Imagining a future of abundance and hope
Campus Master Plan Task Force launches seven-month
process of conversation, discernment and discovery
March 27, 2011 — “We offer ourselves to this task, to your work and to your glory.” With those words of prayer by Pastor Rick Nelson, the second working meeting of the Campus Master Plan Task Force got underway early on the morning of March 23. The group set into motion a detailed, seven-month process that will propose to the congregation—by November 2—changes and improvements to the campus to be accomplished by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year—either as a one-time project or in phases.
The Task Force’s process of discernment, discovery and imagination—involving the entire congregation—has been designed by Cincinnatus, the consulting firm formally engaged following the group’s last meeting on March 5. The March 23 meeting was facilitated by Sarah Strickland of Cincinnatus, who will be the lead consultant. The Task Force approved an overview for the entire process and a detailed project plan for the first phase of the project between now and May.
First step: listening
The first phase of the process will be a significant effort of listening to members and friends of the congregation—the findings from which will form the basis of upcoming phases. The first step in this listening process will be a congregation-wide survey, which will begin April 7 and conclude by April 21, Maundy Thursday. The survey will be web-based and every effort will be made to make sure all members have access to a computer. These will include computer kiosks (with assistance) available on Sunday mornings and other days at Central and a “bringing” of the survey to homebound members by the visitation pastors using laptop computers. The survey will be available to all Central members age 18 and older and we are finalizing ways for our younger members to participate as well.
The Task Force will finalize the survey questions at their next meeting on March 30. The survey will be conducted by The Research Edge, a Saint Paul market research company engaged by Cincinnatus.
Other components of this data ingathering will include questionnaires and listening sessions—conducted by the consultants and members of the Task Force—with internal groups, ministry teams, staff and groups representing various demographic segments of the congregation, such as young families. Individual interviews with key stakeholders—both internal and external—will also be conducted.
A letter explaining the survey, with instructions about how to participate, will arrive in the homes of Central members by April 4.
A different kind of “Rally Sunday”
This first phase of listening will conclude on Sunday, May 22 in what is being described as “a day of listening,” “an interactive day with activities for all ages,” and “a day of understanding and experiencing the building.” Pastor Rick said the day is planned to rally people around the Campus Master Plan Task Force’s process “before people head in different directions for summer.” The Task Force is proposing one morning worship service, followed by lunch for all and an afternoon of activities, including conversation circles and feedback sessions.
Timely, transparent communication
The Task Force also adopted a communication plan with the goals of being timely, transparent and inclusive—fully informing the congregation and engaging them in the process. The plan will utilize many existing communication channels, such as the website, the electronic newsletter and The Spirit, Central’s weekly newsletter, where a summary news story will appear following each Task Force meeting and other key milestones in the process.
Also included in the plan will be the use of direct mail (as needed), an “old fashioned” bulletin board, congregational forums, a comment box (both physical and online) and brief online surveys.
Efforts of the communication plan will encourage the congregation to “bathe the project in prayer,” to be bold and confident in imagination, to link the process of facility planning to mission, and will revisit Central’s history—including its original motto, “the faith of our fathers in the language of our children”—as a way of recalling the innovation, creativity, risk-taking and changes that marked Central’s remarkable legacy with a view toward envisioning a future of abundance and hope.
The Task Force will collaborate with the Heritage Ministry Team to create a series of historical displays of documents and memorabilia from Central’s archives that will give a revealing look at past facility planning efforts and demonstrate, as Pastor Rick said, “that we have not gotten to where we are today without change.”
“Now,” said consultant Sara Strickland, as she concluded the meeting, “we have a lot of work to do before April 7!”
Campus Master Plan Task Force launches seven-month
process of conversation, discernment and discovery
March 27, 2011 — “We offer ourselves to this task, to your work and to your glory.” With those words of prayer by Pastor Rick Nelson, the second working meeting of the Campus Master Plan Task Force got underway early on the morning of March 23. The group set into motion a detailed, seven-month process that will propose to the congregation—by November 2—changes and improvements to the campus to be accomplished by 2019/2020, Central’s centennial year—either as a one-time project or in phases.
The Task Force’s process of discernment, discovery and imagination—involving the entire congregation—has been designed by Cincinnatus, the consulting firm formally engaged following the group’s last meeting on March 5. The March 23 meeting was facilitated by Sarah Strickland of Cincinnatus, who will be the lead consultant. The Task Force approved an overview for the entire process and a detailed project plan for the first phase of the project between now and May.
First step: listening
The first phase of the process will be a significant effort of listening to members and friends of the congregation—the findings from which will form the basis of upcoming phases. The first step in this listening process will be a congregation-wide survey, which will begin April 7 and conclude by April 21, Maundy Thursday. The survey will be web-based and every effort will be made to make sure all members have access to a computer. These will include computer kiosks (with assistance) available on Sunday mornings and other days at Central and a “bringing” of the survey to homebound members by the visitation pastors using laptop computers. The survey will be available to all Central members age 18 and older and we are finalizing ways for our younger members to participate as well.
The Task Force will finalize the survey questions at their next meeting on March 30. The survey will be conducted by The Research Edge, a Saint Paul market research company engaged by Cincinnatus.
Other components of this data ingathering will include questionnaires and listening sessions—conducted by the consultants and members of the Task Force—with internal groups, ministry teams, staff and groups representing various demographic segments of the congregation, such as young families. Individual interviews with key stakeholders—both internal and external—will also be conducted.
A letter explaining the survey, with instructions about how to participate, will arrive in the homes of Central members by April 4.
A different kind of “Rally Sunday”
This first phase of listening will conclude on Sunday, May 22 in what is being described as “a day of listening,” “an interactive day with activities for all ages,” and “a day of understanding and experiencing the building.” Pastor Rick said the day is planned to rally people around the Campus Master Plan Task Force’s process “before people head in different directions for summer.” The Task Force is proposing one morning worship service, followed by lunch for all and an afternoon of activities, including conversation circles and feedback sessions.
Timely, transparent communication
The Task Force also adopted a communication plan with the goals of being timely, transparent and inclusive—fully informing the congregation and engaging them in the process. The plan will utilize many existing communication channels, such as the website, the electronic newsletter and The Spirit, Central’s weekly newsletter, where a summary news story will appear following each Task Force meeting and other key milestones in the process.
Also included in the plan will be the use of direct mail (as needed), an “old fashioned” bulletin board, congregational forums, a comment box (both physical and online) and brief online surveys.
Efforts of the communication plan will encourage the congregation to “bathe the project in prayer,” to be bold and confident in imagination, to link the process of facility planning to mission, and will revisit Central’s history—including its original motto, “the faith of our fathers in the language of our children”—as a way of recalling the innovation, creativity, risk-taking and changes that marked Central’s remarkable legacy with a view toward envisioning a future of abundance and hope.
The Task Force will collaborate with the Heritage Ministry Team to create a series of historical displays of documents and memorabilia from Central’s archives that will give a revealing look at past facility planning efforts and demonstrate, as Pastor Rick said, “that we have not gotten to where we are today without change.”
“Now,” said consultant Sara Strickland, as she concluded the meeting, “we have a lot of work to do before April 7!”
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