The following is the Strategic Plan developed as of June 14, 2007, for Our Saviour's by the Vision Net Team, with the support and guidance of the Our Saviour's Council and input from members of the congregation and staff.

The purpose statement has an "inviting and equipping" focus as these two elements were consistently lifted up by members of the congregation as critical to a strong and effective church.

Inviting was lifted up as a strength of our church. It was clear that inviting and welcoming experiences were instrumental in helping current members make their decisions to join OSLC, participate in small group activities, and continue to support the church.

Equipping was cited to be critical in many aspects of what is needed for a healthy and effective church. Participants in our discussions shared their desire to have inspiring preaching and teaching to help equip people of all ages (with a special emphasis on youth) to grow in faith and strengthen their walk with Christ.

The words "all people" are essential as they reflect our desire to be inclusive and available to every person.

Based on input from staff, Council and congregational members, we prayerfully developed objectives and goals that support the desire to invite and equip. The purpose, objectives and goals were approved by the Council and adopted by the membership at its 2006 Annual Meeting of the congregation.

The Vision Net team developed recommendations to direct actions that will help achieve each goal as stated. These recommendations were presented to the Council June 14, 2007 and were approved for implementation.

Council members were assigned to lead implementation teams for each objective. A long-range planning team was also organized in accordance with the OSLC Bylaws to ensure this Strategic Plan moves forward as intended and future Strategic Planning takes place as needed to reflect changes in the needs of the OSLC faith community.

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Strategic Objectives, Goals and Recommendations:

Objective 1) Equip leaders to achieve the purpose of OSLC

Goal 1a)
Pastors will focus on preaching, teaching, and pastoral care

Recommendations:

1. Maintain 2 pastors with half-time pastoral care and counseling responsibilities assigned to one pastor other than the Senior Pastor.
2. Relieve pastors of staff management and administrative duties
3. Make the current half-time pastor position permanent and call the person currently in that position to fill it.
4. Within pastoral group, address need for crisis Christian counseling pastoral care giving
5. Encourage sermon series
6. Reignite a men's ministry
7. We will support continued education of pastors to teach and preach

• Pastors will be held accountable for their continued education and the outcome of that investment of time and resources

Goal 1b) Council members will be fully committed to the responsibilities for which they have been elected

Recommendations:

1. Council will conduct a bi-annual review of the bylaws and constitution and meet required timeframes for congregational vote to accomplish necessary revisions
2. Council will facilitate a formal annual performance review of rostered staff with a 360 conducted bi-annually. The annual review will include a self evaluation.
3. Implement strategic plan and enforce bylaw C13.61.16 to initiate a long range planning committee.

Goal 1c) We will develop skilled lay leaders by providing training and opportunity

Recommendations:

1. Initiate a lay leader continuing education budget
2. Supplement staff by inviting and equipping members of the congregation to share their time and talents to meet the OSLC purpose

• Develop resource/research ministry group to help pastors in preaching and teaching

Objective 2) 
Develop financial responsibility throughout the church

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Goal 2a) Members will discover, renew and affirm their own financial commitments to the Church

Recommendations:

1. Seek outside consultation to strengthen our stewardship
2. Include a focus on abundance and the response to abundance as an integral part of each formal program developed or offered by OSLC
3. Instill understanding of setting financial priorities at the church level and the individual household level (all age groups)
4. Equip lay leaders to speak of living and giving in abundance
5. Provide training for short and long-term financial management which include a stewardship component (i.e. Thrivent resource training for young couples; retirement planning; estate planning)
6. Celebrate and acknowledge the far-reaching impacts of generosity in the mission and ministry of the ELCA

Goal 2b) We will identify and eliminate financial burdens that do not contribute to our overall purpose

Recommendations:

1. Begin the process to sell the Ministry Center immediately.
2. Revisit Phase II plans using a staged approach.
3. Identify within the annual budget how each planned item either equips or invites according to the OSLC purpose
4. Council will establish a task force to analyze assets and liabilities and ensure a direct support of the purpose of OSLC
5. Annual budgets presented for member approval will be prayerfully developed in a faithful, yet fiscally responsible way
6. The Council shall develop guidelines for sanctioning benevolence activities

Objective 3)  Organize OSLC staff to support our purpose

Goal 3a) We will identify and implement the organizational structure that best meets the OSLC purpose (see attached Organizational Chart)

Recommendations:

1. Add an administrative officer position to oversee the work of non-rostered OSLC staff. This position will report to the Senior Pastor and will serve as a member of the executive committee. Notes to help with skills required in this position:

• Development skills
• Fund raising experience
• Public speaking
• Management
• Community representation (i.e. City of East Bethel)
• Basic understanding of technology
• Excellent communications skills and understanding of marketing

2. Recommendations to council for new staff positions or staff position changes would be the responsibility of the administrative officer working in consultation with the HR committee.
3. By end of 2007 ensure a current and accurate job description is in place for each position and that it is reviewed and updated annually by the supervisor of the position. The HR team will review job description updates to ensure they meet organizational structure and compliance requirements.

• Review positions for low risk tasks that could be completed by lay volunteers to free up paid staff for more critical duties

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Goal 3b) We will implement and maintain a meaningful performance management system

Recommendations:

1. Administrative officer will facilitate a formal annual performance review of each non-rostered OSLC employee that includes a self-review. The performance review will address all key responsibilities of the employee, include a work plan for the next year and address appropriate development needs. A bi-annual 360 degree performance review will also be conducted. The results of these reviews will impact wage changes.
2. Revisit budget allocation for non-rostered staff training and development with the goal of increasing effectiveness

Objective 4) Become a learning congregation

Goal 4a) We will provide youth and children with engaging programs that promote spiritual growth through fellowship and learning

Recommendations:

1. Employ a full time, dedicated, youth director responsible for developing and leading spiritual growth of youth grades 5 and up.
2. Develop and implement a formal program to train and utilize post confirmation youth as mentors to confirmands
3. Engage parents and other adults in providing support for youth and children's programs
4. Ensure we have adequate space and a positive learning environment for youth and children

Goal 4b) We will develop followers of Christ who give, reach out, worship weekly, read scripture, pray, build relationships, and share Christ with others

Recommendations:

1. Create a plan for intentionally instilling accountability and understanding of what followers of Christ are called to do (i.e. spiritual mentors; covenants; anatomy of a follower; job description of a follower of Christ; drama series.)
2. Seek out, and commit to, external opportunities to practice being a follower of Christ (i.e. Centered Life program, Luther Seminary)

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Objective 5) Become an informed congregation

Goal 5a) We will openly share useful information to engage the congregation using all available methods in a timely manner

Recommendations:

1. Include a summary of council work and topics (provided by the council president) with the worship bulletin the second Sunday following the council meeting. A "vision question" will be included to stimulate participation in the following "Conversation with Council."
2. Gather e-mail addresses for members of the congregation and use this tool to communicate appropriate information efficiently

Goal 5b) We will dramatically improve our information technology use and management of data

Recommendations:

1. Work toward internal management of OSLC Web site
2. Find qualified members to analyze the OSLC database, create standards for setting up and managing the database and provide adequate training of staff
3. Provide information technology training for appropriate staff
4. Develop a plan for use and management of technology (i.e. audio, visual, and Web site maintenance.)
5. It will be the administrative officers responsibility to coordinate and manage all supporting technologies.

Objective 6) Effectively invite the community

Goal 6a) We will expand our community outreach through personal invitation and formal marketing

Recommendations:

1. Develop a plan for formal marketing and communications that advances the OSLC purpose within the community
2. It will be the administrative officers responsibility to implement a formal marketing and communications plan
3. Each member of the church will take every opportunity to invite non-members

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