Long Range Plan

Adopted at

- Annual Meeting – May 4, 2008 -

Mission Statement

The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola

is to be a community which models embracing diversity,

living one’s beliefs while supporting spiritual and intellectual growth and service.

Long Range Plan

By 2013, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola

will be a congregation that…

MINISTRY

Vision: Maintains a full time settled Minister who shares responsibility with an active lay ministry in fulfilling the church Mission and reaching out to the wider community with adequate staff support.

Action:

• Sustains an experienced full time Minister who shall be accountable to the Board and Congregation
• The Minister shall be in the pulpit an average of three Sundays per month during the program year with an emphasis on high quality sermons
• The Minister shall be actively involved in working with the Ministry Teams/Committees
• The Minister plays an active role in the larger community, both religious and civic
• The Committee on Ministry/Ministerial Relations Committee maintains open communications with the Minister, conveying the pulse of the church community
• The Congregation, through appropriate Ministry Teams/Committees, will provide lay ministry in support of the Minister

SUNDAY SERVICES

Vision: Supports meaningful, engaging Sunday Services that include inspiring music and wide-ranging theological views and other topics in an atmosphere of freedom and acceptance.

Action:

The services will:

• have a spiritual atmosphere with intellectual rigor, applicability to people’s personal lives, and relevance to social issues and will include celebrations of multicultural diversity and UU identity
• be structured, professional, and diverse in subject and in format enhancing the service theme
• include children and youth to participate regularly in Sunday Services through music, dance and in other ways as leaders and participants

The Sunday Services Team/Committee will:

• work in collaboration with the Minister
• cultivate and support lay leaders’ involvement as Sunday Service leaders and in the overall planning for services
• in consultation with the Minister, will be responsible for providing well-structured lay-led services when the Minister is not in the pulpit
• invite conversation with speakers after the service when deemed appropriate by the Minister or (in the case of lay-led services) the Sunday Services Team/Committee
• hold intergenerational services from time to time
• incorporate UU Service Committee  programs on a regular basis such as Guest At Your Table and Justice Sunday

Music, including a choir, will be an important part of the service and will embrace various musical styles for all ages

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Adult, Children and Youth, Library

Vision: Supports comprehensive religious exploration and education programs for all ages in the membership and in the wider community.

Action (Adult):

The Adult Education (AE) programs will provide diverse educational opportunities for:

• religious education and exploration
• inspiration and world wisdom traditions
• artistic and musical expression, such as occasional art shows and concerts
• individual spiritual and intellectual growth seminars, groups and classes
• involvement in justice, integrity and environmental issues

Action (Children & Youth)

Children and Youth Religious Education (RE) will provide diverse educational opportunities in an enjoyable, supportive and nurturing environment that:

• fosters a learning environment that promotes the youths’ ability to express our UU values
• increases the compensated hours of the Director of Religious Education (DRE) in consideration of UU Fair Compensation Guidelines
• works with Membership to increase the number of young families with children
• welcomes non-member participation in RE activities
• initiates intergenerational programs in coordination with Fun and Fellowship and Sunday Services to unite adults and children within the congregation
• recruits lay leaders to carry out RE programs under the guidance of the DRE
• promotes periodic exposure to various artistic and musical programs within the classroom and in conjunction with church services
• promotes participation in social action initiatives within the church and the wider community
• starts a high school age youth group with an advisor interacting with other UU groups in the district

Action (Library)

The church library provides resources for inspiration and educational explorations as it:

• acquires resources as appropriate
• maintains an accessible and organized collection
• systematically records and accounts for library materials

MEMBERSHIP

Vision: Facilitates significant growth by inviting New Members into active participation that celebrates multicultural diversity and includes an outreach focus to young families, young adults and persons of diverse backgrounds.

Action:

• Uses creative publicity and outreach techniques (including UUA materials as a source) to increase membership by 10% each year
• Maintains contact with existing Members and Friends beyond requests for financial contribution to help assure ongoing participation.
• Encourages all Members to participate in welcoming newcomers
• Schedules New Member orientation and recognition activities.
• Reviews  and updates annually the membership development  plan
• Fosters the ability of our Members to communicate UU beliefs and values
• Provides opportunities to learn about UU history
• Encourages the participation of all Members and Friends in the democratic process of the Congregation, including Annual Meetings
• Cultivates an involvement in regular church functions, offering time and talents
• Encourages intergenerational activities on a regular basis
• Moves toward becoming a Welcoming Congregation as defined by UUA in joint endeavor with the Social Action and Adult Education Teams/Committees

CARING

Vision: Enhances the sense of church community, through lay ministry, and maintains close consultation and collaboration with the Minister.

Action:

• Reaches out to individuals and families to address their personal needs and transitions
• Encourages communication and sharing through the use of articles in The Light,  through Joys and Concerns in Sunday Services, as well as through other means such as the ‘Caring Box’
• Provides outreach to Members and Friends with visits, cards, calls and/or emails
• Provides “Listening Friends” when requested by Members and the Minister
• Provides oversight and support of the Memorial Garden
• Provides assistance to the Minister for memorial services

FUN AND FELLOWSHIP

Vision: Provides frequent opportunities for enjoyable interaction in a way that celebrates different interests and increases our sense of community.

Action:

• Coordinates monthly events such as potluck luncheons, Circle Dinners,  and celebrations, such as  Solstices, Halloween, Christmas and 4^th of July
• Coordinates efforts for after-services Coffee Hour
• Increases outdoor and intergenerational activities
• Promotes periodic social and artistic events that may eventually include an annual UUCP family weekend retreat

SOCIAL ACTION

Vision: Commits to a social action program that serves the church, the wider community and the world at large.

Action:

• Sponsors educational forums and/or events to educate the congregation, such as the Ellen Palme Film Series
• Promotes participation in activities and hands-on opportunities to support issues, such as affordable housing, pro-choice, GLBT rights, political and civic concerns, public school advocacy, and animal rights
• Sponsors the annual adoption by the Congregation of one social justice theme for congregation-wide involvement, such as affordable housing
• Participates in annual events such as Earth Day, the Martin Luther King Parade, and Memorial Day GLBT Rights activities
• Collaborates with Sunday Services and Religious Education (RE) programming to promote involvement in current issues
• Supports the Minister in social action activities in the wider community
• Supports the children and youth RE activities related to social action

DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS

Vision: Encourages Members to participate in Mid-South District and UUA activities beyond the congregational level.

Action:

• Utilizes leadership training of Mid-South District (MSD)
• Supports participation of emerging congregational leadership in the annual “Mountain” Leadership School
• Promotes involvement in Mid-South District activities, conferences, and MSD committees
• Encourages and financially assists members to attend General Assembly as voting delegates and as members of the congregation in order to bring back vital information for congregational growth and well-being
• Continues commitment with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) through programs such as, but not limited to,  Guest at Your Table and Justice Sunday
• Encourages awareness of denomination-wide activities, issues and publications including uua.org, UU World Magazine, InterConnections Newsletter, Beacon Press and Skinner House Books
• Participates in inter-faith connections within the local area
• Engages in outreach to members of the Church of the Larger Fellowship in our region

ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION

Vision: Has an organizational design to efficiently achieve the church’s Mission, Vision and Action Plan.

Action:

• The Governing Board will be a broad policy-setting body serving, with the Minister, in mutual support of their respective responsibilities and accountable to the Congregation
• Ministry Teams/Committees will implement and support the activities that reflect and comprise the program life of the congregation
• The Governing Board, the Minister, Denominational Affairs Team/Committee and the Nominating Committee will collaborate and support efforts to identify, recruit, develop and train church lay leaders
• Ministry Teams/Committees will share the responsibilities of implementing the Governing Board’s policies
• A Council of standing Ministry Team Leaders/Committee Chairs will meet on an occasional basis to coordinate activities and offer mutual support
• The standing Ministry Teams/Committees will be supplemented by ad hoc committees and task groups
• The Minister will carry out policy and administer the church including direction of contract staff that includes an Administrative Assistant, a Director of Religious Education, and a Director of Music.  Oversight of custodial services will be provided by the Administrative Assistant
• A set of Bylaws will be supplemented by statements of Policies, Procedures and Position Descriptions
• A thorough needs assessment will be periodically conducted by a task-focused ad-hoc team appointed by the Governing Board. The membership of this team will be representative of the ministry teams/committees.  The ad-hoc team will determine the assessment tool, conduct the assessment and analyze results.  Results, observations and recommendations will be submitted by the ad-hoc team to the Governing Board and promulgated to the congregation upon Board review

COMMUNICATIONS

Vision: Maintains active internal and external communications to increase connectedness among our Members and Friends, using all available media and modalities as available and appropriate.

Action:

• Publishes and distributes a monthly newsletter to Members and Friends
• Expands opportunities for public interest circulation
• Maintains a newcomer-friendly and informative website especially designed to attract persons looking for our church and to enhance communication among members and friends
• Sends emails to Members and Friends to highlight and update UUCP happenings
• Develops a phone tree to supplement email, primarily for persons lacking computer access
• Provides notices of special events at the church in the form of posters and handouts
• Sends notices of church events, including Sunday Services to area newspapers, local TV and radio stations, tailoring items to conform with their style and requirements

WAYS AND MEANS

Vision: Cultivates a creative, prudent and generous attitude toward financial management that fully supports its ministry and operational budget through annual financial commitments/pledges and offerings.

Action:

• Maintains a comprehensive financial plan, developed by the Board in conjunction with appropriate ministry teams/committees which will include a Five Year Capital Budget, updated annually
• Generates additional revenue streams such as – marketing our building to increase rental income, and hosting periodic, carefully planned fundraising events, sometimes targeted for special projects
• Meets annual UUA and Mid-South District financial contributions
• Distributes a quarterly report of giving to assist Members and Friends in tracking their financial contributions

Budget Projections

FY 2009           FY2010            FY2011            FY2012            FY2013

Budget Drive   $100,000         $108,340         $115,875         $124,035         $132,713

Total Budget    $135,000         $144,450         $154,560         $165,380         $176,950

 

BUILDING AND GROUNDS

Vision: Maintains and improves facilities to create an aesthetic and functional environment in concert with Green Sanctuary efforts and activities.

 

ACTION:

• Provides security of church property
• Provides for adequate custodial and maintenance services
• Provides grounds maintenance for ongoing and long term aesthetics and safety
• Commits to purchase of products for church use that are environmentally-friendly and cost effective
• Evaluates opportunities for growth and expansion of our properties, to enhance their overall value
• Will address the following projects based upon the Five Year Capital Budget

- Kitchen improvements, including acquiring commercial equipment that meets Energy Star and/or Green Sanctuary requirements

- Heating/Air Conditioning

- Sanctuary:  improvements will include flooring, interior design, acoustics, lighting & aesthetics

- Religious Education classrooms, choir room and conference room enhancement

- Exterior building and roof maintenance

- Accessibility of building and services

GREEN SANCTUARY

Vision: Lives out our commitment to the Earth by supporting a sustainable lifestyle by individual Members and as a faith community.

 

Action

• Builds awareness and motivates action in regard to environmental issues and injustices
• Encourages personal lifestyle changes
• Builds a connection between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness
• Supports the goals of energy conservation, reducing consumption, reusing and recycling
• Works with Sunday Services, Religious Education and Communications
• Researches and leads the Congregation in implementing the UUA guidelines for becoming certified as a Green Sanctuary
• Coordinates with Building and Ground to make ‘green’ facility enhancements
• Upon designation as a Green Sanctuary church, maintains those standards and systems
• Educates New Members and Friends about Green Sanctuary

 

 

Adopted at Annual Meeting

May 4, 2008