STRATEGIC PLANNING AT SAINT MARK'S

2024 Strategic Plan

On Saturday, February 10, 2024 the Vestry adopted the 2024 Strategic Plan at its annual working retreat. The plan is designed around six themes that were first introduced at a recent forum:

    1. Being Rooted in Spiritual Practices
    2. Empowering the Call to Action and Service
    3. Cultivating Diverse Community
    4. Stewarding Our Resources
    5. Expanding Regional Reach and Welcome
    6. Connecting and Telling Our Stories

The content is shaped by parishioner feedback gathered from an all-parish survey, 70+ ministry outreach conversations and engagement activities over the course of seven months. Printed copies of the plan are available in the Hoerster Annex and Narthex. If you have comments or questions, we would be delighted to hear from you – email strategicplanning@saintmarks.org.

Additional resources:

2023 Strategic Planning Committee

In April 2023, the Vestry recommended convening a Committee to develop a new Strategic Plan for the next 18–24 months as Saint Mark’s envisions ways of being Church in a post-pandemic world.  The Committee launched in July 2023 and will be engaging the parish and Cathedral community for input including exploring how the current mutual ministry goals orient our mission and purpose. Questions? Email strategicplanning@saintmarks.org.

The Committee is approaching this work through the lens of transformation using a model adapted from the College of Congregational Development—Sources of Transformation. “Transform” is one of Saint Mark’s guiding principles—We seek to be transformed by love and to share this love generously with others.

All congregational life can be a source of transformation as the Spirit moves in our midst—these sources in continual flow with one another as we respond to God’s presence in our lives and in the community: 

  • WORSHIP & PRAYER—how we acknowledge the holiness of God in corporate worship, how we hear God’s Word, offer and respond to prayer, engage in music, and celebrate the sacraments.
  • FORMATION & JUSTICE—how we come to know God through our mind, heart and bodies and respond in ways that promote peace, love, reconciliation and restoration.
  • STEWARDSHIP—how we give and share our time and resources, how we care for our campus and buildings, and how we care for Earth.
  • LIFE IN COMMUNITY—in the togetherness, how we experience the sharing of meals, conversation, story, silence and connection.

2023 Strategic Planning Committee members: Seyi Akanni, Canon Wendy Claire Barrie, Elli Howard, Scott Hulet, Canon Michael Kleinschmidt, Julia Logan, Kathy Minsch, Emily Meeks (Co-Chair), Michael Perera, The Rev. Linzi Stahlecker, Dean Steve Thomason, Alexandra Thompson (Co-Chair) and Doug Thorpe

TIMELINE

  • April 2023: Vestry recommends convening committee to develop a new strategic plan, looking at the next 18–24 months in the life of Saint Mark’s.
  • July 2023: The Strategic Planning Committee kicks off monthly meetings. 
  • September 2023: Transformation Tree at Ministry Fair Sunday—reflect on a source of transformation and place it on the tree
  • October 2023–January 2024: The Committee begins outreach to the parish with group ministry conversations and all parish survey.

    • Sunday, October 29, 2023: select a source of transformation by adding color in a vase 
    • November 19–26, 2023: spiritual practices activity in between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services—bring a photo or visual representation of a spiritual practice that transforms
    • November 30, 2023: parish survey responses due
    • Sunday, January 28, 2024: Parish Forum at 10:10 a.m.
    • Wednesday, January 31, 2024: Cathedral Commons at 6:45 p.m.
  • Saturday, February 10, 2024: The Committee will share the Strategic Planning Recommendation at 2024 Vestry Retreat. Pending Vestry approval, it will be shared with the parish shortly thereafter.

LINKS

Special Parish Forum: Updates from the Strategic Planning Committee

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 6:45–8:15 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom.

Join the Strategic Planning Committee for this special forum that will preview recommendations informing the 2024 Strategic Plan. Committee members will share more about the engagement approach including key themes and learnings from ministry outreach and the all-parish survey. All are encouraged to attend—a special dessert will be served!

UPDATES: Slides from the presentation are now available here.

The bookmark that was given to participants can be found here.

A video of the forum is available below. (Due to technical limitations, the video quality of some of this recording is poor. We apologize for the inconvenience.)

Strategic Planning Engagement Activities

Transformation Tree
At the September ministry fair, parishioners had the opportunity to reflect on sources of transformation at Saint Mark’s. The creative inspiration was designed and developed by Alan, Alexandra, Nicole and Rebecca Thompson.

View the word cloud of comments shared here.

 

Adding Color to Show Source of Transformation
On October 29, 2023, there was a hands-on opportunity to engage in a visual and colorful way -- adding color to show where parishioners have experienced transformation. 

 

 

Giving Thanks for Transformation - Spiritual Practices 
From Sunday, November 19 through Sunday, November 26, parishioners were asked to bring photos or poems that share a source of transformation or centering spiritual practices.