School of My Dreams

1. School of My Dreams Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church

2. Hello! Founded in 1989 Business and organization consulting Strategic planning and marketing design www.beechsprings.com Mark Brunner BA Marquette University Administrative Planning, MLC Member AAPC, American Association of Professional Consultants Member PDMA, Product Development and Management Association

3. School of My Dreams • Let’s get visual! • Vertical or lateral? • Some lateral exercises • Vision? What is what? • Let’s start with divine vision (Proverbs 28:18) • Stepping stones to visionary thinking • Visionary brainstorming (time permitting) • What comes next? How about a pathway to the vision?

4. Let’s Get Visual 7:30 Here’s the problem: You have four boxes:

5. Let’s Get Visual Arrange the boxes so that each one is touching only one other box. Is it possible? GO!

6. Let’s Get Visual Thinking vertically, it is impossible.

7. Lateral Thinking? 7:45 --Focuses on ways of being right. --Generates questions. --Move forward in order to create a direction. --Provocative. --Skipping steps or leaping ahead is OK. --Each step may be independent of the previous step. --A wrong turn may bring a right answer. --No exclusion–intrusions of ideas are welcome. --Often the “least-likely” pathway finds the creative solution. --Not a finite process–relies on probability. Example: Taking a wrong turn to a right path. The Path to Vision

8. Vertical Thinking? --Being right is important at each step. --Find answer and then stop. --Move forward only as long as there is a direction. --Analytical. --One step at a time. --Each step dependent upon the last. --A wrong turn means backing up or starting over. --Exclusion helps find the answer. --The “best” path is the only path to be on. --A Finite process expecting one right answer. The path to mission.

9. Lateral Thinking Exercise #2 Connecting Dots Link up these 9 dot using only 4 straight lines --without raising your Hand from the paper

10. 7:50 Lateral or Vertical? Better or? Ok, is lateral thinking the only way to go? Here’s a story: • A company builds a new building. Insufficient elevator design. ––What now? Here are possible solutions: • Put in an additional shaft = Vertical • Stagger shifts to ease flow = Vertical • Install mirrors to ease waiting time = Lateral –––>Lateral thinking came up with affordable plan. • ––How to implement plan? • Decide on number of mirrors. = Vertical • Where is the best location for each? = Vertical • Signage to go with the mirrors? = Vertical Lateral thinking = planning / Vertical = Implemenation

11. What exactly is Vision? It is possible and may be probable Down some road and maybe this one Circumstances make it fluid A perspective leading to reality Dreaming the most possible dream Empowered by the Holy Spirit A visit to Kermit.

12. 8:00 Does God Advocate Vision? Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no revelation (vision [KJV]), the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.” • What does this say about Bethlehem’s need to understand God’s vision? • Without vision, what would a Christian’s life be like? • With vision, what does God promise us? Think about these other Biblical vision imperatives: Abraham/Sands on the seashore (Changing circumstance) Moses/The Burning Bush (Details of a strategic future) Joshua/Crossing the Jordan (Numeration of goals) Nehemiah/Rebuilding Jerusalem (Dreams)

13. 8:15 Vision Stepping Stones 1. Step on well worn stones where possible. Do you research. Contact other churches and compare. For example: Here are two vision statements: To provide the greater metropolitan area with a church geared to the needs and life-styles of baby boomers who are nominal Christians, offering a ministry that is sensitive in personality and characterized by a loving, forgiving, accepting environment. (Source: A charismatic, denominational church in Oregon) Therefore, our vision as followers of Jesus at St. Peter Lutheran Church is to be used by God to reveal the hope of the Kingdom to others through acts of love in our family, [workplace], community, and world.. (Source: Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, WI)

14. Vision Stepping Stones 2. Consensus does not bind vision. Vision is not the result of consensus; it should result in consensus. In a church it is important that people OWN the vision for ministry, not that they create it. It’s not a democratic process. The people, however should have a say in what sort of mission is adopted to reach the vision. Keep in mind, however, that vision should not conflict with a vision that is already in existence for the congregation constitutionally.

15. Vision Stepping Stones n 3. All leaders are visionary. You can’t lead unless you know where you’re going. Leaders are identified not by position but by mind-set and actions.

16. Vision Stepping Stones 4. Vision creates the future, not measures it. The reality of what might happen is not a measure of how we pursue vision. Vision and strategy are not interchangeable. Vision is conceptual as well as practical and detailed. Strategy becomes detailed as a product of the vision and not vice versa.

17. Vision Stepping Stones 5. Vision and risk go hand and hand. A vision that is risk-proof is not a vision. It’s a goal. Even God’s plan for the church involves risk. Since vision involves changing the future, it involves risk. However, a vision blessed by God is not unwarranted risk. Think of Peter walking on the water.

18. Vision Stepping Stones 6. The goal is not growth but God’s glory. Growth is incidental to glorifying the Father. A vision blessed by God is one that will push the church forward. The only direction God knows or that will satisfy Him. He is not interested in the world’s praise; but His own glory.

19. Vision Stepping Stones 7. All schools will not have the same vision. As the marketplace differs within the community, so does the vision of a church. God has a unique plan for Bethlehem that no other church on earth can totally share. Churches, therefore, don’t compete with vision within the community, they complement one another with their visions.

20. Vision Stepping Stones 8. Capturing God’s vision is not easy. Since God is not constrained by time and we are, keeping up with God is not always an easy matter. When Jacob wrestled with God for His blessing, so we as congregations ought to approach the process with the willingness to lock powers with our God and reach for His visionary blessings on our ministry. Prayer, meditation and clear thinking win the day. Faith and trust in the process and result guarantee His blessing.

21. Vision Stepping Stones 9. Be careful with catchy slogans. Slogans when over-employed can be detrimental to vision. Slogans can trivialize vision. Bethlehem needs to be sure that members know what is behind the slogan if one is employed.

22. Vision Stepping Stones 10. Vision lasts. A school’s vision doesn’t need to be recreated every few years. Vision usually outlasts the visionary. That’s a rule of thumb. Mission to achieve the vision can and often does change. Strategy and tactics to obtain the mission change because they are a part of your mission.

23. 8:30 Time to Brainstorm Put on your lateral thinking caps! -->Find ways of being right on where ministry ought to be. -->Ask questions as starting points. -->Take the pathway each question evokes. -->Provoke thought. -->Leap ahead when you feel like it (no plodding). -->Don’t worry about connecting thoughts--think. -->Don’t be afraid to turn down a “wrong” path. -->There are no “bad” ideas to start. -->Seek “least-likely” pathways. -->Think in terms of what could be and not what can be.

24. Time to Brainstorm Remember the definition of vision: “Vision is the end of the journey, not how you get there. The end of the journey is always possible and, therefore, probable under the right set of mission goals. All roads lead to vision; it’s a matter of exploring before you choose. Vision is, more than anything, a perspective of ministry that will lead to a reality of ministry with the right nurture. In the end, all vision is subject to the will of God by His Holy Spirit.”

25. Let’s Dream! There’s an old Ted Lewis tune that goes like this: The girl of my dreams is the sweetest girl ,Of all the girls I know; Each sweet co-ed, like a rainbow trail, Fades in the after glow.The blue of her eyes and the gold of her hair,Are a blend of the western sky; And the moonlight beams on the girls of my dreams, She's the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. How about this “new” tune? “School of my dreams, you’re . . .”

26. 8:40 Name that Tune! Let’s Brainstorm: Rule 1: 30 minutes only (Need a timekeeper) Rule 2: Notes are critical (Need a note taker) Rule 3: Follow-up (Email is the tool/need emails) Rule 4:No criticism (Everything valid for the moment) Rule 5:No incorrect answers (Not important for the moment) Rule 6:Brevity (We’re building an idea, not proving it) Rule 7:Manners (Don’t talk over, consider note taker)

27. Name that Tune! Let’s warm up first (Timekeeper = 10 minutes) Let’s take 10 minutes to discuss the following problem: “Designing a better cereal spoon.”

28. 8:50 Name that Tune! Brainstorm (Timekeeper = 30 minutes)

29. 9:30 The Mission to The Vision End of First Step---->We have the “V” of the “VMO” Next step: “We’re on a mission!”

30. The Mission to The Vision Now that we know where we’re going it’s time to map out how to get there. In essence, that’s mission. • Step 1: Articulate the vision to the congregation. • Step 2: Create a mission team (VMO?) to map out a path to vision. • Step 3: Mission is comprised of steps that take us to the vision. • Step 4: Each step has an indicating outcome. • Step 5: Each step is monitored. • Step 6. Progress is reported regularly to infrastructure and the pew.

31. The Mission to The Vision Mission Step 1 = Contact Kermit / Outcome = Arrival date fixed Mission Step 2 = Service Car / Outcome = Peace of mind/arrival Mission Step 3 = Buy provisions / Outcome = Fewer stops Mission Step 4 = Check roadmap / Outcome = Arrive on time Mission Step 5 = Check weather / Outcome = Determines Departure Mission Step 6 = Get fuel / Outcome = Maintains schedule Mission Step 7 = Stop for lunch / Outcome = Eat less junk food Mission Step 8 = Refuel / Outcome = AAA Call avoided Mission Step 9 = Arrive before dark / Outcome = No missed turns Mission Step 10 = Call when 10 min. out / Outcome = Happy Hosts Mission Accomplished/Vision Realized A visit to Kermit.

32. What Happens Next? I. NEXT? Sift Through Brainstorm(Meeting #2 = 2 Hours) --->Select useful ideas --->Eliminate the “steam” of the moment --->Look for functionality --->Pick ideas that can be fleshed out --->Include ideas that may have a history II. After That? Assimilation(Meeting #3 = 2 Hours) a. List 1 = Ideas that are immediately useful b. List 2 = Ideas that need further exploration c. List 3 = Ideas that are new approaches to the problem III. And? Selection(Meeting #4 = 2 Hours) Selection of a Vision Statement based on what is useful, has been explored and may be a new approach to ministry. IV. Finally? Match a Mission w/Outcomes (Meeting #5 = 2 Hours) Determine mission steps and derive outcomes with timetable.

33. You may contact me at any time in the course of your planning meetings. We can consult by phone or email. I will set up a web page for your VMO group through which we can communicate on an ongoing basis. Should you wish me to attend a meeting, please let me know. Thanks!