Prepare to be engaged!
Campus Master Plan Task Force begins its work;
Envisioning facility as support for mission
March 20, 2011 — After their election at a special meeting of the congregation on January 16 and an organizational meeting on February 5, the Campus Master Plan Task Force began its work in earnest on March 7 and has adopted an aggressive meeting schedule and process that will engage the congregation in re-envisioning the physical plant as support for mission. It’s a process that Pastor Rick Nelson calls “a pivotal moment” in the life of Central.
The Task Force was elected to lead the congregation in 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 group will propose improvements and changes to the facilities that should be accomplished—in total or in phases—by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year. The group will make its recommendation in November.
Members of the Task Force are Sally Carlson-Bancroft, Deborah Bauknight, Franklin Dietrich, Ron Fiscus, Bill Masche, Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist and Paul Troselius. Senior Pastor Rick Nelson, Congregation Council President Kristin Schoephoerster, and Business Administrator David Alexander will participate in the Task Force’s meetings. Also attending the meetings will be Communications Manager Joe Bjordal, who will facilitate communication efforts with the congregation, and Erica Doss, Pastor Rick’s assistant, who will provide administrative support.
Bill Masche was elected chair at the February meeting and said that it became apparent that the Task Force is very committed to the effort and senses this is “a very big deal” for Central Lutheran Church.
“Leading that initial discussion, Pastor Rick encouraged each of us to share our thoughts about Central, its mission and our task ahead,” said Bill. “As we moved around the table, enthusiasm and excitement seemed to build as we saw in others the unique perspective and gifts each one brings to the Task Force.”
“‘Pray, listen and let God’s plan for Central work through you,’ was Pastor Rick’s charge to the group,” said Bill.
Process to be guided by consultants
As authorized by the congregation at the special meeting, the work of the Task Force will be facilitated and guided by consultants. At the January 16 congregation meeting, Pastor Rick explained that he had interviewed five consulting firms from around the country and would recommend one to the Task Force: a local firm called Cincinnatus. At their meeting on March 7, the members of the Task Force voted to engage Cincinnatus as the project’s consultants.
Two principals of the firm have been assigned to the project: Kent Ecklund, its president, and Sarah Strickland. Both have extensive experience in facilitating the kind of process the Campus Master Plan Task Force will pursue, both in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Both also have ties to the church and successful experience in leading church-related projects. Ecklund and his wife. Katherine, who manages the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, which was founded and continues to rehearse at Central, are members of St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, where Kent currently serves as congregation president. Strickland and her husband, Paul, are members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.
As an indication of the company’s commitment to this planning process and to Central, Bill reported that Cincinattus has agreed to give a tithe—reducing the contract amount by ten percent, without reducing the scope of the work to be completed.
“I believe our consultants’ jobs are to help us discern both needs and the goals of Central, to provide innovative ways where opinions of members and friends are sought and valued, to infuse their experience and advice into the process and to reach the goal of a master campus plan,” said Bill. “It is obvious already that our consultants, Sarah and Kent, bring immense depth of experience with other similar institutions, a well-thought-out scope of work for the process and values aligned with Central’s. We are pleased to have them on board.”
Beginning to engage the congregation
The first of several opportunities for members of Central to provide input to the Campus Master Plan Task Force will be though a survey to be conducted between April 7 and 21—concluding just before Easter. In addition, two special congregational meetings are planned and comments will be received throughout the project through a comment box and Central’s website. The survey questions and the project’s communications plan will be finalized at the next meeting of the Task Force on March 23.
Vital for the future
“There is nothing more vital for Central’s future, and no better way for us to move into our Centennial, than this season and process of discernment,” said Pastor Rick. “I am very excited for the leading of the Spirit for the Task Force and congregational process we are undertaking. This is a pivotal moment for our journey into God’s preferred future for us—an opportunity to listen to one another, this city, and God’s world for what God is doing among us, the ministry opportunities that lie immediately ahead and the vision for the facility tools we will need to accomplish it.”
Campus Master Plan Task Force begins its work;
Envisioning facility as support for mission
March 20, 2011 — After their election at a special meeting of the congregation on January 16 and an organizational meeting on February 5, the Campus Master Plan Task Force began its work in earnest on March 7 and has adopted an aggressive meeting schedule and process that will engage the congregation in re-envisioning the physical plant as support for mission. It’s a process that Pastor Rick Nelson calls “a pivotal moment” in the life of Central.
The Task Force was elected to lead the congregation in 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 group will propose improvements and changes to the facilities that should be accomplished—in total or in phases—by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year. The group will make its recommendation in November.
Members of the Task Force are Sally Carlson-Bancroft, Deborah Bauknight, Franklin Dietrich, Ron Fiscus, Bill Masche, Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist and Paul Troselius. Senior Pastor Rick Nelson, Congregation Council President Kristin Schoephoerster, and Business Administrator David Alexander will participate in the Task Force’s meetings. Also attending the meetings will be Communications Manager Joe Bjordal, who will facilitate communication efforts with the congregation, and Erica Doss, Pastor Rick’s assistant, who will provide administrative support.
Bill Masche was elected chair at the February meeting and said that it became apparent that the Task Force is very committed to the effort and senses this is “a very big deal” for Central Lutheran Church.
“Leading that initial discussion, Pastor Rick encouraged each of us to share our thoughts about Central, its mission and our task ahead,” said Bill. “As we moved around the table, enthusiasm and excitement seemed to build as we saw in others the unique perspective and gifts each one brings to the Task Force.”
“‘Pray, listen and let God’s plan for Central work through you,’ was Pastor Rick’s charge to the group,” said Bill.
Process to be guided by consultants
As authorized by the congregation at the special meeting, the work of the Task Force will be facilitated and guided by consultants. At the January 16 congregation meeting, Pastor Rick explained that he had interviewed five consulting firms from around the country and would recommend one to the Task Force: a local firm called Cincinnatus. At their meeting on March 7, the members of the Task Force voted to engage Cincinnatus as the project’s consultants.
Two principals of the firm have been assigned to the project: Kent Ecklund, its president, and Sarah Strickland. Both have extensive experience in facilitating the kind of process the Campus Master Plan Task Force will pursue, both in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. Both also have ties to the church and successful experience in leading church-related projects. Ecklund and his wife. Katherine, who manages the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, which was founded and continues to rehearse at Central, are members of St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in Saint Paul, where Kent currently serves as congregation president. Strickland and her husband, Paul, are members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.
As an indication of the company’s commitment to this planning process and to Central, Bill reported that Cincinattus has agreed to give a tithe—reducing the contract amount by ten percent, without reducing the scope of the work to be completed.
“I believe our consultants’ jobs are to help us discern both needs and the goals of Central, to provide innovative ways where opinions of members and friends are sought and valued, to infuse their experience and advice into the process and to reach the goal of a master campus plan,” said Bill. “It is obvious already that our consultants, Sarah and Kent, bring immense depth of experience with other similar institutions, a well-thought-out scope of work for the process and values aligned with Central’s. We are pleased to have them on board.”
Beginning to engage the congregation
The first of several opportunities for members of Central to provide input to the Campus Master Plan Task Force will be though a survey to be conducted between April 7 and 21—concluding just before Easter. In addition, two special congregational meetings are planned and comments will be received throughout the project through a comment box and Central’s website. The survey questions and the project’s communications plan will be finalized at the next meeting of the Task Force on March 23.
Vital for the future
“There is nothing more vital for Central’s future, and no better way for us to move into our Centennial, than this season and process of discernment,” said Pastor Rick. “I am very excited for the leading of the Spirit for the Task Force and congregational process we are undertaking. This is a pivotal moment for our journey into God’s preferred future for us—an opportunity to listen to one another, this city, and God’s world for what God is doing among us, the ministry opportunities that lie immediately ahead and the vision for the facility tools we will need to accomplish it.”
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