Strategic Plan Updates

St. Francis Strategy—What’s Next?

November 7, 2025

In September we rolled out Ever Ancient, Ever New: The St. Francis Strategic Plan. This plan was assembled over the past year based on the insight and expertise of the Strategy Working Team, Member Integration Working Group, Growth Study Team, Vestry, staff, and many more.

We as a parish are now deepening work that was begun long ago—work we’ve been doing since our founding: making and growing disciples of Jesus Christ, drawing all generations into worship formation and witness, by becoming the best place to engage deeply with the richness of Great Tradition Christianity.

Here are some common questions and answers about how this is going to work:

How was the Strategic Plan developed?

In mid-2024, Fr. Clint and the Vestry began discussing the need for a strategic plan. Fr. Clint convened a team of laity and staff who worked over 9 months, coordinating with the Vestry, staff, and parish on an ongoing basis. The team held workshops at the Vestry and Staff Retreats in February 2025, and held a Parish Workshop in April 2025. Fr. Clint shared a draft strategic plan with the Vestry in May 2025, and the Vestry made changes over the course of three meetings. It was ultimately adopted by a unanimous vote of the Vestry in August 2025.

Who is in charge of implementing the Strategic Plan?

The Vestry holds ultimate oversight for the Strategic Plan. When the Vestry voted for the plan in August, they also designated the formation of a Strategic Planning Committee which will meet quarterly to review the progress on the initiatives. This committee will then report back to the Vestry on progress and raise any issues that need Vestry discussion and decision.  Fr. Clint has assembled this committee and reported the members back to the Vestry in late October 2025.

The members of the Strategic Planning Committee serve as the “stewards” of the St. Francis Strategy. They are there to support the initiatives, and to help make sure that any new initiatives are aligned with the Strategy approved by the Vestry.

Each initiative has an Execution Team: a pair of leaders who are taking the original ideas approved by the Vestry and figuring out how to make them happen in the real world. Each ministry has at least two people as part of the team: one lay and one staff—and some will have much bigger teams as they get going.

In a sense, the whole parish is responsible for implementing the plan. Each of the initiatives will require work and support from a broad range of parishioners. Being part of the Body of Christ means that we work together for the Kingdom of God.

How are we going to pay for this?

All initiatives will go through the regular St. Francis budget process, just like any other ministry of the church. Some will be built into the annual budget, and the Vestry may decide that some (especially major facility improvements) should be funded through a capital campaign. The cost of each initiative will be discerned as we get going. Rest assured, the Vestry and Strategic Planning Committee are committed to being good stewards of our resources. The strategic plan is a plan for growth and will be implemented as our resources—including time, energy, talent, and treasure—allow. If we do not have the resources to responsibly fund an initiative, that initiative will not be implemented.

What is our timeframe for the Strategic Plan?

We have a preliminary timeline for each initiative which has been presented to the Vestry. As Execution Teams work on their initiatives, they will start by building out implementation plans, which will include more detailed timelines and resource needs. Some initiatives, such as the Guest Engagement Team and Great Tradition Youth Ministry, are already well underway, while others will take longer to develop. We plan to provide regular updates on progress and initiative timelines in The Canticle and on social media.

What can I do to help?

If you are particularly excited about something you’ve seen in the St. Francis Strategy, reach out to Fr. Clint or Mthr. Barbara to talk more about it. We’ll need all hands to make this God-sized vision a reality!  

If you are leading an existing or ongoing ministry, consider ways that you may be able to deepen alignment with the St. Francis Strategy:

• Is there a way to make your offering more scriptural, catholic, apostolic, sacramental, or liturgical?  

• Is there a way to invite a broader age demographic into participation?  

• Can we better offer accessible depth and structured community in something we are already doing?

Each of these things help us become the best place to engage deeply with the richness of Great Tradition Christianity. 

Most importantly, pray for the work of the Church—both here and St. Francis, and around the world. The world today needs a message of light and life in Jesus Christ Our Lord more than ever.