STRATEGIC MAP

Executive Summary

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

1123 COURT STREET

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901

(415) 456-4842

www.stpaulssanrafael.org

October 2000

TO: The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Your Vision Team believes it is a useful metaphor to regard St. Paul's as a living body organized around these core values:

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Increasing our awareness of and relationship with God, while enriching and renewing our souls.

       Through:

Worship, sermons, music, liturgy, teaching, pastoral leadership, shared experience, prayer, meditation, honoring the Sacred, discernment of gifts and vocations, Christian education (for all ages), and stewardship.

HELPING

Creating a safe haven to express, hear, and meet the spiritual, emotional and material needs of those now in the parish, and those to come; and, as Christ's hands in the world, to aid and share the burden of those in need.

       Through:

Setting up ways to find out the needs of members; caring for ourselves so we can reach out to care for others; outreach to diverse groups; social and political activism; being responsible in our uses of resources entrusted to us (money, time, fellow creatures, environment); being sensitive to the needs of others; support teams; parish visits for shut-ins, the ill, and those who have left the parish; and through love and respect for one another.

INTEGRITY

Striving to act with openness, honesty and courage, being ever mindful to make our words, beliefs and actions consistent and trustworthy.

       Through:

What we preach and teach, how we accept others, our openness to diversity, our thoughtful consideration of everyone's needs, and through speaking as though God is listening.

FAIRNESS

Accepting people wherever they are on their spiritual journey and treating everyone equitably.

       Through:

Practicing kindness and tolerance; loving one another as Christ loves us; personal one-on-one involvement; being authentic; group discussion, forums, question-and-answer sessions, and social gatherings.

In all cases and for all our core values, we try to follow, as best we can, the example set for us by Christ Himself in His life and teachings, and those of His apostles and saints.

Mission and Vision

This living body called St. Paul's is here to provide a compassionate haven for those seeking a community of faith that embodies those values. This is our mission: We are called to be a diverse and inclusive community of Christians in the Anglican tradition. We offer a compassionate haven for reconciliation, spiritual growth, and commitment to social justice.

Toward that end, St. Paul's has a new vision for the future that includes seeking Christ through providing a compassionate haven as:

       - a community dedicated to intentional spiritual growth and discipleship through the support and discovery of such ministries as will aid us in seeking and finding the Christ in each other;

       - a community committed to the rich heritage of Anglican liturgy, while seeking to meet our diverse spiritual needs, and those of future generations, through innovative worship;

       - a community dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion for all people, that endeavors to glorify God and relieve suffering by understanding injustice and addressing it;

       - a community that honors those who came before by maintaining and renewing the parish facilities their good stewardship gave us, and by dedicating our own time, talent, and treasure to passing on inviting facilities to those in times far different than our own;

       - a community that seeks to live its life as a people reconciled and reconciling, dedicated to welcoming newcomers, sharing our gifts, listening to and learning from each other, recognizing our common frailties through mutual forgiveness, and encouraging, supporting and nourishing each other to meet the challenges of our lives in faith.

Implementation

In order to move toward that vision in a systemic way, the Vision Team is recommending that:

       - the congregation of St. Paul's become more welcoming to newcomers;

       - that the people of St. Paul's nurture the growth of those on the "spiritual journey" with them;

       - that St. Paul's empower, or as scripture says, "equip," people for ministry based on their gifts and passions;

       - that St. Paul's see more effective ways to serve God, each other, and the larger community; and

       - that in all things the people of St. Paul's put their faith in God first, the growth of the faith community second, and one's personal preferences and agendas third.

The St. Paul's Vision Team

October 10, 2000