Setting the Foundation
Scripture Reference
“Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.” (Habakkuk 2:2, NKJV)
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Psalm 29:18a, KJV)
What is a Strategic Plan?
A comprehensive and structured document that outlines the long-term goals, objectives, and strategies for a church’s growth, development, and impact
Provides a roadmap that guides decision-making and resource allocation, ensuring that the church’s activities align with its mission, vision, and core values
Serves as a guiding framework to help the church fulfill its purpose, maximize its impact, and navigate challenges and opportunities in a purposeful and effective manner
Benefits of a Strategic Plan
1. Clarity of Purpose: Helps churches clarify their mission, vision, and values
Provides a clear sense of purpose and direction, ensuring that the church community is working towards a common goal
2. Alignment of Efforts: Helps churches align their activities, programs, and initiatives with their overarching goals and objectives
Helps prevent scattered efforts and ensures that resources are utilized effectively and efficiently
3. Decision-Making Guide: Serves as a guide for making informed decisions
Provides a framework for evaluating potential opportunities and challenges, enabling churches to make choices that are in line with their long-term vision and goals
4. Resource Allocation: Helps churches allocate their resources in a strategic and purposeful manner
Ensures that resources are utilized where they will have the greatest impact and supports responsible stewardship
5. Measurement and Accountability: Establishes measurable goals and objectives, enabling churches to track their progress and measure their impact
Facilitates accountability, both internally and externally, as the church can evaluate its performance against the defined targets
6. Growth and Impact: Empowers churches to pursue growth and expand their impact
Provides a roadmap for identifying and leveraging opportunities for ministry, outreach, and community engagement, enabling the church to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and society at large
7. Builds consensus: Strategic planning involves input from multiple stakeholders, including church leaders and members
Creates opportunities for dialogue, collaboration, and shared decision-making, strengthening the sense of community and commitment within the church
Fosters engagement, ownership, and unity
Builds consensus and ensures that everyone is aligned on the church’s priorities and goals
Risks of Not Having a Strategic Plan
1. Lack of Direction: Church may lack a clear sense of direction and purpose
Can lead to a lack of focus, scattered efforts, and difficulty in making informed decisions
2. Missed Opportunities: Church may miss out on important opportunities for growth, ministry, and community impact
May fail to identify emerging needs or trends, and consequently, fail to adapt and respond effectively
3. Lack of Alignment: Different ministries, teams, or departments within the church may operate in silos or pursue conflicting objectives
Can lead to inefficiencies, duplication of efforts, and a fragmented approach to achieving the church’s overall mission
4. Lack of Unity and Engagement: Church may struggle to foster unity and engagement among its members
Shared vision and goals are essential in bringing people together, aligning their efforts, and creating a sense of purpose and belonging within the church community
The Process
1. Establish a Strategic Planning Committee: Form a committee consisting of key stakeholders
a. Church leaders, staff members, and laypeople who are committed to the church’s mission and vision
b. Primary role is to assist with the planning process, ensure that it remains focused and aligned with the church’s values and goals, and communicate with the church community and other relevant stakeholders as directed
c. Involving a diverse group of stakeholders allows the committee to draw on a wide range of perspectives and insights, which can help identify potential blind spots and enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of the strategic planning process
2. Conduct a SWOT Analysis: Identify the church’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
a. Provides valuable insights into the church’s internal and external environment, and helps guide the planning process
b. Will assist with developing strategies that leverage the church’s strengths, address its weaknesses, capitalize on opportunities, and mitigate threats
S W O T
S trengths
Church’s strengths, such as its values, beliefs, traditions, and resources that define who you are and contributes to your success
W eaknesses
Church’s weaknesses, e.g. gaps in resources, leadership, or communication, that may hinder its ability to achieve its mission & vision
O pportunities
Opportunities the church could leverage to achieve its goals, such as new technologies, changing demographics, or emerging social trends
T hreats
External threats that could impact the church’s ability to achieve its mission and vision, e.g. declining membership or changes in government policies or regulations
3. Develop a Mission Statement (or revise if needed): Defines the church’s main purpose for existing
a. Should reflect the church’s unique identity and be inspiring to its members and stakeholders
b. Should be clear, concise, and easy to understand
c. Should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains relevant and aligned with the church’s changing needs and priorities
4. Develop a Vision Statement (or revise if needed): Outlines the church’s long-term aspirations and goals (3-5 years)
a. Should be a clear and compelling description of what the church wants to become and what it hopes to achieve in the future
b. Should be inspiring, ambitious, and aspirational, and should challenge the church to achieve its full potential
c. Serves as a source for future planning and decision-making efforts
d. A well-crafted vision statement can help galvanize the church community around a common purpose and provide a roadmap for achieving its long-term goals
e. Should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains relevant and aligned with the church’s changing needs and priorities
5. Develop Core Values: The fundamental beliefs and principles that guide the behavior, decisions, and actions of the church
a. Core values serve as a compass for the church’s culture and shape its priorities and approach to ministry
b. Should be clear, concise, and easy to understand
c. Should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains relevant and aligned with the church’s changing needs and priorities
6. Set Goals and Objectives: Based on the SWOT analysis, mission, and vision statement, develop specific goals and objectives for the church
a. Goals are broad statements that describe what the church wants to achieve, while objectives are specific actions the church will take to achieve its goals
b. Aligned with the church’s mission and vision
c. S.M.A.R.T. goals
S pecific
Clearly define the goal in specific terms.
Be precise and avoid vague or general statements.
M easurable
Establish concrete criteria to measure progress & determine when goal has been accomplished.
How will you track success?
A ttainable
Ensure that the goal is realistic and attainable.
Consider the resources, skills, and time available.
R elevant
Ensure that the goal is aligned with the objectives and has relevance to the overall goals.
T ime-Based
Set a specific timeframe for achieving the goal.
This creates a sense of urgency and helps stay focused.
7. Identify Strategies: Identify specific strategies to achieve the church’s goals and objectives
a. Should be realistic, feasible, and consistent with the church’s resources and capabilities
i. Example - a strategy that supports the goal of increasing church membership by 20% could be to launch a new outreach program that focuses on inviting new members to attend church services and events
ii. This strategy could be supported by tactics such as creating marketing materials, hosting community events, and training church members to serve as outreach ambassadors
8. Allocate Resources: Allocate resources, including financial, human, and technological resources to support the strategies identified in the planning process
a. Prioritize the strategies based on their importance and feasibility
b. Consider the church’s available resources and capabilities and identify any potential gaps or areas where additional resources may be needed
c. Resources can include financial, human, and technological resources, as well as time and expertise
d. Develop a budget that outlines the expected costs associated with each strategy and identifies potential sources of funding, such as tithes, offering, special donations
8. Allocate Resources: Allocate resources, including financial, human, and technological resources to support the strategies identified in the planning process
a. Prioritize the strategies based on their importance and feasibility
b. Consider the church’s available resources and capabilities and identify any potential gaps or areas where additional resources may be needed
c. Resources can include financial, human, and technological resources, as well as time and expertise
d. Develop a budget that outlines the expected costs associated with each strategy and identifies potential sources of funding, such as tithes, offering, special donations
9. Develop an Action Plan: Develop a comprehensive action plan that outlines specific activities, timelines, and responsibilities to achieve the church’s goals and objectives
a. Plan should break down each strategy into specific, actionable steps and identify the resources needed to implement each step
b. Plan should also assign responsibilities to specific individuals or teams, set deadlines for each task, and establish clear metrics for measuring progress
c. Plan should be realistic, flexible, and regularly reviewed and updated
10. Monitor and Evaluate Progress: Develop a system to monitor and evaluate progress regularly to ensure that the church is on track to achieve its goals and objectives
a. Establish a system for tracking progress against the action plan’s specific targets and milestones
b. System should include regular reporting mechanisms that provide up-to-date information on progress
c. Evaluation should include feedback from leaders, members, stakeholders, and other relevant sources
11. Communicate Results: Communicate the results of the strategic planning initiative to the church community and other relevant stakeholders
a. Communicating the results of the strategic planning process is essential for ensuring that the entire church community understands the outcomes and path forward
b. Effective communication can help build support for the plan and create a shared sense of ownership and responsibility for its implementation
c. Communication should be clear, concise, and transparent
d. Develop a comprehensive communication plan that includes multiple communication vehicles, e.g., church meetings, church’s website, newsletters, etc.
12. Review and Update: Review and update the strategic plan regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and responsive to the church’s changing needs and priorities
a. Should be conducted at least annually, but more frequent reviews may be necessary if there are significant changes in the church’s environment or priorities
b. Review the plan’s goals and objectives, strategies, action plan, and resource allocation to determine whether they are still relevant and effective
c. Make any necessary adjustments to the plan
d. Communicate any updates or changes to the entire church community and other relevant stakeholders
In summary
Conducting a strategic planning initiative is essential for churches to achieve their mission, vision, goals, and objectives
By following these 12 steps, churches can develop a comprehensive strategic plan that sets clear goals and objectives, identifies specific strategies, and allocates resources to achieve these objectives
Regular monitoring, evaluation, and updating will ensure that the plan remains relevant and responsive to the church’s changing needs and priorities
Books
Advanced Strategic Planning: A 21st-Century Model for Church and Ministry Leaders, Aubrey Malphurs, 06/15/13
Where Do We Go from Here?: Strategic Planning for the Smaller Church, by Dr. Leo A. Endel, 8/7/2020
Internet
12 Free Resources for Church Vision and Strategic Planning, website: https://sacredstructures.org/methods/12-free-resources-for-church-vision-and-strategic-planning/
Questions