suite

Acquisition of basic religious

information by children is secondary

to the discovery of God, self, and the

worth of others by adults.

Goal of Growth Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

To what degree and by what means

adults in your Church go deep in faith.

How many options for children and

youth faith development exist in your

Church.

How prepared your Church leaders are

to share personal space with seekers

and coach adults maturing in faith.

Listening to God

The Thriving Church seeks to move

people from spiritual maturity to

ministry. The fullness of spirituality is

not achieved until an individual:

celebrates new life, through the

exercise of gifts, at the direction of

Christ, and for the benefit of others.

Suite

Thriving Churches provide multiple,

diverse ways of listening for God’s

call. They are prepared to risk

creative ideas and original projects.

Recruitment for institutional

management is secondary to

motivating individuals for faith sharing

and service.

Goal of Listening Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

The real measure of Christian maturity

assumed by your Church.

The degree of readiness for creativity in

your congregation.

The number of intentionally designed

options the Church provides people to

discover their own calling by Christ.

Serving God

The Thriving Church equips people

for excellence. They prioritize energy

to train individuals to do, with the

highest quality of performance and

integrity possible, whatever it is Christ

calls them to do. They never just

accept the best volunteers offer; they

assist volunteers to achieve their

highest potential of service.

Goal of Service Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

The degree of control or permission that the congregation exercises upon potential ministries related to the Church.

The number of ministries and services already being done by participants in the Church and the effectiveness of supportgiven by the congregation for each.

The readiness of the staff to be trainers, rather than doers, of ministry.

Sharing God

The Thriving Church bonds a deepening,

personal spirituality with multiple

outreach ministries. No faith sharing

happens without practical service to

others, and no social service happens

without sharing the transforming power

of Christ. The congregation does not pay

experts to do ministry; they equip

themselves to do ministry.

Suite

Ultimately, the goal of helping other

people is secondary. Their goal is to

invite others to participate in the same

cycle of change, growth, discernment,

training, and ministry that they

experience in Christ through the Thriving

Church. They know that meaningful

living is not achieved in the receiving of

bread--but in the giving of bread.

Goal of Share Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

The real connection between spirituality and

social service made by participants in the

congregation.

The real diversity of faith sharing and service

that actually exists among participants in the

congregation.

The strategies the Church employs to listen

to the yearnings of the public and to invite

them into the life cycle of the Thriving

Church.

Formal Sub-Systems

Property

The Thriving Church property

proclaims the vision in every possible

way. The Church locates, designs,

and utilizes property to make

participation in the life cycle of

change, growth, discernment,

training, and ministry as easy and as

effective as possible.

Suite

Their property is visible, accessible,

and hospitable to strangers. Property

is never identified with heritage. It is

always identified with ministry.

Goal of Property Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

How Church property proclaims your

vision.

The degree to which property location

and design help or hinder your

ministries.

The changes that need to be made to

property for the Church to grow.

Funding

The Thriving Church always links its

financial expectations and

opportunities and ministry. They

never raise money for the purpose of

preserving heritage.

Suite

They always raise money to benefit other people: to help people experience positive change and growth in their lives; to help people discern their destiny in Christ; to help people be trained and to exercise quality ministry.

The Thriving Church encourages financial generosity in a year-round strategy. They offer multiple options, and multiple methods, for giving.

Goal of Funding Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

How your Church values money.

How your Church communicates

financial expectations and participants.

What options, methods, and patterns of

giving are available to participants.

How your Church connects money and

ministry.

On credibility

They must earn their credibility.

Credibility is gained by translating the

maximum portion of every dollar into

direct, personal, and clearly visible

benefits in the world. In the eyes of

the spirituality yearning public, results

count more than the liturgies, and

motivation is vastly more important

than information.

Communication

The Thriving Church is in constant

communication with both participants

and public. So much is happening, so

much creative energy is being

released, and so much good news is

emerging that frequent updates are

necessary.

Suite

This helps avoid confusion,

misunderstanding, and potential

conflict. It also opens multiple

avenues of introduction into the

congregation. This Thriving Church

must communicate often--because it

is never quite the same from one

moment to the next!

Goal of Communication

Analysis

Your goal is to discern:

How the congregation communicates

with the public.

How the congregation communicates

with Church participants.

How well lay leaders facilitate

communication.

THE END

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