Anglican Church of Canada Diocese of Edmonton Strategic Plan Overview

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Anglican Church of CanadaDiocese of
EdmontonStrategic Plan Overview

• Presentation to the 59th Diocesan Synod
• October 22, 2005

Proclaiming the Gospel Making Disciples
Furthering the Kingdom
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Background

• Initiated in April 2002
• Phase I Gathered information
• 400 interviews across Diocese.
• The Pillar of Fire Report, released March 2003
• Phase 2 Established priorities
• Regional visitations
• Diocesan Gathering
• Phase 3 Developed strategic plan, 2004-2007
• Vision and mission
• Goals and strategies
• Implementation timelines
• Phase 4 Implementation began 2004/05
• Oversight and specific tasks under Stewardship
  and Financial Development Committee

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Overview of Contents

• Vision and Mission
• Seven priority areas
• Children and Young People
• Diocesan Sense of Community
• Christian Education
• Outreach (The Churchs practical response to the
  needs of the wider community)
• Faith Formation / Making Disciples
• Congregational Development
• Social Justice

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The Diocesan Vision
The Diocese of Edmonton is a member of the
Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican
Communion. The members of this Diocese, in
obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
holding fast to our faith in the eternal and
undivided Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, commit to

• Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in word
  and action, to the church and to the world.
• Being a community of disciples that prays for the
  coming of the Kingdom of God while celebrating
  the privilege of furthering the work of the
  Kingdom here and now.
• Becoming a Christ-centred community of parishes
  and ministries that delight in the unity of our
  calling and the diversity of its expression,
  marked by deep respect, and a willingness and an
  eagerness to learn from and grow with each other
  in the power of the Spirit.
• Growing corporately and individually as disciples
  of Jesus Christ, being both (a) the guardians of
  the faith we have received from the apostles,
  prophets and martyrs, and (b) faithful
  interpreters of the Gospel. This commitment
  embraces our expression of Anglican liturgy the
  Christian education we offer for all ages, with
  special emphasis upon reaching children and
  youth, and those who are inquiring about the
  Christian faith for the first time evangelism,
  social justice, including the articulation of the
  prophetic voice of Scripture and the formation
  and training for lay and ordered ministries of
  our church.

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The Diocesan Mission
PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL MAKING DISCIPLES FURTHERI
NG THE KINGDOM
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Moving Forward Goals and Strategies

• Next, some highlights on the Diocesan goals and
  strategies and progress in moving forward
• The following legend is used

Focus of Stewardship and Financial Development
Committee
Focus of Planned Giving Office
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1) Children and Young People

• Goal To attract children and youth to Christ
  to encourage children and youth in the Christian
  life

• Progress to Date
• Diocesan Youth Coordinator re-focused half-time
  in June 2004 (one year ahead of schedule) in
  2006, will become ¾ time.
• University Chaplaincy position increased to
  fulltime in Sept 2004 (one year ahead of
  schedule)
• Childrens and Youth Task Forces established to
  address specific needs
• New young adult camp added to complement of
  Diocesan summer camps

• Strategies
• Develop appropriate leadership skills and ability
  to articulate the Christian faith in an engaging
  manner.
• Develop children and young peoples ministry
  resources
• Enhance Diocesan programming for children and
  youth
• Expand university and college chaplaincy

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2) Diocesan Sense of Community

• Goal To enhance and deepen the sense of
  community and fellowship among Diocesan clergy
  and the parishes and the Diocese

• Progress to Date
• Alternative approaches to ministry being explored
• Clergy days and clericus meetings held throughout
  Diocese
• Two Diocesan gatherings held October 2003 and
  June 2004
• Executive Council holds minimum of one meeting in
  rural area per annum
• Clergy Wellness report being acted upon
• Employee Assistance Plan promoted to clergy
• 2005 Clergy Conference focused on healing and
  promoting clergy wellness
• Maternal/Paternal Leave Policies introduced.
• Wardens and Treasurers workshops held

• Strategies
• Nurture the clergy community.
• Nurture a sense of Diocesan family which is
  inclusive of all parishes and members
• Clergy wellness

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3) Christian Education

• Goal To form faithful disciples of Jesus
  Christ who are equipped to proclaim the Gospel
  and further the work of the Kingdom

• Strategies
• Advertise Diocesan resources on web page and
  increase Diocesan resource collection
• Assist clergy to use the continuing education
  plan to their best advantage
• Increase number of Diocesan educational events
• Increase awareness and knowledge of stewardship
  and Planned Giving (New for 2005)

• Progress to Date
• Diocesan website being expanded and updated
• Two Diocesan gatherings held October 2003 and
  June 2004
• Fulltime Planned Giving Officer hired and placed
  in Synod Office
• Planned Giving introductions, workshops and
  educational events planned
• Clergy Day, September 28, 2005
• Stewardship Workshop, November 18 19, 2005
• Parish Visitations

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4) Outreach

• Goal Increased visibility and responsiveness
  to human and social needs at the local,
  provincial, national and international levels

• Strategies
• Increase awareness of and response to needs in
  the inner city and rural areas (e.g., poverty,
  violence, addictions, despair)
• Special needs of children and youth
• Training programs on needs assessment
• Regional consultations and partnerships
• Prayer commitments
• Youth involvement
• Partner with local agencies/Anglican Church of
  Canada agencies
• Educate on national and international concerns

• Progress to Date
• PrayerWorks Hall redevelopment project at St.
  Faiths (Edmonton inner city)
• NeighbourWorks proposal in progress for
  parish/Diocesan partnership projects
• Inner City Pastoral Ministrycommitment more than
  doubled
• Prison and Womens Re-integration Ministries
  provided
• Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation (E4C)
  continues to be a leader in downtown outreach
  missions

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5) Faith Formation / Making Disciples

• Goal Deepening of personal faith, the regular
  practice of prayer and worship and the growth in
  Christian discipleship for every Anglican in the
  Diocese. Increased evangelism by Anglicans.

• Strategies
• Offer encouragement at Diocesan and parish levels
• Increased education on evangelism

• Progress to Date
• Diocesan Gathering in June 2004 focused on
  evangelism
• Childrens Ministry Task Force in progress
• Christian Basics (introduction to evangelism)
  being offered in increasing number of parishes
• Cursillo is one of the strongest Cursillo
  movements in Canada
• Education for Ministry (EFM) graduates more
  participants than any other Diocese
• Alpha programs offered in over half of the
  parishes

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6) Congregational Development

• Goal Increase number and size of congregations
  and parishes

• Progress to Date
• Diocesan Development Plan established
• New church purchased in Parkland County
• PrayerWorks Hall at St. Faiths
• Fulltime clergy appointed for Edson Whitecourt
• Re-establishing parish ministries in rural
  communities (formerly closed)
• Models for alternative ministries for small
  parishes under consideration
• Task Force established to look at parish growth
• Parish successes and needs being addressed
• Four stewardship articles written for Messenger
• Fostering strong communication between parishes
  and the Diocese, e.g., Toll Free number
• Several parish turnarounds (e.g., Parkland
  County)

• Strategies
• Healthy parishes / reconciliation techniques
• Church planting
• Aid for small /struggling parishes
• Parish growth

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7) Social Justice

• Goal Heighten visibility and presence of the
  church in the arena of social and political issues

• Progress to Date
• Diocesan Task Force created
• Vocational Deacons with special social justice
  portfolios under consideration
• Residential Schools Settlement
• One Métis Priest and one First Nations Deacon
• Involvement with Youth Justice court/programs
• PrayerWorks Hall addresses variety of social
  issues
• Womens Reintegration Chaplaincy
• Inner City Pastoral Ministry responds to social
  needs

• Strategies
• Create staff positions with specific portfolios
  (e.g., children, housing, health, refugees,
  environment, poverty, Aboriginal issues)