VISIONING REPORT

VISIONING REPORT
submitted by the TRANSITION COMMITTEE
to FAITH UNITED COUNCIL & CONGREGATION
May 2006

 THE TRANSITION COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE VISIONING PROCESS
Interim Ministry
The Transition Committee was elected by the congregation on October 2, 2005 for the period of Interim Ministry at Faith United United Church and consists of the following people:

• Victoria Girling (committee chair)
• Brien Page (recording secretary)
• Fred Jackson (presbytery rep.)
• Wendy Mason (presbytery rep.)
• Rev. Doug Snell
• Jackie Tanton
• Betty Turcott
• John Sylvestervich
• Ron Lambert
• Gail Minacs
• Diana Chappell
• Dan Hanewich

Interim Ministry is time specific and enables members to celebrate what has been good in the past and to clarify new directions for the future, to identify and resolve conflict and build a new sense of community. One purpose of Interim Ministry is to facilitate a reassessment of mission, identity and relationships. Interim Ministry responds to what has gone before and also prepares for the ministry that follows and to establish a context of readiness for the future new minister.
Under the guidance and leadership of the Reverend Doug Snell, the Interim Minister who was appointed on December 1st, 2005, the Transition Committee developed an inclusive process to seek out the views and expectations of the congregation for the future. This involved a visioning process that took place during the month of April 2006.

Visioning Process
Two separate sessions were held to which all members and adherents of the congregation were encouraged to attend. The sessions were entitled. Mission & Ministry and Worship & Nurture. The session entitled Mission & Ministry was held on Saturday April 1, Sunday April 2 and Monday April 3. The second session, Vision & Nurture was held on Saturday April 22, Sunday April 23 and Monday April 24. In excess of 90 people attended each of the two sessions. This resulted in 7 small groups (approximately 12 per group) meeting for each session.
To ensure impartiality, the Transition Committee asked members of the congregation to facilitate and record the sessions. The Rev. Doug Snell trained this group, during which they themselves participated in the visioning sessions.
The purpose of the visioning sessions was to obtain ideas and comments from the congregation in the most constructive way. A process was adopted whereby a series of questions was posed to each group and they were encouraged to write their ideas, likes, dislikes and comments on “post it” notes. The process involved the groups reflecting on what Faith United is now and what they wanted Faith United to be in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
The Transition Committee presents this report to Council and the congregation for ratification of its contents. This report is recommended as a working document during the Interim Ministry period at Faith United, and beyond, whereby committees, Council, the Transition Committee and the congregation can monitor, review and implement attainable suggestions having regard to finances, resources, timing, viability, practicality and faithful intent. All ideas and suggestions will be honoured through discussion and our mission will guide our actions and implementation. We believe that this visioning process has been open and transparent and has allowed everyone the opportunity to be heard. This report is also offered to the Joint Needs Assessment Committee as a foundation tool for information gathering to establish needs and future goals.
For more information, please link to the PDF document here.