Leadership Update: 2018 Goals in Review

[by Fr. James]

I want to give thanks for the Bishop’s Council (our governing board) and their hard work this year.

I also want to brag about them a little. They have worked very hard on your behalf, they kept focus, laughed together, shared their thoughts and values honestly, listened to each other, and made significant steps forward for our community.

Here’s some of the stuff that’s been happening behind the scenes…

At the beginning  of 2018 the Bishop’s Council determined three goals to focus our efforts upon. We call these our Mutual Ministry Goals (or MMG’s).

Building Presence (in the community)
Developing Membership
Deepening Stewardship

MMG: Building Presence

– Created new church logo. (Completed)
– Build new, larger front roadside sign for easier reading (under development)
– Fix current outdoor lighting (completed) and install additional outdoor lighting (approved and underway)
– Hold public events, blessings, & worship, including inter-congregational events (ongoing)
– New website design. (Completed.)
– Website content and features overhaul. (Underway)

MMG: Developing Membership

– New online membership directory and communication tool “Church Community Builder (CCB)” rolled out in September.
— Financial data being put in so members can see their individual giving patterns and statements (underway) and leadership can see pledging and giving patterns.
— Online pledging form rolled out for first time. On website and CCB.

– Procedure of priest contacting newcomers within 24 hours after service (established & ongoing)

MMG: Deepening Stewardship

– Switched financial reporting from Church Windows to Quick Books. New Quickbooks system scheduled to be fully implemented in January.

– Giving App “Give Plus” through Vanco rolled out in Fall. Online giving through Vanco continues.

– Fall Stewardship Bible Study sponsored by Stewardship Team (Completed)

– Introduced book to Bishop’s Council and Stewardship Committee: “Not Your Parents Offering Plate”
— BC approved methods found therein (underway)
— BC approved full access to pledging and giving records to Vicar (completed)
— BC approved narrative budget as normative means of communicating with congregation (underway)
— Vicar has begun preaching on stewardship at least every second Sunday of the month. (underway)
— New focus on telling our stories of effective outreach and transformation: we are working to get the word out that “this is how we make a difference”. Vicar is doing this by including in meetings, sermons, and on web media.

– Legacy Society leader established. First steps identified.
(A “Legacy Society” promotes remembering St Christopher’s in your will and gives thanks for those who do.)
— Establishing a giving policy (underway)
— Establishing ease of giving to endowment (underway).
— Identifying initial legacy society members (underway).
— Creating literature/advertising (yet to begin)

– Pledge campaign and Pledge Harvest (ie ingathering) completed. Follow up underway.

– Advent devotional by Living Compass focused on Generosity set to roll out in December (upcoming)

 

Your Bishop’s Council worked on all these things while still keeping an eye on squeaky doors, broken printers, staff changes, pastoral care of members, finances, and other day-to-day business of the church.

Please say thank you to them for their hard work.