Goal A: Cultivating a Culture of Congregational Growth and Renewal
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| Priority 1: |
Add at least 12 Mission Starts – including ethnic specific starts – on the territory of the synod by the end of 2012 with the cooperation and support of the local conferences and congregations (“12 by 12”). |
| Priority 2: |
Engage 100% of our rostered leaders in intentional, missional leadership development activities by the end of 2010, such as Coaching, Mentor Relationships, Accountability Groups, or Study Programs on mission and renewal. |
| Priority 3: |
Engage 80% of our congregations in intentional renewal activities by the end of 2012, such as Transformational Ministry, Natural Church Development, Congregational Mission and Evangelism Strategies, or Purpose Driven Strategies. |
| Priority 4: |
Offer a minimum of four Spread the Spirit’s Fire events annually – including an ethnic specific awareness – in which the Bishop and staff have opportunity to focus on prayer, Bible study, and the support of the synod’s Strategic Priorities. |
Goal B: Nurturing and Supporting our Youth and Families
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| Priority 1: |
Utilize the energies of LYO and Briarwood to pass on the faith through annual educational and inspirational events that place a priority on spiritual formation for each age group (elementary through young adult). |
| Priority 2: |
Organize congregational youth and family ministers into a network of mutual support, growth and cooperation that meets quarterly. |
| Priority 3: |
Provide congregations with better information, resources and materials (including the Cherish our Children initiative and SAFE training) to aid them in their peer and mentoring ministries among youth and families. |
| Priority 4: |
Create and fill a part-time position by the end of 2008 for the promotion and development of Youth and Family ministries across the synod. |
Goal C: Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice
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| Priority 1: |
Assist congregations in their efforts to be public church within their communities by developing networks that connect people of similar interests for peace and justice. |
| Priority 2: |
Engage 100% of our congregations in an earnest annual response to the World Hunger Appeal by the end of 2008. |
| Priority 3: |
Focus annually on a selected social issue for our synod’s study and action beginning in 2008. |
And Growing Disciples of Jesus by…
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Goal D: Affirming our Evangelical Lutheran Identity
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| Priority 1: |
Create opportunities for conversations among our clergy and laity on themes related to Lutheran identity, giftedness, and outreach, through the use of resources such as the Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible, and Evangelical Lutheran Worship. |
| Priority 2: |
Identify ways the synod congregations can be more public about our evangelical Lutheran identity, with recommendations by the end of 2008. |
Goal E: Encouraging Generous Hearts
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| Priority 1: |
Expand participation in the annual Stewardship Academy with half of our clergy and congregations participating by the end of 2010. |
| Priority 2: |
Engage all pastors and members in the spiritual discipline of personal tithing and growing congregations to tithe to the work of the wider church through participation in events such as Stewardship Workshops, Stewardship Academy, Steward Leader Events, or seminars organized and presented by our Deployed Staff for Stewardship. |
| Priority 3: |
Develop a unified campaign to link “12 by 12” (mission starts) with the building of the assets of the Mission Endowment Fund to $2,000,000 by the end of 2012 through the gifting of congregational assets and individual donations. |
Goal F: Strengthening Partnerships
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| Priority 1: |
Engage the ELCA’s Office for Synodical Relations in a communications audit by the end of 2008 to discern how effective we are in communicating with the congregations and rostered leaders. |
| Priority 2: |
Assist each congregation in the promotion of the work of our partners, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Briarwood Retreat Ministries, the NT-NL Mission Endowment Fund, Campus Ministry, Synodical Women’s Organization, Lutheran Men in Mission, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sierra Leone, including our other agencies, institutions and organizations (AIOs). |
| Priority 3: |
Provide rostered leaders with information, resources, materials and opportunities to deal with stress and burn out and to sustain and enhance their physical, emotional and spiritual health. |
| Priority 4: |
Identify, lift up and celebrate the stories of individuals and congregations, so we can know each other better and network the ministries we provide. |
| Priority 5: |
Support the cooperative efforts of our Interfaith and Ecumenical Partners in accomplishing local and regional objectives. |
