Key values tell us who we are as a congregation, and also tell us who we want to be. After we decide as a congregation on 3-4 key values, we will use them to do value-based budgeting as well as to plan future initiatives and activities.
The values identified by the congregation in October are: Belonging, Compassion, Creativity, Collaboration, Curiosity, Faithfulness, Generosity, Grace, Hope, and Joy. Council has also suggested Love and Supportiveness.
Ideally, our discussion will involve the whole congregation in considering these values to determine which ones are central to our vision for the coming years.
Each week starting in Advent (with a hiatus over Christmas), we will focus on 1 or 2 of the values and delve deeply into them to consider what each one means, how we express it as a congregation, and how that value might shape our future. I will use a variety of discussion techniques to keep conversations varied and to encourage different members to participate. For example, visual images will serve as the starting point for some discussion. For others, we will use Biblical stories and characters. Others will start with songs and hymns. All of these serve as ways to invite people to think deeply about the values.
The goal is to involve all groups in the congregation that meet weekly. I will prepare the discussion activities for them, and I am also willing to lead discussions if requested. Gathering Table discussions during Advent will center on the values. Pastor Greg will focus his sermons on the values, and several discussions after church will be held for those who are interested.
By early February, responses will be collected, collated, and returned to the visioning committee and council for further consideration. Perhaps a consensus will already have emerged??
Finally, but most importantly, the children will participate in age-appropriate children’s talks about the values in worship services. These talks will open up each week’s discussion. Children are a valuable part of our congregation and deserve to be involved, but they also can unsettle in good ways adult thinking (as experience has taught me).
Please feel free to contact me with any ideas, questions, or comments,
Rachel Schmidt