Parish Vision Using SMART Objectives

Developing and Implementing a

Parish Vision using SMART Objectives.

This approach suits people who are target orientated, who think practically and like to deal in concrete proposals. Objectives help them to identify with the priorities in a church, to know what is being done and where they can fit in. At any point they can assess how far they have progressed, rejoice in what has been achieved, and discern what needs to be done next. The point of using objectives is to translate the language of a Mission Statement into practical actions. These actions can then be taken on by individuals or working parties within a church and developed into reality.

It may be particularly appropriate to use a method like this in churches with a higher percentage of professional people and managers. However, one should also remember that clergy have a higher proportion of people who think in abstract and theoretical ways compared to the general population. Many more people than we might imagine find an objective driven vision easy to grasp and apply.

In order for objectives to be helpful they need to be focussed. One way to test this is to develop objectives which are ‘SMART’. SMART stands for:

S = Specific. The more specific the objective, the clearer the action that is being undertaken.

M = Measurable. If you cannot measure what you are trying to do, how will you know when you have done it?

A = Agreed. Like any vision, objectives cannot be imposed from above. Ownership is key.

R = Realistic. Start from where you are, and develop an objective which describes where you could realistically be by a certain point.

T = Timed. Working towards a deadline is a helpful discipline for many people. It helps prevent the situation where good intentions are discussed but not acted on. Also, timed objectives can give a parish a sense of self-accountability.

For instance ‘develop children’s work’ is a rather vague objective.

‘Set up a midweek club for Key Stage 1 children’ makes it specific.

‘Set up a midweek club for Key Stage 1 children during term time and offer as a pilot project for two terms’ makes it measurable. Would it be helpful or misleading to set a minimum number of attendees as a criterion of success? Is this is a realistic objective with the number of volunteers available, or would it be more suitable to have a Saturday club once a month? How have the volunteers and children been consulted and involved in planning?

‘Set up a midweek club for Key Stage 1 children during term time and offer as a pilot project for two terms, starting in September 2011’ is timed.

PCC meetings or an APCM can be times when objectives are reviewed, success celebrated, missed objectives acknowledged and openly discussed, and the next stage agreed.

One Parish’s Experience

The PCC of St. Lawrence’s, Lechlade wanted to stand back and take a developmental view of their church. They set aside half an hour in a PCC meeting for a focus on the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats facing the church. All suggestions were noted on a flipchart before being analysed and discussed.

As a result of this, an informal wish list of ideas was produced. Later on the Vicar, Standing Committee and Staff Team discussed the ideas and identified some key themes. The themes were grouped under the headings:

Worship for all – looking at services and worship pattern

Growing in Faith – adult education and nurture

Growing Young Disciples – children and youth work

Our Buildings – A Blessing not a Burden

Much else besides – a catch all!

Under each heading several objectives were identified. These were made as SMART as possible, though in church life this wasn’t simple! The PCC discussed and adopted the vision, after consulting with key people like Sunday School leaders.

The Vicar gave a Powerpoint presentation of the vision and objectives at the APCM. Church members seemed enthusiastic, and those who weren’t there were given a paper copy and a version put on the website. Communicating the vision and progress meant that local Christians felt that the church was going somewhere, had a plan and was an exciting place to be.

As an example, the church felt that the West End needed re-ordering. This was expressed in an objective: ‘Re-order West End to include kitchen, serving space, storage units, children’s zone and relocation of font by the end of 2006.’ A couple of keen people got going and plans began. As the objectives were reveiwed yearly it became clear that the end date was hopelessly optimistic! However, after much work and a big fundraising effort, the new area was dedicated in Autumn 2008.