In the fall of 2014 Chapter commissioned a diverse group of parishioners to develop a five year strategic plan for the Cathedral. We decided to call it the Vision for Mission or V4M.
Energized by the mission statement, “Love Christ, Serve Others, Welcome All”, we are creating objectives and strategic actions under six goal areas: Worship, Music and the Arts, Formation, Community, Cathedral for the City & Diocese, and Outreach & Justice. The committee has drawn in a large number of parishioners to help form these objectives and actions, and we have referred back to the congregational survey conducted in 2013. Our hope is to implement the final plan at the beginning of 2016.
This is one of a series of blog posts, each of which gives a concise description of the draft objectives and strategic actions under each goal area. We welcome feedback and comments at www.stpaulcathedral.org/vision-mission.
Vision for Mission Objectives (3) : Formation
St. Paul’s goal for Formation is to be the recognized diocesan leader in child, youth, and adult Christian formation through instruction, experience, service, and mission opportunities.
We have seen a growth in ministry to families and youth over the last few years, and we hope to continue to nurture that growth, as parents of young children increasingly discover the joy of raising their children in a fully inclusive faith community where all questions are welcomed.
The objective for Formation is to develop coordinated programs of year-round formation opportunities for our multi-cultural and intergenerational population. We have a long list of strategies to empower this objective. Regular training and support for parents and other volunteers will be established. The expansion of our small group culture will enable us to create one-year commitments for each of the modalities listed in the goal statement. Monthly formation opportunities will be experiential and service or mission oriented, focusing on local, regional, national, and global issues. Twice-yearly educational formation series of several weeks will be offered.
We will develop and host an institute for creation care and Biblical economics that educates and inspires hundreds each year to live more simply.
We will develop a permanent, dedicated space for Christian education of all ages that is hospitable, flexible, and equipped for learning, to be completed as part of the Cathedral Campus Redevelopment Plan towards the end of the five year horizon.
In order to lead and support all of these formational endeavors we will expand formation staffing to full time, or its equivalent shared among multiple staff.
