The strategic planning process in faith communities is not just about decision-making but about fostering dialogue. Conversations among members create shared understanding, helping to align personal faith with the church’s mission. These discussions should be open, inclusive, and prayerful.

Strategic Planning is:

• A discernment process that seeks to understand God’s calling for the congregation.
• A dynamic process that provides direction while remaining flexible.
• A participatory process involving pastors, staff, members, and ministry partners.
• A vehicle for renewal that revitalizes your ministries.
• A stewardship practice that wisely uses resources to fulfill the God’s mission.

Strategic Planning is not:

• A rigid plan that doesn't adapt to changing circumstances.
• A quick fix to current organizational challenges.
• A solo effort led by a small group without input from the congregation.

Leading a church today means balancing tradition with innovation, managing financial realities, and engaging a diverse, often distracted community. These challenges can feel overwhelming, but a Strategic Ministry Plan provides clarity, direction, and momentum—helping you turn vision into action.

Why Your Church Needs a Strategic Plan
A well-crafted strategic plan ensures every ministry effort aligns with God’s purpose, allowing you to:

• Clarify Your Vision & Priorities – Stay focused on what truly matters and avoid distractions.
• Maximize Resources – Use financial, volunteer, and time resources wisely.
• Stay Adaptable – Navigate cultural shifts while remaining mission-driven.
• Engage Your Church & Community – Inspire involvement by providing clear direction and purpose.
• Increase Giving & Support – Show impact and build trust with donors and members.

Unlike secular strategic planning, which often focuses on market analysis and competitive advantage, we embrace a discernment process that seeks God’s direction through scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. It's rooted in spiritual reflection, communal engagement. Our planning process congregations revolves around four questions:

1 | Who are we? (Identity)

• Examines the congregation’s history, traditions, and theological foundations.
• Encourages reflection on past experiences to understand core values and strengths.
• Helps define the congregation’s unique identity in a broader religious and social context.

2 | What has God called us to do? (Purpose)

• Focuses on mission and vision, shaping the congregation’s core purpose.
• Encourages members to align their ministry work with divine calling.
• Helps differentiate between essential and non-essential activities.

3 | Who is our neighbor? (Context)

• Examines the community, demographics, and societal changes.
• Calls for outreach and engagement to understand community needs.
• Encourages congregations to be outward-focused rather than inwardly concerned.

4 | How will we align our assets & actions with our vision & priorities? (Capacity)

• Explores ways the church might reorganize itself for more effective ministry.
• Identifies ways that roles and responsibilities of staff may need to be realigned.
• Rethinks how decisions are made, implemented, and shared with members.
• Designs better ways to invite, equip, and mobilize members for ministry.
• Identifies ways to "keep the main thing the main thing."

As you seek to identify the best approach to your planning, you also need to discern which organization is a good fit walking alongside in this process. Most clients we work meet with us for 3 sessions to determine if we're the right partner.

1 | Discuss CHEMISTRY

Let's spend time seeing if we're a good fit for each other. We'll share our styles and approaches and allow us to do our best work together and learn more about your hopes for the planning process.

2 | Discuss LOGISTICS

This is where are map out how the planning process will unfold, what the general timeline will be, and who will be part of the planning process, and when our coaches need to be part of the planning.

3 | Create a PROPOSAL

The final steps is to create a proposal for the work to be done, and a Client-Coach agreement that outlines norms and expectations needed for working well together.

There are times when your coach will put on their "consultant hat" to guide your next steps, equip your leaders, and share resources that accelerate your progress. Your consultant will:

• List tasks and suggested deadlines for all planning steps.
• List questions to frame ongoing conversations.
• Conduct church interviews & assessments.
• Train interviewers & focus groups leaders.
• Suggest best practices for communicating plans. 
• Provide worksheets & planning templates. 
• Provide sample job descriptions. 
• Interview staff & elected leaders.
• Help plan & lead Vision Retreats.
• Compile confidential data.

The primary drivers of the strategic planning process will be church leaders, including:

• Pastors and program staff.
• Board members/elected leaders.
• The Vision Task Force.
• Admin/communication staff.
• Ministry team leaders.
• Interviewing Teams.
• Data gatherers.
• Vision Retreat Coordinator/host.

During STEP 1 |  Form a Team, your coach will explain the roles, responsibilities, and resources available for various positions that are part of the  planning process.

Gather a diverse team of leaders, staff, and key members to guide the process. Their perspectives will help design a plan that reflects your church’s strengths, needs, and opportunities as they:

• Create essential tasks lists.
• List start/end dates for all tasks.
• Define roles for pastors/paid staff.
• Define roles for Board/ministry leaders.
• Select name for vision campaign.
• Define job descriptions for all roles.
• Select client-coach "point person" to coordinate plans with coach.
• Select "Church Communications Coordinator."
• Create a "Planning Team" email distribution list.
• Participate in Planning Team trainings.

Strategic planning isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about discerning God’s direction for your church. Throughout the process, many churches integrate:

• Prayer & Scripture Reflection – Seeking God’s wisdom before making decisions.
• Worship and sermons – Creating space to hear God’s voice more clearly.
• Communal Discernment – Inviting leaders and members to pray together for guidance.
• Journaling & Spiritual Conversations – Reflecting on what God is revealing through the process.
• Questions & Storytelling Prompts - Delivered via Facebook and Instagram posts, e-newsletters, text messages, and church apps. This is coordinated by the Church Communications Coordinator.

Understanding the hopes, concerns, and values of your members is foundational to shaping your church’s future. Our strategic planning process typically includes:

• Congregational Surveys – Gather broad input on strengths, challenges, and future aspirations.
• One-on-One Interviews – Have deeper conversations with key stakeholders, long-time members, and newer attendees.
• Focus Groups – Engage small groups in guided discussions to uncover themes and insights.
• Congregational Mapping - Create a space in your congregation where people can share where they live, work, and serve in the community.
• Asset-Mapping - Invite members to share their gifts, trainings, passions, and superpowers.
• Creating a ministry Scorecard - Gather information that help evaluate the church's overall vitality and trends that are occurring within and beyond the church.
• Compile a Church History Report - Summarize the key dates, milestones, and pivot points of your church.

A church’s mission extends beyond its walls. Understanding your community’s needs helps shape relevant ministry priorities. This involves:

• Interviewing Community Leaders – Connect with school officials, nonprofit leaders, business owners, and civic leaders. Members of your team typically interview 10 or more leaders, asking 6-8 questions during an in person, Zoom, or phone conversation.
• Interviewing Local Pastors - Gain their insights on the community and what community needs they are seeking to address. 
• Reviewing Current Demographic Data – Identifying trends in population, income, diversity, and challenges. This information can often be obtained through City Hall officials, hospitals, and auto dealers. Organizations such as  MissionInsite can provide these services.  
• Prayer Walks/Drives Through the Community – Observing neighborhoods, businesses, and public spaces to become more aware of the assets, changes, and needs of the community.

Gather leaders, staff, and key stakeholders for a focused retreat to:

• Share what you've learned from members and the community.
• Clarify your mission (why you exist) and vision (where you’re going), and your identity.
• Identify missional priorities—the key areas where your church will focus its ministry efforts.
• Begin shaping SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

Once the vision and priorities are clear, communicate them church-wide to build unity, greater understanding and momentum. Frequently used strategies include:

• Sermons & Worship Services – Connecting the vision to biblical principles.
• Town Hall Meetings – Engaging members in discussion and feedback.
• Print & Digital Resources – Newsletters, social media, and videos to reinforce the message.
• Brief updates with ministry teams, small groups, and at social and servant events.

With vision and priorities in place, translate them into action by creating:

• Quarterly Quests – Short-term focus areas that drive momentum.
• SMART Goals – Clearly defined objectives with measurable success indicators.
• Leadership Assignments – Identifying who will oversee each initiative.
• Budget & Resource Allocation – Ensuring financial and volunteer support align with goals.