2009 Strategic Planning Committee

Committee members: Susan Webb, Chair; Janine Bessemer, Bill Jetzer, Ron Reichert, Cheryl Porior-Mayhew, Jess Lathrop and Pastor Phil Haslanger

This committee was formed to brainstorm about the strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats for the future of Memorial United Church of Christ over the next five years and to make recommendations to the council on the focus for the future. We asked the question:
If the Wisconsin UCC Conference was giving out an award, what would Memorial United Church of Christ get an award for five years from now?
Our answer:
In five years, Memorial United Church of Christ will be recognized as a congregation that does an extraordinary job of encouraging its members to be engaged with the community and the world around them.

The committee discussed MUCC’s:
Strengths
Welcoming, friendly and tolerant
Open and affirming
Financially stable
Generous
Active in community
Connectedness among members
Music
Food
Challenges:
As we grow larger, harder to know everyone
Challenged by our growth
We’re an in-between size – small pastoral church to mid-size programmatic
Members spread out over several communities and neighborhoods
Kids come from at least three school districts, many high schools
The economic downturn
The size limits of our building, especially the sanctuary
Diversity – minimal in congregation, growing in community
Opportunities:
Diversity of ages, faith backgrounds, experiences
Openness to diversity
Our status as an open and affirming congregation
Our members’ extensive involvement in community
Vacation Bible School – reach new families
Our building and land – how use for community?
Threats:
Anxiety over change
Economic downturn
National decline in membership in mainstream Protestant churches and in particular in the UCC
Financial problems of state and national UCC will limit program support

 The committee focused on:
Membership and growth
Worship Children’s Programming/Education
Adult Programming/Education
Outreach
Staffing/HR
Endowment/planned giving
Building and grounds maintenance and land use
The committee had a discussion with the Worship, Children’s Programming/Education, and Adult Programming/Education committee chairs. It also had a discussion with Gary Johnson, Chair, Trustees.

Recommendations:
Membership & growth
We are a steadily growing congregation, which is unusual for a mainline Protestant church. The capacity of our church sanctuary is about 130 people. We should be only about 80% full on most Sundays in order to allow visitors to feel that there is room for them.. The committee recommends that when membership reaches 275 members/regular friends, the Church Council will need to look at structural changes to the building or look to add satellite congregations. We believe that MUCC will continue to have steady growth.

Worship
The committee understands that the first service has a different feel than the second service. The Worship/Music Committee needs to watch capacity issues for second service and look at ways to encourage more attendance to first service to help ease with crowding at second service. In the spring of 2009, the average total attendance at 8:30 was 31; in the fall, it was 36. The average attendance at the 10:00 in the spring was 112; in the fall it was 135. We recommend that the Worship/Music Committee work with Children’s Programming/Education and Adult Programming/Education committees collaborate to enhance the worship and education experiences of the congregation.

Education
The committee is recommending to the Council that there be an Education Committee and under that committee would be the subcommittees of:

• Children’s Education – function as it is now
• Youth Education – Help to keep our youth connected to the church community
• Adult Education - Build on the small group experiences of the past year to offer a variety of ways to explore our faith and connect with one another. Experiment with days of week, times, format and subject matter to offer a variety of ways to incorporate adult education. These could be spiritual or life issue educational opportunities.

The church has needed programming for Youth and Adult Education. We feel that forming these subcommittees to address these issues is appropriate at this time. These new committees would not need to have many members but they would give a focus and direction in these areas. The Education Committee would consist of staff (Pastor, Associate Pastor, Children’s Programming Director), chairs of the 3 subcommittees and council liaison. Council liaison would only have to attend the Education Committee meetings to find out what is happening in all the subcommittees.

Children’s Education (as it is now)
We recommend Children’s Programming/Education Committee evaluate and present the best solutions for the time of Sunday School on Sunday mornings by April 2010 so that any changes can be implemented by fall of 2010. This should be done in collaboration with the Worship Committee and Adult Programming Committee.

Adult Programming/Education
This committee has focused on connecting members socially through church and family events and not adult education. We suggest that the name of this committee be changed to Adult/Family Programming, which more closely identifies this committee’s focus.

Outreach
Outreach is a real strength of our congregation. Members need to be updated on outreach opportunities and encouraged to participate. As the congregation grows, more outreach opportunities can be offered.

Staffing/HR
Congregation leadership needs to develop an organizational chart so employees know to whom they report. An Employee Handbook needs to be updated with attention being paid to grievance procedures. Be sure all federal and state employment regulations are being followed.

Endowment/Planned Giving
The congregation needs to be informed on a regular basis of endowment and planned giving opportunities. The congregation should be reminded of the need to update wills, trusts, etc. on a regular basis. The church should offer opportunities for education in these areas.

Building and Grounds Maintenance
A plan should be developed for continuous maintenance of our building and grounds. There needs to be a plan for minor upkeep and repairs. There should be an outline of what major projects are forecast for the next 5 years with estimates on cost and plans for financing. Look at how to utilize our land.

Incorporating Technologies
All the leadership of the congregation should look to ways to incorporate technologies wherever possible. Consider utilizing email and the website to keep our members informed instead of regular mail: going paper free as much as possible; and using technology to enhance our worship service.