Mission & Outreach Listening Session Minutes

Strategic Planning Committee

Saint Michael and All Angels

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 ~ 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

at the home of Anna and Jim Neitzel

1.       What do you appreciate most about the current SMAA program and content within this ministry?

•         We appreciate most of it. Jubilee is blowing and going and the best of all projects. Jubilee needs to be on-going and needs to be in the budget to cover the expenses of running it.

•         Another great project is Meals on Wheels. We have more drivers than any other organization. We could use more drivers though - it would love to have 200 SMAA drivers.

•         ‘Pathways to Ministry’ is a great program.

2.       What would you most like to see changed in the current program?

•         The communications are still a problem. Does not ever seem to get better – actually seems to be getting worse. Perhaps we could have a rolling Sunday school class to talk about our projects. On return, each trip should do a presentation. Do not hijack a regular Sunday school class – this is often resented and disappointing to the ones present. Perhaps we could do an info session with the Newcomers.

•        The mission programs need to be more focused like Jubilee has been. Perhaps have 6 or less areas of interest and go deeper with them as opposed to having a large buffet of items. Reassess our commitments to where we are involved. Perhaps it is now time refocus and to separate from some organizations such as North Dallas Shared Ministry, for example. The areas in which we focus should be substantive in order to provide parishioners opportunities for transformation in their lives.

•         We should strive for 50cents of every $1.00 of the church budget to go to mission outreach. This should be legitimately mission outreach – that is, it should not include diocesan assessment or ESD support. Also the grants made by the Women of the Church should not be counted as SMAA outreach as the WOSM raise their own funds. At one point many years ago, we reached 31% of our budget going to outreach.

•         We should move ahead with hiring a director of development for the parish to assist in raising funds for Mission and Outreach projects.

•         We really need an excited clergy person assigned to Mission Outreach and would like to hear move about mission and outreach from the pulpit including reports or stories of SMAA initiatives and experiences in these areas.

•         The church budget should be examined to see where the funds are going that are classified as Mission and Outreach because the actual funds coming to the committee to distribute have continued to be reduced the last few years.

•         We should determine our funding needs for our Mission and Outreach initiatives and then set a funding goal to work toward. We have a generous parish and people might find it easier to support things if they knew the goal of the initiative and the amount needed.

3.       What are the most exciting, fulfilling experiences you have had with past programs, ministries, and activities at SMAA.

•         Meals on Wheels

•         Jubilee

4.       Can you name some truly excellent programs or initiatives at other churches which you’ve experienced or heard about from others?

•         Highland Park United Methodist Church – they maintain a focus or a few projects like Dickinson and Wesley which are very successful.

•         Incarnation – love the mission they have established in/for West Village.

•         Watermark – for the way they get involvement out of their members

5.       What initiatives or program changes at SMAA would cause you to increase your participation, and to be excited about doing so?

•         See above and also consider we explore work projects for various groups from Saint Michael at the new diocesan camp being purchased on Lake Texhoma.

•         We will not be a truly great parish until we establish a new mission church.

6.       Overall, how effective is the current program at SMAA?

•        Effective