As you read about our long-range planning process in this issue of Cross Roads, I'd like to add a few words of encouragement and caution.

Let me first share with you that the vestry and Long-Range Planning committee have struggled with what to call this effort. We're aware that “long-range plan” seems very corporate and temporal; “long-range mission” might be a better phrase, in the sense of: What is God's Mission for Chapel of the Cross?

Whatever the language, I encourage you to read carefully these reports about the planning work that has gone on so far and to reflect on what this might mean for the future of our parish. In particular, the Committee has discussed possible changes in our worship, our programs and our facilities that I think are exciting and stimulating. I have attended all the meetings of the Long-Range Planning Committee, and there was a strong sense of Spirit present at each.

But I want to caution you to receive these ideas in the sense that they are offered ? as early, tentative, exploratory concepts for your consideration. I want to stress very strongly that any proposals are not faits accomplis and that no decisions will be made until we have received broad and deep parish input.

Here's our timetable: The Long-Range Planning Committee and the vestry have been working on this project for about a year. The Committee submitted a report to the vestry at its retreat in May. Over the course of the summer, both groups will further digest the report and frame its content in the form of questions, for parish consideration. The committee then will use your input to prepare a final report, hopefully by year's end, and the vestry hopes to have a final plan by the end of March 2004.

In the fall, most likely September and October, we expect to have conversations with you through a wide variety of formats ? neighborhood groups, meetings of parish organizations such as the choir and men's breakfast, perhaps one or more parish-wide gatherings, a series of adult Sunday School hours ? to get as broad and systematic input as we can manage. There probably also will be a survey administered to the parish.