Welcome“Day of Conversation”

St. John’s Strategic Planning TeamYour Strategic Planning Team members are:

Tim Barber, Becky Bell, Jack Hoffman, Nancy Knauf, Jan Kreutzer, Judy Slater,

Mary Straman

April 26, 2015

History & SummaryOn September 22, 2013 Pastor Daniel

presented to the Search Committee a 19-page Prospectus that included a detailed plan for strategic planning at St. John’s titled, “Renewing St. John’s UCC: Vision, Mission & Purpose.” The work of Pastor Daniel & the Strategic Planning Team has sought to fulfill the mission of this prospectus.

Our BeginningThe SPT has been actively involved in its work since June 18th 2014.

Costs to perform renewal work in a local congregation by outside or third-party consulting firms can run into thousands of dollars.

We adopted the informal theme of, “Our Best Days Are Ahead of Us.”

The SPT was recognized in worship for their work & task among us on August 17th 2014.

The SPT has read: Purpose Driven Church (Dr. Rick Warren), & 12 Keys to an Effective Church (Dr. Kennon Callahan).

Scott & Jaffe Change Model

We called for & convened “Neighborhood Meetings” beginning in early November 2014 (with a break for the Christmas holiday) that continued through February 2015. We felt that “Neighborhood Meetings” were better than distributing surveys. We wanted to hear people’s stories, opinions, ideas and dreams, individually, & collectively.

Nine Neighborhood Meetings were held: 11/5/14, 11/6/14, 11/11/14, 11/11/14 (two meetings on 11/11/14), 11/13/14, 11/20/14, 2/1/15, 2/5/15, 2/15/15. All were invited to sign-up to participate. Venues occurred in members’ homes & at church.

Approximately, 100 people participated.

Our three guiding questions from the Neighborhood Meetings were >

What is St. John’s passionate about?

How does God want St. John’s to impact the world?

What is God calling YOU to do through St. John’s?

The most difficult question was always the last question.

Ideas Page from Neighborhood Meetings March 19, 2015 Christmas Caroling Picture Directory in Pews Drama Club for East Row Youth Events Calendar Screens/Monitors Parade (w/flyers) Movie Night Facebook Group Recognizing parishioners “Alternative” Services Cookouts Short service before Newport High Reach out to NKU Band-on-the-Lawn “For Profit” Dinner (Guest Chef event) Invite court staff for

luncheon Men’s Prayer Breakfast Fellowship Dinners for 8 1-Day clean-up in Newport 1040 EZ tax preparation Habitat for Humanity Information Fair Camp Sunshine (Whiz Kids summer camp) Blue jeans, shorts, t-shirts Sunday Park Ave. Club invite residents of newly developed apts at 5th & Monmouth

Summary of SPT Neighborhood Groups, March 19, 2015PASSION – What is St. John’s Passionate

About?Prayer, Friendship, Preaching, music, the

needy, worship (makes a difference), spread the faith, food pantry, community-minded, helping the community, AA, Brighton Center, “Causes,” needs of the poor & needy, “grow into a group,” Bible Study, generosity, we need to (re)build the church around our values, support during times of loss.

Summary of SPT Neighborhood Groups, March 19, 2015 (cont.)IMPACT – How does God want St. John’s to

impact the world?Service, outreach, mission, Rubate, alternative

service, Wednesday activities, Sunday School, Music, Christmas Shoebox Appeal, Start w/community, Be a “Beacon—a lighthouse,” Camp Sunshine, “lead by example,” Band-on-the-Lawn, Whiz Kids, VBS, “strength in numbers.” Impact the world by impacting people, “Park Ave. Club,” short-term mission excursions: Biloxi, Hazard, etc. “St. John’s is here for a purpose.”

Summary of SPT Neighborhood Groups, March 19, 2015 (cont.)CALL – What is God calling YOU to do through

St. John’s? Participate, Be involved, show up, be

present, make connections with strangers, Spiritual Growth, we need to explore our spiritual gifts so that we might serve, but without a feeling of obligation. Journey; find your mission, coming to church should be about serving. “Shouldn’t we be invitational?”

From September 7th – October 12th 2014, Pastor Daniel preached six messages on the theme of Strategic Planning for the Church & Our Lives based on Acts 10. These sermons are posted on his podcast site entitled, “Finding Your Faith,” Go to >

www.dgmeister.podbean.com

This sermon series considered the following template for strategic planning as found in Acts 10 >

Prayer;Fresh New Insights;Action – Obedience;Consultation – Affirmation;Agreement;Action – Transformation;

January 2015, Annual Meeting allowed for a period of exploration & transition to create a new church structure. Vote was approved.

We are on track with our SPT Timeline (April 2015) to share with the Church Council & the congregation our findings to date.

Per our timeline, we are having a Potluck “Day of Conversation” about the V&M with the congregation, summarizing our findings to date.

The SPT is ahead of schedule (May/June) being at the next step of its work which is to accomplish two tasks: (1) to investigate & explore other church structures; (2) to rewrite our constitution & bylaws.

Name Researching Other Church Structures

Constitutional Rewrite

Becky Bell XJan Kreutzer XNancy Knauf XTim Barber XJack Hoffman XMary Straman XJudy Slater X

Previous Historic Vision/Mission Statements 1955 The church of the open mind, the warm heart, the aspiring

soul, the uplifted Christ and the world wide vision. 2003 (as part of the 3-year plan)Vision Statement – Expanded quality multigenerational

worship and ministries relevant to the formation of community with an effective leadership team in place and God’s generous compassionate Spirit lived out in faith and justice.

Mission Statement – Committed to serving all generations with God’s generous Spirit, relevant to the needs in our community, and serving as an established model striving for quality in Christian service and worship.

Previous Historic Vision & Mission (Cont) 2006The object of this church shall be to bind together followers of

Jesus Christ for the purpose of sharing in the worship of God and in making His will dominant in the lives of people, individually and collectively, especially as the (that/God’s) will is set forth in the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. [Constitution, 2006]

 2006-2010This faith community will openly and lovingly grow our ministries

within and beyond these walls; reflecting our intergenerational, multi-cultural, Christ-centered mission and outreach.

“Possible simplification” > Setting our vision for 2006-2010, St. John’s will openly and lovingly grow our ministries, reflecting our Christ-centered mission and outreach.

Is This the Vision of St. John’s?March 19, 2015Rev. Apr. 10, 2015

Shining LightA Beacon, A Lighthouse

Heritage/Identity: Always been a strong church. St. John’s is here for a purpose; Lead by example; Spread the faith;

Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Matthew 5:14-1614 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

Is This the Vision of St. John’s?March 19, 2015Rev. Apr. 10, 2015

Sharing LifeWe Worship, We Work, We Learn, We celebrate

Welcome/Greeting; Generosity; Giving; Resources; Whole Family; Large, but Intimate; We need to encourage one another; All need to be included

John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. John 6:40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise

them up at the last day.” John 6:53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no

life in you. John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  

Is This the Vision of St. John’s?March 19, 2015Rev. Apr. 10, 2015

Creating HopeMission, Outreach

Transformation Comm. Of 500; Camp Sunshine; Rubate; Brighton Center; Food Pantry; VBS; Whiz Kids; Causes – Engage the Culture; Impacting the world through impacting people; Involvement

Psalm 9:18 But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 39:7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 1 Timothy 4:10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all

people, and especially of those who believe.

Is This the Vision of St. John’s? Shining Light

A Beacon, A Lighthouse Sharing Life

We Worship, We Work, We Learn, We celebrate

Creating HopeMission, Outreach

Next Steps . . . May – June: Research Church Structures & Begin

Task of Rewriting Constitution & Bylaws.Summer 2015: OffSeptember: Teams Continue work of Research &

Bylaws, NCD.October: Leadership Retreat, Congregational

“Day of Conversation” (Q&A) to share Vision/Mission & New Church Structure.

Early November: All Church Potluck; Cong’l Mtg. to vote on new structure.

January 2016: Implementation of Vision/Mission, new church structure.

THANK YOU!

Your Strategic Planning Team

Thanks You!