FIVE YEAR PLAN

Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo Moorhead

Complete, dedicate and celebrate the new building addition; and adjust programs to the renovated and expanded space.
Increase the size of the congregation by reaching out to the community and by nurturing membership to foster retention.
Make organizational adjustments to strengthen our infrastructure and accommodate growth.
Explore options and feasibility for professional religious leadership and proceed accordingly.
Expand child, youth and adult religious education offerings.
Strengthen our community presence through social action.

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Move into and "finish" interior of building addition.
Assess plans and priorities for multiple uses of new and existing space.
Appoint an ad hoc Space Committee, if necessary, to assist with resolution of problems in space assignments and sharing.
Establish a multi-year Preventive Maintenance Plan and Schedule.
Develop a plan for annual fund raising events to generate contributions to the Building Fund.
Explore options for both handicapped and regular parking adjacent to the church.

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Conduct one fund raising event each year to generate contributions to the Building Fund

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Reinvigorate the Publicity Committee. Assure that news of Sunday services is publicized in a timely manner.
Review UUA membership growth materials and adopt those relevant to our congregation.
Develop other strategies/publicity to increase numbers and diversity of members. For example, advertise in area colleges to attract young adults.
Introduce Tier 1 Resources from the Uncommon Denomination program to strengthen member and congregation UU identification.
Develop specific programs for member retention.
Implement a system for monitoring and projecting membership growth.

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Set up and implement a Leadership Council of Committee Chairs.

Appoint a Board member as Staff Coordinator to chair the Council and coordinate all committee activities.
Cultivate the health of all committees in terms of composition and function.
Charge Board Liaisons with advocacy role for committee programs and resources.
Implement new Membership Services Committee and appoint Committee Chair.
Approve and follow "Plan Implementation" policy for executing LRPC recommendations.
Establish a calendar for the budget cycle, with a formal request-and-review process.
Establish a training fund to help defray costs for staff to attend conferences and workshops.
Develop a plan to identify and preserve archival material, e.g., by scanning important material in PDF format.
Begin development of a Policy Manual.

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Institute an annual organizational review of (a) staff assignments and position descriptions, (b) standing committees and charges.
Continue development of Policy Manual.

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Increase paid staff time commensurate with needs of the growing congregation.
Appoint a Religious Leadership Task Force to develop pros and cons of different leadership options; and establish targets (budget and number of members) for each option.
Convene discussion groups of members to review options.
Recommend short term (e.g. CLL, part time/consulting minister) and long term (e.g. full time minister) leadership options to congregation at annual meeting.

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Based on established targets, initiate process for obtaining religious leadership.
Call religious leader in accordance with previous decisions.

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Review and recommend organizational structure for RE administration.
Institute curriculum mapping to reflect multi-year cycles.
Study ways to maintain adequate space separation for classes. Reconfigure age groups and classes to accommodate growth.
Offer an informational meeting and survey parental support for Our Whole Lives sexuality curriculum for youth.
Review and consider adoption of the Lifespan model for curricula.

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Institute OWL program if supported by parents.
Develop or revise curricula based on the Lifespan model if adopted.
Initiate intergenerational activities such as adult-child mentoring
Introduce small group ministries (covenant groups) which are age specific and/or intergenerational.
Expand the role of the RE Coordinator to assume responsibility for a broadened Youth-Young Adult program
Invite interested teens from the Coming of Age RE group to join church committees of their choice.
Explore the UUA Renaissance Program to provide continuing education for RE staff.

Year 1 (2004-2005)

Develop a policy which clarifies when stands taken by the Social Action Committee can be taken on behalf of the congregation.
Select and develop just one or two projects in order to focus congregational energy and maximize effective use of resources.
Assure that projects have clear support and encouragement from the leadership and the congregation.
Assure that activities directed to social change, reflecting core UU principles, are appropriately publicized.
Incorporate anti-racism themes into Sunday service programs.
Propose a plan to the congregation to work toward becoming an anti-oppression congregation.
Explore participation with outside groups on social issues of mutual concern (e.g. PEP, refugee issues, peace and environmental issues.)

Year 2 (2005-2006) through Year 5 (2008-2009)

Increase our visibility in the community by participating in public events (e.g. Earth Day). Work with the Publicity Committee to make such events known in the congregation.
With congregational approval, initiate the process for participating in an anti-racist Jubilee Workshop.