How to Create a Strategic Plan

Definition and Description

Strategic planning has been defined as “an organization’s process of defining its strategy or direction and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.”


A strategic plan is “the formalized road map that describes how your organization executes the chosen strategy; it spells out where an organization is going over the next year or more and how it is going to get there.”


Scripture

  • Explain your understanding of the following Scriptures in your own words:
  • Proverbs 14:15
  • Proverbs 15:22
  • Proverbs 16:3, 9
  • Proverbs 19:21
  • Proverbs 20:18
  • Luke 14:28-33
  • Ephesians 5:15-16
  • What do they suggest about strategic planning?
  • How did biblical characters like Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah, Jesus, and Paul carry out strategic plans?


Process

While definitions for planning-related terms (such as mission, vision, strategy, objectives, goals) are debated, and experts differ on how these elements should be organized in the strategic planning process, everyone agrees that strategic planning involves a basic framework that tackles these three questions:

1. Assessment: where are we now?

A S.W.O.T. analysis helps you assess your current strategic position. The acronym stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and the external threats. To effectively plan, you will need to set goals to build on your church’s strengths, shore up the weaknesses, capitalize on the opportunities, and recognize the threats. To conduct a S.W.O.T. analysis, ask the following questions:


  • what do we do well?
  • where could we improve?
  • what opportunities should we take advantage of?
  • what emerging trends or barriers might adversely affect us?


2. Vision: where are we going?

A vision is a picture of where you are headed and what your future will look like. A God-inspired vision will make your heart surge with purpose and require the power of God to fulfill. To craft your vision, pray and seek God’s wisdom by asking the following questions:


  • What is God’s vision for our church or this ministry?
  • Where is God directing us?
  • What will we look like in the future if we are successful in our mission?


3. Planning: how will we get there?

Strategic objectives or priorities are broad-reaching, long-term, continuous, strategic areas of focus that get you moving to achieving your vision. To determine these objectives, prayerfully consider:


  • What are the key activities that we need to perform in order to achieve our vision?
  • What areas do we need to focus on over the next 3-5 years to accomplish our vision?


Objectives often involve our people, our ministries, our “customers” (outreach), our internal processes (improving operational excellence), and/or our finances/facilities.


Examples of possible strategic objectives for a church could include:


  • Implement a successful transition to autonomy
  • Increase the reach and impact of worship services
  • Strengthen and develop ________ ministry [family/student/children’s/men's/women's]
  • Increase small group health and participation
  • Fuel biblical fellowship
  • Improve church assimilation effectiveness
  • Expand community restoration ministry/partnerships
  • Expand global missions involvement/partnerships
  • Improve pastoral care ministry
  • Increase evangelistic growth
  • Increase relational disciple-making among the congregation
  • Develop a missional mindset
  • Develop new community outreach initiatives
  • Engage more millennials (18-25) and religious “none’s”
  • Develop more and better leaders
  • Create an equipping culture in the church
  • Improve operations systems and processes
  • Grow financial generosity/stewardship
  • Support and facilitate growth with a new facility


Goals convert your strategic objectives into specific, measurable performance targets. Effective SMART goals clearly state what you want to accomplish, when you want to accomplish it, how you are going to do it, and who is going to be responsible. The acronym stands for:


  • S = Specific
  • M = Measurable
  • A = Actionable
  • R = Realistic (or Responsible person)
  • T = Timely/Time-bound


Prayerfully seek God’s guidance in setting faith-stretching but realistic goals, and remember to surrender those plans before the Lord.


Discussion

  • What questions or concerns do you have about this?
  • To what extent have you engaged in this kind of strategic planning?
  • In your area of leadership, what is your next step with strategic planning?


Further study