2007 Long Range Planning – We need your input!

Last summer The Vestry and Program Council heard the desires of the Congregation, and initiated a long range planning effort that will culminate in a Long Range Plan in January developed by the Congregation though its leadership on the Program Council and Committees.  Our Constitution calls for a Long Range Planning Committee, made up of past Vestry Chairs and other members, with the present Vestry Chair and Minister as ex officio members. The Program Council Steering Committee and Vestry got together with Richard Hayes, Dan Schiffer, Lee Fisher, Floy Work (consultant) and Jane Upshur.  This group, along with John Newell, Stan Goldberg, and Stuart Terry were asked to form the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC).  It was decided to hold an initial offsite with the Program Council and Vestry on August 25th, initiating the Long Range Planning process by coming up with “Five Bold Steps” that support our mission and vision statements.  Through great leadership provided by Floy Work, your leadership was able to come up with those Five Bold Steps.  The next stage will be this fall when your leadership and the LRPC work with you through our committees to develop yearly, measurable objectives for each of the “Bold Steps”, and committee tasks for each year that you will accomplish that will lead us to meeting our objectives and or “bold steps”.  All the exercises Floy had us go through to get to the “5 Bold Steps” will be in Gage Hall for you to see and discuss with your leaders as you work in your committees to embrace and support the Long Range Plan.  The LRP has continued to work with the Committees, modifying the Five Bold Steps into Three Bold Steps, supported by the concept of financial abundance and being prepared for church growth.  The Future of our Church is what we make of it – I hope you are as excited as I am at moving to the next stage in our growth as a Program Church.  Your involvement is critical!!! Bold Steps only get done by accomplishing one task at a time, and the results are measurable.

Your “5 Bold Steps” as developed by the 30 leaders of our Church and the LRP in support of the CHURCH MISSION are:

1.      Nurture and connect the people of our congregation.

2.      Become leaders in social justice in our local and UU communities.     

3.      Ensure the sanctuary outlives us all.

4.     Prepare for Church Growth

5.     Financial Abundance to support of Church Activities

 

Striving to meet these goals we hope to  Create financial abundance to realize our vision, and be prepared for growth so people in the Charleston Area have a Unitarian Univeralist Home.

 

The next step is YOURS.  Get involved through your committees and groups, developing yearly objectives and specific tasks that will make our dream come true.

Richard Hayes

LRPC Moderator