Vision

Vision is our preferred picture of the future. It is what we would like to see in our parishes and in the lives around us. For all of us, our churches were started for a reason.

They have purpose. This could simply be to ‘Love the Lord our God, and love our neighbour’ or it could be wider and more specific than this. Having a clear vision will help everyone to know the direction of travel for your church and help people to get behind this and get involved.

Your vision should be more than a sentence or a snappy soundbite. It should be part of your DNA and your identity as a church.

How do you make sure that the vision you have for your church sticks?

Andy Blacknell talks about a simple test for any vision statement. It must be simple, memorable and inspirational.

Simple – Your vision statement should be simple to understand. It can be as simple as ‘to help everyone know God’. If it can be understood by everyone in your church (young and old), there is a better chance of it holding up and that everyone will buy into it.

Memorable – Having something that people can remember and repeat back to you will ensure everyone understands your purpose and goals.

Inspirational – Can people get behind it?

One way to practise your vision is through an elevator pitch. Can you convey your vision to someone in the time it takes to journey in a lift, or talk to someone at a bus stop or out walking your dog? Always be prepared to say what your church is about and who it is for.

Although it is good to have a single, repeatable sentence that defines your goals, your vision should run throughout everything you do. Do your activities measure up to your vision? For example, saying ‘For everyone’ in a vision statement is no good if you overlook children or older generations in your congregation. Tell stories that back up your vision. How have people’s lives changed and been impacted by the church?

John Kotter wrote about eight steps for leading change. His first two steps are to have a compelling picture of the future and create a sense of urgency. Does your vision fulfil these first two steps?