Dreaming, Daring, Doing: Strategic Visioning
The COVID-19 pandemic. Racial unrest. A nation divided.
With so many challenges in our world today, it may sound strange when our new bishop says it’s a good time to be the church!
“You and I must be companions alongside our sisters and brothers, bringing compassion and hope,” said the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson, Eleventh Bishop of The Diocese of Missouri. “We know the despair of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter. We are the keepers of the sacred stories that bring liberation and life. It is in our spiritual DNA.”
With that optimism, The Diocese of Missouri is moving forward in 2021 with a strategic visioning process that will redefine our vision, our mission and our goals. And there will be many opportunities for everyone in the diocese to be involved.
There will be five phases of this strategic visioning process:
- Create a vision for our diocese: what do we want to be as we grow into the future?
- Determine areas of focus: define ways to implement our vision.
- Set goals: address each area of focus and explore what ministries and programs will be needed.
- Draft a final plan: create a plan, based on feedback and action steps, for review by the Bishop and Diocesan Council.
- Communicate the plan: create a communications strategy to inform the diocese and decide whether or not to take the plan to Diocesan Convention for approval and implementation.
Strategic Visioning Leadership Team:
Katie Ong, Consultant
Katie has worked as a project manager for 30 years, starting in Washington, D.C., where she managed federal and other large grants. She has done strategic planning with various organizations as a board member, staff member, and consultant. Her last major project was with the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio, creating Bellwether Farm Camp and Retreat Center. She is a lifelong Episcopalian and has served in multiple positions on the parish and diocesan level. She knows the Episcopal Church well.
The Rev. Annette Joseph, Regional Missioner
The Rev. Annette Joseph is Regional Missioner for Christ Church in Cape Girardeau, and St. Paul’s in Sikeston. Rev. Joseph loves working with small churches and discovering their unique gifts. She also has a spiritual practice of writing and tries to write for her blog every day. She has written articles for the Labor Tribune and was published in seminary a couple of times. She enjoys community ministry and has been involved with the Ozark Foothills Community Foundation, the Northside Community Center, Nonprofit Alliance, Strategic Plan group for Poplar Bluff Schools, and Downtown Churches. She currently serves with several groups for the diocese: Re-imagining Church, Church Planting, and a Leadership Coaching project for Province V.
Rev. Annette hopes this visioning process will take the many and varied ideas of our communities and combine them into a way forward for all our churches in the Diocese of Missouri, allowing us to do the ministry we are well equipped to do with all the lovely gifts each church has to offer.
Dick Entenmann, Grace Episcopal Church in Kirkwood
Dick Entenmann is a member of Grace Church in Kirkwood with his wife of fifty-five years, Becky. Together they have two children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
In parish life, he has served on the Vestry as Senior Warden and Junior Warden. He is currently the chair of the Personnel Committee and serves on the Finance Committee.
Dick has been a member of two parish search processes: one in Michigan and one here in St. Louis and most recently served on the Search/Nominating Committee that completed its work with the election of the Rt. Rev. Deon Johnson.
Dick is a retired executive of the Chrysler Cooperation where he spent 32 ½ years in the Manufacturing Division.
He looks forward to working with the Rev. Annette Joseph as co-chair on the Strategic Visioning Committee. Their experiences, along with those of the other team members, will help to form a sound strategic plan for the Diocese of Missouri.
Next Steps:
The rich diversity of our diocese is what makes us special. This visioning process is all about using the unique perspectives of every individual and every parish in this diocese. We will be calling on YOU to get involved -- to be a part of a committee or a discussion group, to voice your opinion and help plan our future.
What does God have in store for The Diocese of Missouri? Let’s find out together.
Watch for regular updates on the diocesan website and in diocesan publications throughout 2021.
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