Overview of the Strategic Planning Process

Donna Linnemeyer Leading a Session in Dyer, Indiana - - - - - - - Careful Note Taking - - - - - - - - - Pastor Rossow Leading a Session in Hastings Nebraska

The strategic planning process consists of three phases:

1) Pre-seminar preparation to research the opinions and program of the parish.
2) The two-day planning seminar where the strategic plans are set.
3) Post-seminar follow up

Here is what happens in each phase.

Pre-Seminar Preparation
        - Telephone interview with the pastor to get a feel for the doctrine, practice and program of the parish.
        - Written surveys of key lay leaders
        - Consultants study key financial and membership statistics from the parish
        - Parish team reads Walther's "Six Duties of the Church" in preparation for the seminar
The Seminar
        - Consultants lead seminar participants through a study of Walther's six duties for the church
        - Constultants present conclusions from study of parish statistics
        - Consultants lead the group through a brainstorming of strengths and weaknesses of the parish
        - Consultants teach participants how to make goals SMART (specific, attainable, measurable, realistic, timely)
        - Based on the statistical analysis, strengths and weaknesses, goals are set for each of the six duties
        - BHAGS (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals) are drawn from the list of goals for special attention
        - Strategies are brainstormed for each of the goals
Post-Seminar Follow Up
         - Unlimited phone, text and email support with consultants to help implement the plans
        - Goals and brainstormed strategies are given to the appropriate boards in the parish for fine tuning 
        - Parish boards develop the final set of goals
        - Parish boards develop strategies to implement the goals

What kind of parish can benefit from this planning seminar?
Wittenberg Church Consultants beleive that a congregation is effective if it is preaching the Word of God and adminstering the sacraments according to Christ's command. As Walther points out, there are six God-given duties for the church. Because these duties are all about God's word and sacraments, understanding them and making plans to fulfill them makes the church more effective at administering word and sacrament.

We have seen these seminars work in small congregations and large congregations. They are are effective for struggling congregations and more effective congregations. Contact us today (click here) to find out how a planning seminar could benefit your parish.

How much does all of this cost?
This work is priceless for the local parish. Business consultants charge hundreds of dollars an hour for this type of work. Wittenberg's fee is $4,000 - 5,000 (depending on travel costs) for the two day seminar, the preparatory work and unlimited follow up. Many parishes turn to committed and concerned members to underwrite this important work. This is a nominal fee when one considers the return on the investment.

What you will get for this investment
        - A two-day seminar (most planning sessions are done on Friday night and Saturday morning)
        - All materials needed for the seminar
        - Two consultants and their objective, outside look at the systems of the parish
        - Understanding and a working knowledge of a simple, theologically sound guide for the parish - Walther's six duties
        - Expert theological and business acumen (click here for more on this)
        - Decades of consultant experience in church planning and strategizing
        - Consultants analysis of parish statistics
        - A complete set of goals and strategies for the parish
        - Unlimited phone, text, and email follow up with the consultants

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