St Gregory's Strategy – Phase 1: Spiritual Growth— Transforming Hearts January 31, 2016 This past fall, St. Gregory’s embarked on its three-phased spiritual journey to progress “from good to great” Sept. 2015 – Jan. 2016 1 Phases Objectives Feb. – Dec 2016 2 Phase 1 – Spiritual Mission Baseline Congregation on Spiral Continuum and Establish the Spiritual Vision and Mission Launched with Congregation; Strat. Leaders. Team formed Completed Spiritual Life Inventory Conducted five workshops 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Where have we been? Where are we now? Where do we feel called to go? How do we get there? What is our Mission—and spiritual priorities? Developed “Spiritual Growth: Transforming Hearts” report Re-Engaged Congregation— Rector’s Address and Annual Meeting (last Sunday/today) Phase 2 – Strategic Roadmap Jan. 2016 forward 3 Phase 3 - Implementation Wed the Spiritual Mission with Three-Year Enabling Org Strategy Prioritize Investments/Actions to Bring the Strategy to Life Three Sub-Phases: A. 2/1-4/30 - Pre-Sabbatical: Quick Hits/Org. Baselining 1. Transition RenewalWorks Committee to Spiritual Life Committee (SLC) 2. Implement quick hits; conduct demographic focus groups 3. Collect baseline info. (e.g., Org/staffing, financial) B. 5/1-8/31 - Sabbatical: Reflect upon/hone Mission C. 9/1-12/31 - Rector’s “ReEntry”: Define three-year org. strategy goals/roadmap 1. Charter/budget strategic initiatives 2. Leverage SLC as “PMO” for ongoing projects 3. Build resourcing needs into Capital/Stewardship campaigns 4. Measure results—including a follow-on Spiritual Life Inventory in late 2018 Phase 1 started with the Spiritual Inventory survey which over 200 of you completed Key Takeaways from the survey and workshops provided key “Design Principles” for our Spiritual Growth Mission… We need to… • Respect as a Congregation that there is no “one size fits all” for spiritual growth (e.g., service length or type) because we are on various points of the Spiritual Continuum • Gather more input (e.g., focus groups and surveys) from various segments of our Congregation (e.g., single parishioners 18 - 30) to learn more about wants and needs • Pursue individual spiritual growth, starting with daily disciplines • Seek ways to make a closer connection between our deeds/ministries/small groups and spiritual discipleship • Develop a Strategic Roadmap for the organization to enable us to realize the Mission RenewalWorks Best Practice Principles were another framework with which the Steering Committee organized its ideas... Best Practice Principles: …And the “Heart of the Leader” principle was the avenue for Andrew and lay leaders to share their personal visions and ideas Heart of the Leader Among Father Andrew’s thoughts… • Rector as Chief Spiritual Pastor (CSP) versus CEO • Parish administrator to be “COO” • More sabbatical/annual retreat options • Expanding/Advancing Bible study to higher levels • Pastoral support team/enhanced role of assistant rector • “Transforming Hearts” as the theme/Mission of St. Gregory’s Spiritual Growth strategy We aligned on “Spiritual Growth: Transforming Hearts” as the overall mission for St. Gregory’s for the next decade Transforming Hearts means we, St. Gregory's want to… 1) …Grow spiritually—to help people progress wherever they find themselves in their relationship with God today 2) …Identify and provide the resources to help us grow spiritually as individuals and as a congregation 3) …Cultivate a culture of expectation among our members that Spiritual Growth: Transforming Hearts” is the norm of our life together—it is part of our “spiritual DNA” 4) …Ensure that all we do—all our ministries—connect with and flow from our relationship with God in Jesus Christ as enabled by the Spirit We will not delay; we will pursue “Low-hanging fruit” or “quick hits” in the near term Some low-hanging fruit that Father Andrew mentioned in his Rector’s Address last Sunday includes… 1. Embedding of Scripture and Prayer time into all our ministry gatherings 2. Introducing "Growing a Rule of Life" as a Lenten program for the entire congregation 3. Spiritual Growth will be a preaching theme in Lent offered by the clergy 4. Grow our retreats offerings for all our members—e.g., this Spring will offer a men's retreat after Easter 5. Initiate a "Spiritual Life Committee” (SLC) to encourage and hold us accountable to these commitments The next phase of work—Phase 2—will included three subphases to help us hone the thoughtful work of Phase 1 Sept. 2015 – Jan. 2016 1 Phases Objectives Feb. – Dec 2016 2 Phase 1 – Spiritual Mission Baseline Congregation on Spiral Continuum and Establish the Spiritual Vision and Mission Launched with Congregation; Strat. Leaders. Team formed Completed Spiritual Life Inventory Conducted five workshops 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Where have we been? Where are we now? Where do we feel called to go? How do we get there? What is our Mission—and spiritual priorities? Developed “Spiritual Growth: Transforming Hearts” report Re-Engaged Congregation— Rector’s Address and Annual Meeting (last Sunday/today) Phase 2 – Strategic Roadmap Jan. 2016 forward 3 Phase 3 - Implementation Wed the Spiritual Mission with Three-Year Enabling Org Strategy Prioritize Investments/Actions to Bring the Strategy to Life Three Sub-Phases: A. 2/1-4/30 - Pre-Sabbatical: Quick Hits/Org. Baselining 1. Transition RenewalWorks Committee to Spiritual Life Committee (SLC) 2. Implement quick hits; conduct demographic focus groups 3. Collect baseline info. (e.g., Org/staffing, financial) B. 5/1-8/31 - Sabbatical: Reflect upon/hone Mission C. 9/1-12/31 - Rector’s “ReEntry”: Define three-year org. strategy goals/roadmap 1. Charter/budget strategic initiatives 2. Leverage SLC as “PMO” for ongoing projects 3. Build resourcing needs into Capital/Stewardship campaigns 4. Measure results—including a follow-on Spiritual Life Inventory in late 2018 Some near-term dates/milestones for all to keep in mind… • Saturday, February 13: Vestry and Ministry leaders conversation/training/equipping for adding scripture and prayer into all St. Gregory’s gatherings • Friday, February 19: Parents of St. Gregory's monthly meeting— to be used as a focus group for input from this key constituency • Sunday, February 21: “Come One, Come All" town-hall style conversation with full Congregation • Saturday in late February/early March: Focus group discussion for experienced members of the congregation (e.g., over 55) • Saturday/Sunday in March/April: Focus group discussion with 20- and 30-somethings Questions? If questions or ideas arise after today, please follow-up with anyone on the Ste. Gregory’s Strategic Leadership Team Name E-Mail Address • Walter Jones walter.jones@raymondjames.com • Patricia Jordan patjordan09@comcast.net • Rob Mitchell rob.mitchell@whiting-turner.com • Charlotte Pelton charlotte@charlottepelton.com • Andrew Sherman asherman@st-gregorys.com • Roberta Stanley roberta.stanley@brinkleymorgan.com • Stephen Von Oehsen stephenvonoehsen@southernwine.com