UUCF Strategic Plan, Spring, 2000

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Welcome to the Spring 2000 UUCF Strategic Plan.

The focus of our new mission -- on spirituality, support for each other and transforming the world through acts of love and justice -- is evident in each group’s goals. During the planning process, each group stepped back from their work to look at what they usually do and why. They questioned what programs and activities are still needed, what is being carried forward "because we always do it that way", and if there are more important needs to address. Every group took at least one goal in a new direction. Many of those changes were spurred by ideas on how we could better support our mission.

We had some unexpected outcomes of the planning process. In some groups, as we struggled through some expectations members have that are based on our smaller church past, we realized that we are a large church, both in numbers and in function. It became more evident that in some areas we need to change our programming to support "large church" functions. In others groups, we simply discussed people’s expectations over time, whether they have changed as the church has grown, and how we can meet those expectations in a reasonable way now.

" The children and adults of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax are a community dedicated to the free and responsible search for religious truth and meaning. Our mission is to support each other as we pursue spiritual growth and challenge ourselves to transform the world through acts of love and justice."

Adopted September, 1999

Lay ministries and committees have identified key goals that excite and energize them in bringing our mission to life. They are committing their time, talents and enthusiasm to these goals over the next several years.

Goal >> Add New members
1. Hold four orientation series per year.
2. Provide follow-up activities for new members to meet again.
3. Develop a mentoring or sponsorship program to link new and old members.
4. Contact pledging friends to encourage them to join.

Goal >> Support an intentionally created community

5. Hold one dinner each year for a specially designated group.
6. Contact 25% of the membership between September and February to ask their opinions (both positive and negative) about UUCF and to also have an opportunity to ask how they are doing personally.
7. Follow-up with persons who resign from UUCF.
8. Check with members after 5 years to evaluate participation.
9. Do a new pictorial directory.
10. Create opportunities for new and long-term members to interact.

Goal >> Be inviting and visible.

11. Advertise in the yellow pages and in Washington Post at peak times.
12. Put up street signs to UUCF.
13. Maintain welcoming table.
14. Maintain a wayside pulpit on Hunter Mill Road at the end of our driveway.
15. Establish some type of outreach to campuses in the area.

FELLOWSHIP

Goal >> Energize the community of volunteers.

16. Find a person/persons to revive FACT.
17. Use a volunteer assessment tool.
18. Identify an individual who will compile and maintain a list of potential volunteers.
19. Create job descriptions for the various tasks that have to be performed to make each fellowship event successful.

Goal >> Create a Fellowship Council.

20. Identify people for council membership from each of the lay ministries and from among fellowship volunteers.

 

Fellowship (continued)

Goal >> Promote the concept of Pastoral Care as a shared ministry of all congregation members.

21. Increase the Caring Committee membership to better reflect our multigenerational church membership.
22. Review and update the Helping Hands list.
23. Develop a pastoral visitors program with the Ministers, including training and support for volunteers.

Goal >> Increase the number of congregational members, especially family units, youth and children, who participate in social justice activities; and improve the quality of their participation.

1. Establish, in association with the professional staff, a schedule of dedicated staff resources and/or student intern resources available to support social justice activities.
2. Conduct a congregational survey that identifies who is doing what in the area of social justice, what members would like to be doing, and develop a directory of social justice opportunities available to them.
3. Work with the Lay Minister for Education, the R.E. Committee and the Associate Minister to develop a program of early commitment to the concept of "transforming the world" that stressing the importance of every person in "making a difference".
4. Expand the "Dollars for Deeds" program that enables congregation members to "earn" donations for the social action organization of their choice by contributing volunteer service hours, and/or by providing matching pledge.
5. Sponsor an annual dinner that will inform and attract new recruits to social justice activities, as well as reward and honor those currently involved.

Goal >> Generate increased grass-roots dialogue and congregational support for selected public policies that reflect Unitarian-Universalist principles and values.

6. Develop and implement, with congregational approval, procedures that enable the congregation to take public positions in support of public policies that support UU principles and ideals.
7. Institutionalize processes that encourage discussion, decisions and action on UUA General Assembly resolutions of social witness.
8. Work with Adult Education committee and staff to reestablish the UUCF "Sunday Forum" as a viable vehicle for the discussion of social justice and other issues.
9. Work with ministerial staff and Lay Minister for Worship to increase pulpit emphasis on the spiritual value of social justice activities.

 

Social Justice (continued)

Goal >> Increase our involvement as a congregation in local, regional and national efforts to correct social injustices, and to bring about sustainable change in our society.

10. Ensure UUCF participation as a full partner in the newly organized "Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice", the umbrella organization promoting social justice in the Baltimore – Washington region.
11. Financially assist a member of the SJC in attending the annual UUGA for the purpose of focusing on ways and means of strengthening the UUCF social justice program.
12. Support, financially and otherwise, the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Beacon House, UUAH, and other organizations that further UU principles and values, especially those that have taken root within the congregation.
13. Affiliate the SCJ with at least 3 interfaith organizations (such as SALT, The Interfaith Action Center) whose principles and values concerning social justice are compatible with ours.

 

SUNDAY MORNING RE

Goal >> Make RE a worthwhile experience. Promote teacher training, provide class management skills and encourage team building. Uncover spirituality of it all; it is not a chore but a joy.

14. Support teachers with curriculum, class management skills, team building skills.
15. Meet senior high needs.
16. Match teachers to class; inspire teachers.
17. Improve training with moderators, mentors, curriculum workshops.
18. Hold classroom skills workshops.
19. Improve/support teaching and team building skills with workshops.

Goal >> Improve physical environment. Have well maintained classrooms and buildings; have classrooms that are student-teacher friendly.

20. Paint.
21. Wash windows.
22. Organize library.
23. Obtain new carpeting. 

Goal >> Care for each other. Get to know our own committee members better.

Get to know the other committees’ members and their missions and goals. Identify shared goals and ways in which we can help each other or share resources.

24. (no steps detailed)

ADULT RE

Goal >> Enhance individual spiritual and personal growth.

25. Explore a set curriculum that could be offered in sequence.
26. Solicit board support for "Adult Education Associates" training with the ministers and /or other church leaders. Determine what UUA training is available and take it.
27. Determine course sequence in "UUA Adult Religious Education" curriculum, when offered, how often .
28. Recruit, train teachers.
29. Schedule, hold classes.
30. Assess, evaluate.

Goal >> Promote caring interpersonal relationships through small group interaction.

31. Decide what courses to offer, what’s needed, what’s wanted.
32. Recruit, train, support Adult Religious Education / Spiritual Associates (ARSEA) and other instructors.
33. Set date, place and invite target participants.
34. Build enthusiasm: Sunday service, oral, written, communications.
35. Hold first meeting/support teacher and participants.
36. Assess/ review evaluations.

 

Goal >> Create opportunities for UUCF members to share expertise, wisdom, and enthusiasm

37. Advertise in newsletter and announcements.
38. Brainstorm to identify likely instructors/check with membership committee.
39. Personally invite someone to teach on a topic they are interested in.
40. Support the teacher, don’t schedule competing classes, advertise effectively.
41. Arrange for board and ministers to thank instructors in writing.
42. Group thank you in newsletter; perhaps as congregational treasure.

 

WORSHIP AND ARTS

Goal >> Establish a support structure to ensure consistent quality for worship and arts programs throughout the year.

43. Plan and implement coordination mechanisms between parties involved in worship and arts activities, including the ministers, staff, lay ministers, committees, etc.
44. Ensure that major worship programs have adequate resources and attention, including Sunday morning, youth, inter-generational, summer, and vespers programs.
45. Establish vision and goals for visual arts programs and implement approved programs.

 

Worship (continued)

Goal >> Establish new worship committee to facilitate broad congregational participation in lay-led worship services.

46. Establish roles, responsibilities, and charter for new committee.
47. Recruit key leaders for committee participation.
48. Publicize formation of committee and solicit new members.
49. Plan kick-off meeting for worship committee.
50. Establish annual goals for committee.
51. Ensure ongoing support for committee by ministers, staff, and lay ministers.

Goal >> Produce a "good budget" for board review and congregation approval.

Goal >> Engender a "high level of confidence" in the financial stewardship of the church.

March 12 – 1^st Budget forum
April 9 - Affirmation Sunday
May 12  - Budget mailed to congregation
May 21 – 2nd budget forum to explain budget
June 11 - Annual Meeting

 Each Lay Ministry will assess the accessibility needs of its programs by September 2000.

1. The Lay Ministers Council will use the assessments to prepare a plan for bringing all UUCF programs and facilities to full accessibility. The plan will include a timeline for accomplishing the various tasks necessary for full accessibility. The plan will be in place by January 2001.
2. Accessibility needs will be met in a timely manner in so far as possible. Some needs may not be met until construction of a new building or renovation of the present structures takes place.
3. UUCF programs and activities that take place off-campus will always be held in accessible facilities.