3.2 Principles of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning sets the direction of the new initiative. In the diagram above (can Kim please make something nice here!), the strategy is the road that takes the church plant in the right direction, towards its vision. The strategy or path is guided by the purpose and mission of the church plant (why do we exist?), and by its values (how do we behave?) and its constraints (what are our limits?).
Major elements in strategic planning (put in word form) are:
Setting a Strategic Direction
This includes identifying the plant’s mission, vision and values statements.
Mission statements are brief written descriptions of the purpose of the organization. Mission statements vary in nature from very brief to quite comprehensive, and including having a specific purpose statement that is part of the overall mission statement.
Vision statements are usually a compelling description of how the team/church will look at some point in the future and of how people will benefit from the church’s activities.
Values statements list the overall priorities of how the team/church will operate. Values suggest overall priorities in how people ought to act spiritually and in the world, for example, love, integrity, honesty, respect, etc.
Strategic Analysis
This activity can include conducting some sort of scan, or review, of the environment in which the church initiative will operate (for example, of the spiritual, political, social and economic context). The team should also look at the various strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (an acronym for this activity is SWOT) regarding the team/church/community.
Action Planning
Action Planning – is carefully laying out how the strategic goals will be accomplished. Action planning often includes specifying objectives, or specific results, with each strategic goal. These goals should be SMART:
Specific: Who, what, when, where, why?
Measurable: How will I know when it has been achieved?
Achievable: Is your goal within your reach given your current situation?
Relevant: Is your goal relevant towards your calling?
Time-bound: What is the deadline for completing your goal?
Each goal can then be broken into action steps.
Budgeting
Usually, budgets are included in the strategic plan. Budgets specify the money needed for the resources that are necessary to make the plan happen by showing how the money will be spent, for example, for human resources, equipment, materials, etc.
3.3 How to draft a Strategic Plan
We’ve designed this next section to help you draft your strategic plan for your church plant. By answering the questions and supplying the required information under each heading you will achieve a thorough, well researched, prayerful and inspired plan. However please...
3.1 Benefits of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is vital to the process of new initiatives. Strategic planning: Clearly defines the mission of the new evangelistic initiative (church plant) Clearly articulates the vision of the plant. Sets out the purpose of the new church and establishes...