Defining Terms

Environmental Scan

A 360-degree look around the church, inside and out, to gather data that will inform the discussions about the strategic plan. It gives us the “big picture.” Helps to create a common base about the facts and eliminates conjecture.  Data is gathered around each of the “Driving Questions.”

A Strategic Plan

The result of a process by which the guiding members of an organization envision its future in the near term (3-5 years) and develop the necessary procedures and operations to achieve that future. When completed, must then be adopted by the membership. 

Driving Questions

The critical questions the elected leadership feels the church is facing in the next 5 years. Developed with input from the Coordinating Council, the Deacons, and the Ministers.

Mission

A succinct and memorable statement of an organization’s reason for being (raison d’Etre).

Vision

A vision is a word picture of the “promised land” or what the organization will look like in 3-5 years if the strategic plan is accomplished (1-2 pages max).

Goal

A goal is a general aim, or one of the broad things that must be true if the mission and vision are accomplished in the time frame that has been established. It is the critical bridge to making dreams real. 

Objective

An objective is a major accomplishment that supports, clarifies, and executes a goal. It must be concrete, outcome focused, and measurable. Each goal may have 3-4 objectives.

Strategy

A strategy is the action plan to accomplish the objective within the timeframe established and the resources available. Each objective may have 3-4 strategies, which can be adjusted based on changing circumstances. [Staff]

Tactics

Tactics are the specific steps that will be taken within each strategy. [Staff]