2023 Church Planning - 10 Things to Consider
from SmartChurchManagement
Planning helps us stay focused on church priorities that move us closer to achieving our mission. Focused priorities ensure there are the necessary resources available in the next 12 months to support church strategy.
The New Normal - Online Church
The pandemic created a need for an online church experience and churches did a great job scrambling to provide that service to their members. The expectation for an online church experience continues – even though we are considered out of the pandemic.
Church leaders are frustrated that a small population of members prefer to experience church from their homes. After all, fellowship is an important part of the church.
Embrace this new trend and work to create systems, processes, and support for the online community. For instance, create a Bible study that is geared toward people who would prefer to be at home. Or create prayer walls, Facebook groups, and volunteers to help manage this population.
Work with this community where they are. This personalized support may be what is needed to get those folks back in the physical church.
Church Strategy
The fourth quarter of the year is a great time to revisit the strategy, plans, and current direction of your church.
A written church strategic plan is used to systematically take steps to achieve the church mission, develop members, and enhance church programs.
Focused discussions should include planning for the predictable – as well as the unpredictable.
For instance, if you have an aging staff, include succession planning in your 2023 conversations.
Devote some time to do a SWOT analysis and talk about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that face your church. Brainstorm ways your church can build on its strengths, and address its weaknesses.
For example, look at those things that might be standing in the way of your church fulfilling its mission. And then make a plan to remove those obstacles.
Set 2023 Church Goals
Goals can be a tool to translate strategy into actionable steps, and ultimately get things done.
Church Goals should be written, managed, and achieved to support the strategy and plan.
Spend the time to write church goals for 2023. Put them on paper and assign responsibility to get them done. For instance, if your church has a goal to increase volunteer participation, assign that responsibility to someone and hold them accountable to get it done.
Monitor goals monthly, and manage them through a performance management process. For instance, department managers should meet with staff regularly to monitor progress toward completing goals.
Create a Church Budget
Budgeting ensures responsible stewardship of church financial resources.
Take the time to go through a formal church budgeting process that designates funds to support the strategy to achieve the mission.
This process should include looking at how the ministry spends its resources and how it plans to invest in those things that further its mission.
Look also at those capital equipment needs and put a plan and budget in place to ensure the funds are available when needed.
For example, if your soundboard is on its last leg, reserve some resources for next year now, so you don’t end up having a Sunday to remember!
Review Policies and Procedures
Written policies and procedures provide direction for how work gets done.
Take the time to add, review and update policies and procedures. For instance, if your church had to scramble to learn how to stream church services at the peak of covid, capture every step of the process, and record what was learned.
Document lessons learned and write policy, process, and accountability standards. Take what you learned and systematically improve. Don’t rely on memory, write them down!
Learn from Church Volunteers
Volunteers are the labor engine of the church, and without them, most churches would have to close their doors.
Develop a volunteer strategy and spend some time soliciting feedback from your volunteers.
The goal is to put a plan in place to improve the volunteer experience.
Volunteers have a great perspective and can offer insight into improving operational efficiencies.
Take advantage of this collective knowledge and spend the time and resources to support volunteer efforts!
Write Goals for Church Employees
Church employees facilitate the church experience and have special needs.
This is also the perfect time of year to write employee goals for 2023 and to update church job descriptions to reflect those goals.
Talk to your employees and look for ways to keep them engaged and committed. Burned-out employees simply go through the motion, so spend some time finding ways to keep them focused!
Church volunteers and members rely heavily on church employees, so be sure to take care of them!
For example, now might be a good time to revisit your compensation strategy and add budget dollars for merit increases.
Talk to Church Members
Members have a vested interest in the church. Invest the time in trying to understand the member experience so you can incorporate their needs into a strategy.
Members are the financial engine of the church so talk to them and make sure the church is meeting their needs – within the boundaries of the church mission.
Spend some time focusing on church members and identifying their spiritual and social needs.
For example, if there is an aging demographic in the church body, make a plan, and budget some resources to start a program for people over 60.
Investing in these groups can pay off big time in the form of donations. Pay attention to all demographics in your church.
Updated Emergency Preparedness Plan
It seems like it is almost weekly there are natural disasters, mass shootings, and unexpected crises erupting.
Every church should have a plan to activate in the event of an emergency.
Now is an excellent time to review and update the emergency preparedness plan to ensure your church is ready for the unexpected.
2023 Church Events
Events and churches go hand in hand. Churches use events to provide fellowship opportunities for members and to provide community outreach.
Summer Vacation Bible School, Church Picnics, Sunday Pancake breakfasts, and Mission trips are common events.
Take the time now to determine what church events you will host in 2023 and start working on a plan.
Churches are the light in this very dark world and provide hope for us all. Take the time to plan now for next year so your church can continue to reach your community.
There is no secret formula, but good planning and fiscal responsibility, coupled with a well-structured performance management process, is a great way to start!