Faithfully Strategic
 

Our last strategic plan, approved at the January 2020 Annual Parish Meeting, carried us through a pandemic and into a season of growth. It reached its conclusion in 2025, and we rightly gave 2026 to rest. Now it is time to discern together what God is calling St. John’s to in our next season.

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This is not a process for adding more programs. Good strategy is as much about what we choose not to do as what we do. Together, we hope to:

• Test whether our mission still names our purpose

• Sharpen our vision into one clear picture of faithfulness five years from now

• Name our core values and how they connect to our mission and vision

• Commit to a small number of priorities for the years ahead

 

We believe God is already at work among us and in Grand Haven. Our task is to notice, experiment, and discern together. That means this process depends on you.

 

How It Will Unfold

Listen (Advent through January)

Spiritual Journey Conversations in small groups after both services, in homes, and in ministry groups, around one simple question: When have you felt most spiritually alive, and where was St. John’s in that? Our Visioning Team will also listen to community partners and neighbors connected to our ministries.

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Gather (Annual Parish Meeting, January)

This year’s Annual Meeting will be a working session. We’ll hear what the Team has heard, test our mission and vision, look at a first draft of our core values, and ask together what St. John’s should stop, do less of, do more of, and start.

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Act (Lent through Easter, beginning February 10)

Three or four small experiments, each led by a lay team for six to eight weeks, to try new things and learn from them.

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Share and Decide (April and May)

We’ll gather in Eastertide to share what we learned and where we sensed God at work. The Vestry will review a draft plan, seek parish input, and adopt it in May. We’ll celebrate our new Strategic Vision on Pentecost, May 16, 2027.​

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How You Can Take Part

There will be numerous ways you can be a part of this journey of discernment.

• Join a Spiritual Journey Conversation this Advent. Dates and sign-ups are coming soon. 

• Come to the Annual Parish Meeting in January ready to share your hopes for St. John’s.

• Sign up for one of the Lenten experiments.

• Pray for our parish and our Visioning Team as we discern together.

 

Our hope is that at least half of our households will take part in a conversation or in the Annual Meeting’s table work. Every voice matters.

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What We'll Produce

A short Strategic Vision for 2027–2032, no longer than four pages: our mission (reaffirmed or refined), a one-paragraph vision, four to six core values, and three or four strategic priorities, along with a short list of what we will not do. The plan will shape our budgets in the years to come and be reviewed at each Annual Parish Meeting.

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Where We’re Starting

Our current mission statement - “As followers of Jesus, we believe all people—without exception—are God’s beloved and are called together by the Holy Spirit. Inspired through time-honored worship, the people of St. John’s Episcopal Church strive to boldly love every person and all creation. This is summarized by our motto: Following Jesus. Inspired through Worship. Boldly loving ALL."
 

Our Visioning Team

Chosen through nominations and a ranked-choice poll by the Vestry, our Visioning Team brings together newer and long-tenured members, both of our Sunday congregations, and voices from across our ministries. Please keep them in your prayers.

• Melissa Branderhorst

• Elizabeth Butler

• Emily Dykhouse

• Chelsea Green

• Lauren Harris

• Daisy Martinez Pineda

• Jill Nelson

• Cinda Stark

• Cheryl Wabeke

• Don Zenas

• Ken Workinger, Senior Warden (ex officio)

• Jeff Nelson, Vestry Liaison

• The Rev. Dr. Jared C. Cramer, Rector (convener and facilitator)

 

Questions? Contact Fr. Jared at rector@sjegh.com.

 

For those who want all the details: http://sjegh.com/strategicprocess