Setting Church Goals

Every summer during our annual update conversation, I’m asked by our District Superintendent what my goals are for the coming year. Ideally, at least one or two of them will relate to the goals of the congregation I’m serving.

Up until now, I’ve not pushed our leadership in goal-setting exercises. The first 2-3 years I was here, we were in a bit of a “healing” mode as a group, and I discerned that was the primary goal for this community. We’ve made tremendous progress on this goal, and it’s time we step back into our discipleship formation again.

For the past several months, the Church Council has been wrestling first with the adoption of the new Vision Statement, and then a set of goals for the church/congregation. It’s important that goals be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely). With that in mind, the Church Council has adopted the following goals for July 2026 – June 2027 for High Street UMC:

High Street Vision: High Street United Methodist Church nurtures disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in our local communities and in worldwide connections.

The High Street UMC Church Council has set the following goals for the church and congregation for June 2026 – June 2027: 

1.  EVANGELISM / SHARING THE GOSPEL:

Every active member and constituent will invite at least one person to church during the year. NOTE: this does not mean the person invited must say “Yes.” We are setting a goal that everyone invite ONE person to church to get everyone accustomed to doing so.

• A good way to start is to invite a person to an event (e.g., Movie Night) or a special service (e.g., Orchestra Sunday)

• Aids to help in inviting people (e.g., branded pens) will be purchased for use 

2. DISCIPLESHIP

Every active member and constituent will take one step to increasing their discipleship

Some examples include, but are not limited to:

• Volunteer in a current, ongoing mission and/or ministry of the church (e.g., the Food Pantry, the Samaritan Fund, Thursday Lunch, Sanctuary choir, Bell choir, children’s ministry, etc)

• Active participation in an ongoing Sunday School class and/or Bible Study

• Participate in congregational pastoral care:

  • Send cards to homebound members, students, visitors

  • Provide periodic transportation of members who are homebound or in assisted living to church or church activities

  • Actively visit our homebound members

• Serve as a confirmation mentor

3.  FINANCIAL STABILITY FOR HIGH STREET

With broad-based input from the congregation, the church leadership will develop a long-range plan for financial stability for the ongoing functioning and thriving of High Street UMC (i.e., with income greater than expenses / budget)

Prayer should underlie and support each of these goals, and these prayers should include High Street UMC, its mission, its members, and its leadership. 

Each of these specific goals is completely attainable, measurable, relevant, and timely. We trust that you will do your best to live into them – for God’s glory and for the well-being of High Street.