All-Church Meeting

On March 5, we had an all church planning meeting

with Rev. Greg Bergquist. A good group of nearly 20 gathered to discuss BMUC. One activity was generating a SWOT chart (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). The SWOT chart helps to clarify areas of interest and issues. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal issues, and Opportunities and Threats are external. We did the SWOT exercises for the areas of Music, Bazaar, Congregational Care Ministers, Retreat/Peace Camp, Faith Clinic/Small Groups, and Family/Young Adult ministry. They are listed in order of interest and energy generated during the discussion.
The next step will be to develop concrete 2-5 year goals based on the 4 priority areas.

Music
Strengths:
High participation, passion, leadership
Musicianship, pianists, spiritual focus
Weaknesses:
loss of robustness
not intergenerational (youth)
burnout
Opportunities:
Christmas caroling, expand breadth of choir director, spiritual focus
community interest and outreach
making use of available talent
partnering with BAM
Threats:
cost/salary
diminishing active members due to age/health

Bazaar
Strengths:
high quality commitment, pride
large draw internally and externally, fellowship
JA culture
sermon, guided meditation, all saints, memorial day
Weaknesses:
depletes energy/not enough volunteers
too Japanese
grumbling
unwillingness to change
Opportunities:
Outreach, multicultural, foodies, kids
spiritual message
music/art
Threats:
other activities
declining profitability and participation-marketing

CCMs
Strengths:
commitment, continued training & faith development
bringing comfort to others & spiritual sustenance
expand level of care
Weaknesses:
no men, need more CCMs
mostly serve our own congregation
people assume it is a big commitment-so they don’t want to be a CCM
Opportunities:
serving outside church community
needs are growing
Threats:
burnout
negative attitudes in congregation due to confidentiality
negative attitude towards “Christian” caregiving

Retreat, Peace Camp
Strengths:
Outreach, energy of youth/participants
community bonds
faith deepening
leadership development
Weaknesses:
lack of companionship for elders
rough accommodations (consider Monte Toyon vs. Mt Hermon)
Age-related activities
leadership burnout
Opportunities:
invite more friends
cost (reasonable)
Threats:
date conflicts
older folks dropping out-consider nicer accommodations

Faith Clinic & small groups
Strengths:
Congregational leaders, variety & flexibility, spiritual development
Friendship, fellowship, intimate relationships, intergenerational
Weaknesses:
intergenerational involvement
lack of participation
burnout
Opportunities:
including choir in the faith clinics
add more leaders
outreach (bring a friend*)
what kind of group? Short sessions focused on a current topic
Threats:
burnout
unintentionally exclusive, clubby

Family/young adult minister
Strengths:
designated position indicates commitment and dedication to youth and youth ministry
adult support needed not just for providing refreshments, but also leading groups
core of older youth
Weaknesses:
no dedicated spaces
same core group of parents
youth don’t return after graduation
taking time to get to know the kids
Opportunities:
Basketball families, BAM, neighborhood, peace camp, daruma
develop youth leadership, spiritual development
involve college age young adults, involve church members for interaction
consider older adult ministry
Threats:
finances
lack of numbers
busy schedules
geographic location