The Visioning Workshop

On Saturday, March 5, 2022, your Bishop's Committee met with Canon Anna to discuss the future vision of our church. Below are the things we discussed.

Richard, Alana (back), Martha, Canon Anna, Lisa, Deacon Cathy, and Dave

Richard, Martha, Alana (back), Canon Anna, Sandy, and Dave

​Who are we?

• friendly
• feed the hungry
• oasis in the desert
• open-minded
• welcoming
• beloved
• diverse
• growing city
• curious
• faithful
• willing
• caring
• transitional community
• get along
• work together
• persistent
• hopeful

• city is hard to find
• childless
• tired
• frustrated
• without priest-in-charge
• far away
• isolation
• unseen

Who do we want to become?

• known
• larger in membership
• children
• patient
• seen (by local and larger community)
• musical
• improved visibility
• increase AWE (average weekly engagement)
• better listeners
• inquiring
• evangelists (meaning we share our story)
• have more resources

1. What are we called to do?

• Increase the church's social media presence
• Schedule inquiry session with Padre Nelson

2. What are our assets?

• We have existing social media accounts
• Website
• Active Zoom group
• Willing people
• Supply priest
• Food Pantry/Sr. Box Day/thrift store
• some $ resources
• Padre Nelson (from the diocese)

3. What assets to we need to develop?

• Social media
• Resources and support
• Relationships
• Become familiar with local resouces
• Cultural competency
• Grants
• Relationships with other non-clergy communities in our diocese

4. What pitfalls might we encounter?

• conservative neighbors
• time and life commitments
• our church's reputation
• don't have a priest-in-charge
• aging and small congregation
• limited money
• "no one can go away"

5. What are our next steps?
"Don't put the cart before the horse."

1. Invite Padre Nelson to Ridgecrest
2. Update social media sites
3. Create MEVO link and filming
4. Attend city council meetings
5. Research local faith communities
6. Take pictures. Record worship.

6. What's our end date?
​Palm Sunday (April 10)