

                     ALL CHURCH PLANNING DAY DOCUMENTATION


    Our Planning Day was held at the church on Sunday, January 11th, 2:30pm
    until 5:30pm.

    Using a process called The Nominal Group Method for identifying what
    program ministries should be emphasized at our church over the next two
    years, participants moved through the following steps:

    STEP ONE: Listing Ideas

    Each person worked in silence and independently to list on paper six to
    ten ideas as to what program ministries should be emphasized in the
    life of our church during the next two years.  They were asked to
    reflect on the ideas shared from the Parsonage Gatherings held last
    Fall, and the various program areas of our denomination.


    STEP TWO: Round Robin Recording Of Each Person's List Of Ideas

    One idea from each person at a time was shared and listed on newsprint
    for all to see.  Ideas were not necessarily repeated, unless in the
    judgement of the person sharing, the idea contained a different
    emphasis or variation.  The round robin continued until individual
    lists were exhausted.  There was no discussion of the items in this
    step.

                            List Of Items Generated

    1.   Promote an awareness of areas in community that we can help in.
    2.   Strengthen Christian education program so there is a class for
         everyone.
    3.   Mission emphasis, what can WE do?
    4.   Having lots of activities for whole family to come to.
    5.   More emphasis on ecumenical activities.
    6.   Comprehensive plan of member care: inactive, visitors, newcomers.
    7.   Establish prayer chain.
    8.   Celebrate care of people in their role.
    9.   Short term workshops in areas of need and interest.
    10.  New approach/education on financial stewardship.
    11.  Evangelism to fit OUR church.
    12.  Make our church more visible.
    13.  Youth groups.
    14.  Training of leaders and teachers.
    15.  Explore possibilities of ecumenical single adult ministries.
    16.  Resource/resource retrieval skills
    17.  Continue worship` services that relate Bible to today's issues.
    18.  Varied worship services, all participating.
    19.  Continue Friendship Circle.
    20.  Church history classes.
    21.  Focus on family ministry needs with family structures.
    22.  Marriage enrichment workshops.
    23.  Interpret growth that is happening in our church.
    24.  Getting adults involved as leaders of youth groups.
    25.  Involve more people in leadership roles.
    26.  More and varied musical activities.
    27.  Hymn sing.
    28.  Continue communication through newsletters and other mailings.
    29.  Add Missions and Social Concerns committees to Church Board.






    30.  Training in spiritual activity.
    31.  Develop a study of our denomination.
    32.  Outreach as a group to the community.
    33.  To help persons in our community with financial difficulty.
    34.  Providing workshops for congregation by members of church.
    35.  Develop covenant discipleship groups.
    36.  A structure for getting to know singles and couples.
    37.  Continue women's group emphasis.
    38.  Getting our families involved.
    39.  Continue children sermons and presence of children in worship.
    40.  Continue 5th Sunday gatherings.
    41.  Sanctuary for persons in exile.
    42.  Even involvement of male/female.
    43.  Involving congregation, each one a job.
    44.  Develop lay leadership in other areas than already existing ones.
    45.  Get more male involvement, especially as teachers.
    46.  Systematic way of contacting  students at local college.
    47.  Continue/strengthen lay speakers
    48.  Inclusive language for people and God in songs, litanies, prayers,
         and scripture.
    49.  Reactivate men's group with leadership and monthly meetings.
    50.  Survival skills and approaches.
    51.  Start a Christian pre-school.
    52.  Continue growth of choir.
    53.  Encourage attendance at "unusual" events.
    54.  Involving youth and children in choirs.
    55.  Annual all church spiritual growth retreat.


    STEP THREE: Serial Discussion For Clarification

    Once all ideas were listed on newsprint, time was taken to go back and
    discuss each idea.  The purpose in this step was to clarify the meaning
    of each item.  Participants were free to express varying points of view
    of items and their relative importance.  A few minutes was spent on
    each item.


    STEP FOUR: Preliminary Vote On Item Importance  (part A)

    Each person was given five 3x5 cards.  The instructions were that each
    participant select the five most important items from the list of 55;
    placing the number of the item in the upper left hand corner of the
    card, and in the center of the card, a word or a phrase that identifies
    the item.  Time was given for all to complete this step.


    STEP FIVE: Preliminary Vote On Item Importance  (part B)

    After all complete the above step, participants were asked to rank
    order each of their five cards.  5= most important card of the five;
    1= least important card of the five, etc.  This rank ordering became
    the preliminary vote.  All cards were collected and a preliminary vote
    was recorded on newsprint for all to see.













                             Preliminary Vote Tally
                               (5= high; 1= low)

                     Item Number         Rank Order Scores

                        1                  4-4
                        2                  3-3-4
                        3                  5-3
                        4                  3-4
                        5                  1
                        6                  5-5-1-4-4
                        7                  1-1-2-1
                        8                  -
                        9                  2-1-4
                        10                 2-3
                        11                 2-5-5-5-3
                        12                 2
                        13                 5
                        14                 3
                        15                 1
                        16                 -
                        17                 3-5-3
                        18                 -
                        19                 -
                        20                 5-2-3-3-2-2-3
                        21                 3-4-3
                        22                 4
                        23                 -
                        24                 4-4-2-5-4-4-2
                        25                 2
                        26                 1
                        27                 -
                        28                 4
                        29                 5-3-1-2
                        30                 1-4-5
                        31                 -
                        32                 -
                        33                 5
                        34                 2
                        35                 4-5
                        36                 1-1-5
                        37                 -
                        38                 5-3
                        39                 5
                        40                 -
                        41                 -
                        42                 3-1-4
                        43                 2-5-1-2
                        44                 -
                        45                 -
                        46                 -
                        47                 1
                        48                 1
                        49                 -
                        50                 -
                        51                 -
                        52                 -
                        53                 -
                        54                 2
                        55                 3-1-4-2-2-1





    STEP SIX: Discussion Of Preliminary Vote

    In this step, the group examined the posted voting patterns to see if
    there were any inconsistencies, surprises, differences, etc., for
    gaining insight and fresh perspective on the issues.  Time was given
    for people to make any comments desired.




    STEP SEVEN:  Final Vote

    After discussion of the preliminary vote, participants were asked to
    list on a 3x5 card the five most important items from our list of 55.
    This was to be based on insights gained from all discussions thus far,
    including one's personal perspective on what needs to be emphasized in
    the area of program ministries during the next two years.  The cards
    were then gathered and a tally was made of the final vote.  Below are
    those items that got votes:

                                Final Vote Tally

                     Item Number         Rank Order Scores    Final Vote

                        1                  4-4                   2
                        2                  3-3-4                 1
                        3                  5-3                   2
                        4                  3-4                   -
                        5                  1                     1
                        6                  5-5-1-4-4             12
                        7                  1-1-2-1               3
                        8                  -                     -
                        9                  2-1-4                 3
                        10                 2-3                   -
                        11                 2-5-5-5-3             12
                        12                 2                     -
                        13                 5                     -
                        14                 3                     1
                        15                 1                     -
                        16                 -                     1
                        17                 3-5-3                 1
                        18                 -                     -
                        19                 -                     -
                        20                 5-2-3-3-2-2-3         9
                        21                 3-4-3                 4
                        22                 4                     -
                        23                 -                     -
                        24                 4-4-2-5-4-4-2         7
                        25                 2                     -
                        26                 1                     1
                        27                 -                     -
                        28                 4                     1
                        29                 5-3-1-2               3
                        30                 1-4-5                 1
                        31                 -                     -
                        32                 -                     -
                        33                 5                     -
                        34                 2                     -
                        35                 4-5                   2
                        36                 1-1-5                 2
                        37                 -                     -





                        38                 5-3                   -
                        39                 5                     1
                        40                 -                     -
                        41                 -                     -
                        42                 3-1-4                 3
                        43                 2-5-1-2               4
                        44                 -                     -
                        45                 -                     -
                        46                 -                     -
                        47                 1                     -
                        48                 1                     -
                        49                 -                     -
                        50                 -                     -
                        51                 -                     -
                        52                 -                     -
                        53                 -                     -
                        54                 2                     -
                        55                 3-1-4-2-2-1           10


    By means of this tally of votes, there was a consensus in the group
    that the following are suggested emphasis areas of program ministries
    at our church over the next two years:



                         Summary Of Two Year Emphasis


    ++ Comprehensive plan of member care, including inactives, visitors,
       newcomers

    ++ Develop evangelism to fit our church

    ++ Spiritual growth retreats

    ++ Denominational history, theology  and polity classes

    ++ Adult leaders for youth groups


    Several of the participants volunteered to meet again on Sunday
    afternoon, January 18th to continue this planning process to develop
    specific implementation strategies for each the areas identified above.


    Based on: "Nominal Group Process" in Group Techniques For Program
              Planning  Scott, Foresman & Co
















