FUMC has been evolving since our last Strategic Plan.  We continue to grow as a “Church Beyond Walls,” with the addition of the Family Life Center, Southern Heights campus, store house and other new ministries.  The Church Council has approved a new strategic planning initiative to anticipate and plan for future ministry needs, to better position First Church to win people to Christ, and to ensure the continuing spiritual development of church members. 

To achieve these purposes, the steering committee has established the following goals for the strategic planning initiative: 

1.    Discern the “core values” of First Church and develop vision and mission statements reflecting those values.

2.    Identify the target populations we most want to reach and “signature ministries” to better serve them.

3.    Prioritize and focus resources (lay leaders, staff, facilities and finances) in support of signature ministries and other high priority programs to help “transform” First Church.

4.     Engage members of First Church in an inclusive and comprehensive planning process that creates strong ownership in the strategic plan and prepares laity for leadership and ministry to First Church. 

The process will be comprehensive and inclusive and will provide (indeed encourage) participation of all member of First Church.  Built into the process are numerous focus group meetings; these will be interactive, seeking input, suggestions and reactions to planning assumptions and proposals.  It is not likely everyone will agree with every aspect of the final plan, but hopefully each of us will feel that our voice was heard and that it helped inform the discussions. 

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee has put together three planning teams, DNA Formation, Church Transformation and the Tactical Planning teams.  Each team has a specific purpose and goal.  For more information on each team please see the links below. 

We ask for your participation and your prayers for our planning initiative and for First Church as we move forward.  And, we pledge to keep you fully informed throughout.  For additional current information please see the links below.

Steering Committee Members
John Bartley
Rose Bonjour
Beth Buchanan
Jerry Gill    e-mail
Jenny Hoecker
Monty Karns    e-mail
Stan Warfield
Tom Wuller