A Vision for the Future
During 2009, the vestry initiated a series of forums to discuss the upcoming redevelopment project and its impact on the parish from all perspectives. The discussions were well attended, engaging, and made clear that the St. Mark's community would be transformed significantly by the proposed changes to the physical plant and the eventual increased income. Many provocative questions were raised which referred repeatedly to the identity, mission, and hopes for the future of our congregation. In order to prepare the community for this major transition, the vestry chartered a vision committee to produce a vision statement, which would engage the congregation in identifying the key elements of its character and how it envisions those characteristics being manifested in the future. The redevelopment project is intended to establish a firm financial foundation for the parish's mission and to free lay leadership from oversight of rental property.
Definitions
For the sake of clarity, the purpose of a vision statement, as we understand it, is to express how an organization identifies its ideal self in the "fullness of time." It focuses on the future. It is intended to be a source of inspiration and to provide criteria for its governing body in goal-setting and decision-making. In comparison, a mission statement declares the purpose of an organization, or why it exists, and is often contained in an easy to remember single sentence. For example, the mission statement of The Episcopal Church, as posted on its webpage, is "The Episcopal Church affirms that the mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ." A goal is a measurable objective to be achieved within a given time-frame.
The Appreciative Inquiry Process
The vision committee, with the vestry's approval, determined that the best vehicle for arriving at a statement that would be true to St. Mark's character would be the Appreciative Inquiry process. This method evoked energy and optimism for the process itself and for the future. Almost two-thirds of the membership participated in at least one visioning activity; many participated in more than one. As we listened to each other and began to identify those activities through which individuals "felt most alive, engaged, and motivated," many characteristics of our life together were affirmed and reminded us how fortunate we are for the individual and collective gifts and talents we represent.
Strengths to Be Carried into the Future
Almost every participant expressed pride in the music program, identifying its ministry as an example of healthy community, as well as providing a powerful element in people's worship experience. In general, there is a high value for openness to change, yet also for upholding the traditions of our Anglican heritage. It is important to this congregation that we manifest God's inclusive love to all persons. We are grateful for the increased opportunities to get to know each other through small groups, social events at church, and for the vast improvements in parish-wide communications using the Internet, e.g., the weekly Lion's Cub newsletter and parish-wide announcements. Our adult formation forums and other opportunities for exchange of ideas are immensely satisfying and cause for inspiration and personal growth. We thrive on a healthy life of the mind and value different perspectives.
We want to deepen our personal spiritual lives. There is also a desire to develop a "stewardship of abundance" and to increase our financial resources. We are committed to strengthening support of our young families through special programs and the church school. Many anecdotes of personal caring and hospitality were shared, but we realize that these efforts could be organized to reach more individuals. We are a welcoming community, but we would like to integrate newcomers into our life together more readily and in a more organized manner. We see that we do not do enough to reach out to students, especially those across the street on the Cal campus, and to bring the Good News of God's love to individuals outside the church.
Strong lay leadership is a critical part of St. Mark's character: we value the freedom for lay members to explore and develop their individual gifts and ministries in the nurturing environment of the church. We want our laity to be empowered for leadership in the church and the world, to do the work of vital ministries, and to strengthen their sense of personal vocation. Finally, many participants expressed pride in the different venues we provide for addressing social issues and assisting those in difficult circumstances, e.g., the Hot Meals program and providing a place for homeless youth to socialize and find assistance. We earnestly desire to strengthen these outreach efforts to our surrounding community.
The Vision Statement
The vision statement (see below) was approved by the vestry in January 2010 and was presented to the congregation at the following annual meeting. By the time the meeting convened, it was known that the rector would at that time announce her retirement, to be effective October 10, 2010. Therefore, the original purpose for developing a vision statement was underscored as a means to strengthen the parish through the upcoming periods of transition—the major changes to the parish's physical plant and eventual increased income—and now for saying farewell to our rector of eighteen years and preparing a place in our community for our new rector.
First Steps
At the request of the vestry, the vision committee included in its final report recommendations for first steps toward tangible action in living the St. Mark's vision. The vestry implemented both recommended steps in the ensuing months. Those steps were to "engage the vestry and each of its members in a unique leadership role to:
- engage all parish ministries, particularly the emerging ministries such as lay pastoral care and family ministries, in a process of discovery with respect to the vision statement, using the vestry liaison roles to connect with each ministry; and
- establish twelve parish groups, each one led by a member of the vestry. These groups would include all current parish members with a mechanism for incorporating new members. Each group would be convened as soon as possible, and would be designed to enhance one-on-one personal communication, strengthen connections between parish members, and potentially to provide opportunities for bible study, spiritual reflection and growth, and/or outreach efforts."
The Vision Statement
Our vision is to be the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our hearts are full with the love of God and with the faith we hold in each other. We feed the hungry of our neighborhood, shelter the shelter-less, protect and advocate for the vulnerable and marginalized. We visit and support the sick, comfort the grieving and discouraged. We teach and nurture our membership in order that we may mature spiritually and intellectually. We fulfill our role of prophetic voice by seeking truth through earnest inquiry and debate. This congregation thrives because of our personal experiences of the Good News, and because we are faithful to the sacraments of our life together in Christ's Body. In our worship, liturgy, and music, we give voice to the Holy Spirit flowing through us. "Though we are many, we are one Body."
Our vision is built on these elements:
- We take seriously the Gospel message, conveyed to us in the rich Episcopal tradition.
- We embody the Gospel in our kindness to one another.
- We open ourselves to the Holy Spirit through the arts, knowing that drama, music, movement, visual imagery, poetry, needlework, gardening, reveal truths beyond explicit words.
- The Holy Spirit fills us with a spirit of abundance, generosity, and thanksgiving, and connects us to one another through service.
- We aspire to spiritual and intellectual maturity through prayer, worship, study and debate.
- We are enriched by the variety of perspectives we have and often express opposite points of view. We recognize this as one of our strengths.
- We enjoy transformative preaching based on Scripture.
- We spread the faith through the formation of children, youth, and adults, and by embracing new members into our community.
- We celebrate our proximity to the University of California and the Graduate Theological Union, which enables us to bring the Gospel to students and to engage with communities of learning.
- We support and develop strong lay leadership.
- We support our families and provide the best possible programs for their spiritual, emotional, and intellectual development.
- We use structured systems for creating trust and for caring for one another.
- We celebrate God's inclusive love.
