Begin Strategic Planning

 

Your mission’s strategic plans clarifies where you want to go and how you want to get there.  In the model used here, the first part of the process clarifies WHERE the mission desires to go by discovering and narrowing the ministry focus.

 

Core values (fundamental beliefs) inform the
Mission Statement (the main purpose) that informs the
Vision Statement (the preferred future). 

 

Arrow pointing up

 

The second part of the process defines HOW you will get there.

 

Objectives – These are general desired outcomes to achieve the vision, for the purpose of Church planting, these objectives are generally the subsequent sections of this website, although you may choose others as well.
Goals – There are more specific outcomes to achieve the objectives. Normally,     
multiple goals are adopted to achieve each objective.
Action Steps- These are the myriad of specific tasks that are needed to accomplish each goal. Action steps are normally assigned to a person or group with a deadline for completion. 

 

Arrow pointing up

 

Planting Growing Churches (Malphurs, 1998) discusses strategic planning in the first part of Chapter 14.
Mission Launch Action Sheet is a spreadsheet to organize the church planting task as outlined on this website.

Determine Core Values

Core values are central, basic beliefs that underlie and guide all that you do.  These beliefs tend not to change significantly over time.  In the planning process, five to eight core values would normally be identified.  Again, according to Malphurs (1998, 253), core values are constant, passionate, Biblical, at the core, and drive the ministry.

PowerPoint Presentation,  The Value of Values (Fitzpatrick, 2001)

 

Create Mission Statement

A mission statement is a short description of the essential purpose of the proposed mission plant.  It should be short in length and memorable.  Everybody involved should be able to repeat it (or at least know its content).  It should be able to pass the T-shirt test, that is, it should not be too long to fit on a T-shirt.

Examples
 

The Rocky Mountain District
Igniting Church and Culture for Christ
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
In grateful response to God's grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is to vigorously make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and the world.
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
Concordia Seminary serves Church and world by providing theological education and leadership centered in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors, missionaries, and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Craft Vision Statement

 The vision statement flows from the mission statement, expressing what it would look like when it is accomplished.  In expressing the vision, according to Aubrey Malphurs, a vision is,

 

"A clear mental image of a preferable future, imparted by God to His chosen servants, based upon an accurate understanding of God, self, and the circumstances of ministry." (Malphurs 1998, 264)

He also adds that a vision is:

 

Obvious – It is easily understood by those who need to know.
Challenging – People feel they must stretch to reach it. 
A mental picture – You can “see” it in your mind.
Future oriented – It relates the great things that God will do!
Feasible – A vision is possible to accomplish.
Urgent – The vision MUST be!  There are compelling reasons that it should come to pass. (ibid. p. 264)

Resources
The Vision Statement of North American Mission of the LCMS
Planting Growing Churches (Malphurs, 1998) includes an example on page 266.

What might a process look like for developing a vision?

 

At a Church Planters’ Institute, Dr. Bob Scudieri (2001) suggested the following.
Listen to the people.  What is important to them?
Listen to the community.  Learn who they are through demographics and other means.
Listen to God through the study of the Scriptures.
Draft initial thoughts.
Invite evaluation from others.  Does it excite them?
Refine the vision in view of these reactions.

Action

Complete the Values, Mission & Vision portions of the Mission Initiation Plan.