Building on the past; imagining a future of abundance and hope
Campus Master Plan Task Force is hard at work
By Bill Masche, Task Force Chair
June 20, 2011 — Elected in January, the Campus Master Plan Task Force is charged with leading the congregation through a “prayerful process of discovery, listening, discussion, creative imagination and visioning.” It will offer for consideration by the congregation a master plan for our campus that correlates facility needs with accomplishing Central’s stated mission objectives. The Task Force will propose improvements and changes to the facilities that should be accomplished—in total or in phases—by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year. At the suggestion of Pastor Rick Nelson, the Task Force’s work is grounded in Jeremiah 29:11, which is about God’s promise for a future with abundance and hope.
The Task Force has met on a rigorous schedule since February. We discuss the great and the small. We state that any renovations, new construction or rehabilitation must be accessible to to everyone. We continue to be guided by how our facility should serve members, guests, and the community. We discuss how children and youth need space and playground. We talk about lofty things like the mission and vision of Central, the vision of the founders, the calling of the Holy Spirit and the affirmation that God’s vision for the facility may alreadybe in place and that it is our job as a congregation to discern it. Our meetings are filled with inspiration, excitement, visioning and fun, but also what our consultant, Sarah Strickland, of Cincinnatus, Inc., calls “creative tension.” The planning process will continue through the first quarter of 2012.
Building on past accomplishments
Several in this congregation have engaged in a process of planning and discernment before. We recall and honor the work of the Mission and Vision Implementation Plan Task Force under the leadership of Ron Fiscus. We recall and honor the work of the Revitalization Task Force under the leadership of Shirley Teig. We hold fast to this day to the clear and inspiring message formulated as to what the mission and vision of Central Lutheran Church is. We recognize the creation of the Restoration Center, the South Commons fellowship area and restrooms as the results of the work of the Revitalization Task Force. Each of these improvements holds in common the fulfillment of a need.
Each and every person and member of any team who has boldly moved forward in addressing the physical needs for the campus or creating a space to fulfill the mission of our congregation has provided the foundation for the process we are undertaking now. All of these efforts of dedicated members, clergy and staff—whether fully realized or not—are part of the expression of the faith and commitment we all feel towards Central. Their gifts and accomplishments are essential to the work of this task force—the building blocks for the current effort. We press on with the respect for those who have preceded, drawing strength from their conviction of envisioning the campus better serving our needs. To use a construction term, their work provides the “footings” for our task. Together today we are building for future generations at Central.
Listening phase reveals vision for a strong, innovative leader
The Task Force just completed the “listening phase” of our process—through a survey, completed by 20% of our members as well as individual and group listening sessions. We heard from you that Central should be a convener, a destination for many from both the wider church and the community, such as the recent Festival of Homiletics, Neighborhood Sustainability Conference and the Generous Hearts Conference, sponsored by the Central Lutheran Foundation and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. But, most of all Central Lutheran Church is a place—a community—where we, its members and friends, are fed and nurtured by worship, music, education and fellowship so that we can be, as the founders ordained, a congregation that exists not for itself, but so it can be of service to the community and the world.
Many Centralites participated in two “Findings Forums” on Sunday, May 22 as Sarah, on behalf of the Task Force, presented the results of the survey and listening sessions. (The presentation slides from the Forums can be viewed at
www.centralmpls.org/imagine.php.)
Core assumptions will drive process going forward
Developing a set of “Core Assumptions” is the current priority of the Task Force. As Sarah and Pastor Rick Nelson lead, prod and encourage us through this process, we are now in the foundation stage working towards consensus in building what Sarah calls the core assumptions that will guide our process from here on out. These are the unmovable core values revealed to us in our collective listening phase. You, the body of Christ—the congregation of Central Lutheran Church—have provided your wisdom, your thoughts and your dreams for Central. This will drive the process going forward.
Work continues non-stop
The Task Force is also now engaged in selecting an architectural firm to assist us in envisioning and testing various scenarios for our campus facilities. These discussions will continue over the summer months. We pledge to keep you informed, to value your opinions, to ask you to keep us grounded in what you see the future of our campus to be.
“Convener,” yes, but intimately personal as well. Central must always be the place where we gather together to worship, to pray and to nurture each other—bathed in the love of Christ and prepared to serve. As Pastor Rick Nelson is fond of saying, “We must be ‘fed’ by worship, learning and fellowship and then we can move out to serve the world Christ died to save.”
Campus Master Plan Task Force is hard at work
By Bill Masche, Task Force Chair
June 20, 2011 — Elected in January, the Campus Master Plan Task Force is charged with leading the congregation through a “prayerful process of discovery, listening, discussion, creative imagination and visioning.” It will offer for consideration by the congregation a master plan for our campus that correlates facility needs with accomplishing Central’s stated mission objectives. The Task Force will propose improvements and changes to the facilities that should be accomplished—in total or in phases—by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year. At the suggestion of Pastor Rick Nelson, the Task Force’s work is grounded in Jeremiah 29:11, which is about God’s promise for a future with abundance and hope.
The Task Force has met on a rigorous schedule since February. We discuss the great and the small. We state that any renovations, new construction or rehabilitation must be accessible to to everyone. We continue to be guided by how our facility should serve members, guests, and the community. We discuss how children and youth need space and playground. We talk about lofty things like the mission and vision of Central, the vision of the founders, the calling of the Holy Spirit and the affirmation that God’s vision for the facility may alreadybe in place and that it is our job as a congregation to discern it. Our meetings are filled with inspiration, excitement, visioning and fun, but also what our consultant, Sarah Strickland, of Cincinnatus, Inc., calls “creative tension.” The planning process will continue through the first quarter of 2012.
Building on past accomplishments
Several in this congregation have engaged in a process of planning and discernment before. We recall and honor the work of the Mission and Vision Implementation Plan Task Force under the leadership of Ron Fiscus. We recall and honor the work of the Revitalization Task Force under the leadership of Shirley Teig. We hold fast to this day to the clear and inspiring message formulated as to what the mission and vision of Central Lutheran Church is. We recognize the creation of the Restoration Center, the South Commons fellowship area and restrooms as the results of the work of the Revitalization Task Force. Each of these improvements holds in common the fulfillment of a need.
Each and every person and member of any team who has boldly moved forward in addressing the physical needs for the campus or creating a space to fulfill the mission of our congregation has provided the foundation for the process we are undertaking now. All of these efforts of dedicated members, clergy and staff—whether fully realized or not—are part of the expression of the faith and commitment we all feel towards Central. Their gifts and accomplishments are essential to the work of this task force—the building blocks for the current effort. We press on with the respect for those who have preceded, drawing strength from their conviction of envisioning the campus better serving our needs. To use a construction term, their work provides the “footings” for our task. Together today we are building for future generations at Central.
Listening phase reveals vision for a strong, innovative leader
The Task Force just completed the “listening phase” of our process—through a survey, completed by 20% of our members as well as individual and group listening sessions. We heard from you that Central should be a convener, a destination for many from both the wider church and the community, such as the recent Festival of Homiletics, Neighborhood Sustainability Conference and the Generous Hearts Conference, sponsored by the Central Lutheran Foundation and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. But, most of all Central Lutheran Church is a place—a community—where we, its members and friends, are fed and nurtured by worship, music, education and fellowship so that we can be, as the founders ordained, a congregation that exists not for itself, but so it can be of service to the community and the world.
Many Centralites participated in two “Findings Forums” on Sunday, May 22 as Sarah, on behalf of the Task Force, presented the results of the survey and listening sessions. (The presentation slides from the Forums can be viewed at
www.centralmpls.org/imagine.php.)
Core assumptions will drive process going forward
Developing a set of “Core Assumptions” is the current priority of the Task Force. As Sarah and Pastor Rick Nelson lead, prod and encourage us through this process, we are now in the foundation stage working towards consensus in building what Sarah calls the core assumptions that will guide our process from here on out. These are the unmovable core values revealed to us in our collective listening phase. You, the body of Christ—the congregation of Central Lutheran Church—have provided your wisdom, your thoughts and your dreams for Central. This will drive the process going forward.
Work continues non-stop
The Task Force is also now engaged in selecting an architectural firm to assist us in envisioning and testing various scenarios for our campus facilities. These discussions will continue over the summer months. We pledge to keep you informed, to value your opinions, to ask you to keep us grounded in what you see the future of our campus to be.
“Convener,” yes, but intimately personal as well. Central must always be the place where we gather together to worship, to pray and to nurture each other—bathed in the love of Christ and prepared to serve. As Pastor Rick Nelson is fond of saying, “We must be ‘fed’ by worship, learning and fellowship and then we can move out to serve the world Christ died to save.”
Sarah Strickland and Joe Bjordal contributed to this story.
333 South Twelfth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
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