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First Church’s Ministry Teams worked during the fall to develop recommendations for strategic initiatives to be addressed during the July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2012 Five Year Plan period. The following form the church-wide strategic focus, representing initiatives that require significant investments of time, energy, and effort:
1. Campus Renovation (under the auspices of the Board of Trustees)
To develop and implement a plan for renovation of campus buildings, rooms, and spaces on a priority basis. To insure congregational involvement in developing a renovation plan and encourage support for renovation through involvement and financial support. To create a campus that meets the congregation’s various needs for meeting, worship, accessibility, and aesthetics.
Total Proposed Budget: To be determined by approved scope of work
Timeline: To be developed in accordance with approved scope of work
2. Establishing a South Bay Satellite Congregation (under the auspices of the Worship & Program Ministry Team)
To determine the feasibility and process for creating a new UU congregation in the South Bay area of San Diego. If feasible, to then seed this congregation using the resources of FUUSD and nurture its growth and sustainability.
Total Proposed Budget: $100,000 per year for 3 years, includes costs of staffing, space rental, equipment, and other program costs
Proposed Timeline: Begin feasibility research, form development committee
January – May, 2007 Identify and secure location
June – August, 2007 Recruit and hire qualified staff
August – November, 2007 Conduct community awareness and marketing campaign
November, 2007 Begin services at new location
December, 2007
3. Youth Project Coordinator (under the auspices of the Lifespan Religious Growth & Learning Ministry Team)
To develop a job description and scope of work for a Project Coordinator position to serve the youth of this congregation. To involve parents of youth in the funding and support of the Youth Project Coordinator position. To establish a hiring process and successfully recruit and hire a qualified candidate for this job.
To offer enhanced programming and service to youth, under the guidance of the Youth Project Coordinator.
Total Proposed Budget: $50,000 (for a half-time position, plus benefits and costs)
Proposed Timeline: Develop job description, salary guidelines, and structure
January – March, 2007 Develop funding for position
March – May, 2007 Advertise and hire qualified candidate
June – August, 2007
4. Growing the Financial Base (under the auspices of the Generosity Ministry Team)
To expand current and identify new financial resources needed to support the church’s vision and mission as they relate to growth, staffing, programs, and campus renovation. To enhance members’ understanding of how financial support enables the church’s mission and vision to be attained. Explore alternatives for funding and increase the options available for charitable giving to the church. Expand membership through outreach and expand number of pledging households through education, communication, and outreach.
Total Proposed Budget: To be determined with approved plan of action
Timeline: Develop specific goals and strategies to include:
- parking lot revenue
- grant and/or organizational donors
- growing membership and pledging units
- growing pledging levels
- develop alternative pledging options
The following initiatives represent crucial efforts in support of the strategic growth and development of the church’s mission. They represent either new or on-going projects that are specifically tied to the focus of an individual Ministry Team. Ministry Teams are encouraged to continue to develop project plans for the implementation and continuation of these important initiatives. Many of these initiatives will be accomplished through cooperation and collaboration between members of various Ministry Teams.
By Ministry Team, these initiatives include:
CARING
- Practical Care will be coordinated by a team of 3-4 volunteers.
1. Well-defined, organized, and oriented team of volunteers to coordinate and link requests for practical care with care volunteers.
2. A supportive and resourceful committee which include the minister in whose portfolio practical care resides.
- Expand the base of volunteers, listeners, recipients, requests, and equipment utilizing a Care Network database.
1. Increase the number of active care volunteers and better coordinate their actions.
2. Utilize a portion of the Church database or have access to the data to monitor congregants requesting assistance, care volunteers, equipment available to congregants.
- Increase congregational outreach, education, and communication for all Caring Ministry Team programs.
1. Develop congregational understanding of what practical care services are and are not appropriate.
2. Communicate and educate the entire congregation on items of interest regarding Practical Care not only for other congregants, but also their own families.
- Provide trained Lay Pastoral Care Associates (LPCA) who will be available to members and friends of the congregation on a short-term basis to provide a caring listening presence during times of loss or illness in their family.
1. Recruit and train an ongoing cadre of church member volunteers in the skills of listening in a caring and supportive manner.
2. Develop a small group of volunteer LPCA’a who offer a listening presence following each church service on Sundays. Link those asking for service with a minister, if requested.
DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS
- To increase our awareness and congregation’s participation in the larger UU world
1. To send full delegations to General Assembly (GA) and District Assembly (DA)
2. To develop procedures and the interest in the congregation to become involved in Study/Action Issues (SAI) annually voted on by GA delegates.
- Increased utilization and support of Camp de Benneville Pines (CdBP)
1. Besides annual All Church Camp, hold additional First Church group retreats at CdBP and encourage participation in other UU activities there.
2. Support CdBP financially.
INREACH
- Create and further develop connections within the church community.
1. Coordinate activities to conserve energies and to create better communication externally and internally.
- Create more opportunities for member and friends to develop positive connections and personal meaning while living out UU Principles and Purposes.
1. Have a Café/Coffee Shop/Hang Out space on the church campus.
LIFESPAN RELIGIOUS GROWTH & LEARNING
- Encourage and support a Covenant Group program at First Church
- Have adequate volunteer staffing (class leaders) of all of our Children’s Religious Education classes and programs.
1. Recruit and train 4-6 volunteer leaders for each childrens’ classroom.
2. Have database of congregants with special skills to augment classroom leaders.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
- The vision of Journey Toward Wholeness (JTW) is to transform our congregation into an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural congregation.
1. Integrate the work of JTW throughout the whole life of the church.
2. Expand the scope of JTW to include other oppressions besides racism.
- The Social Justice Ministry Team (SJMT) will adopt a unifying social justice issue for the congregation as a whole to pursue.
1. The Social Justice Ministry Team supports the EarthSpirit Team’s Green Sanctuary Program as a church-wide social justice endeavor.
2. The Social Justice Ministry Team urges church members and friends, including those who are part of other Ministry Teams, staff, and visitors to support the Green Sanctuary Program.
- The Social Justice Ministry Team developed procedures designed to involve new and current church members in becoming acting in our Action and Affiliate groups and ultimately, if they desire, to become leaders of those groups and the overall Ministry Team.
1. Increase participation in SJMT by new members of the church.
2. Increase participation in SJMT by current members of the church.
- The Social Justice Ministry Team will improve and expand communication and cooperative programming within its own structure, with other Ministry Teams, the Cluster churches, and with those in the San Diego community with whom we share concerns and calls to action for social justice issues that support our UU values.
1. Improve/expand our email communication as prescribed for Ministry Teams. Explore/initiate cooperative programming among Action/Affiliate groups; with other Ministry Teams.
2. Improve/expand involvement of congregation as a whole with other groups/organizations in the San Diego community with whom we work for affordable housing, health care, living wage and benefits, and peace.
WORSHIP & PROGRAM
- Develop digital projection capability in the Meeting Hall.
NOTE: This is a summary of the Initiatives submitted through 1-9-2007. If you wish to review the complete text of the initiative, you may do so at the First UU office during business hours.
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