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Parish Strategic Plan

CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION 2012: “LOOKING TO THE FUTURE” STRATEGIC PLAN

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Note: Above files require the free Adobe Acrobat ReaderTABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Overview
II. Proposed Vision and Mission
III. Ministry Core Strategies
IV. Ministry Objectives and Initiatives
V. Parish Benchmarks/Performance Measures
VI. Parish Life and Mission Structure
VII. Ministry Action Plans

 Core Strategy A – Deepen our Relationship with Christ as a Eucharistic Community
Core Strategy B – Foster a Welcoming and Caring Intentional Community without Strangers
Core Strategy C – Grow our Commitment to Stewardship through a Spirituality of Gratitude
Core Strategy D – Continue to Strengthen our Catechetical  Mission
Core Strategy E – Deepen our Baptismal Call to Discipleship

 

I.  Overview:

 
1997 – 1998: Developed first “Building Our Future Together” Strategic Plan long-range strategy through the Year 2005.  The plan culminated in a set of Ministry Core Strategies and Commissions to support the staff in implementing these strategies for the future. 

1998 – 2007:  Strategic Plan updated over intervening years leading to the current need for a more comprehensive review and update of the plan toward the Year 2012. Ascension has experienced significant development in a number of areas, as well as challenges for the future.  In the Year 2001, Ascension achieved its highest October count and highest level of contributions with modest declines in both since that time.  The parish continues to experience a number of challenges, including:
+ Funding its preferred staffing model
+ Balancing its reliance on revenue from Bingo and the Parish Festival
+ Developing pastoral regions requiring greater collaboration
+ Drop in the rate of annual baptisms

2007:  Strategic Leadership Associates (SLA) assists Ascension update its Church of the Ascension 2012:  “Looking to the Future” Strategic Plan. Pastoral Council conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the current challenges facing the parish. In light of these challenges, Father Chris Worland, seeks to update the December 1998 strategic plan refreshing its relevance to the Year 2012.  Priority is to review and update original plan rather than create a plan from “scratch”, as well as build a renewed sense of ownership in the parish through the process.

April – August 2007: Pastoral Staff and Strategic Planning Team meet with SLA.  During the months of May and June 2007, the Pastoral Staff also completed a Parish Development Profile dated June 18, 2007.  This profile identified 10-year trends in the key benchmark areas of parish life.  The profile also included a review and evaluation of all parish program areas

September 2007: Parish forums held to solicit feedback on the proposed direction of the strategic plan.  During the forum process, participants also completed a questionnaire evaluating key aspects of the plan.

October 2007: Strategic Planning Team incorporates suggestions from the parish forums into the strategic plan. 

November 2007:  Orientation held for current and prospective commission members to acquaint them with the strategic plan and the action planning process.  January – February 2008: Commissions met to develop their respective ministry action plans to complete the “Looking to the Future” Strategic Plan. 

April 2008: The pastoral staff completed a final review of the plan. 

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II. PROPOSED VISION AND MISSION:

Parish Vision Statement
We strive to be Spirit-filled with God as the center of our lives, boldly proclaiming Christ and the Catholic tradition through our actions and word.

Parish Mission Statement
We, the Catholic community of Ascension Parish, are drawn together by our love of Christ as the center of our individual lives, families, community and ministry.  We commit ourselves to being a praying, teaching, caring, serving sign of God’s presence to each other and to the world around us.  We cooperate in building the kingdom of God by:
• Living our Catholic faith and nurturing its growth;
• Extending a spirit of welcome and belonging in our prayer, liturgy, sacrament, and mission;
• Accepting and cherishing the dignity of each person;
• Working in partnership with individuals, churches, and community in service to others

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III. MINISTRY CORE STRATEGIES:

The following core strategies identify the top level direction for the Church of the Ascension to the Year 2012.  These priorities taken as a whole represent the “one-page” strategic plan for the future.  Each of the following core strategies will be supported by a set of ministry objectives and initiatives and ministry action plans for implementation over the next five years.

Core Strategy A – Deepen our Relationship with Christ as a Eucharistic Community Deepen our relationship with Christ as a Eucharistic community through engaging worship, inclusive and meaningful sacramental life, a commitment to prayer, and catechesis of the entire community.

Core Strategy B – Foster a Welcoming and Caring Intentional Community without Strangers Foster a welcoming, intentional, and friendly community without strangers through care for our members in need, celebration of our common life, and shared ownership of our identity.

Core Strategy C – Grow our Commitment to Stewardship through a Spirituality of Gratitude Grow our collective commitment to stewardship through a spirituality of gratitude and sharing of financial resources, care for our facilities, and the gift of time in service and leadership among one another.

Core Strategy D – Continue to Strengthen our Catechetical Mission Continue to strengthen our catechetical mission of education in faith across the generations through religious education, Catholic school, youth ministry, and adult formation in collaboration with other parishes, the Deanery, and local universities.

Core Strategy E – Deepen our Baptismal Call to Discipleship Deepen the baptismal call to discipleship of our members through service to those individuals, communities, and churches in need.

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IV. MINISTRY OBJECTIVES AND INITIATIVES:

The following ministry objectives and initiatives represent the major benchmarks of success to be achieved in implementing the strategic plan for the Church of the Ascension to the Year 2012.  These objectives and initiatives indicate major priorities to be fully developed and documented in the action plan for implementation over the next several years.

 Core Strategy A – Deepen our Relationship with Christ as a Eucharistic Community

  1. Generate a spiritual vitality in Sunday worship which draws the assembly into a closer relationship with Christ and one another as a community.
  2. Create an understanding and desire which intentionally engages our community in the celebration of the Eucharist, sacraments, the rites of the church, and diverse forms of prayer.
  3. Continue to support and develop a committed base of lay ministers of worship to serve responsibly in their ministry for the good of the community with a spirit of enthusiasm.
  4. Develop a plan and build consensus among the parishioners on the plan for a revised Mass schedule and larger worship space gaining their commitment to this future reality.

Core Strategy B – Foster a Welcoming and Caring Intentional Community without Strangers

  1. Maintain our current standards and enhance our hospitality programs, welcoming people into the community through ushers, greeters, registration of new members, and other welcoming roles and practices.
  2. Continue to strengthen our welcoming community through defining our current hospitality practices and adapting them in an intentional and purposeful way.
  3. Embrace and recognize the growing cultural diversity in our region and our parish.
  4. Continue our focus on becoming an inviting and evangelizing community with a personal and direct approach to welcoming individuals into the community and inviting them to the next step in their faith lives.
  5. Enhance our current pastoral care ministries to those in need within the parish, including the grieving, the sick, those who are lonely, divorced and separated members, etc.
  6. Use communication technology and other means to communicate our mission and our spirit of hospitality and welcome to parishioners and those who may be parishioners in the future.
  7. Develop lay leaders who lead ministries, train future ministers, and continue to affirm our current volunteers.
  8. Foster vocational awareness as a parish.

Core Strategy C – Grow our Commitment to Stewardship through a Spirituality of Gratitude

  1. Develop a business plan for the parish.
  2. Catechize parishioners on the meaning of stewardship, including the sharing of time, talent, and treasure.
  3. Develop a plan for tithing parish resources.
  4. Create a development office to seek and obtain additional resources working with the “Deanery Legacy Giving Program” to support our parish needs.
  5. Study the present physical space requirements of parish ministries in light of future collaboration with other parishes in our area.
  6. Establish a five-year facilities plan in light of a reduction to one priest and changing needs for worship and gathering space.
  7. Complete a parish database with accurate census data on members and their households.

Core Strategy D – Continue to Strengthen our Catechetical Mission

  1. Develop a whole church catechetical plan that integrates RCIA, school, religious education, youth ministry, and adult faith formation.
  2. Investigate and participate in cooperative initiatives established by the Catholic Education Collaborative of the Dayton Deanery.
  3. Increase collaboration with our regional parishes in catechetical ministries.
  4. Move to an integrated parish-based model of sacramental preparation for all parish families that honors the role of parents as primary educators.
  5. Target currently underserved ages and populations within the parish, including expectant families, post-baptismal preparation, single adults, widows and widowers, those with special needs, seniors, separated and divorced members, and young adults.
  6. Provide opportunities for spiritual growth through a review of our current ministries (i.e., retreats, Christ Renews His Parish, Bible Study, Why Catholic, etc.) and introduce new initiatives, such as spiritual direction, small faith communities, and other programs which promote marriage and family.
  7. Continue to welcome into our Ascension community people who have been baptized, but not currently practicing the Catholic faith.
  8. Encourage un-baptized adults to join the church and provide them with the information and support they need through our RCIA process.

Core Strategy E – Deepen our Baptismal Call to Discipleship

  1. Motivate parishioners to live up to their baptismal call of service within and beyond the parish by forming them in the social teachings of the church.
  2. Encourage parishioners to respond to those in need beyond our parish, in our communities, and with other churches.
  3. Facilitate collective planning among similar parish outreach programs to establish a cohesive approach to outreach on behalf of our Ascension community.
  4. Design and implement an ongoing lay leadership development program working with the Stewardship Commission.

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V. PARISH BENCHMARKS/PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

The following parish benchmarks are the performance measures of success to be used in assessing progress on the strategic plan.  Annual review of these indicators will be shared in a parish report on the vitality of the community

  1. To grow weekly Mass attendance by 5% per year to the Year 2012
  2. To grow the number of parish households by 10% by the end of the Year 2012
  3. To reduce the number of uncatechized children by 2% per year to the Year 2012
  4. To grow youth ministry participation by 5% per year to the Year 2012
  5. To maintain a margin of 2% of annual revenue over expenses each year for the next five years
  6. To maintain a balanced financial investment sustaining our parish ministries
  7. To maintain six months of operating cash in reserves consistent with National Accounting Standards for not-for-profit organizations
  8. To grow average weekly parish envelope collections by 5% per year
  9. To reduce the number of non-contributing parish households by 2% per year for the next five years
  10. To maintain our history as a tithing parish by contributing 10% of weekly collections to services and ministry beyond the parish

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VI.  PARISH LIFE AND MISSION STRUCTURE:

As a result of the initial Ascension Strategic Plan in the Year 2000, commissions were formed to support major ministry areas in the parish and to advise the pastor and staff on the future development of these ministries.  The following Parish Life and Mission Chart (image link below) outlines the proposed commission and council structure for the Church of the Ascension to the Year 2012.  The following role descriptions outline some priorities for these commissions in guiding their area of parish ministry, working collaboratively with the Pastoral Council, pastor, and staff. Through the strategic planning process, each commission will incorporate these priorities into a comprehensive action plan for the future development of parish life and mission.The commissions are expected to fulfill the following roles over the next several years:

  1. Serve as the source for strategic planning for the various ministry areas of the parish.
  2. Work with other parishes as appropriate to coordinate inter-parochial efforts for pastoral ministries in consultation with the parish staff and committees.
  3. Communicate with parishioners on the trends and issues of their respective parish ministry to build the vitality of parish life.
  4. Form and educate parishioners on specific Catholic teachings and statements of the Bishops regarding their respective areas of ministry.
  5. Work with the Stewardship Commission on a parish-wide approach to the discernment and development of parish ministries through the “Sharing our Gifts” process.
  6. Recruit and orient lay ministry volunteers for service in various groups and parish ministries in their area of parish life.
  7. Provide a resource for planning and evaluation of the various volunteer ministries and groups working with those groups separately or together as needed and requested.
  8. Work with the pastoral staff to develop new efforts for parish ministry in their area of service.
  9. Provide recommendations on future funding for various parish ministries in their area of service.
  10. Communicate with the Pastoral Council through a commission liaison on needs of individual parish ministries and new opportunities for service in the future.
  11. Assist the pastor and staff in evaluating needed changes in their area of parish ministry and service.
  12. Invite and foster ongoing conversion and evangelization of parishioners and the greater community through their respective area of ministry.

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VI. MINISTRY ACTION PLANS:

WORSHIP COMMISSION MINISTRY ACTION PLAN

MINISTRY CORE STRATEGY A – DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST AS A EUCHARISTIC COMMUNITY
Deepen our relationship with Christ as a Eucharistic community through engaging worship, inclusive and meaningful sacramental life, a commitment to prayer, and catechesis of the entire community.

Key Decisions and Actions [Responsibility, Objective(s) Supported]

  1. During Lent 2008, record one homily per Sunday for duplication as a pod cast (on the web site) and a written transcript for pick up at the back of church.  If successful, repeat at other special seasons of the year. [Pastor, Worship Commission, A1]
  2. Investigate possible coordinated theological training of Eucharistic ministers and lectors working with our partner parishes. [Worship Commission, A3]
  3. Based on the Parish Mission Liturgical Music Concert in April 2008, determine the benefit if a regular (annual) concert (perhaps with other churches). [Worship Commission, A2]
  4. Implement a Children’s Choir Program involving both school and religious education children. [Worship Commission, A1]
  5. Document and standardize practical training of Eucharistic ministers and lectors beginning with new ministers (approximately three times per year). [Worship Commission, A3]
  6. Once per quarter, invite our youth and young adults to fulfill the liturgical ministries at one mass (lectors, greeters, music, Eucharistic ministers).  Over the year, rotate the mass which is served in this way. [Worship Commission, Youth Ministers, A3]
  7. Work with the Stewardship Commission to engage the parish in a study of Sunday worship options to adjust to one full-time priest. [Worship Commission, Stewardship Commission, A5]
  8. Annually convene our liturgical ministers to celebrate our ministry with a meal, liturgy, and speaker. [Worship Commission, A3]
  9. Engage the Worship Office of the Archdiocese or develop our own process for conducting an assessment of our Sunday worship with an emphasis on parish vitality. [Worship Commission, Pastor, A1, A2]

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HOSPITALITY AND WELCOMING COMMISSION MINISTRY ACTION PLAN

MINISTRY CORE STRATEGY B – FOSTER A WELCOMING AND CARING INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY WITHOUT STRANGERS
Foster a welcoming, intentional, and friendly community without strangers through care for our members in need, celebration of our common life, and shared ownership of our identity.

Key Decisions and Actions [Responsibility, Objective(s) Supported]

  1. Solidify the size of the Commission to include approximately 10-12 members and select a chairperson as a liaison to the Pastoral Council.  Members could be recruited from parish groups with a hospitality focus. [Pastoral Staff, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B1]
  2. Explore transitioning the Spiritual Renewal Team to serve as the future catalyst for small faith sharing and special interest communities.  (Same as D7) [Spiritual Renewal Team, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B5]
  3. Assign a member of the Commission to serve as a liaison for each group (cluster of ministries) serving in the parish to learn what they are doing and what they may need.  (See Action Item #5) [Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B1, B2]
  4. Convene a short-term communications task force to: Identify what we are doing now; Identify what we are missing; Identify what we could do differently. [Task Force of Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, Assigned Staff Leader, B6]
  5. For hospitality and welcoming groups/ministries with an identified need, invite them to a meeting with the Commission to review their current practices, their objectives, and how best to address their concerns.  (See Action Item #3) [Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B2]
  6. Implement the recommendations of the “Sharing our Gifts” Team for modifying a parish talent database.  (In line with Stewardship C7). [Pastoral Staff, Business Manager, Stewardship Commission, B10, C7]
  7. Create a planning group with representatives from “Sharing our Gifts,” Discipleship Commission, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, and CHRP.  The group will develop and implement quarterly discernment retreats (3 to 4 hours in length) to acquaint new parishioners, new volunteers, and existing volunteers to identify and deepen their call to serve at Ascension. [Pastoral Staff, Sharing our Gifts, Discipleship Commission, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, CHRP, B7]
  8. Based on Communications Task Force recommendations, implement new communications practices as feasible. [Pastoral Staff, Pastoral Council, Commissions, B6]
  9. Reconstitute the Vocations Awareness Committee.  Develop creative ways to promote vocations, perhaps working with the Marianists. [Pastor, Vocations Committee, B8]
  10. Explore a tri-parish hospitality event or activity for diverse cultural communities.  This could be done under the theme of “Pan de Vida”.  This could include welcoming a local parish (Holy Family, Trinity) to celebrate together, perhaps once a year.  [Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B3]
  11. Based on the recommendations of the Spiritual Renewal Team, implement common interest faith sharing groups desired by special groups of parishioners.  (Same as D8) [Education Commission, Spiritual Renewal Team, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, B5]

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STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY ACTION PLAN

MINISTRY CORE STRATEGY C – GROW OUR COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP THROUGH A SPIRITUALITY OF GRATITUDE
Grow our collective commitment to stewardship through a spirituality of gratitude and sharing of financial resources, care for our facilities, and the gift of time in service and leadership among one another.

Key Decisions and Actions [Responsibility, Objective(s) Supported]

  1. Develop and implement an annual business plan for parish operations based on the strategic plan.  This should include:A) Five-year Financial ForecastB) Preventive Maintenance Plan; C) Staffing Plan; D) Capital Improvement Plan [Business Manager, Finance Council, Building and Grounds, Stewardship, C1]
  2. Review and evaluate the potential of the “Grateful Believers Program” of the Stewardship Office of the Archdiocese and RSI.  Determine its relevance to Ascension or evaluate another option for parish formation in stewardship as part of our Baptismal Call. [Pastor,Pastoral Council, Stewardship Commission, C2]
  3. Study and develop a rationale for the tithing of parish resources donated beyond the parish.  This should include: % to be tithed; Sources of parish revenue included; Preferred charities; Criteria for distribution [Stewardship Commission, Finance Council, Pastoral Council, C3]
  4. Expand the size and scope of the Planned Giving Committee to work with the staff of the Dayton Deanery CEC and The Dayton Foundation on a Planned Giving Program for the school and parish. [Pastor, Planned Giving Committee, C4]
  5. Begin a shared planning process for the future of selected ministries which could be better done in common.  This may lead to common facilities planning. [Pastoral Council, Pastor, C5]
  6. Develop a limited set of options for a revised Mass schedule and reconfiguration of worship space to adjust to one assigned full-time priest.  Engage the parish in discussing and evaluating these options to find a preferred option perhaps by survey. [Pastoral Council, Worship Commission, Building and Grounds Committee, Finance Council, Education Commission, Stewardship Commission, Welcoming Commission, Discipleship Commission, C6]
  7. Establish a Parish Census Team to identify the process, criteria, data, and timetable to implement a parish census.  This may be done in conjunction with a parish pictorial book.  (In line with Hospitality and Welcoming B6) [Pastoral Council, Specially-appointed Census Team, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, C7, B6]
  8. Investigate a common parish data management system among our local parish collaborative. [Stewardship Commission, C7]
  9. Request all parish committees to develop a profile including their: Purpose; Membership; Major Projects. Study the results to determine the best use of our people resources.[Business Manager, Stewardship Commission, C7] 

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EDUCATION COMMISSION MINISTRY ACTION PLAN

MINISTRY CORE STRATEGY D – CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR CATECHETICAL MISSION
Continue to strengthen our catechetical mission of education in faith across the generations through religious education, Catholic school, youth ministry, and adult formation in collaboration with other parishes, the Deanery, and local universities.

Key Decisions and Actions [Responsibility, Objective(s) Supported]

  1. Reorganize the Education Commission into sub-committees, including: School and Religious Education; Youth (from various youth teams); Spiritual Life and Adult Faith Formation; Sacramental Life; Family Enrichment. Representatives from these groups would comprise the Education Commission. [Pastor, Education Commission, D1 through D8]
  2. Partner with other commissions to develop an annual “focus or theme” for a parish-wide catechetical plan.  This may be done on a 3- to 5-year cycle. [Education Commissions and All Parish Commissions,  Pastoral Staff, D1]
  3. Convene the education commissions of our partner parishes (St. Helen, Ascension, Immaculate Conception) and Carroll High School to share information on common priorities and determine the interest in a “cluster plan” for education, perhaps working with the CEC. [Pastors, Principals, D2, D3]
  4. Develop a vision for a parish-wide, integrated approach to sacramental life and formation, including invitation, catechesis, and celebration.  Create a sacramental life sub-committee of the Education Commission, including the RCIA Team, Sacramental Prep Team, and Marriage Prep Team to study and develop a 5-year vision of an integrated model of parish catechesis and celebration of the sacraments. [Sacramental Life Committee, D4, D7, D8]
  5. Inform the Parish Education Commission and its sub-committees of the resources available through the Catholic Education Collaborative, perhaps through a study night with the Collaborative President. [Education Commission, D2]
  6. Support, enhance, and provide resources as appropriate to formation ministries and groups in the parish and involve them on subcommittees. [Education Commission, D1]
  7. Explore transitioning the Spiritual Renewal Team to serve as the future catalyst for small faith sharing and special interest communities.  (Same as B10) [Spiritual Renewal Team, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, Education Commission, D5, D6, B5, B6]
  8. Based on the recommendations of the Spiritual Renewal Team, implement common interest faith sharing groups desired by special groups of parishioners.  (Same as B11) [Spiritual Renewal Team, Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, Education Commission, D5, D6, B5, B6]
  9. As part of the study of the Sunday Mass schedule, develop the options for parish formation of adults, as well as children between Masses.  (Same as Education E7) [Ongoing, D6, E7]
  10. Create subcommittee for technology to develop a plan for: Security;Media; Communications; Networking; Hardware; Management Software; Educational Software [Education Commission, Stewardship Commission]

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DISCIPLESHIP COMMISSION MINISTRY ACTION PLAN

MINISTRY CORE STRATEGY E – DEEPEN OUR BAPTISMAL CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
Deepen the baptismal call to discipleship of our members through service to those individuals, communities, and churches in need.

Key Decisions and Actions [Responsibility, Objective(s) Supported] 

  1. Continue our participation in the “Weavers of Justice” process of the Dayton Deanery. [Discipleship Commission, E1]
  2. Work with the Collaborative Outreach Planning Team with Immaculate Conception and St. Helen to implement shared projects. [Discipleship Commission, E1, E2, E3]
  3. Expand the membership of the Discipleship Commission to include at least 12 members. [Discipleship Commission]
  4. Work with the Office of Catholic Social Action and the Collaborative Outreach Planning Team to conduct a “Big Catholic Read” using the book, “A Catholic Vote” and offer discussion groups prior to the election.  If possible, collaborate with St. Charles Parish on this effort. [Discipleship Commission, Partner Parishes, E3]
  5. Develop an approach to identify and integrate Catholic social themes into our worship based on an annual plan.  This could build on the “Parish Tool Kit” of the Office of Social Action organized around the liturgical year. [Discipleship and Worship Commissions, E1]
  6. Collaborate with the Education and Formation Commission to develop a “Short Course on Catholic Social Teaching” which could be offered in Lent of 2009.  [Discipleship Commission, Education Commission, E2]
  7. As part of the study of the Sunday Mass schedule, develop the options for parish formation of adults, as well as children between Masses.  (Same as Education D9) [Discipleship and Education Commissions, C6, E1]
  8. Work with “Sharing the Gifts, the Hospitality and Welcoming Commission, and CHRP to develop quarterly discernment retreats on lay formation in ministry for current and new parishioners.  (Same as Welcoming – B8.)  [Discipleship Commission, B7, E4]

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