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Mission and Vision Update
One of our main goals this year is to update our vision, mission, goals, and strategic plan. It has been many years and the world has changed a few times since then. We’ve changed to. What is our work now? What is the church for? What difference will we make in the world and in our lives?
You kicked off this work with a mission and vision workshop, led by Rev. Allison Farnum, on Sept. 22nd. About 20-25 people attended and shared what they valued about the church and their sense of purpose for us. A writing team, consisting of Teresa Wilmot, Teresa Palmeno, Barb Basaj, Sue Molyneaux, and Gloria Perez, took the notes from that meeting and created a vision and a mission statement. The Board received that draft at its Dec. 4th meeting, and made some minor changes.
The vision is a short statement of who we seek to be. It is almost like a motto. The mission is a statement of our purpose – why we exist.
Here is the current draft:
Vision Statement
A loving, spiritual congregation that cultivates belonging.
Mission Statement
Like the nature that surrounds us, we evolve as a safe haven for spiritual development.
Our deep roots connect us to a wealth of resources that nourish us to grow as a beacon for justice, anti-racism, and liberation.
Our listening cultivates diverse and multicultural relationships that bridge divisions, heal hearts, and foster safety for all.
Our canopy of loving acceptance inspires us to extend branches that lift up our communities and protect our environment.
The next step in this process is a workshop on Feb. 9th after church. Mark your calendars and plan to attend! There will be a time for feedback about this vision and mission, and then a turn to begin to articulate our goals or “ends.” Given this purpose, what will we accomplish in the next 3-5 years? What difference will we make in the lives of those we serve and in the world? How we will use our wealth of resources to nourish our community? You will begin to articulate 2-5 major goals. This will incorporate the insights from the change team, which has focused on our anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multicultural goals.
At the last workshop, on March 9th after church, you will refine these “ends” and brainstorm tactics and strategies. Given the goals, what action steps, programs, shifts in culture and policy, and so forth should we make?
In April and May, the staff and lay leaders will refine this plan, select tactics to achieve the goals, identify needed resources, timelines, and accountabilities, and finalize a draft. You’ll be asked to vote on the mission and vision, and to give your general endorsement to the strategic plan, at the annual meeting on June 8th, 2025.
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