Unity Strategic Plan Vision and Goals

The following is the vision and goals as laid out by the individual

Focus groups.  These represent the first draft of goals, not all

goals were included in the final strategic plan.

Education

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Enthusiastic people on a spiritual path that is purposeful and fulfilling. There are large numbers of people participating and staying committed.  Multiple educational opportunities exist with high quality, diverse facilitators, filling various needs and wants throughout the congregation.

2.       Teaching is centered on the teachings of Jesus without being “traditional” which aids the participant to become more Christ centered.  Classes are mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically empowering and purposeful.

3.       Education reaches out, excites, and attracts people from the community.  This makes us an invaluable resource to our community.

4.       Youth department is a vibrant part of the congregation and ministry overall.

5.       Youth education is purposeful and provides tools for daily spiritual growth. Curriculum is open to correlating with services and adult education.  There are many diverse opportunities outside the classroom for youth.

Goals

·         Have an abundance of motivated, qualified facilitators

·         Provide training for volunteers and staff

·         Have 12 L.U.T.’s /have 2 L.U.T.’s less than 30 years old

·         Have a non-voting youth representative participating with the Board

·         Have a membership path that provides a foundation in Unity principles, church operations, etc…

·         Have at least one community based seminar/learning experience per year

·         Provide adequate “bridging” activities for 4^th and 5^th graders coming into 6^th grade

·         Have a strong campus ministry at MSU within 1 year and expand to Drury and OTC

·         Provide strong “bridging” program from Y.O.U. into campus ministry

·         Have a full time Youth and Family L.U.T.

·         Have at least one non-traditional learning opportunity for each department

·         Have and retain 8 sponsors for the teen program and 2 teachers for each class

·         Create additional Adult Sunday school classes that are based on spiritual needs

·         Provide two additional age and/or needs based spiritual classes

·         Develop and implement a plan to have the youth more involved in the spiritual life of the congregation

·         Take greater advantage of Unity Village resources

Finance

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Church that is abundant, growing, and secure, maintaining a positive cash flow that meets our wants and needs.  Financial support of the church is being shared across the membership and church community at large.

2.       Church promotes an atmosphere of personal prosperity that is shared willingly to increase church prosperity.

3.       Our primary financial focus is to have the ability to purchase a “new” church while supporting our needs in the current facility.

Goals

·         Have successful “legacy society” in place

·         Have a director of bequests

·         Always have a “key man/woman” policy in place for our primary pastor

·         Conduct an annual review of the finances by an accountant starting now

·         Average collection from all non-Sunday school activities is at least $1.00 per person

·         Expand the wedding services

·         Have a new line in the budget for a monthly savings program

·         Promote monthly giving through credit and debit cards

·         Upgrade Fellowship Hall and kitchen

·         Create and implement a program promoting prosperity and the joy of giving

·         Hire appropriate personnel as recommended by the strategic plan as soon as possible

·         Complete items from the energy audit

·         Have a compensation plan based on internal and external equity

·         Regularly communicate church finances with the congregation using the publicity plan

·         Annually re-evaluate fundraisers to maximize revenue.  Link fundraisers such as concerts to the publicity plan

·         Complete demographic survey to include socio-economic information

Ministry and Music

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Church has a high quality facility with abundant space for both music and ministry with people who are highly trained in its operation readily available.

2.       Have capable, dynamic, and committed leadership in all areas of ministry. Have a full range of ministers to support the needs of the congregation.

3.       Have a broad range of services that satisfy various spiritual needs.

4.       Have a broad, dedicated talent base allowing for people to perform on any given day.

Goals

·         Train all the technicians

·         Expand and improve the stage

·         Play at least 1 original song per month

·         Provide more variation in music, including the hymnal

·         Install data projectors and screens or monitors (front and back) in the sanctuary

·         Purchase equipment and train the technical people to create high quality C.D.’s

·         Upgrade sound system in sanctuary and Fellowship Hall

·         Establish a subscription service for C.D.’s to be mailed

·         Provide MP3 download for money on the website

·         Pay ministry and teaching staff

·         Hire a Unity based person who organizes, coordinates, and oversees all special ministries

·         Acquire adequate space for special activities and equipment storage

·         Create and implement a plan to develop a high quality youth music ministry

·         Develop and define an usher program

·         Improve communication about guest speakers and musical talent

·         Develop a follow-up program for people who are “missing” from church

·         Make the bookstore more accessible via other means including the website and announcements

·         Upgrade bookstore

·         Create and implement a high quality welcome ministry

·         Provide competitive benefits to full time staff

·         Research other churches regarding staffing levels and pay

·         Hire a full time music director

·         Provide professional development opportunities for staff and church leadership

·         Provide method for contacting the church during non-business hours.

Social Life

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Have a social atmosphere at church that offers a diverse group of people the opportunity to feel safe, at home, and welcomed in a collective spirit of fun and caring.

2.       There are numerous and varied activities so that something appeals to everyone. Being at church becomes peoples’ first choice on any given day.

3.       There is easy and open communication so that everyone has ample opportunity to know what is available.

Goals

·         Have a paid social director

·         Have at least an additional 10 successful small social groups started within 1 year and a total of 20 within 2 years

·         Implement a publicity program that informs and inspires the church

·         Have an additional 50 new people participating in small group functions

·         Create at least 1 small group for seniors, youth, families, men, women, etc.

·         Have a multipurpose room and outdoor space to accommodate large group and athletic activities

·         Implement a plan to better utilize and arrange space in Fellowship Hall and the kitchen

·         Provide weekly Sunday morning breakfasts and monthly Wednesday evening dinners

·         Have at least 1 off campus, whole church activity (renewal, retreat, camping, etc…) each year

·         Create and keep updated a comprehensive directory of social activities and groups

Outreach

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Outreach that is approached from a positive perspective based on the Unity principle of abundance.

2.       Become well known as “Unity in the Community.” A church that provides and encourages people who come through our doors to feel welcome and their spiritual, social, and emotional needs met.

Goals

·         Adopt an elementary school

·         Have five qualified volunteers to drive people to church

·         Develop a communication strategy regarding publicizing outreach

·         Seat a focus/working group to investigate and/or set-up a comprehensive addiction program

·         Develop a list of outside organizations that fill needs in the community

·         Appoint a volunteer/paid outreach coordinator

·         Involve all groups in outreach (Y.O.U., men etc…) each group should have at least 1 community service project

·         Better utilized church space and volunteer coverage for outreach activities

·         Have a regular church wide service project at least once per quarter

Publicity and Marketing

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Define and put out to the community “who we are” for those looking for an alternative to traditional religion. Growth occurs because of this.

2.       Be known as “Unity” with a name that’s well known throughout the community.

3.       Have an effective marketing plan that reaches the Springfield community in a variety of ways.

4.       Communicate events in a seamless, timely, and multi-faceted way to members of our church community and the broader community in and around Springfield.

Goals

·         Develop a clear definition of “who and what” we are

·         Develop a “brand” for the church including a logo and slogan

·         Educate our congregation on who and what we are and give them appropriate marketing materials

·         Change the church name and buy marketing materials from Unity

·         Have all our materials aligned with our branding

·         Develop a marketing plan that may include: billboards, morning radio spot, daily word radio spot, church service on cable t.v., bumper stickers, magnetic signs for cars, tee shirts, brochures, movie theater spots, yard signs

·         Hire a paid marketing director

·         Start a campus ministry to connect with a younger community

·         Design and purchase a new church sign

·         Market bookstore and consider selling on-line

·         Update and redevelop the website once branding is complete

·         Do community work as “Unity” church

·         Obtain a marketing budget

·         Purchase flat screen t.v.’s to broadcast messages within 6 months

·         Develop a follow-up program to contact guests and make them feel welcome

·         Use a robo-dialer, texting, and/or e-mail for events of the week

·         Take advantage of free marketing activities

·         Appoint and/or pay a publicity person

·         Develop and implement a plan to get information to the community in a timely manner

·         Research the possibility of having booths at community events

·         Publicize our space for weddings and the meditation garden

·         Develop and implement a plan to getting classes to those who can’t make it to church

Building and Grounds

Vision and Goals

Vision

1.       Upgrade the building and grounds to be highly supportive of Unity and future tenants of the property.

2.       Have an expanded and upgraded church facility on another property and/or have a satellite facility.

Goals

·         Upgrade the visual lines and the sound system in the sanctuary

·         Modernize the on-street sign

·         Update plantings outside the sanctuary/ upgrade the outside aesthetics of the property in general 

·         Upgrade the energy efficiency of the building

·         “Finish” the kitchen by upgrading the refrigerator, water heater, flooring, etc…

·         Upgrade the electrical system throughout the structure

·         Expand the kitchen so more people can work at the same time

·         Expand social space available for large church functions and small group meetings

·         Expand classroom space in terms of size and numbers

·         Create 2-3 more offices to increase efficiency and give Sue “space”

·         Re-arrange the use of space within the foot print and/or implement plan for expansion of Fellowship Hall

·         Find automatic solution to the fault line so problems get solved as they occur

·         Perform necessary repairs on Luster House and outside of the church

·         Add restroom space

·         Create additional usable storage space at the church

·         Create space for 12 step programs

·         Modernize phone system for credit cards and incoming calls

·         Expand main entry to include fenced in area near men’s restroom

·         Evaluate, expand, and upgrade main entry to be more welcoming

·         Evaluate site drainage