Spiritual formation, financial viability and worship are top priorities for Immanuel leaders and others who attended a March 12 long-range planning retreat with consultant Rick Rouse.
After reviewing the fifth draft of Immanuel’s developing long range plan, the 36 people who attended the Saturday morning gathering identified their top priorities by placing dots on the ministry areas and mission objectives.
The mission objectives that received the most votes were:
- Develop a long-range, in-depth financial blueprint
- Develop complementary worship opportunities, offered outside established Sunday morning schedule
- Focus on whole life stewardship
Sally Baehni, chairwoman of the Vision for Ministry task force that is guiding the process, said the priorities could shift, if members identify other areas they’d like to see as the focus for the first 12 to 18 months of the plan.
Speaking at the adult forum held March 13, Baehni invited members to call or e-mail task force members if they have other objectives that are priorities.
In addition, Immanuel members are likely to have three more opportunities to weigh in on the plan at focus groups or forums to be held in May.
Once that final input has been gathered, Baehni said a final draft of the plan would be handed off to the church council and then presented to the congregation for affirmation, probably in early June.
