VISION PLAN

1 Core Purpose

3 Core Values

4 Bold, Inspirational Goals

8 Initial Strategies

v2 10.2012

PU

RP

OS

ECORE PURPOSE

Drawn together by the Holy Spirit, we are a distinct and diverse community of Christians that come together as one church, joining faith and action. In covenant with the church in all of its settings, we serve God in the co-creation of a just and sustainable world as made manifest in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

VA L U E S

CORE VALUES

Continuing Testament Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not. God is still speaking. Extravagant WelcomeNo matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here. Changing LivesNever place a period where God has placed a comma

#8

#7G

OA

LS

BOLD, INSPIRATIONAL GOALS

1. Bold, Public Voice The UCC is a bold, widely-known and respected public voice of Christianity in service of God’s ever-unfolding mission.

2. Welcoming, Reachable Congregations There is a welcoming UCC community of faith that is accessible to all — no matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.

3. Engaged Discipleship Every UCC person is well-equipped to be growing in faith, be theologically conversant, and be active in the global mission of the church.

4. Excellent, Diverse Leaders The UCC has a wealth of prepared, excellent leaders that reflect the diversity of God’s beloved community.

#1STRATEGY #1 The “Faith, In” Project

A missional “God is still speaking,” ministry and marketing initiative to position the United Church of Christ to engage — with specificity — God’s movement in the neighborhoods, towns and cities where God calls us to serve.

#6METRICSAt least 100 active “Faith, In” localized mission movements identified in towns and cities across the church by the end of 2013, in concert with a national network of marketing items, ideas/resources, best-practices sharing and church-to-church networking opportunities.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPW. Mark Clark

#5#2STRATEGY #2 Intercultural Ministries Soar

A Centers of Excellence model of Intercultural Multi-ethnic (I’M) Ministries – extravagant welcome demonstrated through practices of hospitality and accessibility; vibrant and diverse styles of worship, justice engagement that confronts power and marginalization; and equipped clergy and lay leadership with intercultural competencies and experience.

METRICSAn inter-ministry team, which includes national, conference and local church staff, will convene and design the framework for the Centers of Excellence model by December 2012. Congregations will be invited to submit proposals by spring 2013 with approximately twelve being selected by fall of 2013.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPLinda Jaramillo

#3STRATEGY #3 Mission 4/1 Earth:50 Great Days

An all-church mission initiative designed to reach collective measureable environmental goals during the 50-day Eastertide period while greening up, powering down, and shouting out for the environment.

#4METRICSDuring the 2013 Eastertide period, the United Church of Christ will plant more than 100,000 trees, engage in more than 1 million hours of earth care, and write more than 100,000 letters/emails of advocacy on environmental concerns.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPJ. Bennett Guess

#3#4STRATEGY #4 Reading Changes Lives

An aggressive, sustained all-church literacy campaign to reverse the looming disparity affecting children and youth who are overlooked because of race, economic marginalization, and/or learning style.

METRICSBy summer 2015, we will have 1,000 UCC settings actively involved in Reading Changes Lives.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPLinda Jaramillo

#5STRATEGY #5 The StillspeakingWorship Institute

A twice-annual event hosted by diverse local churches, or other settings, with an emphasis on the experience of culturally diverse, accessible and replicable approaches to worship — as lived, shared experiences as the primary teaching tools.

#2METRICSBy 2017, the Stillspeaking Worship Institute will have established itself ecumenically as the preeminent think-tank and must-attend experience in the United States for those interested in exploring emergent, innovative, inspiring and excellent worship leadership.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPJ. Bennett Guess

#1#6STRATEGY #6 The Stillspeaking Leadership Institute

A multiple-year training and equipping program for leaders, both clergy and lay, of all ages and diversities, who are deeply interested and engaged in helping the wider UCC, and the Stillspeaking movement, to flourish and prosper.

METRICSTo be determined by the Executive Associate of the General Minister and President.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPGeoffrey Black

#7STRATEGY #7 Extravagance UCC

A new church start and online community that is accessible to all who want to experience and deepen their faith in relationship to the United Church of Christ, without regard to geographic location.

METRICSA self-governing, self-sustaining congregation of at least 500 active persons — with local church standing — will emerge within three years after its launch at the 2013 Synod.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPJ. Bennett Guess

VA L U E S

#8STRATEGY #8 Justice LED

A flexible, biblically-grounded, non-issue-based justice curriculum and training program designed to engage and develop justice leaders for the church and community.

METRICSBy April 2015, more than 500 churches with 10,000 UCC people will have been trained in Justice Leaders Engaging and Developing (LED); the number of trainers will double from 300 to 600; and all National and Conference program staff will be trained to serve as regional trainers.

COLLEGIUM LEADERSHIPJames Moos