The Making of a Vision Statement

Artist rendering of our Transition Team
hard at work.

“A vision is the mental snapshot of a preferred future that serves as the source of guidance and inspiration to all of our actions.”¹

One of the first steps in succession planning is for the Transition Team to compose a vision statement that reflects our intentions for the process as we move through the months ahead in our search for a new pastor. “A vision for the succession process begins with the imagination.”²

As an exercise to help us get our imagination juices flowing and to discern our goals for the transition, we divided into five work groups of five to six people each at the Foundations Retreat, and each group created its own vision statement.

Interestingly, but perhaps not surprisingly, common elements and themes ran through all five versions. Concepts including communication with the congregation, transparency, engaging members to participate in the process, growth of our church community, a shared future with our new pastor, encouragement to develop new opportunities and ministries and a feeling of ownership of the process by members. The Transition Team then took these five statements and, incorporating the several common elements, constructed its own statement.

Artist rendering of our church feeling positive,
informed, involved, and secure (even though
they are standing in a bulls-eye).

So, without further ado, the unveiling of the team’s Vision Statement:

Our vision for the succession process is a positive experience in which our congregation feels informed, involved and secure; a process which provides healing from our loss, a clear focus on our mission and call, and that, building on the foundation of Christian community, leads us to our shared future with a new and
differently-gifted pastor.

Keeping these core values in mind -- and putting them into practice -- we will work together to navigate the transition process as we continue the journey.

¹ BridgeDesign® A Field Manual for The Elephant in the Boardroom, p. 14, Holy Cow! Consulting.

² BridgeDesign® Field Manual, p. 14.