VISION CLARIFICATION

The challenge for every church as they approach solutions for either anticipated growth or present overcrowding is to clarify their vision. By identifying this as the real challenge we mean that it is both more fundamental and logical prior to other discussions just as drawing a blueprint is more fundamental and logical prior to buying two-by-fours when building a house.

This is where we believe that the process of Strategic Master Planning (SMP) is the best means for the achievement of clarity. So, what is clarity really about? A synthesis of definitions brings clarity to the concept of clarity: It means being free from anything that obscures, blocks, pollutes or darkens. As a leader, it means being simple, understandable and exact. The leader helps others better see and understand reality. Leaders constantly bring the most important things to light: current reality and future possibility, what God says about these and what we need to do about them. A leader’s clarity is the sun in the vision-to-reality solar system. We might say that clarity is the fuel that runs the twin engines of vision and action. The following five elements are essential to effective Vision Clarification:

• Leadership Team Consultation
• Vision Clarification
• Church Health Analysis
• Ministry/Mission Focus
• Future Opportunities/Challenges

Each of these steps produces invaluable resources that are verbally and visually delivered to the church. These Vision Clarification Process Deliverables are:

1. Leadership Team Consultation

• Written summary of the purpose of the consultation
• Written summary of the results of the consultation, specifically dealing with three fundamental questions: What is important (values)? Why do we exist (mission)? and Where are we going (vision)?

1. Vision Clarification

• Written summary of church specific philosophy of ministry
• Written mission statement accurately reflecting philosophy of ministry
• Visual representation of mission statement (logos).

1. Church Health Analysis

• Summary of existing staff (paid and volunteer) positions and job descriptions with analysis of each in reference to mission and ministry effectiveness
• Summary of financial history of the church, both written and graphed.
• Summary of growth of the church in the past five years, both written and graphed.

1. Ministry/Mission Focus

• Summary of community demographics and needs

1. Future Opportunities and Challenges

• Recommendations with transformational strategies
• Outline of “next steps” with recommended timeline

Related posts:

1. STRATEGIC MASTER PLANNING
2. FINANCIAL MASTER PLAN
3. A Biblically-Based Process of Design and Construction
4. A Biblically-Based Process of Design and Construction