Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring
2010 Strategic Plan Review Summary
“Aim High in Hope and Work”
The following summarizes the 2010 board review of and update to our Strategic Plan. You may read the complete list of updated goals (pdf).
Background
In 2007, an ad-hoc committee of the Board of Trustees developed a five–year Strategic Plan for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring (UUCSS). The multi-stage process involved research, consultation with Rev. Ed White of the Alban Institute, input from professional and volunteer church leadership and most importantly, the enthusiastic vision of a majority of the membership who participated in an Appreciative Inquiry process.
As a result, the committee developed a set of strategies and goals around four key areas:
- Creating Community
- Transforming Ourselves
- Transforming the World
- Transforming the Church to Meet Our Vision
When the board approved this plan in September of 2007, they agreed that the document would need review and revision from time to time.
At the leadership retreat in August 2009, all the participants agreed that it was time to take a more specific review of the Plan. The board of trustees, under the guidance of its normal planning committee structure, undertook this review.
Achievements
In the first two and a half years of the 2007 Plan’s implementation, we made remarkable progress towards our goals. Following are some key achievements:
- Advancing our diversity initiative
- The growth of our life-span religious education program
- Participation of the entire congregation in social justice initiatives such as marriage equality and environmental justice and sustainability
- Our commitment to ‘shared abundance’ through voluntary monthly collections for charitable causes important to the values of our community
- A successful special fundraising drive, “Miracle Sunday” which established the Charles Schnetzler Building Memorial Fund to fund major and necessary repairs, as well as improvements in our worship space, buildings and properties, including changes to support our Green Sanctuary
- The expansion of our staff to meet these goals and support our continued growth
- Revival of the Annual Budget Drive, which will sustain all of these goals now and in the future.
Changes affecting priorities
The board also acknowledged significant changes that it felt important to consider as we re-examined and set priorities for the remaining 2 ½ years of the Plan, most notably:
- UUCSS is fast becoming a recognized leader within our denomination – for our strength of ministry, achievements in advancing diversity and social justice, and our renewed commitment to meeting our fair share contribution to the UUA and our movement.
- Our members have continued to increase their generosity in support of the UUCSS vision, even during the economic downturn. Still, the board is sensitive to the impact this may still have on many in our community.
- At the same time, the pace of membership growth has not reached our expectations, and it will be necessary to redouble our efforts towards growth if we are to meet all of the aspirations set out in the Plan.
Updated Goals
The board approved an updated set of goals and objectives for the remainder of the Plan on February 23, 2010.
Following are highlights:
- Continue to invest in strengthening UUCSS programs and ministry including Lifespan Religious Education, opportunities to embrace diversity, such as the UUA anti-racism programming, and pastoral care that attends to members transitioning through life stages and spiritual journeys.
- Implement important building and property improvements, including those that contribute to our goals for a Green Sanctuary, ensure accessibility for diverse groups, and enhance the attractiveness of our worship spaces.
- Communicate and celebrate our social justice commitment and the way in which we are putting this into action through projects, as well as giving, volunteering and advocacy opportunities.
- Strengthen communications, outreach and engagement with all of our members in order to attract, grow and sustain a diverse membership.
- Examine options and renew plans for staffing for growth and expanded community ministry.
- Support a culture of abundance, continue to build fundraising and put mechanisms in place for new giving opportunities (endowment) to ensure the financial sustainability of this vision.
The Strategic Plan review process has served the church leadership and all who participated in it well – allowing us to acknowledge and appreciate our many achievements, to re-affirm our vision for UUCSS, and to focus our collective energies and resources through 2012. Many hands and hearts have contributed to this work and we wish to thank all staff, volunteers and generous members and friends who have already and will continue to make this vision a reality.