Vestry Responses to Long-Range Planning Report

Ted Vaden, Immediate Past Senior Warden

In May of 2002, the vestry gathered in the pastoral surroundings of The Summit to address the question: What is it that God is calling Chapel of the Cross to be and to do?

That weekend vestry retreat launched a two-year long-range planning initiative focused on that key question of identity and calling for our parish. It was appropriate then, that the planning effort came full circle in May 2004 when the parish's Long-Range Planning Committee presented its final report to the vestry, again in the leafy climes of The Summit. The report occasioned another weekend of energetic debate, discussion, some disagreement, but ultimate consensus overall to proceed with the broadest strokes of the Long-Range Planning Committee's recommendations. Here are some of those brush strokes:

• Create a committee to conduct a comprehensive review of our parish programs, both internal ministries and outreach, to see which serve the core missions of the church - and which don't. The review committee would use clearly identified criteria to assess programs, and one outcome would be to tie future spending priorities to these identified programs.
• Create a committee to examine how the parish can build a more welcoming culture, where "no one is a stranger." There also was consensus for immediate efforts - not waiting on a committee - to improve hospitality efforts and address the 'threadbare' look of some of our gathering places.
• Consult with a planner/designer to advise on best ways to expand our facilities for improved fellowship, meeting and office space. Subsequently, a financial consultant would be hired to advise on our fundraising capacity and strategy.
• Plan for expected congregational growth by adding additional services, perhaps including a less traditional service with more contemporary music to broaden our appeal to younger worshippers. The expanded services would require additional clergy and music staff.

These recommendations look to a 5- to 15-year time horizon. They will be fleshed out and refined by vestry in the coming year, but committee appointments will be made soon. There are many other recommendations and conclusions in the report, which are summarized elsewhere in this issue of Cross Roads.

The energy and enthusiasm with which the report was presented and received were impressive. But just as impressive to me was the vestry's discussion of the topic that we had addressed two years ago: What is it that God is calling us to be and to do as a parish? The Long-Range Planning Committee sought to address that question by identifying "Defining Characteristics of the Chapel of the Cross." During its meetings over the last two years, the committee frequently talked about "the DNA" of the church, but we decided that was too secular. Call it, maybe, "the soul of Chapel of the Cross."

The five "defining attributes" of the Chapel of the Cross as listed in the report are outlined on p. 6. We asked the vestry, "Which of those attributes most resonates with you? Which single one defines the soul of Chapel of the Cross? Here are some of the answers.

Most identified the first characteristic - the tradition of Anglican worship - as central to our identity. "Sunday is just an awesome experience," said Mary Schoenfeld. "The liturgy offers this wonderful expression of who and what we are, our place in the universe."

"That's our core," said Stephen Elkins-Williams. "The world needs the moderating voice that the Anglican tradition brings," added Vicky Jamieson-Drake.

Robert Wright said he would add preaching of the Gospel as a high value. "I think we are an evangelical church, though not in the ways people traditionally think," he said. He noted that the diocese and national church have both embraced a missionary strategy to grow the Episcopal Church. "People who are considering our church need to know up front that we're unambiguous about that."

Jean DeSaix, long-time adviser to the Episcopal Campus Ministry, identified the UNC student relationship as a core value. "I think that's really a spiritual formation place." Paul Carew liked the concept of "courageous stands" in the world. "During the controversy over a gay bishop," he said, "people felt they could speak the truth and that they would be listened to and respected. That's important."

Jim Crow sees "active social outreach ministry" as an increasingly important role for the church, as secular and political institutions cut back on attention to the needy. "It's more and more important that we sow seeds early."

And finally, Steve Lackey embraced the concept of the universal Church. "That is the ultimate one through which all the others flow," he said. "Think globally, act locally. It comes down to living out the Gospel and thinking globally and acting locally."

That sounds to me like a good answer, for us as individuals and as a parish, to the starting question: What is it that God wants us to be and to do?