Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Dear Friends,

For strategic visioning to be successful, several steps need to be actively discerned. Involving all stakeholders from the start, creating a shared mission and vision and setting goals are just a few of these steps. Perhaps the most important is the first – leading with the Spirit and going where you are being called, often when it is inconvenient, difficult and time-consuming. In this issue we bring you ideas from individuals and congregations who were inspired, challenged and positively altered through their visioning processes.

How do we evangelize and mobilize ourselves to be doers in the Jesus Movement? In Stretching Our Strategic Imagination – Part II, Lauren Grubaugh discusses three ways to activate our souls and bodies towards our work in building God’s Beloved Community. This article is available in English and Spanish.

What role does relationship building play in strategic visioning? In Planning Your Work, Working Your Plan James Said narrates his experience with Invite Welcome Connect; a transformational ministry that helped his congregation address their interest in increasing their ASA thoughtfully and sustainably.

Ever felt daunted at the thought of beginning the strategic visioning process? In Five Questions At The Heart of Strategic Planning, Linda Buskirk simplifies the process to core questions that can help you begin your visioning journey with confidence.

In Strategic Planning Is Overrated, Christopher Adams shares the experience of his parish as it navigated a strategic visioning process, learning that listening to the Spirit and creating a common language together can completely transform a congregation.

Join us in Atlanta, GA on January 21-24, 2020, for Rooted in Jesus 2020, an unprecedented conference presented by ECF in partnership with Forma, Forward Movement, The Diocese of Atlanta (The Episcopal Church in Middle and North Georgia), Missional Voices, Episcopal Evangelism Society, Episcopal Preaching Foundation and Evangelism Matters. The core purpose of this gathering is discipleship – to gather as followers of Jesus and as part of the Jesus Movement to learn from each other and grow as a Church. Confirmed speakers include the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, and the Rev. Dr. William Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach. The conference will feature multiple workshop tracks including Evangelism, Formation, Leadership, Communications and more. For more information and to register, please click here.

To learn more about ECF and our programs, please visit our website.

Faithfully,

Charis Bhagianathan
Editor, ECFVP