Strategic Plan Statement of Why Mission Vision Core

~~~~~ Strategic Plan Statement of Why, Mission, Vision, Core Values, SWOT and Strategic Areas of Focus Task Force Teams ~~~~~ “Where there is no vision, the people will perish” Proverbs 29: 18

STATEMENT OF WHY

St. John the Baptist Church provides an authentic experience of transformational love, healing, peace and the fullness of truth and salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Mission of St. John The Baptist Church is to reach out and welcome all people to live an Orthodox Christian life, grow spiritually and become disciples of Jesus Christ through serving others.

The Vision of St. John The Baptist Church is that we will: • Achieve consensus and begin to implement a plan for our Parish’s future (including our Parish home, size, mission churches, school, and the means to achieve these goals) • Develop a more cohesive united community • Pursue charitable acts • Foster engagement in spiritual life and education • Implement comprehensive stewardship • Evangelize the broader community

CORE VALUES • • • Cohesive, loving and hospitable community Education and spiritual growth Maintaining / living Orthodox Faith / Tradition Sacramental / Liturgical life Living a prayerful and Orthodox life Community outreach and service to those in need • Missions and evangelism • Transparent communication

Strengths • Commitment to accessible liturgical / sacramental life • Love for God and one another • Sense of community • Welcoming to all • Commitment to spiritual growth and education • Quality, caring and accessible clergy • Vibrant ministries • Demographically diverse Parish • Family friendly

Weaknesses • Inadequate stewardship (including time, talents and treasure (annual and capital)) • Inadequate broad engagement • Inadequate facilities • Lack of Unity (Vision, parish size, building size and ASA) • Lack of open communications • Insufficient education regarding the church and its traditions • Unwelcoming – cliquish – a lack of connectedness • Distractions in church • Inadequate outreach • Too much emphasis on Greek cultural identity

Opportunities • Evangelism among the larger population and growing numbers of seekers • Increasing ethnic population and diversity • Serve the great socio-economic need • Partner with growing numbers of groups • New and expanding technologies • Increasing Pan-Orthodox interactions

Threats • Moral decay, secularization, materialism, individualism) • Active antagonism and attempted brainwashing in education, media and politics that is antithetical to Orthodox Christian beliefs • Societal redefining of Christian terms and beliefs • Anti-Christian laws • Rising cost of property and construction and church accessibility • Perceived Greek ethnic exclusivity of the church

STRATEGIC AREAS OF FOCUS TASK FORCES

Strategic Areas of Focus 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Charitable Acts and Service Cohesiveness and Consensus Evangelism Spiritual Life and Education Stewardship

STRATEGIC TASK FORCES TEAMS

Last Name Barnes Becker Cherry Chiprout Chosvig First Name Patrick Michael Diane Eli Erik TASK FORCE Cohesiveness & Consensus Charitable Acts & Service Evangelism Stewardship Contes Andy Spiritual Life & Education Corazza Corozza Crosby Daniels Davis Downs Duchow-Pressley Goldman Hafez Hailey John Nathaniel Jessie Seraphim John Bethany Dn. Innocent Eleni Nicholas Jodi Charitable Acts & Service Spiritual Life & Education Evangelism Spiritual Life & Education Charitable Acts & Service Evangelism Hudanish Jill Hudanish Thomaida Cohesiveness and Consensus Charitable Acts & Service

Last Name Ketrenos Knight Mirras First Name Agape Barry Naomi Demetri TASK FORCE Evangelism Stewardship Cohesiveness & Consensus Spiritual Life & Education Powell Kathleen Charitable Acts & Service Psiropoulos Michael Stewardship Solomon Eyob Stewardship Souza Swehla Maria Fr. Matthew Evangelism Cohesiveness & Consensus Trumpower Van Sickle Cindy Collene Charitable Acts & Service Cohesiveness & Consensus Van Sickle Matt Evangelism Weick Joe Stewardship Weick Linda Stewardship Whitton Paraskevi Ziton Anna Sophia Spiritual Life & Education Cohesiveness and Consensus

You have now been called as one of the 70 Disciples Luke 10: 1