Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That the 76th General Convention direct the Executive Council to create a Committee of Strategic Planning to guide the Executive Council and the Church Center in their capacities as leaders of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on Strategic Planning be charged with using the best appropriate planning methods available to develop a ten-year plan, updated annually, that identifies and tracks the missional, financial, societal, cultural and other challenges and opportunities facing The Episcopal Church; considers alternative paths of action; recommends a path; defines measurable indicators of success of the selected direction and a specific timeline; details resources needed and proposes how those resources will be gathered; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on Strategic Planning report annually to the Executive Council except in years when General Convention meets, during which year it reports to General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the plan receive a revision every year and a major revision every three years in anticipation of the triennial priorities and budget process that is finalized at General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the Committee on Strategic Planning consist of fourteen persons with voice and vote: the Presiding Officers; three bishops, three ordained priests or deacons, and six lay persons all jointly appointed by the Presiding Officers, at least three and no more than six of whom will be members of Executive Council; and be it further

Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop appoint two or three senior members of Church Center staff to serve on the Committee on Strategic Planning with voice, but no vote; and be it further

Resolved, That the work of the Committee on Strategic Planning be guided and supported by an external consultant working with senior Church Center staff; and be it further

Resolved, That minutes of the meetings of the Committee on Strategic Planning be distributed to the Presiding Officers and staff of the Church Center to one level below Center Directors; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $300,000 for the implementation of this Resolution.

EXPLANATION

To take best advantage of the missional opportunities before the church, we need to plan carefully and execute wisely by setting goals, locating resources and monitoring progress. An effective long-term plan will track and analyze both societal and church trends and set specific performance goals and indicators. By updating the plan annually, we can remain flexible and responsive to rapid changes. The skills required for effective planning in such a complex environment as ours are most likely better developed in the private sector than within the church. An outside consultant who works closely with church leaders, both elected and appointed, is best situated to guide such a process. A Committee on Strategic Planning would create the structure for this planning, and the proposed membership would include the breadth of expertise and perspective required for creative and effective planning.